WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) -- League 42's baseball season kicks off Tuesday, always starting on Jackie Robinson Day. Just before the day in memory of who the league was founded for, its founder, Bob Lutz, was announced to be joining the Kansas Hall of Fame. From the athletes themselves to the commentat ors calling their plays, people from across the spectrum of sports entertainment are considered for the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Lutz was picked for his lifelong dedication to the game and others' legacies in sports. "I perused the sports page ... from the time I was probably seven or eight years old," Lutz said. "[My dad] was such a sports fan, I had no choice but to become one myself." Soon, Lutz found his love growing into a career. He started as a journalist for The Wichita Eagle, working there for much of his life before founding League 42. He aimed to foster interest in Wichita's disadvantaged youth. "In Wichita, one of the great sports writers," Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director Richard Konzem said. The combination of his work in sports reporting and his dedication to League 42's mission netted him a nomination for the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. "Sports creates such great legacies for people, great opportunities for people, who may or may not have had the opportunity to showcase that particular skill or talent," Konzem said on how Lutz's work contributed to his induction. 10 stars to be inducted into Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Lutz's journey took his passion off the page and poured it into others. "Put your best foot forward, and you care. I think that's what's ultimately being rewarded with this honor," Lutz said. He and the league have been in the news quite a bit over the past year, but for less-than-ideal reasons. League 42's prized Jackie Robinson statue was cut from its platform and later found in pieces. "We're kind of past that, I mean, we'll never forget it, it obviously left its mark," Lutz said. With the statue replaced, he is eager to start League 42's newest season with Jackie watching from his pedestal. "Hopefully, we've just scratched the surface. I want League 42 to be here long after I'm gone," he said. The ceremony for 2025's Kansas Sports Hall of Fame isn't until August. Once he's officially inducted, Lutz will be on the selection committee for next year's class, since any living Kansas Sports Hall of Famers get a vote. ...read more read less