Donovan, Moore, Unitas inducted into 'Ring of Honor'

By Alan Goldstein | Sun Staff

August 21, 1994

Art Donovan remembers the first time he was introduced to the Baltimore football fans in 1950.

"Nobody knew who I was back then," said the Hall of Fame tackle. 'They saw some big, fat guy walk on the field and they said, 'Who the hell is this guy?' "

The greeting was quite different last night when Donovan and his former Colts teammates and fellow Hall of Famers Lenny Moore and Johnny Unitas drew the wild cheers of more than 40,000 fans on becoming the first inductees into the Baltimore CFLs' "Ring of Honor." Their names were placed on banners that will hang over the mezzanine seats in the south end zone.

"Heck, when I first came here, they only had one deck of stands in this place," said Donovan, 69. "The stadium was still under construction. But for me, it's been a great, long trip."

Moore, accompanied by two of his children, said, "This is a great honor for me and my family, and keeping the great football tradition alive in Baltimore. It's just wonderful that people still remember you when you're past your 60th birthday."

Unitas, who received the loudest ovation, paid tribute to CFLs owner Jim Speros for bringing pro football back to Baltimore.

Orioles Hall of Famer Frank Robinson will be inducted Sept. 10. Speros has said he hopes that Orioles Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson and current Oriole Cal Ripken will join the ring as well.

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Donovan, Moore, Unitas inducted into 'Ring of Honor'

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