Baseball Hall of Fame

Few players in Bradley baseball history matched the hitting success of Joe Napoli. After arriving at Bradley on a baseball scholarship from the U.S. Air Force, Napoli became the school's only NCAA Division I batting champion, hitting .490 in 1960 while leading the Braves in several offensive categories.

A standout infielder, he finished his career with a .392 batting average, still one of the best in Bradley history, and struck out only 17 times in three seasons. Though offered a tryout with the San Francisco Giants, Napoli chose law school and went on to become a respected Peoria attorney.

Napoli remained deeply involved with Bradley athletics as a co-founder of the Bradley Chiefs Club and later represented numerous Bradley athletes as a sports agent. His impact on Bradley sports extended well beyond his record-setting playing career.