The All Sports Museum and Hall of Fame of Southern New Jersey is the 2024 recipient of the SABR Russell Gabay Award, which honors entities and people who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to baseball in New Jersey.
“It’s a testament to the rich history of sports in the southern half of the Garden State, underscored by Salem, New Jersey native and 1968 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Leon “Goose” Goslin,” said David Krell, chair of SABR’s Elysian Fields Chapter, which covers the northern half of New Jersey. The recipient was chosen by a group of three: Krell along with Anthony Arot, chair of the southern New Jersey chapter named after Goslin, and Russell’s sister, Lori.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’d like to thank the Elysian Fields Chapter of SABR for selecting our museum,” states Dom Valella, Chairperson. “To receive this award named after Mr. Gabay is truly an honor and a privilege, given his outstanding career in media and his dedication to sports, family, and the countless number of colleagues along his life’s journey.”
Russell Gabay was a noted sports producer and a native of Springfield, New Jersey. He began his career in the late 1970s, producing for ESPN after graduating from University of Hartford. He later became a Production Manager at HBO, where he supervised several shows, including Inside the NFL, documentaries, and championship fights. Until his sudden death in 2016, Russell was a high-level producer at Major League Baseball Network for more than a decade. He was known throughout the sports industry as a gentleman and a true professional whose generosity knew no bounds, whether towards people trying to break into the business or veterans with several decades of experience.