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Freddy Edmonds Jr. became the first son to join his father in the Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1987.
"My father was the person who has had the most influence on my life and I am deeply proud to share this honor with him," the younger Edmonds said. "Without his wisdom, for example, I probably would have dropped out and gone into professional baseball after my first year."
Freddy's first year saw the 6'1", 170-lb. athlete playing on the 1961-1962 basketball team that finished 18-3 and tied for the Mason-Dixon Conference championship, and compiling a 3-0 pitching record before academics sidelined him. Professional baseball offers tempted him.
Edmonds bounced back to compile a 24-3 pitching record at ODU, with an era of 1.61 and 201 career strikeouts. He helped the Monarchs win NCAA Division II East Division championships in 1963 and 1964 and finish second in 1965. The 1964 title came when Edmonds knocked in all four runs pitched the victory. ODU's baseball record during his career was 82-17. He was co-captain in 1964 and 1965.
"I got a lot of satisfaction out of going 2-0 in Yankee Stadium in the playoffs," the fastball pitcher said.
In basketball, as a junior captain he averaged 10.4 points. A co-captain the next year, he averaged 11.1. "I remember myself more as a passer and as a pretty good rebounder for my size," he commented. "I also remember beating Norfolk State in the PhibLant Holiday Tournament when they had Bobby Dandridge, "Pop" Pitts and other great players and were averaging more than 100 points a game.
Edmonds received the 1965 Alumni Association award for outstanding athlete. He graduated in 1966 with a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education, and began teaching. "I thought some about playing professionally but at the time just wanted to teach and coach. The best thing I ever did was to stay in school and graduate. I've never regretted it."
A former assistant basketball coach at Kempsville High School, he was teaching science and physical education at Holland Elementary School in 1987.