Santa Clara Athletics Hall of Fame
As a Bronco, Ralph Giannini was a star on the court. His shooting and ball-handling earned him the nickname “Hot Toddy.” From 1938-1940, Gianni received All-West Coast honors. He was a member of the 1940’s All American team. He and His All-American teammates were known as the ‘Magicians of the Maplewood’ because the team defeated the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters before a crowd of 22,000 fans in Madison Square Garden. When the game was played, it was the largest crowd ever to see a basketball game. For his contributions to Santa Clara’s Basketball program, Giannini was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963.
