Hall of Fame
Hurst, of Olmsted Township, Ohio, was once of the many talented baseball players on the 1981 NCAA Division III National championship squad. In fact, Hurst was the pitcher on the mound when the Pioneers won the final game.
Hurst was first team All-American in 1982 and third team in 1981 as he earned four letters in baseball. Hurst was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1981, but didn't sign. He wasn't drafted his senior season, but signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians and played a half season in their farm system. He was later signed by the St. Louis Cardinals, but his career was cut shirt after an arm injury.
"That was frustration because I think I could have made it," he said.
Hurst, who started at Kettering Fairmont East High School, was offered a scholarship from Ohio State University, but the tall, skinny kid decided the rich baseball tradition at Marietta was what he wanted.
"Ohio State wasn't very good then and didn't have much going for it." He said. "But Marietta was what I wanted. When I visited, the baseball team was in the World Series and I just got caught up in all the excitement."
Since graduating from Marietta, Hurst has been working a territorial sales representative. He and his wife Teresa have a son, Shane. Hurst also has two step-children, Jes Salter and Brianna Salter.
