Take a look back at center #61 Nick Hardwick's 11 strong NFL seasons with the San Diego Chargers as he will be inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame at the Salute to the Champions on Feb. 21, 2017.
For the second week in a row, San Diego could not score in the second half and saw another fourth quarter lead evaporate as they fell to the Cincinnati Bengals 20-13 on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at Qualcomm Stadium.
Sunday, Dec. 23, 2013 at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers defeated the Raiders 26-13.
Hardwick drafted as 3rd round pick, 66th overall in 2004
San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick (61) works out at San Diego Chargers training camp, August 4, 2004 in Carson, California. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Center Nick Hardwick #61 and guard Toniu Fonoti #77 of the San Diego Chargers block during a pass play against the Denver Broncos on December 5, 2004 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 20-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Center Nick Hardwick #61 of the San Diego Chargers points toward the defense prior to snapping the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs on January 2, 2005 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Chiefs 24-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Center Nick Hardwick #61 gets ready to snap the ball on the line of scrimmage against the Buffalo Bills on November 20, 2005 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Bills 48-10. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
76 - LT Branden Albert
76 - LT Branden Albert
70 - RT Ja'Wuan James
70 - RT Ja'Wuan James
84 - TE Jordan Cameron
84 - TE Jordan Cameron
34 - RB/KR Damien Williams
34 - RB/KR Damien Williams
3 - K Andrew Franks
3 - K Andrew Franks
52 - MLB Kelvin Sheppard
52 - MLB Kelvin Sheppard
21 - CB Brent Grimes
21 - CB Brent Grimes
4 - P Matt Darr
4 - P Matt Darr
92 - LS John Denney
92 - LS John Denney
28 - CB Bobby McCain
28 - CB Bobby McCain
17 - QB Ryan Tannehill
17 - QB Ryan Tannehill
90 - DT Earl Mitchell
90 - DT Earl Mitchell
18 - WR Rishard Matthews
18 - WR Rishard Matthews
53 - OLB Jelani Jenkins
53 - OLB Jelani Jenkins
51 - C Mike Pouncey
51 - C Mike Pouncey
31 - S Michael Thomas
31 - S Michael Thomas
San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick (61) grapples with New York Jets defensive tackle Sione Pouha (91) during an AFC Divisional Playoff game against the New York Jets, January 17, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Jets won the game 17-14. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick (61) pulls and blocks during the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the New York Jets, January 17, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Jets won the game 17-14. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick holds a football during NFL football training camp, Friday, July 30, 2010, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Thursday, October 2, 2014, Chargers partner with Komen San Diego to service the annual free mammograms to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness month at Qualcomm Stadium.
34 - Donald Brown
The Carolina Panthers put up 21 quick points on the Chargers, and San Diego was not able to recover as they lost 31-7 on Sunday, December 16, 2012 at Qualcomm Stadium.
San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick (61) comes onto the field before an NFL pre-season football game against the Green Bay Packers Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012 is San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Former San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick, women's basketball standout Candice Wiggins and the late Johnny Ritchey, a pioneer with the San Diego Padres when they were in the Pacific Coast League, will be inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame at the Salute to the Champions on Feb. 21, 2017 at the Town & Country Resort and Convention Center.
Few San Diego Chargers have had the quiet impact Hardwick had while playing center from 2004, when he was the team's third round draft pick out of Purdue University, to 2014 when he retired.
The 6-foot-4 Hardwick, who played at 305 pounds, made an immediate impact, starting all 14 games his rookie season and never looked back. No. 61 was rock-solid in the middle of the line, earning a 2007 Pro Bowl berth where he was the back-up center.
Hardwick started all 16 games in each of his final two years during which time he was named to the Chargers 50th Anniversary team. He has remained in the spotlight as a radio sports personality.
Wiggins will be the first women's basketball player to enter the Breitbard Hall of Fame after brilliant careers at La Jolla Country Day, Stanford University, USA Basketball and the WNBA.
She was a member of two state high school championship teams, advancing to the title game all four years, at LJCD. There was no slowdown at Stanford where she set school and Pac-10 career scoring records, winning the Wade Trophy as the National Player of the Year her senior season when she led the Cardinal into the NCAA title game before falling to Tennessee.
In an eight-year pro career she was a major contributor in leading the Minnesota Lynx to the WNBA title in 2011.
Johnny Ritchey was to the Padres and Pacific Coast League what Jackie Robinson was to the Dodgers and Major League baseball.
Ritchey, a homegrown San Diego High graduate, broke the PCL color barrier in 1948 (a year after Robinson joined the Dodgers) after batting .378 playing in the Negro American League. Although he batted .323 in his first season, it was still difficult being the lone African-American but Ritchey, a catcher, excelled none-the-less.
He was traded to the Portland Beavers in 1949 and bounced around the PCL and Western International League, where he led the league in batting in 1952 with a .343 average. Ritchey, who never played in the majors, retired in 1956 and passed away in 2003.
For ticket information please contact Terri Rochon at terrir@sdhoc.com or 619-699-2302.
ABOUT THE HALL OF CHAMPIONS
The "Hall" is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating outstanding local athletic achievement and providing sports programming to the community. The Hall was launched by the Breitbard Athletic Foundation, which was founded in 1946 by the legendary Bob Breitbard to recognize significant athletic achievement in San Diego. Through its awards and recognition programs and vigilant focus on the community of San Diego and its betterment, the Hall is devoted to motivating and inspiring youth of all ages to reach their full potential. For more information, please visit SDHOC.
