Hall of Fame
James A. Pinkerton was the varsity baseball coach at Ogdensburg Free Academy in Section X where he accumulated 316 wins over a 20-year span. Pinkerton began teaching at OFA in 1969 and during that time he coached three different sports: football, baseball and volleyball. During his tenure as baseball coach, he led his team to the NYSPHSAA State Final Four three times, which included a Runner Up finish once, and he guided his teams to ten Section X Class B championships. Over Mr. Pinkerton’s last 14 years in baseball, his teams were a combined 116-26 in league play sparked by a win streak of 54 straight league wins during that time. In 1996, Pinkerton passed away after battling cancer but he still has a spiritual presence at OFA. A commemorative plaque dedicated in his honor sits on a large rock at the entrance of the athletic facilities at the school that includes his famous phrase: “Play to Win. Compete With Class. Display Sportsmanship. Never Give Up”.