Four PIL players and coaches have been inducted into the National Baseball Conference Hall of Fame since 1992: Harold Pyatte (2005), Barry Aiden (2011), Taylor Thompson (2016) and David Benson (2025). Each of these four left an indelible mark on Pacific Northwest amateur baseball. Three of them (Aden, Thompson, and Benson) formed the core foundation of the legendary Seattle Studs dynasty, while Pyatte built a historic legacy just down the road with the Everett Merchants.
Harold Pyatte (Inducted 2005)
- Role: Coach / General Manager (Everett Merchants)
- Legacy: Pyatte’s amateur baseball career stretched through an incredible six decades as a player and manager. He took over the Everett franchise in the 1973 season to keep semi-pro ball alive in Snohomish County, serving as head coach for 50 years until his retirement after the 2023 season. He led the Merchants to an NBC World Series Championship in 1988. Over his historic tenure, he coached more than 100 players who moved on to professional baseball, including nine future Major Leaguers.
Barry Aden (Inducted 2011)
- Role: Head Coach / Manager (Seattle Studs)
- Legacy: Aden was the masterful architect behind the Seattle Studs’ rise into a national amateur powerhouse. Known for his player-first, hands-off managerial style—often letting his players call their own pitches and positioning—he fostered a unique, tight-knit club culture. Under his guidance, the Studs dominated the PIL and routinely advanced deep into the NBC World Series tournament in Wichita, establishing a multi-decade championship threat.
Taylor Thompson (Inducted 2016)
- Role: Pitcher (Seattle Studs)
- Legacy: Thompson defied conventional pitching wisdom by completely baffling hitters with an unheralded, slow-velocity arsenal. Legendarily throwing around 65 mph, he used extraordinary movement, pristine control, and masterful changes of speed to strike out elite hitters across the country. He served as a premier ace for Coach Aden during the early chapters of the Studs’ golden era.
David Benson (Inducted 2025)
- Role: Pitcher (Seattle Studs)
- Legacy: Benson stands as one of the most durable and statistically dominant pitchers in the modern wood-bat era of the NBC World Series. Over 12 summers from 2008 to 2019, he made 20 appearances in Wichita, logging an outstanding 10-3 record with a 2.85 ERA. He holds modern tournament records for the most decisions, starts, and innings pitched, anchoring the team to three NBC World Series titles.