The Pickleball Talks PodcastNovember 03, 202600:10:34

Melissa McCurley: Inside the Pickleball Hall of Fame and the Keepers 100

Melissa McCurley got into pickleball when there were about 93 tournaments and 15,000 players, and roughly 80% of them were over 60. Today she is acting president of the Pickleball Hall of Fame and executive vice president of competition for the APP. She is also a U.S. Navy veteran.

We sat down with her at the World Pickleball Conference and Convention in West Palm Beach to talk about how the sport got here and what comes next for its history. She explains Keepers 100, where 100 people give $500 each to help protect the game's legacy, and the plans for a museum and archives ahead of the November 13 induction.

She also pays tribute to John Gulo, whose Professional Pickleball Federation existed before the pro tours, and points to his new book, The Extraordinary Adventures of an Ordinary Man.

What part of pickleball's history should never be forgotten? Tell us in the comments.

The Pickleball Talks is coming to TV on Apple and Roku this January. Until then, you can watch every episode here on YouTube and listen on all the major podcast platforms. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one.

#ThePickleballTalks #PickleballHallOfFame #Pickleball #PickleballHistory #PickleballPodcast