Suffolk

Ellis “Sonny” Lane earned the reputation as one of the classiest shortstops Middlesex County has ever produced. He was consistently recognized as simply “the best around” throughout high school, college and amateur baseball and was known by head coach George Doucet, a member of the inaugural Suffolk Athletic Hall of Fame class, as the “best position player” he ever coached. 

Lane’s resume, athletically, academically and professionally, reads like a work of fiction. 

At Suffolk, his lightning speed on the base path and unsurpassed range of motion allowed for flawless fielding on the left side of infield over his four-year career as a starting infielder in the 60s.   

Not only was he a consistent contributor on the diamond, but was a standout player for Suffolk Hall of Famer Jim “Coach” Nelson on the hardwood for two intramural basketball seasons. 

Prior to Suffolk, Lane played amateur ball. He began those days with the Wakefield Merchants before joining the Hosmer Chiefs, where he led the team to five league championships over the next six years. In 1961, he was selected as the Suburban Twilight League’s Rookie of the Year before going on to win an unprecedented four consecutive MVP awards from 1962-65.  

Through night courses and weekend classes, Lane completed his Bachelors of Arts in government in 1968 with a minor in philosophy. 

Following his playing days, Lane turned in his cleats in for a whistle. He coached Wakefield High School’s Boys Varsity Basketball Team for 17 years before taking over as Melrose High School’s Athletic Director, a post he held for 13 years.  

The Stoneham, Massachusetts, native got his athletic career underway at Stoneham High School. Lane was a three-year varsity player on the basketball and baseball teams, and played his senior year on the gridiron as well. He batted over .400 in his junior and senior seasons, and as the quarterback of the SHS football team, his senior season in 1961, scored every point in a win over Lexington.  

Lane is no stranger when it comes to Hall of Fame inductions and honors. His list of accolades include a charter member of the Stoneham Hall of Fame, the Wakefield High Hall of Fame as a basketball coach, where he had a 276-111 record, the Massachusetts State Basketball Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Intercity League Hall of Fame.   

On top of being enshrined into numerous Halls of Fame, Lane was an Oswalt Award winner for reaching high ethical standards and sportsmanship, and was Division II Coach of the Year three times. He also received the National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Award and was nominated National High School Coach of the Year twice. 

Lane is one of two baseball players to be enshrined as part of the 2022 class along with Darwin Hernandez, BS ’98, MSCJ ’02. Overall, he is the 13th baseball player to be initiated into the hall.