Anderson, Henneman announced as inductees into Maryland Sports Athletic Hall of Fame

The United States finished the 2016 Summer Olympic Games with an astounding 46 gold medals.

Nearly 40 percent of those came from athletes who call Maryland home.

It was a remarkable few weeks for those U.S. athletes who, along with representing their country, competed for the Old Line State.

But it was also a representation of the state's exceptional athletic history. Each athlete began their journey at a young age and worked tirelessly to achieve success.

And for six all-time Maryland athletes, Tuesday's success came in the form of the announcement that they will be the newest inductees into the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame. The class of 2016 will include five men and one woman, including former Orioles outfielder and current club vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson.

"I still struggled with the Orioles, as you know, for the first four years," Anderson said, "and eventually I started playing well. I just love the fans, love the city, the stadium so that became the team that I really, my desire was to play my entire (career) with the Orioles."

Anderson played with the Orioles from 1988 to 2001. Though he hasn't played for the Birds in 15 years, Anderson still ranks high on several Orioles career leader lists, including runs (fifth), walks (third), hits (fifth) and extra-base hits (fourth). He is arguably best known for his breakout 1996 season in which he hit a career-high 50 home runs and finished in the top 10 in American League MVP voting.

Along with Anderson's induction, another familiar media face around Camden Yards was honored, as former newspaper reporter and current Major League Baseball official scorer Jim Henneman was given the John F. Steadman Lifetime Achievement Award.

"I'm an athletic supporter, I'm not here for anything I did while wearing one," Henneman joked.

Henneman began his writing career in 1958 with The News American and also spent time at The Evening Sun and The Baltimore Sun. Currently he shares his time between writing for PressBox and games spent as an official scorer for Major League Baseball. Henneman will also tell those he meets about his claim to fame of having seen more Orioles games in person than anyone ever.

"Any of you that know me or know my history, just to be mentioned in Steadman's name is enough," Henneman said through choked-back tears.

The other inductees include 10-time winner of the American Power Boat Association Wheeler Baker, football legend Louis Carter, former America's Cup winner and current ESPN sailing analyst Gary Jobson, Johns Hopkins lacrosse star Jack Thomas and soocer great Laurie Schwoy. Schwoy became the first women's soccer player inducted into the Hall of Fame.