Battle of the Network Stars Hall of Fame

One of the most entertaining shows of all time is coming back to television.
Battle of the Network Stars which a competition show where stars from the three big networks; ABC, CBS, NBC, would compete in a series of sporting events such as swimming, kayaking, 3-on-3 football, and running relay, which was climaxed by a tug-of-war to determine the winner, held 19 specials from the fall of 1976 through 1988.
After the initial BOTNS in 1976, ABC would televise another competition every spring and fall from 1977-1984, then one more in 1985, before a three-year hiatus with the last one being held in 1988.
I was able to catch these shows on YouTube and ESPN Classic and have become a huge fan of these Battles, so much so that I decided to comply a Hall of Fame for who I think are the greatest celebrities to ever partake in Battle of the Network Stars.
In all, there are 28 celebrities on this list based mostly on their athletic achievements and how many times they appeared on the show.
Anyway, here is my Battle of the Network Stars Hall of Fame.
Scott Baio, Happy Days(ABC)

Baio made six appearances on BOTNS, tied for 2nd-most, and was the best competitor when it came to the obstacle course.
Highlight: Baio sets a then record time for the obstacle course in the May 1981 edition.

Valerie Bertinelli, One Day At A Time(CBS)

Cute as a button, Bertinelli appeared in four Battles(November 1977, November 1978, May 1979, and November 1979), and was a great player when it came to the obstacle course.

Highlight: Despite an injury to her midsection, Valerie beats Susan Richardson of ABC's Eight is Enough in the obstacle course final of the May 1979 battle.

Robert Conrad, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Centennial The Duke, A Man Called Sloane(NBC)

Conrad was the fiercest competitor, or the biggest lunatic, depending on your point of view, to compete on Battle of the Network Stars as he always wore his emotions on his sleeves and was not afraid to voice his displeasure when a call didn't go his way in his six appearances(1976, February 1977, November 1977, November 1978, May 1979, November 1979)where he helped NBC to three victories.

Highlight: A compilation of Conrad's arguments throughout his various appearances on BOTNS.

Billy Crystal, Soap(ABC)

Crystal had dreams of being a baseball player and had a baseball scholarship to Marshall University until the college shut down the baseball program, leading Crystal into comedy.

Crystal got his chance to show off why he could have been a great baseball player in three BOTNS appearances(November 1977, November 1978, May 1979).

Highlight: Crystal throws four touchdown passes in the 3-on-3 football competition of the May 1979 battle

(The other 5 points came courtesy of a pass interference penalty on CBS)
William Devane, From Here To Eternity(NBC) and Knots Landing(NBC)

Devane made three appearances on Battle of the Network Stars for NBC(November 1978, May 1979, May 1980) helping them to one victory and then returning with CBS as its team captain in three straight battles(December 1983, May 1984, December 1984), leading CBS to a victory in the May 1984 edition.
Highlight: Devane throwing four touchdown passes in the 3-on-3 football competition in the May 1984 battle(Two to Abby Dalton and two to Richard Dean Anderson).

Kevin Dobson, Kojak and Knots Landing(CBS)

A former semi-pro baseball player, Dobson appeared in the first four Battles and then made one more appearance in the October 1982 edition as a member of the cast of Knots Landing.
Highlight: Dobson beats Levar Burton in a exciting race during the obstacle course portion of the spring 1977 BOTNS.

Greg Evigan, BJ & The Bear and My Two Dads(NBC)

Evigan made three appearances on BOTNS between 1979 and 1980(he did not participate in the May 1980 edition), then came back to captain the NBC team in the 1988 edition.
The teen idol was a very versatile athlete as he was able to compete in almost any of the events.
Highlight: Evigan passes Dick Van Patten in the kayak relay of the May 1979 battle.

Melissa Gilbert, Little House on the Prairie(NBC)

Gilbert was one of the many child stars to participate in BOTNS as she made five appearances, with her first coming in the May 1978 at the age of 13, and the last in May 1982 at the age of 17.
Highlight: The 13-year-old Gilbert beats the gorgeous Victoria Principal in the obstacle course of the spring 1978 Battle.

Erin Gray, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Silver Spoons(NBC)

Colonial Wilma Deering proved she was more than a pretty face(Gray was a model before she was an actress) with three appearances in Battle of the Network Stars(November 1979, December 1980, and 1985).
Highlight: Gray puts NBC in the lead of the kayak relay of the November 1979 battle.

Mark Harmon, Flamingo Road and St. Elsewhere(NBC)

Harmon was a natural for Battle of the Network Stars as he was the starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins from 1972-1973 leading the Bruins to a 17-5 record.
Harmon showed off his great athletic skills on four BOTNS, though he was not allowed to play quarterback during the 3-on-3 football competition.
Highlight: Harmon breaks Baio's record for the fastest time on the obstacle course in the May 1982 edition.

Gregory Harrison, Trapper John M.D.(CBS)

Harrison was his generation's George Clooney, in that he was the heartthrob doctor of a medical drama, Trapper John M.D. 
An avid surfer and swimmer, Harrison made four straight appearances on BOTNS(November 1979-May 1981) and met his future wife, Randi Oakes on the show.
Highlight: Harrison shows off his strong swimming skills as he catches Scott Baio from behind to give CBS a win in the swimming portion of the December 1980 edition.

Richard Hatch, Streets of San Francisco and Battlestar Galactica(ABC)

The original Captain Apollo was a gifted athlete as he was a lifeguard, gymnast, and pole vaulter in his youth before he got into acting and replaced Michael Douglas on The Streets of San Francisco, which he represented in his first two Battles(1976 and February 1977, then Battlestar Galactica(November 1978 and May 1979).
Highlight: Hatch makes one of the greatest catches in the history of the 3-on-3 football competition with this diving catch in the November 1978 edition.

John James, Dynasty(ABC)

James was the most frequent member of the cast of Dynasty to appear on BOTNS as he participated in four battles and was the captain of the ABC team in the May 1983 and May 1984 editions(ABC won in May 1983 but finished 3rd in May 1984).
Highlight: James pulls off an huge upset as he defeats Hill Street Blues and former UCLA basketball star Michael Warren in the obstacle course during the May 1982 battle.

Ann Jillian, It's A Living(ABC)

Jillian made three straight appearances(May 1980-November 1981) and was the only female competitor to go 3-for-3 in the baseball throwing contest.
Highlight: Jillian setting the record as she dunks Hill Street Blues' James B. Sikking three times in the November 1981 BOTNS.

Gabe Kaplan, Welcome Back Kotter(ABC) and Lewis & Clark(NBC)

Mr. Kotter captained the ABC team in the first five Battles and lead them to two victories, while finishing in 2nd in the other three, then captained the NBC team in the November 1981 battle and led them to victory.
Highlight: After an controversial relay in the inaugural Battle of the Network Stars, Kaplan decides to race NBC captain Robert Conrad in a run-off which Kaplan wins.

Brianne Leary, CHIPS(NBC)

Leary participated in two BOTNS(November 1978 and May 1979) thanks to her role as Officer Sindy Cahill on CHIPS as she displayed her great athleticism that she obtained as a high school gymnast, where she finished in top three of the Arizona state championships in 1978.
Highlight: Leary blows past Susan Richardson and Catherine Bach during her leg of the running relay in the May 1979 battle.(Sorry for the bad audio)

Heather Locklear, TJ Hooker & Dynasty(ABC)

You would think the busiest actress of the 1980s would not have time to participate in Battle of the Network Stars?

But Miss Locklear took time between filming her two shows, T.J. Hooker and Dynasty, to make five straight appearances in Battle of the Network Stars(October 1982-December 1984) and was maybe the best female runner to ever participate in the show.

Highlight: Despite being sick, Locklear brings ABC from 3rd to 1st in the running relay in the May 1983 edition.

Penny Marshall, Lavrene & Shirley(ABC)

An avid sports fan and memorabilia collector, Marshall got to live out her dreams of being a great athlete during the first three Battles as she was a force on the obstacle course and running relay.
Highlight: Marshall makes two touchdown catches in the 3-on-3 football competition to put ABC in the tug-of-war of the February 1977 battle.

Kristy McNichol, Family(ABC)

McNichol was the first child star to appear on the Battle of the Network Stars as he made her first appearance in the February 1977 edition at the age of 14.
McNichol would come back for the November 1977 battle and then one more time in the November 1979 battle, displaying a dominance on the obstacle course and kayak.
Highlight: Kristy beats Karen Grassle of Little House on the Prairie, not once, but twice on the obstacle course in the February 1977 BOTNS.

William Moses, Falcon Crest(CBS)

Just years after giving up a chance to be a basketball player, Moses showed his athletic prowess in four editions of Battle of the Network Stars(May 1983, December 1983, May 1984, 1985).
Highlight: In back-to-back BOTNS(May 1983 and December 1983), Moses anchors the CBS team to victory in the swimming portion as he chases down Adrian Zmed and Geoffrey Scott, respectively.

Judy Norton-Taylor, The Waltons(CBS)

Mary Ellen Walton was one of the best female athletes in BOTNS history as she put her skills from competitive skiing, tennis, and horse jumping to good use in three appearances(December 1979, December 1980, May 1981), especially in the 3-on-3 football competition.
Highlight: A compilation of JNT making four touchdown catches in the 3-on-3 football portion of the Dec 1980 and May 1981 Battles.

Randi Oakes, CHIPS(NBC)

Oakes participated in five BOTNS and co-hosted another, but she gains entry into the BOTNS Hall of Fame because she was the celebrity that was dunked the most times in the history of Battle of the Network Stars with a total of 16 times.
Highlight: Here is all but one of 16 trips into the dunk tank.

OK, that was a bit unfair to Mrs. Gregory Harrison, so here is a clip of Oakes giving NBC the lead in the running relay of the May 1980 battle.

Tom Selleck, Magnum P.I. (CBS)

Although he appeared in only two Battles(December 1980 and May 1981), Selleck helped lead CBS to two victories, thanks to his athleticism which earned him a basketball scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he played only 10 games before getting into acting.
Highlight: Selleck makes a quarterback sack and a great interception in the 3-on-3 football portion of the December 1980 battle.

William Shatner, Little Women(NBC) and T.J. Hooker(ABC)

Captain Kirk participated in the November 1978 BOTNS as a  member of the NBC team, then returned a few years later to captain the ABC team in four BOTNS(May 1982, October 1982, November 1983, December 1984), leading them to two victories.
Highlight: Shatner turns a tight kayak race into a easy ABC win in the October 1982 battle.

Parker Stevenson, The Hardy Boys(ABC) and Falcon Crest(CBS)

One half of the Hardy Boys, Stevenson made two appearances with ABC(November 1977 and May 1978) then made one more with CBS in December 1984.

Though he was perfect for the kayak competition as he was a member of the rowing team at the University of Princeton, Stevenson was one of the stronger athletes in BOTNS history.

Highlight: In his leg of the relay in the May 1978 battle, Stevenson takes the lead from Hawaii Five-O's James MacArthur(Danno), then maintains the lead despite twisting an ankle.

Charlene Tilton, Dallas(CBS)

While there were better female athletes than her, Tilton makes the Hall simply because she appeared in the most Battle of the Network Stars with a record seven appearances.
Highlight: Tilton helps the CBS team win the tug-of-war in the May 1981 BOTNS.

Joan Van Ark, Knots Landing(CBS)

Van Ark made five appearances on BOTNS (May and December 1980, May and October 1982, then November 1983) and co-hosted the 1985 edition.
Van Ark was an avid marathon runner making her a key figure for CBS on their running relay team.
Highlight: Van Ark helps CBS defeat NBC in the tug-of-war of the May 1982 battle despite the fact that NBC had three men while CBS had three woman(Van Ark, Danielle Brisebois, Catherine Bach) to fit under the 800-pound limit for a team.