The champion softballer will be inducted into the ACT Sport Hall of Fame at the end of November more than 20 years after he fell into the sport.

Goolagong was sick of being a spectator at his sister Leanne's matches after his Saturday morning cricket, so he decided to see what the fuss was about.

His decision to pick up a glove and ball led him on a journey around the globe, becoming a world champion in 2009 and named the best international player.

"I started playing in about 1996 as a 14-year-old. I used to play cricket in the morning and my sister would play softball, so I had to go and watch all afternoon," Goolagong said.

"I thought I may as well play if I'm going to be here and it just took off from there.

"The fact my family, my parents and sister, were involved in the game and I became good mates with Andrew Kirkpatrick straight away. It was just the mateship and it just grew from there."

Goolagong, Canberra Raiders great Alan Tongue and tennis official Ken Willis will be honoured at a function on November 29 when they become the latest additions to Canberra's greatest athletes.

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Goolagong was shocked when he got the call, despite being added to the Softball Australia Hall of Fame at the end of last year.

"I didn't expect that," Goolagong said.

"I'm a bit dumbfounded to be honest because there's a rich history of sport in the ACT.

"To be in that sort of company is a pretty cool privilege. To be there with someone like Alan Tongue ... I'm a bit beside myself."

Goolagong finished his Australian softball career in 2013, but played professional in the United States until three years ago.

He made his Australian debut as a teenager in 2001 and won nine national titles with a star-studded ACT side before he retired for the first time in 2009.

The nephew of tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley was rated as one of the best players in the world before finishing his career in New York.

"I tried to live the dream a little bit longer [in the US]," Goolagong said.

"I remember winning my first national title in 2001 was a big thing. In juniors [the ACT] usually came last every year, so to win a national title was pretty sweet.

"I've been fortunate enough to be on several winning teams. I won the ISC world series in North America, where the top 35 teams play for the title.

"There was also the world championship ... I got to do that with a few of my best mates. To be able to travel the world and win big titles with someone like Andrew Kirkpatrick, who I played junior ball with, was amazing."

Goolagong played for the ACT for 12 years and played 110 matches for Australia.

He joins Bob, Laing and Mike Harrow as men's softball representatives in the hall of fame.

"I've been very fortunate to be surrounded by good players and coaches. Bob was the national coach for a number of years and Laing was a massive part of that as well," Goolagong said.