
Connie Mack Stadium
Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium 1909-1970 N 21st. & W Lehigh Ave. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pastel Painting by Bill Sweeney
Home of the Mickey Vernon Sports Collection. Dedicated to preserving the history and memory of Delaware County Sports Legends.
The Mickey Vernon Museum Collection has moved to the Radnor Township Municipal Building, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA.
The collection is now on loan to the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum in the Municipal Building.
Museum hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 4 pm. Saturday and Sunday tours are available by appointment.
For more information, call 610-909-4919.
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Site Visitors – As of 01/01/25
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Sports Rarities
Babe Ruth Day 4/27/1947 Yankee Stadium


“Ballfield to Battlefield and Back”, filmed and narrated by Mickey Vernon and George Case, is a vintage baseball film showing us what life was like in the Majors from 1939 to 1962. These two former All-Star players give us a glimpse of what life was like by those that lived it during that era. The close-up view of Babe Ruth shown above was taken by Mickey on that event-full day of April 27, 1947. The panoramic view of the on-the-field events taken by photographer Charles Huff of the New York Daily News adds to the provenance of Mickey’s image of the Babe. Mickey’s daughter, Gay, provided us with this historic photo via her brother-in-law Chris Brande. For more information on how to obtain the film contact Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or email vankoski21@comcast.net.

Delco Summer Olympians 1912-2024

Art at Delco’s only Sports Museum

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum salutes the artists who commemorate the accomplishments of Delco’s greatest athletes. Behind every amazing sculpture, painting, drawing, and photograph at the museum is an artist who was inspired to capture an extraordinary moment in sports and immortalize it for future generations. Each artist portrays human achievement, and each piece furthers the museum’s mission: to acknowledge excellence and preserve the heritage of our local sports history. Planning a visit to the museum during Delco Arts Week? Below is a quick tour of the world-class artwork that awaits you: At the entrance to the museum at the Radnor Township Municipal Building, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, is Jennifer Frudakis Petry’s larger-than-life bronze sculpture of Radnor High School graduate Emlen Tunnell, a World War II hero and the first African-American enshrined in the Football Hall of Fame Upon entering the building, visitors encounter a large showcase dedicated to Delco baseball great Mickey Vernon. The showcase contains a one-of-a-kind bust signed by the late sculptor Ray Daub, whose work depicts Mickey wearing a Washington Senators cap. After turning the corner toward another showcase, visitors come upon a twelve-inch bronze statue of Harry Kalas, sportscaster of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1971 until he passed away in 2009. The statue was created by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan and belongs to the Shane Victorino collection. Above the statue is a realistic pastel painting of Shibe Park, later known as Connie Mack Stadium, painted by Chadds Ford artist Bill Sweeney. The Mickey Vernon/Danny Murtaugh Gallery includes a pastel pencil-on-paper portrait by local artist Jim Corcoran of baseball Hall-of-Famer Hack Wilson. Nearby, a bas-relief bronze plaque by world-renowned sculptor Zenos Frudakis features Danny Murtaugh, baseball’s three-time manager of the year. Rounding out the baseball gallery is an oil-on-linen portrait by artist Graig Kreindler, who has earned his moniker of Artist of our National Pastime. The portrait depicts Mickey Vernon during his rookie season in 1939. Next, visitors enter the Wide World of Women’s Sports Gallery. It’s said that people spend an average of between fifteen and thirty seconds looking at a work of art at a museum, but anyone studying this 1992 photo by Jerry Lodriguss spends minutes admiring Mary Ellen Clark’s bronze-medal-winning dive. A short stop away is another work by Jimmy Corcoran: a charcoal-pencil-on-paper portrait of Olympic track-and-field athlete Dawn Burrell. Anchoring the showcase are two works dedicated to Fredia Gibbs, Delco’s greatest living athlete. The first, a reduction statue of Fredia, was created by Jennifer Frudakis Petry. High above the statue is the second piece: a four-by-four painting of Fredia, who was a world-champion kickboxer, with Jack Johnson, a world-champion boxer. This work was mailed to the museum by Los Angeles artist Mohammed Mubarak. After finishing their tour of the first floor, visitors can take an elevator to the second-floor scenic overlook, which provides a glorious view of the atrium’s seven larger-than-life portraits by Radnor artist George Rothacker of Hall-of-Fame athletes Leroy Burrell, Janie Barkman Brown, Mickey Vernon, Emlen Tunnell, Paul Arizin, Brendan Hansen, and Lisa Raymond. From such an impressive vantage point, visitors who turn right will find an oil portrait of 1912 Olympic gold medal winner Ted Meredith and the Olympic Gallery named in his honor. At the end of the hall, model builder John Bullock has constructed a model of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Emlen Tunnell, taking a left turn, is yet another charcoal-pencil-on-paper portrait—this one of Emlen Tunnell by resident artist Jim Corcoran. A final gallery showcases Delaware County’s contribution to the boxing world and features “Gloves,” an oil pastel on wood by Jessica Barber. Last but not least, visitors are treated to two recent sculptures by Jennifer Frudakis Petry one of Delco football great Billy “White Shoes” Johnson doing his famous “Funky Chicken” dance and the second of Gertrude “Gertie” Dunn From the Baseball Movie “A League of their Own”. After viewing these works, we hope visitors will give a heartfelt thanks to the artists that have immortalized the inspiring deeds of Delco’s sports legends. Indeed, thanks to the passion and dedication of these artists, we’ve all scored a touchdown and should be dancing in the end zone, just like Billy. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-491
In conjunction with Delco Arts Week the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum will be open for self guided tours, Monday September 23, 2024 through Friday September 27, 2024, 9am to 3pm. The museum is located in the rear of the Radnor Township Municipal Building located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa. Entrance is directly behind the Emlen Tunnell statue For more information contact Jim Vankoski 619-909-4919
Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum full-page ad

For more information,
Contact Rich Pagano– email rp1751@aol.com

High School Athletes



I like to see a (person) proud of the place in which (they live). I like to see (people) live so that (their) place will be proud of (them).” – Abraham Lincoln

SLDC 20th Anniversary Crossword Puzzle

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Sports Memorabilia
Babe Ruth Day 4/27/1947 Yankee Stadium
Champions Walked Here
Champions Walked Here from BNProducers on Vimeo.
“Delco Sports Legends & Veterans” DCHS Honors Delco athletes and their military service
Delaware County’s Connection to Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium
Below is the link to Delaware County’s Connection to Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium video. A Delco Sports Museum Baseball History Classic. For more videos visit www.delcosportsmuseum.org and click the DVD heading at the top of the page for hours of additional sports entertainment. Help us preserve Delco Sports History by making a donation to our museum via our PayPal button on that same website.
Thank you, Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919
Daily Times Sports Figures of the Year
1996: Kate Fonshell, Penncrest High, Villanova, track (Olympic Games) 1997: John Mobley, Chichester High, football (Denver Broncos Supers Bowl Champs) 1998: Bo Ryan, Chester High, basketball coach 1999: Pat Croce, Lansdowne-Aldan High, NBA basketball (76ers owner) 1999: Leroy Burrell, Penn Wood High, Sports Figure of the Millennium, track 2000: Emily deRiel, Haverford High, pentathlon (Olympic silver medal) 2001: Brendan Hansen, Haverford High, swimming (Olympics gold medal) 2002: Mike Scioscia, Springfield High, baseball (World Series champs) 2003: Harry Perretta, Monsignor Bonner High, Villanova, basketball 2004: Brendan Hansen, Haverford High, swimming (Olympics gold medal) 2005: Kevin Clancy, Strath Haven High, football (Delco record for coaching wins) 2006: Vince Papale, Interboro High, football (Invincible movie) 2007: Dan Connor, Strath Haven High, football (PSU All-American) 2008: Fred Pickett, Chester High, basketball (third state title win) 2009: Andy Talley, Haverford High, Villanova, football (NCAA 1-AA title) 2010: Matt Szczur, Villanova, football, baseball (bone marrow donor; MLB draftee) 2011: Philadelphia Union, Chester, soccer 2012: Larry Yarbray, Chester High, basketball (PIAA champions) 2013: Merion Golf Club, Haverford, golf (Hosted national championship tournament) 2014: John Robertson, Villanova, football (bone marrow donor program; All-American) 2015: Joe Crawford, Havertown, basketball (NBA referee) 2016: Jay Wright, Villanova, basketball (NCAA champions) 2017: Jameer Nelson, Chester High basketball (More than 12 years in NBA; earned his diploma from St. Joe in 2018) 2018: Jim Vankoski, Chester High (SLDC Museum). 2019 Natasha Cloud, Cardinal O’Hara, basketball. 2020: Athletes turned healthcare workers, 2021- Mike Ricci Garnet Valley Football Coach. 2022- Union Professional Soccer Coach Jim Curtain, 2023- Joe Klecko NFL Hall of Fame. Nick Mead, Olympic Gold Metal Winner , Rowing 2024
Update from Dave Burman!! Delco HS sports team PIAA state champs thru 2022-2024 season
Total: 117
Baseball (1)
2018 5A Marple Newtown
Boys Basketball (19)
—1953 AAA Yeadon (now Penn Wood)
1958 AAA Haverford
1962 AA Darby (now Penn Wood)
1963 AA Darby-Colwyn (now Penn Wood)
1967 A Darby Township (now Academy Park)
1972 AA Darby-Colwyn (now Penn Wood)
1975 A Darby Township (now Academy Park)
1983 AAA Chester
1989 AAAA Chester
1990 AAAA Glen Mills
1991 AAAA Glen Mills
1994 AAAA Chester
2000 AAAA Chester
2005 AAAA Chester
2008 AAAA Chester
2009 AAAA Penn Wood
AAA Archbishop Carroll
2011 AAAA Chester
2012 AAAA Chester
—1953 AAA Yeadon (now Penn Wood)
1958 AAA Haverford
1962 AA Darby (now Penn Wood)
1963 AA Darby-Colwyn (now Penn Wood)
1967 A Darby Township (now Academy Park)
1972 AA Darby-Colwyn (now Penn Wood)
1975 A Darby Township (now Academy Park)
1983 AAA Chester
1989 AAAA Chester
1990 AAAA Glen Mills
1991 AAAA Glen Mills
1994 AAAA Chester
2000 AAAA Chester
2005 AAAA Chester
2008 AAAA Chester
2009 AAAA Penn Wood
AAA Archbishop Carroll
2011 AAAA Chester
2012 AAAA Chester
Girls Basketball (8)
——————-1976 “AA” Darby-Colwyn (now Penn Wood)
1983 “AAA” Nether Providence (now Strath Haven)
2009 “AAA” Archbishop Carroll
2012 “AAAA” Archbishop Carroll
——————-1976 “AA” Darby-Colwyn (now Penn Wood)
1983 “AAA” Nether Providence (now Strath Haven)
2009 “AAA” Archbishop Carroll
2012 “AAAA” Archbishop Carroll
2021 “5A” Cardinal O’Hara
2022 “5A” Cardinal O’Hara
2023 “6A” Archbishop Carroll
2024 “6A” Cardinal O’Hara
Girls Track and Field (8)
——————————
1981 Chester “AAA”
1983 Chester “AAA”
1990 Penn Wood “AAA”
1991 Penn Wood “AAA”
1994 Chester “AAA”
1994 Chester “AAA”
1996 Penn Wood “AAA”
2006 Strath Haven “AAA”
2023 Haverford “AAA”
Boys Track and Field (12)
——————————–
1978 Darby Township “AA”
1985 Penn Wood “AAA”
1987 Glen Mills “AAA”
1993 Glen Mills “AAA”
1994 Strath Haven “AAA”
1995 Glen Mills “AAA”
1996 Glen Mills “AAA”
1997 Glen Mills “AAA”
1998 Penn Wood “AAA”
1999 Glen Mills “AAA”
2000 Glen Mills “AAA”
2012 Strath Haven “AAA”
Boys Cross Country (1)
——————————
1963 Swarthmore (now Strath Haven) “AA”Girls Cross Country (2)
——————————
2006 Radnor “AAA”
2016 Cardinal O’Hara “AAA”
1963 Swarthmore (now Strath Haven) “AA”Girls Cross Country (2)
——————————
2006 Radnor “AAA”
2016 Cardinal O’Hara “AAA”
Girls Volleyball (1)
————————
2016 Garnet Valley “AAAA”
————————
2016 Garnet Valley “AAAA”
Boys Volleyball (9)
——————–
Haverford (1966, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 74, 76, 81) Boys Lacrosse (10)
———————–
2014 Penncrest
2015 Radnor
2016 Springfield
2017 Springfield “AA”
——————–
Haverford (1966, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 74, 76, 81) Boys Lacrosse (10)
———————–
2014 Penncrest
2015 Radnor
2016 Springfield
2017 Springfield “AA”
2021 Radnor “AAA”
2022 Radnor “AAA”
2023 Radnor “AAA”
2023 Marple Newtown “AA”
2024 Marple Newtown “AA”
2024 Radnor “AAA”
Girls Lacrosse (14)
——————–
2009 Radnor
2010 Radnor
2011 Garnet Valley
2012 Garnet Valley
2014 Garnet Valley
2015 Garnet Valley
2017 Radnor “AA”
2017 Archbishop Carroll (Radnor) “AAA”
——————–
2009 Radnor
2010 Radnor
2011 Garnet Valley
2012 Garnet Valley
2014 Garnet Valley
2015 Garnet Valley
2017 Radnor “AA”
2017 Archbishop Carroll (Radnor) “AAA”
2019 Springfield “AA”
2021 Archbishop Carroll (Radnor) “AA”
2021 Radnor “AAA”
2022 Archbishop Carroll (Radnor) “AA”
2023 Archbishop Carroll (Radnor) “AA”
2024 Archbishop Carroll (Radnor) “AA”
Boys Soccer (6)
—————
1986 Strath Haven “AAA”
1991 Strath Haven “AAA”
1995 Strath Haven “AAA”
1996 Strath Haven “AAA”
2001 Strath Haven “AAA”
2004 Radnor “AA”
—————
1986 Strath Haven “AAA”
1991 Strath Haven “AAA”
1995 Strath Haven “AAA”
1996 Strath Haven “AAA”
2001 Strath Haven “AAA”
2004 Radnor “AA”
Girls Soccer (3)
—————
1997 Strath Haven “AA”
1999 Radnor “AA”
2002 Strath Haven “AAA” Boys Golf (2)
—————-
2006 Radnor
2015 Radnor Girls Golf (1)
—————–
2012 Radnor
—————
1997 Strath Haven “AA”
1999 Radnor “AA”
2002 Strath Haven “AAA” Boys Golf (2)
—————-
2006 Radnor
2015 Radnor Girls Golf (1)
—————–
2012 Radnor
Football (2)
————
1999 “AAA” Strath Haven
2000 “AAA” Strath Haven
————
1999 “AAA” Strath Haven
2000 “AAA” Strath Haven
Boys Tennis (2)
——————-
2001 Strath Haven “AAA”
2002 Strath Haven “AAA” Boys Swimming (3)
————————-
1994 Strath Haven “AAA”
1995 Strath Haven “AAA”
2002 Radnor “AA”
——————-
2001 Strath Haven “AAA”
2002 Strath Haven “AAA” Boys Swimming (3)
————————-
1994 Strath Haven “AAA”
1995 Strath Haven “AAA”
2002 Radnor “AA”
Girls Swimming (1)
————————-
1983 Radnor “AAA”
Field Hockey (2)
——————
1975 Haverford “AAA”
1982 Haverford “AAA”
Softball (1)
—————-
2014 Springfield “AAA”
Rifle (4)
———-
Interboro (1964, 67, 69, 74)
Competitive Spirit-Cheerleading (5)
———————————————-
2016 Springfield “Large Varsity”
2016 Haverford “Medium Varsity”
2019 Garnet Valley “Large Varsity”
2022 Garnet Valley 3A “Small Varsity”
2023 Garnet Valley 3A “Small Varsity”
Team State Champs
Swarthmore/Nether Providence/Strath Haven 18
Radnor 17
Haverford 14
Chester 11
Darby, Darby-Colwyn, Penn Wood 11
Glen Mills 9
Garnet Valley 8 Archbishop Carroll 9 Springfield 5
Interboro 4
Cardinal O’Hara 4
Darby Township (Now Academy Park) 3
Marple Newtown 3
Penncrest 1
SLDC Museum’s “Scenic Overlook”

SLDC Museum
301 Iven Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: (610) 909-4919
Jim Vankoski SLDC Museum- Curator www.delcosportsmuseum.org
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