100th anniversary of the Birth of Emlen Tunnell

March 29, 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late great Emlen Tunnell.
Emlen Tunnell Statue by sculptor Jennifer Frudakis Petry, drops anchor at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum located at 301 Iven Avenue Radnor, Pa. 19087

One of the primary missions of the Sports Legends of Delaware County is to celebrate accomplishments that connect generations of local fans, as we share our history with the global community in the world of sports.

Emlen Tunnell rose from humble beginnings to become the first African-American enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Recognized as one of the NFL’s top 100 players of all time, he was awarded the U. S. Coast Guard’s Silver Lifesaving Medal for heroism in WWII, and is regarded as one of the greatest athletes ever from Delaware County.

March 29, 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Emlen Tunnell. On October 15, 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard  commissioned its 45th Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter (FRC),  named in honor of Delaware County Steward’s Mate 1st Class Emlen Lewis Tunnell, a Radnor High School 1942 graduate.  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a military ship carries the name of a professional athlete. Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919  www.delcosportsmusum.org

Gertie Dunn sculpture’s comments

Gertie Dunn, from the artist’s perspective:

When Jim Vankoski, Phil Damiani, and Rich Pagano approached me to create a statue to honor Gertie Dunn, I knew it would be an exciting project.

To say Gertie Dunn is an inspiration is an understatement. She is one of the greatest female athletes of all time and was born and raised right here, in Delco, Pennsylvania. She played multiple sports, including field hockey, lacrosse, and golf, and was named Rookie of the Year in 1952 while playing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Along with the entire league, she was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. They even made a film, A League of Their Own, about the extraordinary female baseball players of that time. In gest, Gertie shared with Jim that Madonna played her role in the movie.

Making a statue is often a group effort, and between the photos Jim supplied me with and the even harder-to-find photos Gertie’s niece, Valerie Dunn, shared with me, I had everything I needed to capture her amazing energy and grace as an athlete.

The pose for the statue is of Gertie playing shortstop in a vintage uniform from the era. She is touching second base with one foot and striding forward to throw the baseball after just catching it—all while holding the ball in proper shortstop form. She is staring ahead, poised to let go of the ball, while the breeze tosses her hair and skirt to one side. It was easy to imagine her at that moment. This type of commissioned sculpture is a pure joy for me to make. I found it immensely rewarding to create a statue that will help keep her memory alive.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Frudakis-Petry, sculptor

Phil Damiani Obituary

Philip W. Damiani, Jr.

May 16, 1950 – January 26, 2024

Philip W. Damiani Jr., a lifetime resident of Media, PA, passed away January 26, 2024 at the age of 73.  A local sports enthusiast, Phil was known for his contributions to preserving the legacy of successful athletes, coaches, and teams throughout Media and all of Delaware County.

Phil was a graduate of Penncrest High School, Class of 1968.  He continued his undergraduate studies at Villanova University and obtained his master’s degree from Bryn Mawr College. Phil retired as the Executive Director of Court Services of Delaware County. His career included many years as the director of the Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center and as the director of Adult Probation and Parole.

Phil was passionate about local sports and was a great champion of Delaware County athletics. He had great success with Delco League Baseball in the 1970s as both a player and manager of the Media Bombers.  He was inducted into the Ring of Honor at Penncrest High School and was an integral member and driving force of the Media Old Timers (Media Area Sports Hall of Fame). He was a founding member of the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum and was instrumental in securing the placement of statues for local legends such as Emlen Tunnell, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, Fredia Gibbs and Gertrude “Gertie” Dunn.

Phil did so much for so many people and never wanted anything in return. Donations in memory of Phil are being accepted via the website Paypal www.delcosportsmuseum.org or by mailing your tax-deductible check to the

Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum, 301 Iven Ave. Wayne, PA 19087.

Happy Holidays from the Delco Sports Museum

From the expression on the faces of these caricatures, it would seem as though Bob Lemon, at top third from right, is the only player getting a lump of coal in his Christmas stocking from grumpy Boston Red Sox manager, Mike Higgins, top second from left. Hope Bob cheers up in time to Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  A 12″x18″ print of this signature illustration, without the Christmas symbols, on heavy stock suitable for framing, is available from the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum. www.delcosportsmuseum.org Contact Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net   Of the over 200 players that signed Mickey’s Horsehide only 10 remain. If you would like a list of those still living  check www.delcosportsmuseum.org and go to the this month page.

Free College Sports Event

 

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum presents a free seminar on “How to Navigate the College Sports Recruiting Process.” Tom Kovic, president and founder of Victory Collegiate Consulting, will offer some sage advice to those interested in knowing the inside game of negotiating the athletic recruiting process. By the end of the seminar, families will understand the strategies that college coaches use when recruiting prospects for all sports.

The SLDC Museum, located in the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue, Wayne, Pennsylvania, invites you and your student-athletes to this free seminar, to be held Sunday November 12, 2023. Doors will open at 1:00 p.m., and the seminar is expected to begin at 1:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.delcosportsmuseum.org or www.victoryrecruiting.com. Although the seminar is free, those planning to attend must register in advance. Seating will be limited to the first 100 registrants. To register, contact Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

SLDC Salutes Military Athletes Poster

It’s that time of the year again, when the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum presents their annual Book Signing Extravaganza. So, if you are looking for that perfect stocking stuff-er for that special person on your holiday gift list, the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is the place you want to be on Sunday November 12, 2023 from 11:00am to 1:00pm. In honor of Veterans Day, the first 50 fans that come to our book signing will receive a 12″ x 18″, suitable for framing poster, of Delco Athletes in the Military. www.delcosportsmuseum.org museum location 301 Iven Ave. Wayne, Pa Text by Rich Pagano. For more information contact Jim Vankoski, 610-909-4919 vankoski21@comcast.net These Delco athletes and others have served through the Civil War, WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf Conflict. The SLDC Museum is extremely proud of their service. Jim Vankoski vankoski21@comcast.net

SLDC Book Signing Poster

It’s that time of the year again, when the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum presents their annual Book Signing Extravaganza. So, if you are looking for that perfect stocking stuffer for that special person on your holiday gift list, the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is the place you want to be on Sunday November 12, 2023, from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

The museum is in the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Ave., Wayne, Pa. That day, nine outstanding Delaware County authors will have copies of their books available to purchase and be signed.

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In his book, A Splintered Miracle, Richard Lord decided to throw us a wicked curve ball. What if the Braves didn’t legitimately win the 1914 series in their own right? What if, instead, a number of the disgruntled Athletics, caught up in salary disputes with Connie Mack, decided to throw the 1914 series.

We already know that two of the A’s left the team the very next season, thanks to contract disputes, and never returned. Hall of Famer Frank “Home Run” Baker’s dispute took him to the Delco Baseball League’s Upland Team, where he led the league in home runs for the 1915 season.

Another Hall of Famer’s contract dispute ended when pitcher Albert “Chief” Bender signed with the upstart new major league called the Federal League. Today the SLDC museum displays a 1917 box score showing Chief Bender, pitching for the Upland team, was tagged with a 4-3 loss to a Chester, PA team. While leading us on a believable fictitious journey, Lord weaves a fascinating tale.

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The Lactate Revolution, written by Shannon Grady, who is a global leader in the application of lactate dynamics for human performance optimization, has one of the most sophisticated approaches to optimal training programs in the country. Grady, who graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. and M.S. in Exercise Physiology/Biochemistry, was also a track and field All-American and a six-time Team USA Triathlete.

In over fifteen years as an industry leader in sports performance management, Grady has worked with over 9,000 athletes, including Olympic, professional, collegiate, and high school athletes in over 25 sports: including Olympic, World Champions/Medalists and NCAA Champions.

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Hambone Justice, written by Robin Greene-Toler, who is a former insurance executive and now the CFO for DomyzMission, a 503(c)-charity started because of her grandson’s concern for the plight of the homeless. She continues to serve as a board member at the Keystone Research Center. KRC is a Pennsylvania based economic Think Tank.

Hambone Justice is the second novel in her Sally Hemings series. The series showcases her love of family, friends, history, travel, regional sports and humor.

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Big ‘Em’ and the Legends of Chester Basketball is the third book written by Media High graduate Jack Lemon. In his previous books, Lemon wrote about the African American athlete at Media High and Media’s Olympian Ted Meredith.

In his new book, Lemon does extensive research into one of the best players to ever set foot on a basketball court in Delaware County, Emerson Baynard. The legend known as the Big Em is thoroughly researched along with other legendary players from Chester, one of the best high school basketball programs in the state of Pennsylvania.

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The Secret Apartment, written by Tom Garvey, an Airborne Ranger and Special Forces Officer, who served as an A-team leader in Vietnam, is about his experiences when he returned home from Vietnam and began working as a parking lot supervisor at Veterans Stadium. That is when he started spending nights in an empty concession stand at the stadium, which eventually turned into a furnished apartment, where he lived from 1979 to 1981.

                Garvey describes his eccentric living quarters as his very own off-the-wall South Philly version of the ‘Phantom of the Opera.’ His unique and interesting story proves the age-old fact that in some real-life experiences, truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

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Finished Business, written by Ray Didinger, a retired sportswriter, radio personality, sports commentator, author, screenwriter and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Writer’s Honor Roll, is a memoir told in his familiar style which captures his enthusiasm for sports and his affection for the fans who still mourn the pennant that eluded the Phillies in 1964. Didinger has become synonymous with Philadelphia sports, and his memoir is as passionate as an autumn Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

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In Amazing Phillies Feats, written by Rich Westcott, the former newspaper sportswriter who has now authored 27 books, selects 33 of the most thrilling, unforgettable, and amazing accomplishments in Phillies team history.

                For example, you can read about Billy Hamilton, the Ricky Henderson of the 1890’s, who set the now 126-year-old-single- season record for runs scored.  When it comes to the history of the Philadelphia Phillies, Westcott has an encyclopedic knowledge that is beyond comparison.

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Philadelphia’s Boxing History Scrapbook written by Chuck Hasson, is a one-of-a-kind book. The author’s knowledge of the history of boxing has no match. Chuck, who is a voting member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013, has written a 270-page book with over 750 images covering Philadelphia pro and amateur boxers from 1843 to 2020. The book also covers a large chapter on Delco boxing history and another on Wilmington’s fight history as well.

Chuck is widely regarded as the ultimate expert on Philadelphia boxing history, and this book is a culmination of his decades of work on that subject. It is a must for all boxing fans.

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Rich Pagano, who has been writing a sports history column for local Delaware County newspapers for over 30 years, has authored The Baron of Leiperville: The Life and Times of James F. Dougherty Dougherty, also known as the “Baron of Leiperville”, was a larger-than-life sportsman whose hotel, bar, and fight arena in Leiperville, Pennsylvania, was a mecca for boxing from 1916 to 1947. During that time, he was the owner of one of the busiest fight camps in the country.

                Pagano brings back this fantastic era in this thoroughly researched and very interesting account of those exciting times in America.

Text by Rich Pagano. For more information contact Jim Vankoski, 610-909-4919 vankoski21@comcast.net

 

SLDC Museum, Pre-World War II exhibit

Yogi Berra is the BEST! 25 of His Quotes—

 

In the wonderful Paul Post article on Ed  Lucas in an edition of SCD, Ed mentions that he remembers Yogi Berra wearing a large number 8 on the back of his pinstriped uniform.  The historic photo above, taken from the outstanding dvd Ballfield to Battlefield and Back from FDR to JFK, by Mickey Vernon–copied from a film taken by Mickey during the 1947 season–clearly shows Yogi wearing number 35 while taking batting practice.

Why Mickey, an established player at the time, bothered to take shots at Yogi, then an unknown player of uncertain potential, was no accident, and is an interesting story in itself:

According to Mickey, Walter Masterson, his roommate at the time, told him while he was filming to be sure he got some shots of Yogi.  It seems as though Walter spent some time with Yogi on the ballfield during World War II and mentioned to Mickey that “Yogi is going to be a future star, so make sure you don’t miss the chance to get him on film.”

That dvd, put together by George Case and Mickey, contains action images of 140 players, with Yogi being one of only eight still living.  The dvd, truly a national treasure, can be obtained by contacting Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919.  Of the 140 players in the film only Willie Mays is living.

 

Yogi Berra is the BEST!

 

Lawrence Peter Berra played Major League Baseball for 19 years for the New York Yankees. He played on 10 World Series Championship teams, is an MLB Hall of Famer, and has some awe-inspiring stats. His name is consistently brought up as one of the best catchers in baseball history, and he was voted to the Team of the Century in 1999.

Quotes 1-5

  1. “It’s like deja vu all over again.”
  2. “We made too many wrong mistakes.”
  3. “You can observe a lot just by watching.”
  4. “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.”
  5. “He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious.”

Quotes 6-10

  1. “If the world was perfect, it wouldn’t be.”
  2. “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up someplace else.”
  3. Responding to a question about remarks attributed to him that he did not think were his: “I really didn’t say everything I said.”
  4. “The future ain’t what it use to be.”
  5. “I think Little League is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house.”

Quotes 11-15

  1. On why he no longer went to Ruggeri’s, a St. Louis restaurant: “Nobody goes there anymore because it’s too crowded.”
  2. “I always thought that record would stand until it was broken.”
  3. “We have deep depth.”
  4. “All pitchers are liars or crybabies.”
  5. When giving directions to Joe Garagiola to his New Jersey home, which is accessible by two routes: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

Quotes 16-20

  1. “Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.”
  2. “Never answer anonymous letters.”
  3. On being the guest of honor at an awards banquet: “Thank you for making this day necessary.”
  4. “The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase.”
  5. “Half the lies they tell about me aren’t true.”

Quotes 21-25

  1. As a general comment on baseball: “90% of the game is half mental.”
  2. “I don’t know (if they were men or women running naked across the field). They had bags over their heads.”
  3. “It gets late early out there.”
  4. “Yogi, you are from St. Louis, we live in New Jersey, and you played ball in New York. If you go before I do, where would you like me to have you buried?” -Carmen Berra, Yogi’s wife. “Surprise me.” – Yogi
  5. “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

Ray Didinger’s Memorable Sports Moments

For a ticket to the Ray Didinger event send your $30 check made out to SLDC Museum. Mail your check to Jim Vankoski 14 Morgan Rd. Aston, Pa 19014. A ticket will be mailed to you.

Ray Didinger

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pring Training 1956

SLDC Museum Salutes Women’s History Month March 2023

Delaware County’s Wide World of Women’s Sports Exhibits at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum
In 1932, Jean Shiley won a gold medal in the High Jump track and field event at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, defeating the legendary Babe Didrickson. This set the stage for other Delaware County women to achieve greatness in a variety of other Olympic Sports over the years:
Janie Barkman Brown–Gold Medal in swimming in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics.
Char Morett, Karen Shelton and Chris Larson–Bronze Medals in field hockey in the 1984 Olympics.
Theresa Shank- Grentz–Head coach of the 1992 Olympic Bronze Medal winning basketball team.
Mary Ellen Clark–Bronze Medal winner diver in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.
Emily deRiel–Silver medal winner in the pentathlon in the 2000 Olympics
And, Lisa Raymond–2012 silver medal winner in tennis
Other Delco women achieving recognition in other Olympic sports include Cindy Gilbert-Bevilacqua in Archery and Renee Hykel-Cuddy in Rowing.
During the past 90-plus year time period, other Delco women were competing at the national and world level in sports that were not included as Olympic Sports–most notably, lacrosse. Since Virginia Allen and Putty Willetts became involved with the sport of lacrosse in the early 1930s, more than twenty Delco women lacrosse players have been inducted into the National Women’s Lacrosse Hall of Fame. In addition, the following notable representatives of their respective sports have all given Delaware County residents reason to cheer: Auto Racing- -Mares Stellfox Bowling–Sadie Dixon and Patricia Mescanti Boxing–Fredia  Gibbs Curling–Taylor and Sarah Anderson Figure Skating–Mojca Kopac-Tiernan Gymnastics–Donna Fletcher Ice Hockey–Gina Kearns Rodeo–Kim McKee Soccer–Sinead Farrelly Softball–Theresa Dunbar Triathlon–Shannon Grady Volleyball–Shelbey Manthorp

Something to brag about. Delco’s African American Athletes

Opening February 1, and lasting through February 28, 2023, the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is highlighting special artifacts showcasing many accomplished African American Athletes from Delco. Our special second floor exhibition poster features 18 men and women covering 100 years of local sports history and includes notable athletes of football, boxing, basketball, baseball as well as Olympic track and field. Among the treasures selected to be a part of this exhibit, is a game worn Harlem Globetrotters Basketball uniform from the estate of Chester High great Granny Lash. Another major highlight that is sure to please is Fredia Gibb’s World Champion Kickboxing Belt. Fredia was the first African American woman to earn such an honor. The blazer given to the family of Emlen Tunnell prior to the 2020 Super Bowl honoring him for being named one of the NFL’s greatest 100 all time players and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson’s game worn jersey are yet two other treasure on display. A Washington Mystics, Natasha Cloud, game worn jersey and photo are also a part of this exhibit. Natasha is the only player from Delco to play in the WNBA. To learn more about Delco sports history visit the SLDC Museum located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa. 19087. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. For more information please contact curator Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919,www.delcosportsmuseum.org, email vankoski21@comcast.net

Emlen Tunnell

This extraordinary portrait of Emlen Tunnell is the work of Radnor High graduate James Corcoran. Emlen, a World War II hero and the first African American elected to the National Football Hall of Fame, graduated from Radnor in 1942 and joined the Hall of Fame in 1967. A half-century later, in 2021, the US Coast Guard honored Emlen for his acts of heroism by naming a Coast Guard cutter ship after him. For a more extensive look at Emlen’s career, go to www.emlentunnell.org. The portrait is on display at the Emlen Tunnell Football Gallery on the second floor of the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum in the Radnor Township Municipal Building, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Contact Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-4919 for more information.

African American Exhibits

Delco soccer great Bob Rigby shown below with teammate and recently deceased  Soccer Icon Pele’.  Hi Bob, We were so happy that you were able to share your Pele’ story with us at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. Jim  Bob Rigby’s complete Pele’ Story is found on page 115 of our “Tales From the Museum ” book.  Bob, I have a question for you and other Delco sports legends. What is the single most personal sports-related object you own? The one thing you would be devastated to lose. The best connection to the world of sports that defined your life. Perhaps this keepsake reminds you not just of playing the game but of being a fan, as well. A photo of your beloved memento would be appreciated. In the near future, our virtual museum will be sharing these photos with our friends on our website (www.delcosportsmuseum.org). Jim Vankoski curator  Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum   610-909-4019  Jim, It would be a photo I have of Pele and I embracing in the locker room before a game at Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy. The photo taken in 1976 was before a game against Lazio a professional team from Italy. Bob Rigby

 

Emlen Tunnell CGC / Model shipbuilding

Coast Guard Cutter Emlen Tunnell

Model builder, John Bullock left, is shown here proudly displaying his recently completed model of the USCGC Emlen Tunnell to Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum curator Jim Vankoski. John will present his model to the SLDC Museum at the June 13, 2022, Radnor Township Commissioners meeting. From that point on all that visit, the museum will be able to view John’s artistry and the museum’s other artifacts that make Delco’s only sports museum a must-see summer attraction for fans of all age groups. Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 www.delcosportsmuseum.org

Model builder John Bullock has constructed a model of the United States Coast Guard cutter Emlen Tunnell for the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. John, a friend of the museum, is a member of three prestigious model-ship-building clubs: the Ship Model Society of New Jersey, the Philadelphia Ship Model Society, and the Nautical Research Guild. The Coast Guard commissioned the Emlen Tunnell, a 154-foot Sentinel-class cutter, on October 15, 2021, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. John has informed us that the scale of his model, now completed, is 1/48, which makes it about 40 inches long(see photo above). We’re excited to announce that this one-of-a-kind piece of memorabilia is on display at our museum, located in the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087. The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment Saturday and Sunday. Emlen Tunnell, a 1942 Radnor High graduate, went on to become a World War II hero and the first African American and first defensive player elected to the NFL Hall of Fame. To the best of our knowledge, he is the only professional athlete whose name graces a military ship. John, a lifelong resident of Delaware County, graduated from, Drexel Hill’s Monsignor Bonner High and was later inducted into the school’s baseball hall of fame. He went on to graduate from Villanova University, where he was a member of the varsity baseball team. Currently, he is a US Coast Guard auxiliary officer, FSO-FN, based out of the Chesapeake Flotilla, and is the director of business development at Vaughan Baio & Partners, a Philadelphia-based law firm. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net. Or visit the museum online at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. Paypal donations are accepted online.

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is getting ready to go to press producing a 252-piece puzzle of the image below for its friends of the museum. When completed the finished puzzle will measure approximately 10″x14″ in size.  If you are looking for this unique gift to share with a special Delaware County, Pa sports fan in your life contact Jim Vankoski at vankoski21@comcast.net or 610-909-4919. If by chance you are not able to identify all the athletes in the photo below go to your personal library and pull out your Sports Legends of Delaware County “TALES FROM THE MUSEUM” book. Photographs of all the athletes on the puzzle can be found in the museum’s 20th Anniversary Book. If by chance you do not have access to this classic book, do yourself a favor and contact Jim Vankoski on how to obtain your copy. www.delcosportsmuseum.org

 

Tales from the Museum 20th Anniversary Book

With a $35 donation to the SLDC Museum, you will receive the Museum’s 20th. Anniversary Book “Tales From The Museum”.  Jim Vankoski 14 Morgan Rd. Aston, Pa. 610-909-4919 email vankoski21@comcast.net  www. delcosportsmuseum. org

Preserving Delco Heritage: Sports Legends Book review By Dr. Joe Giampalmi Almost a half dozen Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, a Heisman Trophy winner, manager of two World Series championships, and three-time manager of the year, member of the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams, first African-American inducted into the NFL Hall of fame and WWII hero, top 50 NBA player of all-time, winner of the Indianapolis 500, and nine Olympic Gold Medal Winners–an ESPN highlight playlist of the past 75 years? No, a highlight of sports legends of Delaware County. Tales From the Museum, edited and produced by Jim Vankoski, combines his passions of history and sports and chronicles the storied sports history of Delaware County athletes who earned national and international headlines. Jim celebrates twenty years of the Sports Legends of Delaware County (SLDC). His 248-page, coffee-table-size-book traces the history of local sports celebrities and artifacts over four locations that served as home for the SLDC Museum: Chester (Chapter One), Chadds Ford (Chapter Two), Granite Run Mall (Chapter Three), and Radnor Township (Chapter Four). Forewords are written by sportswriter Harry Chaykun and local historian Rich Pagano. The book contains contributions by more than forty sportswriters. The SLDC Museum, Jim’s vision to “recognize and reward excellence while preserving the heritage of local sports history” originated at a former bank on Fourth Street and Avenue of the States in Chester–a building worthy of safekeeping initial treasure from Delco’s highest-profile athletes. The first chapter of the museum opened on October 18, 2002, and recognized a collection of Delco’s five-star special guests including Mickey Vernon, Jack McKinney, Gertie Dunn, Billy Johnson, Jack Klotz, and Ray Didinger. If you’re unfamiliar with these local names, you need to spend more time in Wawa, especially on free-coffee Tuesday. If you’re familiar with them, you’re annoyed that “White Shoes,” the only player on both the 75th and 100th NFL anniversary all-time teams, is not a member of the NFL Hall of Fame. Special features in each chapter include “Behind the scenes story,” anecdotes about the athletes. For example, Jim recalls the story of Strath Haven High School’s Theater Department presenting Damn Yankees as a salute to Mickey Vernon’s celebrated major league baseball career. Mickey offered Jim a publicity photo to commemorate the event. Because of Mickey’s conflict with the agreed-upon time to deliver the photo, Mickey brought the photo to Jim’s social studies classroom. Jim introduced his students to an all-time baseball hero, a Wallingford resident, two-time American League batting champion, and seven-time major league All-Star. History came alive in Jim’s classroom. From 2004 to 2013, the museum relocated to the Delaware County Visitors Bureau in Chadds Ford. Special athletes honored at the Visitors Bureau included Danny Murtaugh, Paul Arizin, Charlene Morett, Joe Valerio, John Cartwright, Granny Lash, Mike Scioscia, and Ed Dougherty—athletes whose accomplishments were regularly reported in the award-winning Delaware County Daily Times by Bob Finucane and Ed Gebhart. John Cappelletti was honored in 2007. Cappelletti won every game his senior year at Penn State. He also won the Maxwell Award and the Heisman Trophy. When he delivered his Heisman speech, he won the hearts of Americans as he dedicated his award to his dying brother Joey—one of the most memorable moments in the history of college sports. In addition to Murtaugh winning the World Series twice and being named manager of the year three times, he was the first manager to write an all-minority lineup on September 1, 1971, against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Chadds Ford museum also honored “Six Decades of Chester High Basketball Teams,” including many players who performed at the legendary “Voc” on 7th Street in Chester. Delco’s performers on the Olympic stage included gold medal winners Carl Robie (swimming), Bruce Harlan (diving), Jean Shiley (track and field), Brendan Hansen (swimming), Richard Norris Williams (tennis), Leroy Burrell (track and field), Janie Barkman Brown (swimming), Dr. Eddie Coyle (weight lifting), and Ted Meredith (track and field). Meredith earned his gold in 1912, shortly after his graduation from Williamson Trade. The museum moved to the centrally-located Granite Run Mall on April 21, 2013. The grand opening was attended by Joe Cirilli, Gay Vernon (Mickey’s daughter), Gene Armstead, and Tim Murtaugh (Danny’s son). Special guests honored included Dave Donohue (representing his father Mark), Shannon Grady, Chris Wheeler, Jack Ramsay, Anthony Becht, Kia Davis, and Kim McKee. On Saturday, May 27, 1972, a Media resident became the epicenter of the sports world as Mark Donohue won the Indianapolis 500 after leading in only the last thirteen laps. A special feature at the Media location included recognition of the Anderson sisters (Sarah, Taylor, Courtney, and Emily), graduates from Marple Newtown High School who qualified for the Women’s National Curling Championships. Sarah was selected as an alternate for the USA 2014 Women’s Olympic Curling Team. The Anderson sisters introduced curling to county residents, who previously confused the Anderson sisters with the singing Andrews sisters. In December 2015 the museum relocated to its present venue in the Radnor Township Municipal Building where special guests included Ben Davis, Dallas Green, Janie Barkman Brown, Dan Connor, Bo Ryan, Fredia Gibbs, and the Crawfords (Delaware County’s First Family of Officiating). A capstone of the Radnor museum was the dedication of the Emlen Tunnell statue on June 2, 2018. The Radnor High School graduate and first African-American inducted into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame were recognized as the NFL’s top safety of all time. But his greatest accomplishment was being awarded the U.S. Coast Guard’s Silver Life Saving Medal for twice saving shipmates, one after his USS Etamin was torpedoed by the Japanese in 1944. The Coast Guard named a cutter in his honor. The Delaware County hero received higher acclaim—American hero. Jim and Barb Vankoski are museum curators. Jim, a living artifact, fulfilled a life dream by creating the museum. Today’s museum features seven galleries located on three handicapped-accessible levels. Tales From the Museum, organized chronologically by special guests, highlights the story of the athletes behind the achievements and the virtues behind the victories. The book is available by calling 610 909 4919 or emailing vankoski21@comcast.net. More information on SLDC is available at www.delcosportsmuseum.org Joe Giampalmi (joegiampalmi@comcast.net) wrote four books, including the recently released APA Style & Citations—For Dummies.

Baseball Immortal Bobby Shantz

Don’t miss the chance to meet baseball immortal and WWII Veteran Bobby Shantz. Baseball icon, Bobby Shantz is expected to make an appearance at The Holiday Book Signing Extravaganza sponsored by the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa 19087 to be held 11am to 1pm December 10, 2022. Bobby joins authors Rich Westcott, Ray Didinger, Tom Garvey, Chuck Hasson and Rich Pagano. Bobby a WW II Veteran, 1952 American League MVP, and member of the 1958 World Champion Yankees is at 97 baseball’s oldest living MVP. For more information visit www.delcosportsmuseum.org Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919

SUPPORT OUR MUSEUM AND DONATE NOW WITH  PAYPAL  ABOVE IT!

Holiday Book Signing Poster

1972 Delco Olympic Gold

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is proud to announce the newest memento to be displayed in its second-floor Olympic Gallery: an award given to the US women’s 400-meter freestyle relay team after it won gold at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. Janie Barkman-Brown, a 1969 Radnor High graduate and member of the relay team, generously delivered the framed award to the museum. Fifty years ago, on August 30, 1972, the award was presented to Janie and her teammates, Sandy Neilson, Jenny Kemp, and Shirley Babashoff, in recognition of their victory in the 4x100m freestyle relay, which they won in a world-record time of 3:55.19. The world record was confirmed in compliance with the rules of the Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA). This prestigious award, along with Jane’s other memorabilia, can be viewed at the museum, which is located at 301 Iven Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087. Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and by appointment Saturday and Sunday. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-491 or visit the museum online at www.delcosportsmuseum.org.

Cards Emlen Tunnell and Mickey Vernon

 

Two of Delco’s greatest athletes had outstanding seasons in 1953. Emlen Tunnell was an all-pro NFL player, and Mickey Vernon made the all-star team (he would total seven for his career) while winning his second American League batting title. That didn’t stop the Bowman Card Company from issuing error cards for the two Delco greats. The card for Emlen, the first African American, and first defensive back to be elected to the NFL hall of fame, misspelled his last name—a common mistake at the time. And the card for Mickey, who still holds the record for career double plays as a first baseman, showed his teammate Floyd Baker. Neither player held on to any of the error cards, which is too bad for their respective estates. The market value of each error card far exceeds the value of the correct version of the card. For more information, visit Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum online at www.delcosportsmuseum.org, or contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net. Paypal donations are accepted on our website helping to keep Delco’s only sports museum current and financially sound.

Our website has a new domain name DelcoSportsMuseum.org!

Check out this official NBA scorer’s report, dated May 19, 2010. In Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, Paul Gasol, Kobe Bryant, and Ron Artest were the top scorers for the victorious Los Angeles Lakers, while Jason Richardson, Grant Hill, and Amar’e Stoudemire accounted for most of the scoring for the Phoenix Suns. But take a closer look. The three men who officiated the game—Joe Crawford, Mike Callahan, and Ed Malloy—graduated from the same high school: Delco’s Cardinal O’Hara High. Their appearance on the scorecard represents the first time that an NBA game was officiated by three referees that attended the same high school. Sure, it’s a small world. But Delaware County has always played an outsized role in it, especially when it comes to sports. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net. Or visit us online at www.delcosportsmuseum.org.

 

SLDC Museum to showcase Paul Arizin’s Basketball Jersey

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is proud to announce the newest item to be displayed in its Jack Ramsay second floor basketball gallery exhibit sponsored by Bo Ryan. The exhibit will feature the game-worn basketball jersey of Paul Arizin from his tenth and final NBA All-Star game held in St. Louis during the 1961/1962 season. From his rookie 1950/51 season he spent his entire ten-year NBA career playing for the Philadelphia Warriors. Paul’s career was interrupted in 1952/53 and 1953/54 due to military service with U.S. Marine Corps. In each of Paul’s ten seasons with the Warriors,  he was named to the League’s All-Star Team. To Delaware County sports historians the highlight of his career was being named League MVP in 1956 when the Warriors won the NBA Championship. The jersey is the property of Paul’s son Michael and is on loan to the SLDC museum for the duration of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Season. The league has honored Paul by naming him among the All-Time 75 Greatest NBA Players. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa. 19087. For more information, please email Jim Vankoski at vankoski21@comcast.net or call 610-909-4919. Feel free to visit the website at www.delcosportsmuseum.org

 

 

Mike Scioscia Card Flipping Tournament Press Release

Shibe Park to Connie Mack Stadium to Veterans Stadium Luncheon

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Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium to Veterans Stadium

Final game Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium 10/1/1970 photo by Jim Vankoski

 

Commemorative Luncheon Remember when Walter Cronkite would place you in a figurative time warp while hosting the old television show, You Are There? Well, keynote speaker Mr. Larry Bowa, one of the most popular players ever to put on a Phillies uniform and currently a Phillies front office adviser, along with some very special guests, will do the same as we set the stage for that final game played at Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium on October 1, 1970. The 51st anniversary of that history-making moment and the 50th anniversary of the first season to be played at the Vet. will be commemorated at a luncheon to be held Thursday, September 30, 2021, from 11:30, am to 2 pm at the Radnor Hotel 591 Lancaster Avenue Wayne, Pennsylvania. The luncheon is sponsors by The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum also located in Wayne. The cost of an individual ticket is $50. The crowd in attendance will be limited to 100. If you would like to relive fond memories of that time and place, be sure to reserve a ticket well in advance, thereby making your place in our museum’s history a memorable moment of your own. There will be no tickets sold at the door. Checks should be made payable to SLDC Museum and mailed to Jim Vankoski 14 Morgan Rd. Aston, Pa 19014 For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net. www.delcosportsmuseum.org

 

Final game Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium #10 Larry Bowa argues with 3rd base umpire Ken Burkhart. The runner on third is Bob Bailey.

 

Our keynote speaker Larry Bowa not only played in that final game at Connie Mack Stadium but also got the first hit in the 1971 opener at Veterans Stadium.

 

 

 

Delco Fencer Jake Hoyle qualifies for July 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games

Below is a note from Jake Hoyle to all his Sports Legends of Delaware County  fans.  Jake, a 2012 Strath Haven High School graduate, has recently qualified for the July 2021 Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo, Japan. In 2017 Jake, at the time,  a recent 2016 NCAA Champion out of Columbia University, honored the SLDC Museum by being a special guest at its September 2017 Cavalcade of Stars Luncheon held at the SLDC museum in Radnor, Pa.

“Great to hear from you. I actually just qualified for the Olympic team back in March”:  https://www.teamusa.org/News/2021/March/23/Nine-US-Fencers-Qualify-For-Olympic-Games-In-World-Cup-Action.

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Some more info is below if you are interested: 

I’ll be fencing for Team USA in two events:

Unfortunately, fencing isn’t very easy to watch. I can basically guarantee that you’ll be confused haha.  Here’s a short video that explains the rules – hopefully it helps.

 

The full fencing schedule is here. The early rounds of the tournament will not be on cable TV, but you should be able to watch online at either www.NBColympics.com or on the Peacock streaming service. I’ll know more a little closer to the Games!”


Black History Poster

This image shows Delaware County’s own Dan Barrow, left, receiving his bronze medal for single skulls rowing in the 1936 Olympics, which were held in Berlin, Germany. Germany’s Gustav Schaefer, center, won the gold medal and Austria’s Josef Hasenohrt, right, took silver. Dan Barrow earned a mention in Boys in the Boat, the award-winning novel by Daniel James Brown. Besides Yeadon’s Dan Barrow participating in the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin, Germany three other Delco residents had a part in those games. Fred Luehring of Swarthmore was the chairman of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Committee and Carson Thompson pitched for the U.S. in the exhibition baseball game played in front of 126,000 fans in Berlin Stadium. Also Media’s Ted Meredith, who had won two gold medals at the 1912 Olympics, returned to Berlin in 1936 as the head track coach of the Czechoslovakia team. Photos and information about the other eighteen Delco Olympic medal winners are on display at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa. Curator Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919

 

“Sports Legends of Delaware County (SLDC)  is exunch its first-ever book, “Tales from the Museum: A Collaborative Anthology” celebrating 20 years since the museum first opened and traces the stories behind its different locations, athletes, and events. A timeless gift for anyone interested in sports or local history! The book is available for individual purchase at $35. With a donation of $50, become a Friend of SLDC Museum and receive the book with free shipment included.  The book is currently on backorder until January 15, 2020. To place an order request, please email Jim Vankoski at  vankoski21@comcast.net or call 610-909-4919 to be placed on the waiting list. There is no limit on the number of book requests. Payment can be made through our home page at  https://delcosportsmuseum.org/, through the donate link using PayPal, credit, or debit card, or please send a check made payable to SLDC Museum and mail to 301 Iven Avenue Radnor, PA 19087. Orders will ship once the book order arrives! SLDC is a non-profit 501c3 organization. Thank you for your support of local sports history!” Erica S. Burman 610-246-4982

 

 

Tales From The Museum “Tales from the Museum”, a new book from The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. Sports Legends of Delaware County (SLDC)  is excited to launch its first-ever book, “Tales from the Museum: A Collaborative Anthology” celebrating 20 years since the museum first opened and traces the stories behind its different locations, athletes, and events. A timeless gift for anyone interested in sports or local history! The book is available for individual purchase at $35. With a donation of $50, become a Friend of SLDC Museum with name recognition on our website and receive the book with free shipment included. To place an order request, please email Jim Vankoski at  vankoski21@comcast.net or call 610-909-4919. Payment can be made through our home page at  www.delcosportsmuseum.org through the donate link using PayPal, credit, or debit card, or please send a check made payable to SLDC Museum and mail to 301 Iven Avenue Radnor, PA 19087. Orders will ship once the book order arrives! SLDC is a non-profit 501c3 organization.

 

 

 

 

Putty Willetts- Delco Women’s Wide World of Sports Exhibit

Missing a legend. Alice Putnam Willetts passed away on June 6, 2020. She was 94.  Interesting to note that before her demise Putty donated her 1940 Swarthmore High School Hockey and Lacrosse sticks [below] to our Delco Sports Museum. Putty’s photo and the story appears on page 155 of our recently published book “Tales From The Museum” Jim Vankoski  610-909-4919

Alice Putnam Willetts was an outstanding all-around athlete at Swarthmore High Schoo where she played for the legendary Virginia Allen. At Temple, she was the Owls’ field hockey captain and made the All-College hockey team for four consecutive years. She also played on the United States field hockey and lacrosse teams for 12 years, serving as captain for both teams in 1955. After graduation, Alice coached with Allen at Swarthmore and then had stints at Swarthmore College and Shipley before becoming the head coach at Swarthmore High in 1962 after Virginia Allen retired. For the next 21 years, she would lead the hockey team to a 155-20 record, with five undefeated seasons and three league titles when she retired in 1983. She also had three undefeated seasons in basketball and one in lacrosse. In forty years of coaching, she never had a losing season. Putty is in both the National Lacrosse and National Field Hockey Hall of Fame. Photos courtesy of Gudmund Iverson and George Rothacke

Sad news about Jack Klotz With the passing of Jack Klotz we are reminded of the story that Harry Chaykun wrote for the Sports Legends of Delaware County’s New Book “Tales From The Museum”. Harry’s article about Jack being a bodyguard for Mother Teresa when she visited St. Katharine Drexel Church, Chester, Pa in 1995 is a must-read. His behind the scene story and accompanying photo is a true Delco classic. All that knew the gentle giant will forever remember Jack and his contributions to the City of Chester and  Delaware County. Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919

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High School Football Takes Center Stage

 

Delco’s African American Athletes and their Nicknames

Baseball Authority Rich Westcott to appear at the SLDC Museum’s Holiday Book Sale
Rich Westcott, a Springfield resident, is easily the most prolific author that Delaware County has ever produced. During the past fifty-five years, he has served on the staff of various newspapers and magazines and written twenty-six books.
Westcott is the founder and owner and for fourteen years was the publisher and editor of The Phillies Report, a newspaper covering the local major league team. His research for these publications has made him the leading authority on Philly’s history.
Appropriately enough, Westcott also wrote the widely acclaimed biography, Mickey Vernon–The Gentleman First Baseman, celebrating the career of one of Delaware County’s most renowned sports figures. Rich has appeared frequently on radio and television shows and has made speaking appearances at numerous places, including the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Rich’s appearance at Delco’s only Sports Museum will take place on Saturday, December 14th, from 11 am to 1 pm. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

 

SHOEBOX TREASURES

“Flipping the Past” to be featured at new Cooperstown exhibit:

Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is proud to announce that the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will be featuring selections of Brad Nau’s video “Flipping the Past” at Cooperstown this summer as part of its new exhibit, entitled “Shoebox Treasures.” Brad Nau, a Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum board member, produced his award-winning video after filming the museum’s baseball card flipping contest, held March 24, 2012, at the Sports Legends of Delaware County’s Mickey Vernon Sports Museum in Chadds Ford, PA. Brad’s video can be viewed in its entirety atwww.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com (just click on the DVD tab and scroll down to the “Flipping the Past” video). This is the second time that the Baseball Hall of Fame has honored Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum by selecting one of its works to be featured in Cooperstown. The first work so honored was “Ballfield to Battlefield and Back: from FDR to JFK,” which was filmed and narrated by George Case and Mickey Vernon and was selected in 2015 to be shown at the annual Baseball Film Festival. A stop by our website Donate Button is always appreciated.  For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-4919 or vankoski2

1975 Mickey Vernon Dodgers Jersey

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is excited to present this
addition to the Mickey Vernon / Danny Murtaugh Gallery, a 1975 Los Angeles
Dodgers game jersey was worn by baseball great the late Mickey Vernon. Mickey,
a Delaware County resident for ninety years played in the Majors for twenty
years, most of the time for the Washington Senators where in 1946 and 1953
he won his two American League batting titles. Mickey also served in the
U.S. Navy during the World War II years of 1943, 1944, and 1945. After his
playing career, he would hold jobs as a manager, coach, instructor, and scout.
The jersey shown here is the one he wore while the batting coach of the 1975 Dodgers.
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www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com
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March is Women’s History Month, and there is plenty to celebrate at the Wide World of Women’s Sports exhibit at the sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. 

 

The museum’s Jane Barkman/Mary Ellen Clark Gallery highlights the achievements of women in twenty-five different sports.  special emphasis is placed on women’s lacrosse, with an entire display case dedicated to the sport in which over twenty Delaware County women have been honored by being inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

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Winter Wool for the Summer Game Exhibit adds Dick Groat’s 1960 World Series Uniform

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum’s Winter Wool for the Summer Game Exhibit is excited to present this addition to the Mickey Vernon/Danny Murtaugh Gallery a 1960 home uniform worn by Dick Groat during the historic 1960 World Series where Danny Murtaugh’s Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the New York Yankees.
Groat played for four teams in the National League: the Pittsburgh Pirates, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants. He won the batting title and was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for the 1960 season with a batting average of .325. During his career he led the NL five times in double plays, four times in putouts and twice in assists. He ranked ninth in major league history in games at shortstop (1,877) and fourth in double plays (1,237) by the end of his career. As a basketball player, he was an All-American at Duke University and voted Helms National Player of the Year in 1952 after averaging 25.2 points per game. He was one of the rare members in MLB who also played for the National Basketball Association.
The 1960 World Series went down as one of the most historic for several reasons. The series featured seven players who would be or already had been named Most Valuable Players, including Dick Groat and Roberto Clemente for the Pirates. The Yankees had five past, present and future MVPs including Yogi Berra, Bobby Shantz, Mickey Mantle, Roger Marris and Elston Howard. The series also went down in the books because it was the only time a winner-take-all World Series game was won by a walk-off home run thanks to Bill Mazeroski in the ninth inning of game seven. Another notable factor for this series was the Yankees’ 55 runs scored, the most ever by any single team in World Series history, despite losing to the Pirates who scored less than half with a total of 27 runs.
The jersey and pants will be on display at the SLDC Museum from December 1, 2018 through March 2019. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA. 19087, and is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jersey is on loan from the Steve Burman collection. Photo compliments of Hunt Auctions. For more information contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com

Winter Wool and the Summer Game Exhibit

March 2019 SLDC Museum Calendar Photo

SLDC Museum to showcase Carson Thompson’s 1936 Olympic Jersey

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is proud to announce the newest item to be displayed at the “Winter Wool for the Summer Game” exhibit starting December 1, 2018, lasting through March 2019. The exhibit will feature the game-worn baseball jersey of pitcher Carson Thompson from the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Thompson spent most of his career as a coach and teacher. To Delaware County sports historians the highlight of his career was a win in the exhibition game in Berlin during the 1936 Olympics. This Olympic exhibition baseball game was played on August 12, 1936, in Berlin’s 110,000 seat Olympic Stadium prior to the track and field events.
The 1936 Summer Olympic Games hosted in Berlin were intended to be used as a political platform for Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler to display his powerful ideas of racial supremacy. The 1936 games instead proved that each athlete plays the sport to the best of their ability and the hardest worker comes out on top, regardless of race. The most memorable display of this idea was when American Jesse Owens won four gold medals in the sprint and long jump events.
SLDC is excited to be able to proudly display this exhibit that comes from such a controversial time in our history. The jersey is the property of Collingdale High School Alumni Association and is on loan to the SLDC museum for the duration of the exhibit. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa. 19087. For more information, please email Jim Vankoski at vankoski21@comcast.net or call 610-909-4919. Feel free to visit the website at sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com

What is your Sports Memorabilia Worth?

The Opening of  Sliders Sports Bar at 17 South Morton Ave. Morton, Pa. will help you answer that nagging question of  “I wonder how much my Sports Memorabilia is worth?” If you have an item or collection that could have moderate or considerable value, bring it to Sliders to have a knowledgeable estimate of your sports treasure’s worth be given to you.
Ron Oser a leading expert from the east coast offices of Huggins & Scott  (one of the country’s leading sports memorabilia auction houses located in Silver Spring, Md.), will be on-site at 17 South Morton Ave. Morton, Pa. on March 2, 2019, from 11:30am to1:30pm to share with all his over thirty years of experience in the sports collectibles field. Whether you have sports cards, autographs, programs, ticket stubs, game-used jerseys, and equipment, or any other sports-related pieces from the 1880s to 1980s bring them to get a fair and realistic estimate of the current market value of any sports memorabilia that you have. There is no charge for this service. For anyone interested, Ron will be accepting consignment items for Huggins and Scott Auction House for their upcoming 2019 auctions.  For more information, call Jim Vankoski, Curator of the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum at  610-909-4919 or emailvankoski21@comcast.net

 

From February 1 through April 2019  the Delaware County Historical Society will partner with the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum on a special exhibition sponsored by Chair of the Chester Education Foundation and SLDC Board Member Phil Damiani showcasing many accomplished African American Athletes from Delco. The DCHS is located at 408 Avenue of the States Chester, Pa. 19013. Our special exhibition poster features 18 men and women covering 100 years of local sports history and includes notable athletes of football, boxing, basketball, baseball as well as Olympic track and field. Among the treasures selected to be a part of this exhibit, is a game-worn Harlem Globetrotters Basketball uniform from the estate of Chester High great Granny Lash. Another major highlight that is sure to please is Fredia Gibb’s World Champion Kickboxing Belt. Fredia was the first African American woman to earn such an honor. To learn more about Delco sports history visit the SLDC Museum located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa. 19087. For more information please contact curator Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919  email vankoski21@comcast.net  websitewww.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com

 

SLDC Presentation Available. Call 610-909-4919

If you’re from Delaware County or have even just attended a few local games you know Delco is passionate about sports and their home teams.
Delaware County is home to many outstanding athletes and notable individuals who bring great pride to the community.
The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum, located in the Radnor Township Municipal Building opened in 2015 after the closing of the Granite Run Mall where The Mickey Vernon Museum had been housed.
The multi-level museum has seven galleries with permanent collections. The first floor includes the Mickey Vernon / Danny Murtaugh Baseball Gallery; sponsored by The Steve Burman Family Trust; the Jane Barkman/Mary Ellen Clark Wide World of Women’s Sports Gallery and the home-town Radnor Township Sports Atrium Gallery. On the second floor are the Ted Meredith Olympic Gallery; the Emlen Tunnell Football Gallery; Sponsored by the New York Football Giants; the Jack Ramsay Basketball Gallery; Sponsored by Bo and Kelly Ryan, and the All-Sports Gallery.
The galleries display personal memorabilia from Delco Athletes in their respective specialized fields. In all, there are 150 years of Delaware County Sports History on display at Delaware County’s only sports museum.
In addition to the permanent displays, the museum also hosts numerous special events and showcases.
The museum is also having a year-long celebration to honor the birth of James Barton (Mickey) Vernon, the greatest baseball player that Delaware County has ever produced. Born on April 22, 1918 and a native of Marcus Hook PA, Mickey was a two-time American League Batting Champion and seven-time All-Star. To commemorate his centennial year, the museum’s website is offering video clips and twelve sports cards, a different one to be presented each month of the year.
The goal of The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is to preserve the rich sports history of Delaware County by honoring athletes who have earned national and international acclaim for their accomplishments.
Find out how your club or organization can have your own private presentation. Contact Jim Vankoski. Curator of the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. 610-909-4919
Much of the information contained in this article was provided by Adrienne Marofsky from the Public Relations office of the Delaware County Council.
www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com

Delaware County Historical Society Honor’s the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mickey Vernon

STARTING IN SEPTEMBER AND FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2018, the Delaware County Historical Society’s Museum located at 408 Avenue of the States, Chester, Pa. continues a year-long celebration to honor the birth of James Barton (Mickey) Vernon. A display case specially designed for the museum will showcase memorabilia from the life and times of one of Delco’s most illustrious personalities.
Born on April 22, 1918, and a native of Marcus Hook PA, Mickey was a two-time American League Batting Champion and seven-time All-Star. It’s a testimony to the character of the man that he was awarded Delaware County’s Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award in 2005. The award will be among the historical images and memorabilia celebrating Mickey’s career on display. Above, Mickey’s final season as a full-time player was with the 1959 Milwaukee Braves.

Mickey Vernon with George Bush

Clippers game at Old Orchard Beach Maine in the mid-80s. Mickey was Yankees the hitting coach for the AAA Columbus Clippers of the International League.
George Bush surprised Mickey by coming into the dugout to pay him a special visit. Not sure of the year but the date on the back of the photo says: official white house photo.

dvdcover

Delaware County’s Brandywine CVB To Salute U.S. Military All-Stars At The Media Theater

Executive Director Tore Fiore of Delaware County’s Brandywine Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced that on June 7th at 7:30 PM there will be a preview showing of a new DVD entitled Ballfield to Battlefield and Back– From FDR to JFK at the Media Theater on East State Street in Media, PA.  This presentation is a sixty-minute DVD filmed and narrated by two former major league players– George Case and Delaware County’s own Mickey Vernon.  Mickey and George are gone now, but through their eyes, you can get a first-hand look at life in the big leagues from 1939-1962 by those that lived it. Ballfield to Battlefield and Back From FDR to JFK exemplifies The American tradition of our sports heroes serving our nation both home and away. The DVD shows more than 80 major league players who served in our Armed Forces. There has always been a positive relationship between baseball and the morale of our country. More than 5,000 professional baseball players left the baseball diamond to serve during WW II.

That dedication to our American way of life has continued through Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The historic tradition of changing from one uniform to another to serve a cause greater than one’s self continues today with the U.S. Military All-Stars.

The showing will be attended by the U.S. Military All-Stars.  They will be in the area for a game to be played against the Delco League All-Stars at The Glen Mills School.  The game will be played on the school’s Everett Swanson Field on D-Day–June 6th–beginning at 5:45 PM.

The All Stars team, under the direction of team founder Terry Allvord, born in Chester, PA, consists of outstanding players representing all branches of the military.  For over 20 years they have toured the country to promote the awareness of all Americans in support of the honorable sacrifices that our Armed Forces make in defense of our freedom.

You can show your support and thanks for those that served during WW II, Korea and Vietnam and the current Heroes of the Diamond[ having served in Iraq and Afghanistan] by attending both events.  Both are free and open to the public.

For more information contact

Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 vankoski21@comcast.net

 

JimBaseball Authority Rich Westcott to appear at Mickey Vernon Sports Museum
Rich Westcott, a Springfield resident, is easily the most prolific author that Delaware County has ever produced. During the past fifty years, he has served on the staff of various newspapers and magazines and written twenty-two books.

He’ll be appearing this month at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum to discuss his career and reminisce about his top ten experiences during those fifty years.
Westcott is the founder and owner and for fourteen years was the publisher and editor of The Phillies Report, a newspaper covering the local major league team. He has written seven books on the Phillies, including The Phillies Encyclopedia and–most recently–The Fightin’ Phils–Oddities, Insights and Untold Stories. His research for these publications has made him the leading authority on Phillies history. In addition, he’s the current president of the Philadelphia Sports Writers’ Association.

Appropriately enough, Westcott also wrote the widely acclaimed biography, Mickey Vernon–The Gentleman First Baseman, celebrating the career of one of Delaware County’s most renowned sports figures. Rich has appeared frequently on radio and television shows and has made speaking appearances at numerous places, including the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Rich’s appearance at the Sports History Museum will take place on November 17, from 12 noon to 1 pm. His insights into the icons of Philadelphia sports promises to be an hour of listening pleasure not to be missed by any Philadelphia area sports fan.

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Ed Dougherty to host Holiday Gift Sale at Mickey Vernon Sports Museum

If you have been looking for a good Christmas gift for a Delaware County sports fan, or perhaps a quick tip on your golf game, an excellent opportunity to satisfy either or both is coming up at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum.

PGA Tour and Twice Champions Tour winner Ed Dougherty will be the special guest at a holiday gift sale to be held at the museum on Sunday, December 18th, from 12 pm to 2 pm.   A great selection of Delaware County sports-related items, including card sets and posters, framed photos, books, and DVDs will be available at affordable prices.  All proceeds will help to support the educational programs and exhibits sponsored by the museum.

An interesting aside regarding Mickey Vernon–the namesake of the museum–and the holiday season is the fact that at one point in his baseball career, he worked before Christmas as Santa Claus at Stotter’s Department Store in Chester.  Old-time Delaware County residents will remember Stotter’s as a prominent department store in the county in the days before malls.  It’s an indication of how times–and sports salaries–have changed over the years that a man who was eventually to be a two-time American League batting champion and 7-time All-Star would find it worthwhile to pick up extra money during the offseason in this manner.

EdModel railroading display at The Mickey Vernon Museum for the Holidays

 As a youngster, Ed Dougherty–PGA Tour Golf Professional, Vietnam combat veteran and model train enthusiast–played baseball in the Mickey Vernon Little League and ran model trains.  As a young man, his service in Vietnam resulted in a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars for bravery and heroism.  Following his military service, his sports passion turned from baseball to golf, but his enthusiasm for trains has never wavered, and today, Ed and his business partner, Therese Orlando, currently operate E&T Trains 610 299-1399 in Booth’s Corner Farmers Market in Boothwyn, PA.

Ed and Therese have accepted an invitation to put a Lionel model train layout on display at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum for the holidays, allowing Ed to combine his two childhood passions of baseball and model railroading.  He and Therese invite you to bring your children and/or grandchildren and spend some time enjoying the trains and browsing through the many quality sports displays on exhibit.  A visit is sure to rekindle many fond memories of your own, as you reminisce over days spent flipping baseball cards and building and operating intricate track layouts.

If you have any old model trains gathering dust or one or more shoeboxes full of old baseball cards or other sports memorabilia and would like to donate them to the museum, proceeds from their sale will help us and the US Military All-Star Baseball Team promote–as the All-Stars motto puts it–the “Awareness of All Americans in Support of the Honorable Sacrifices our Armed Forces make in defense of our Freedom.”

The trains or cards can be donated at the museum from 11 am to 2 pm any Tuesday through Friday from now through the end of January or at Ed and Therese’s place on the lower level of  Booth’s Corner on Friday or Saturday.

Ed Dougherty to host Holiday Gift Sale at Mickey Vernon Sports Museum

If you have been looking for a good Christmas gift for a Delaware County sports fan, or perhaps a quick tip on your golf game, an excellent opportunity to satisfy either or both is coming up at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum.

PGA Tour and Twice Champions Tour winner Ed Dougherty will be the special guest at a holiday gift sale to be held at the museum on Sunday, December 18th, from 12 pm to 2 pm.   A great selection of Delaware County sports-related items, including card sets and posters, framed photos, books, and DVDs will be available at affordable prices.  All proceeds will help to support the educational programs and exhibits sponsored by the museum.

An interesting aside regarding Mickey Vernon–the namesake of the museum–and the holiday season is the fact that at one point in his baseball career, he worked before Christmas as Santa Claus at Stotter’s Department Store in Chester.  Old-time Delaware County residents will remember Stotter’s as a prominent department store in the county in the days before malls.  It’s an indication of how times–and sports salaries–have changed over the years that a man who was eventually to be a two-time American League batting champion and 7-time All-Star would find it worthwhile to pick up extra money during the offseason in this manner.

pantsThe saga of Tony Larussa’s traveling pants

Tony LaRussa’s traveling pants have ended a long journey, coming to rest as a sports rarity in the Mickey Vernon sports history museum. It’s a journey that began fifty years ago:

In 1961, Marv Thronebury, playing at the time for the Kansas City A’s, was issued two sets of home uniforms at the beginning of the season, just as was every other player. As the season ended, players would return them, receiving new ones the following year.

It was typical for the used uniforms to begin an annual odyssey that would take them through descending levels of minor league affiliates, beginning with triple a. Oddly enough, as players careers flourished and faded, they could possibly inherit the old uniforms that they had worn in their salad days of fleeting major-league glory.
In 1963, Tony Larussa–now the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals–was with the A’s. He subsequently descended into the minors for five seasons (in at least one of those seasons, he was managed by Mickey Vernon) but resurfaced with the A’s in 1968. While in the minors, Larussa inherited Marv Thronebury’s old A’s pants from the 1961 season.
Now for another Delaware County connection: Joe Grace, a record-setting St. James high and St. Joe’s college third baseman and a draft pick of the A’s in! 967, wore those very same much-traveled pants as he played in a rookie league in Florida.
Now those same pants have finally found a home as one of the many sports rarities now on display at the Mickey Vernon sports history museum.

jerseyFootball Takes Center Stage at the Mickey Vernon Sports Museum

Now that the world series is over, football has taken center stage at the Mickey Vernon sports history museum.
NFL films has produced a highlight film of six of the greatest football players in the history of Delaware county:

Emlen Tunnell, from Radnor high school–the first African-American to be elected to the football hall of fame.
Joe Klecko, from St. James high school in Chester, is the only player in the history of the NFL to be selected all-pro at three different positions.
Billy “white shoes” Johnson, from Chichester high school, who was named to the NFL’s all-time team as a return specialist.
John Cappelletti, from Monsignor Bonner high school, a nine year NFL veteran who is the only Heisman trophy winner Penn State has ever produced.
Al Atkinson, also from Monsignor Bonner, started as middle linebacker for the New York Jets when they defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
Randy Grossman, from Haverford high school, played infour super bowlsfor the Pittsburgh Steelers and is the owner of four super bowl rings.

 

murtaughSunday, November 20
1:30 to 4:00pm

 

Murtaugh Relief Sculpture Plaque Becomes a Reality.

 

World-renowned artist Zenos Frudakis, in association with the Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame, has created a relief sculpture plaque honoring Delaware County baseball great Danny Murtaugh.

An open house dedication of this plaque will take place on Sunday, November 20 at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum.

The public is invited to visit the museum from 1:30 to 4 pm on that day to view what is sure to become a Delaware County sports icon.

cardgroupTexas Hold ‘Em Baseball Card Flipping Tournament

The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum is hosting a high stakes baseball card flipping tournament to benefit the United States Military All Star Baseball Team.

This Texas Hold ‘Em style high stakes tournament will be held on Saturday, March 24 starting at 1 PM. Practice sessions will be held at the museum every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 1 pm from February 1 through March 23. The cards for the tournament will be provided by local firms Choice Marketing of Aston and T.C. Ott Sports of Booths Corner Farmers Market.

This year’s Living Legend game will again be played at the Everett Swanson Field at Glen Mills Schools and will once again honor a local veteran with its impressive Passing of The Flag ceremony prior to the start of the contest. The Military All Stars tour the country to promote “the awareness of all Americans in support of the honorable sacrifices made by the men and women in our Armed Forces”.

If you have any information regarding any Delaware County resident that is a survivor of the 1944 D-Day invasion, or if you would like more information on how you can participate in or support this high-stakes card flipping contest or the All-Star baseball game and have a heck of a good time while doing it, contact:

Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net

The Military All Stars team will be in Delaware County on D-Day–June 6th–to play a re-match with the All Stars of the Delco Baseball League, the oldest incorporated baseball league in the United States. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Military All Stars will play a team from our local area. Lastyear’s game—played at Glen Mills Schools–honored Everett Swanson, a US Navy Veteran & survivor of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

Delco olympiansOlympic Exhibit Grand Opening To honor Olympic Gold Medal Winner Dr. Eddie Coyle

The Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum will be hosting an exhibit of Delaware County Olympians beginning on Wednesday April 4th, 2012.  The exhibit will be presented by the Hall of Fame under the direction of its executive director, Joe Cirilli, and will highlight the accomplishments of the seventeen Olympic Medal winners from Delaware County as well as other Olympic team members.

A special opening day ceremony of the exhibit will honor Bonner High School and West Chester University graduate Dr. Eddie Coyle, one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Delaware County.  He won four Pan American gold medals, three World Championships, two Olympic gold medals and one silver.  Between 1970 and 1980, he captured ten National Championships and set twenty three world records. This special ceremony will be held on April 4th, 2012  the opening day of the exhibit, from 12 noon to 1 pm.  Dr. Coyle has promised to bring his Olympic Gold Medals to the opening ceremony.

The exhibit will take place at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum at 1 Beaver Valley Road in Chadds Ford, PA at the intersection of Routes 202 and 491.  The Museum is open to the public from 11am to 2pm on Tuesday through Friday. The museum is also available seven days a week for school programs, group tours, corporate meetings, special events and private parties.

For more information, contact Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

wrestlerWrestling Great Andy Matter to Visit Mickey Vernon Sports Museum

On Sunday April 1, 2012, Andy Matter–two time National Champion and one of the greatest wrestlers ever to wear a Penn State uniform–will appear at the Mickey Vernon Sports Museum between 1 pm and 2 pm as a guest of the Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame.

At Penn State, Andy was 59-2 (21-0 as a Senior), winning three Eastern Championships and two NCAA titles in the 167-pound weight class.  Andy’s high school coach at Upper Darby High School, Art McCall–himself a 2011 inductee of the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame–will have the honor of introducing him.

For anyone who would like to meet and speak with Andy, the museum is located at the corner of 1 Beaver Valley Road and Route 202 in Chadds Ford, PA.  It will be open from 11am to 2pm on the day of his appearance. The museum is available seven days a week for school programs, group tours, corporate meetings, events and private parties.  For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

 

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This year’s Living Legend game will again be played at the Everett Swanson Field at Glen Mills Schools and will once again honor a local veteran with its impressive Passing of The Flag ceremony prior to the start of the contest. The Military All Stars tour the country to promote “the awareness of all Americans in support of the honorable sacrifices made by the men and women in our Armed Forces”.

If you have any information regarding any Delaware County resident that is a survivor of the 1944 D-Day invasion, or if you would like more information on how you can participate in or support this high-stakes card flipping contest or the All-Star baseball game and have a heck of a good time while doing it, contact:

Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net

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Delaware County High School Athletes “A Culture of Excellence” exhibit at the Mickey Vernon Museum

It is a well-known fact that when it comes to athletics, Delaware County has a culture of excellence.  Indeed, few counties in the United States can match its heritage of nationally known sports stars.  Olympic Gold Medal winners, professional football, baseball and basketball players hall of famers, a Heisman Trophy winner, an Indianapolis 500 winner, a Triple Crown winner, soccer, lacrosse and softball standouts, and coaches in all professional and college sports make up the fabric of our star-studded cast.

How long can Delaware County continue to produce national figures in the world of sports?  Judging by a new exhibit coming to the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum, it doesn’t look as if the county is in danger of relinquishing its hold on top-flight talent any time soon.

Delaware County Daily Times staff photographers Eric Hartline, Robert Gurecki, Julia Wilkinson and Colin Kerrigan have provided the museum with 8 1/2 x 11-inch glossy photo prints of its 22 high school Players of the Year for the 2011-2012 school year.  The photos will be on display at the museum from July 21nd through all of 2012. You are invited to view this new crop of outstanding high school athletes, then go on to follow their careers as they attempt to walk in the footsteps of their predecessors to become stars on a larger national stage.

The museum is located at the intersection of Routes 291 and 202 at One Beaver Valley Road in Chadds Ford PA.

For museum hours and more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919.

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As a result of the movie, everyone knows who number 42 of the Brooklyn Dodgers is in this photo taken on June 7, 1948. It’s Jackie Robinson, of course, shown here letting the ball escape between his legs. However, only the hard-core Delaware County sports fan knows the name of the man sliding. That’s Danny Murtaugh, a 1935 graduate of Chester High School and, on September 1,1971, the first manager in major league baseball to field an all-minority team. For the record, his number 40 has been retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team he managed to two world championships. If you would like to find out more about other Delaware County Sports Legends come to the Grand Opening of the Mickey Vernon Sports Museum,1 pm on Sunday April 21. After that date the museum will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm. There is no admission fee to this all volunteer museum. If you have four hours a month to spare and would like to become a volunteer host contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

Jackie Robinson
Sports Legends of Delaware County
Mickey Vernon Museum
BENEFIT

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013
Time: 7-9 pm
Place: Granite Run Mall – Mickey Vernon Museum

Food & Beverage Provided

All proceeds benefit the Museum Operations

Donation: $50.00

Contact Phil Damiani 610- 608- 9066 or Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919
Or send your donation to Mickey Vernon Museum 14 Morgan Rd. Aston, Pa. 19014
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Author Rich Westcott
Noted Author Rich Westcott to Have Book Signing at the Mickey Vernon Sports Museum

Springfield resident Rich Westcott is easily the most prolific author that Delaware County has ever produced. During the past fifty years, he has served on the staff of various newapapers and magazines and has written twenty-three books. Rich has appeared frequently on radio and television shows and has made speaking appearances at numerous sites, including the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Rich will be appearing Saturday, May 18, in the Granite Run Mall at the Mickey Vernon Sports Museum, located on the second floor near Boscov’s, from 12 noon to 2 pm. He’ll be there to discuss and sign his most recent book, Philadelphia’s Top Fifty Baseball Players. Appropriately enough, Mickey Vernon, the museum’s namesake, is included as one of those greatest players.

This book, as well as many of Rich’s other books, will be available for those early Father’s Day shoppers looking for that ideal gift. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or visit the museum’s website, www.delcosportsmuseum.org.

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Wounded Warrior to Lead U.S. Military All-Stars
Managing The U.S.Military All Star Baseball team in its coming game against a Delaware County team will be U.S. Army Ranger Karl Seiter. Karl was right in the middle of the war on terror: Shortly after a tour of duty in Afghanistan, he was deployed to Iraq and landed in the “Triangle of Death,” a hostile area south of Baghdad. In this combat zone, every day was a constant sequence of mission after mission. Near the end of his deployment, Karl was a passenger in a Humvee that was hit by a roadside bomb. He was one of the casualties and still has shrapnel in his back from the experience.

That bombing is one experience that Karl does not like to talk about, but he has many others that he doesn’t mind sharing. Among them are stories about Ranger School, an ordeal that is legendary for its intensity and and for pushing both the physical and psychological limits of its candidates. Throughout the school, Karl’s average day consisted of twenty hours of training and–when lucky–four hours of sleep.

This year’s living legend games will honor U.S.Army veteran Ernest Mariani, a survivor of WWII’s Battle of the Bulge and the Harz Mountain Campaign of April 1945, in which he was wounded. Although the combat experiences of Karl and Ernest are over sixty years apart, one can understand the bond that is sure to form between these two American heroes. It’s a bond that we thankful Americans can certainly appreciate.

The game between the Military All Stars and a Delaware County team will be played at the Glen Mill School’s Everett Swanson Field on June 28, 2013 at 5:45 pm. If you would like more information regarding this event, log on to www.delcosportsmuseum.org or call Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-4919.

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On December 16th, 1944, in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium, the Germans launched their last major counter-offensive of WWII. Known as the Battle of the Bulge, it was fought in heavy snow and freezing temperatures. With almost 80,000 casualties, it is the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought by the U.S. military.
Ernest Mariani fought there with the 1st Infantry Division, also known as the Big Red 1. He was an expert marksman and platoon runner. After the Germans were driven back, he crossed the Rhine river at the Remagen bridgehead and fought in the Harz Mountains of Germany.

In April 1945 , his unit came under heavy small arms and mortar fire. During a heavy firefight, he was wounded by shrapnel from a mortar round and was eventually captured. Along with other POWs, he was moved from village to village by the retreating Germans, often coming under attack by U.S. artillery.
After being rescued by U.S. forces, he was evacuated to France for medical treatment. Ernest returned to the U.S. where he was hospitalized for 4 months at the Valley Forge Military Hospital.PFC Ernest Mariani will be the guest of honor at this year’s Living Legend game to be played between the U.S. Military All Stars and the Delaware County Nine on June 28, 2013 at Glen Mills School’s Everett Swanson Field. Game time is 5:45.

Mr. Mariani, now a Ridley Township resident, is proud to have served the United States during World War II and is just as proud of the men and women serving our country today. Come to the game to cheer these true American heros. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or go to www.delcosportsmuseum.org

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July eNewsletter 2013

 

WHAT’S YOUR VINTAGE SPORTS MEMORABILIA WORTH?? Legendary Auctions and The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum are joining forces to help you answer that nagging question of "I wonder how much my Sports Memorabilia is worth?" If you think you might have an item or collection that could have moderate or considerable value, bring it to the Mickey Vernon Museum to have a knowledgeable estimate of your sport treasure's worth be given to you. Ron Oser, a leading expert from the east coast offices of Legendary Auctions (one of the country’s leading sports memorabilia auction houses located in Lansing, Illinois), will be on site at the museum on Saturday, July 13 from 12 noon to 2 pm to share with you his twenty-five years of experience in the sports collectibles field. Whether you have sports cards, autographs, programs, ticket stubs, game used jerseys and equipment, or any other sports related pieces from the 1880s to 1980s, Ron can give you a fair estimate of current market values. There will be no charge for the estimates as a courtesy of The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum, which is located in the Granite Run Mall 1067 W. Baltimore Pike, Media, PA 19063. For more information, visit our website www.delcosportsmuseum.org or call Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919, email vankoski21@comcast.net.

WHAT’S YOUR VINTAGE SPORTS MEMORABILIA WORTH??
Legendary Auctions and The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum are joining forces to help you answer that nagging question of “I wonder how much my Sports Memorabilia is worth?” If you think you might have an item or collection that could have moderate or considerable value, bring it to the Mickey Vernon Museum to have a knowledgeable estimate of your sport treasure’s worth be given to you.
Ron Oser, a leading expert from the east coast offices of Legendary Auctions (one of the country’s leading sports memorabilia auction houses located in Lansing, Illinois), will be on site at the museum on Saturday, July 13 from 12 noon to 2 pm to share with you his twenty-five years of experience in the sports collectibles field. Whether you have sports cards, autographs, programs, ticket stubs, game used jerseys and equipment, or any other sports related pieces from the 1880s to 1980s, Ron can give you a fair estimate of current market values.
There will be no charge for the estimates as a courtesy of The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum, which is located in the Granite Run Mall 1067 W. Baltimore Pike, Media, PA 19063. For more information, visit our website www.delcosportsmuseum.org or call Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919, email vankoski21@comcast.net.

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The Lou Soscia Memorial Golf Tournament

Please join us for the The Lou Soscia Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday July 15, 2013 at Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester PA. For non golfers and those of you who can’t make it during the day, please click the Register button to join us just for dinner.We expect to have many attending so please Register as soon as possible to assure your spot. We will have a great day of golf at the beautiful Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester, PA. The event will include a 4-person scramble, hot dog lunch and great dinner and awards reception following the golf at 6:30pm. We are also looking for hole sponsors, so please click “Register” to sponsor a hole. I can hear Lou saying from above: “George! Are you crazy having people making a fuss over me? A Golf Tournament! I told you that I might take up golf when I get old. I did mention, however, that I might pick it up sooner if I could run after I hit the ball.”- that is the Lou Soscia we all knew.My answer to Lou: There are many people anxious to pay their respects that were unable to attend the viewing or mass. By attending this event they want to recognize a man who had a great effect on their lives as a teammate, coach, friend, or fellow parishioner. It will be a night to rehash old memories of Upper Darby H.S, the Delco League, St. Josephs U, Villanova, and the camping days at IBI. Some of you Tinicum players may even recall the after game experiences at your favorite watering hole. Last, but certainly not least, the proceeds of the tournament will be going to Jan Soscia, Lou’s widow.
Sincerely,
George Bennett

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Butch Ryan with Danny Murtaugh

Butch Ryan with Danny Murtaugh

The Mickey Vernon Sports Museum will host a “Remembering Butch Ryan” day at the museum on Saturday, September 28. The museum is on the second floor of the Granite Run Mall, near Boscov’s. If you have a special story or memory of Butch that you would like to share with his friends, please come to the museum at 11 am on the 28th. If you have no story, but you would appreciate a few laughs you’ll be sure to enjoy the time spent in memory of Butch. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919.

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WHAT’S YOUR VINTAGE SPORTS MEMORABILIA WORTH??

Once again Legendary Auctions and The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum are joining forces to help you answer that nagging question of “I wonder how much my Sports Memorabilia is worth?” If you have an item or collection that could have moderate or considerable value, bring it to the Mickey Vernon Museum to have a knowledgeable estimate of your sport treasure’s worth be given to you.

Ron Oser, a leading expert from the east coast offices of Legendary Auctions (one of the country’s leading sports memorabilia auction houses located in Lansing, Illinois), will be on site at the museum on Saturday, October 5, 2013 from 12 noon to 2 pm to share with you his twenty-five years of experience in the sports collectibles field. Whether you have sports cards, autographs, programs, ticket stubs, game used jerseys and equipment, or any other sports related pieces from the 1880s to 1980s. Ron specializes in giving a fair and realistic estimate of the current market value of any sports memorabilia that you have. He estimates that the value of the items presented to him for evaluation by individuals who visited the museum this past July had a total value of over $100,000. He was so impressed with the quality and significance of the items presented that he looks forward to offering his services again to those that missed his first visit. For anyone interested,Ron will be accepting consignment items for Legendary Auctions upcoming November 2013 auction.

The will be no charge for the estimates as a courtesy of The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum, which is located in the Granite Run Mall 1067 W. Baltimore Pike, Media, PA 19063. For more information, visit our website www.delcosportsmuseum.org or call Jim Vankoski at 6

10-909-4919, email vankoski21@comcast.net.

Quizzo to Come to the Mickey Vernon Museum Quizzo master Kevin Windsor, direct from the Great American Pub in Conshohocken, will bring his Quizzo [trivia]contest to the Mickey Vernon Museum in the Granite Run Mall on Tuesday, October 29 , 2013. The museum is on the second floor of the mall, near Boscov's. Prizes donated by the museum will be given to the winning team for each round with a grand prize for the overall winning team. Doors open at 7pm, with the games beginning at 7:30. Food and beverages will be available from Dominic's in the mall at happy hour prices. For more information, or to make reservations, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net Please note that trivia questions include but are not limited to--- movies, music, geography, history and sports.

Quizzo to Come to the Mickey Vernon Museum
Quizzo master Kevin Windsor, direct from the Great American Pub in Conshohocken, will bring his Quizzo [trivia]contest to the Mickey Vernon Museum in the Granite Run Mall on Tuesday, October 29 , 2013. The museum is on the second floor of the mall, near Boscov’s.
Prizes donated by the museum will be given to the winning team for each round with a grand prize for the overall winning team. Doors open at 7pm, with the games beginning at 7:30. Food and beverages will be available from Dominic’s in the mall at happy hour prices. For more information, or to make reservations, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net Please note that trivia questions include but are not limited to— movies, music, geography, history and sports.

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2013 ASA Bats Plus “Turkey Shoot-Out” Softball Tournament

All proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum which is located inside the Granite Run Mall.

Men’s Slow Pitch @ West Chester Area Sports Association Complex

Date: Saturday, November 23rd

Entry Fee: $175

Prize Pool: TBD

The tournament is open to the first (8) teams who enter.

Each team will be guaranteed (3) games and softballs are included.

A championship plaque will be awarded to the winning team.

The tournament will use ASA umpires and be ASA sanctioned.

For more information or to enter a team in the tournament contact Joe Organek at (610) 622-1154 or email: millpres2000@rcn.com
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Cold “Turkey Shoot-Out” doesn’t deter teams fundraising for the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum

Despite what at times was a very cold and windy day on the softball fields at the West Chester Area Sports Association Complex where the “A” Flight played and at Camp Upland where the “B” Flight took to the fields, the 2013 ASA Bats Plus “Turkey Shoot-Out” Softball Tournament was a huge success and where $1,000 was raised for the fundraising efforts of the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum. With that being said, myself and Jim Vankoski, the curator of the Mickey Vernon Sports Museum want to thank everyone involved for their help with the success of the tournament. I want to personally thank two of our District 6 Men’s Slow Pitch Player Reps. Kevin McDonald (Chesco) and Anthony SanFilippo (Delco) for the outstanding job they did respectively as both “A” and “B” Flight tournament directors. The ASA of PA District 6 has sanctioned over 30 tournaments in 2013 and the “Turkey Shoot-Out” ranks as one of the most competitive this year. In the “A” Flight every team won at least one game and the players showed some tremendous talent both offensively and defensively, that serves to enforce why some of the best softball is played in District 6. In fact, this year District 6 had an ASA of PA slow pitch state champion and two runner-ups, coming so close to hitting a trifecta of state championships. Those teams were the following: 2013 ASA of PA Class “D” State Championship – Champion – Ryan’s Pub 2013 ASA of PA Class “C” State Championship – Runner-up: Hopson’s Seal Coating (Blarney Stone) 2013 ASA of PA Class “E” State Championship – Runner-up: Maggie’s Irish Pub (Chickie’s and Pete’s) Here’s a brief round-up of the tournament. In the “A” Flight of the “Turkey Shoot-Out” Benny’/Dolan’s were the champions, with Andrew Breischaft & Mike Morrissey sharing MVP honors and with both MVPs dividing between them the $175 gift package that was courtesy of the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum. In an act of generosity that showed a lot of class, coach Matt O’Hara and the Blarney Stone team decided to donate their share of the prize money back to the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum. While over in the “B Flight, High Tension from South Jersey won the championship with Dave Mike-Mayer being named MVP. Team photos of both Benny’/Dolan’s and High Tension will be posted soon.

ASA of Pa. District 6 Commissioner Joe Organek shown here presenting a check to the Mickey Vernon Museum's curator Jim Vankoski for $1,000


ASA of Pa. District 6 Commissioner Joe Organek shown here presenting a check to the Mickey Vernon Museum’s curator Jim Vankoski for $1,000

 

This is a photograph of the winning Mah Jongg entries at the inaugural Tri State tournament held at the Mickey Vernon Museum. Front row: Sue Strohman. Standing, left to right, Barbara Vankoski, Marty Laney, Randi Saxe, Brenda Vogel, Sue Pritchard, Lore Yao and Bonnie Weitzman.

This is a photograph of the winning Mah Jongg entries at the inaugural Tri State tournament held at the Mickey Vernon Museum. Front row: Sue Strohman. Standing, left to right, Barbara Vankoski, Marty Laney, Randi Saxe, Brenda Vogel, Sue Pritchard, Lore Yao and Bonnie Weitzman.

 

Mickey Vernon Museum to Host Holiday Flea Market The Mickey Vernon Museum will host a sports memorabilia flea market on Saturday December 14, 2013 from 12 noon to 3 pm. The museum is on the upper level of the Granite Run Mall, close to Boscov’s. If you have any sports items that you think have some value and you would like to sell them to have some extra cash for the holidays, you should reserve a table today. This service is provided by the museum, but you must register to reserve your space. An interesting aside regarding Mickey Vernon–namesake of the museum–and the holiday season is the fact that at one point in his baseball career, he worked before Christmas as Santa Claus at Stotter’s Department Store in Chester. Old-time Delco residents will remember Stotter’s as a prominent department store in the county in the days before malls. It’s an indication of how sports salaries have changed over the years that a man who was eventually to be a two-time batting champion and 7-time All-Star would find it worthwhile to pick up extra money during the off season in this manner. To reserve a table for the flea market, or to get more information on it (or Mickey Vernon), contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

Mickey Vernon Museum to Host Holiday Flea Market The Mickey Vernon Museum will host a sports memorabilia flea market on Saturday December 14, 2013 from 12 noon to 3 pm. The museum is on the upper level of the Granite Run Mall, close to Boscov’s. If you have any sports items that you think have some value and you would like to sell them to have some extra cash for the holidays, you should reserve a table today. This service is provided by the museum, but you must register to reserve your space. An interesting aside regarding Mickey Vernon–namesake of the museum–and the holiday season is the fact that at one point in his baseball career, he worked before Christmas as Santa Claus at Stotter’s Department Store in Chester. Old-time Delco residents will remember Stotter’s as a prominent department store in the county in the days before malls. It’s an indication of how sports salaries have changed over the years that a man who was eventually to be a two-time batting champion and 7-time All-Star would find it worthwhile to pick up extra money during the off season in this manner. To reserve a table for the flea market, or to get more information on it (or Mickey Vernon), contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

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Veron and Daughter
Olympic Sports Rarity Comes to the Mickey Vernon Museum

Kia Davis, former 8-time state track champion at Chester High School and presently a track coach for the University of Pittsburgh, has placed on loan to the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum the opening ceremony attire that she wore in the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing China when she was a member of the Olympic track and field team representing the country of Liberia.

Kia has dual US-Liberian citizenship status as a result of her father being born in Liberia. As such, she was eligible to run for the Liberian national team. In addition to being the Liberian record holder in five sprint and hurdle categories, her track resume includes six NCAA national titles that she obtained while competing for St. Augustine College and a silver medal won with the US 4×400 relay team in Moscow, Russia in the 2006 World Indoor Championships.

It is indeed an honor that Kia and her family are giving Delaware County residents a chance to view this precious family heirloom. The Museum is located in the Granite Run Mall second floor close to Boscov’s. For more information contact vankoski21@comcast.net. 610-909-4919 www.delcosportsmuseum.org

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Pagano Book Signing at Mickey Vernon Museum Author Richard Pagano will be signing his new book, “The Baron of Leiperville: The Life and Times of James F. Dougherty “at the museum on June 13th and 14th. Father’s Day is just around the corner, and Richard Pagano’s new book entitled, “The Baron of Leiperville: The Life and Times of James F. Dougherty”, would make a great gift for that sports minded Dad. Pagano, whose first book was entitled “Delaware County Sports Legends”, will be having two book signings at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum which is located on the second level of the Granite Run Mall near Boscov’s. The first signing will be Friday, June 13, 2014, from 11:00am to 3:00pm, with a second signing the following day, Saturday, June 14, 2014, from 12:00 to 2:00pm. His new book can be purchased and signed by the author for $19.95. There will also be copies (only a few left) of his first book, “Delaware County Sports Legends” available for the same price of $19.95. “The Baron of Leiperville: The Life and Times of James F. Dougherty” is the biography of one of Delaware County’s larger than life sportsman whose hotel, bar and fight arena in Leiperville, now known as the Crum Lynne section of Ridley Township, was a mecca for boxing from 1916 to 1947. During this time, he was the owner of one of the busiest fight camps in the country. It was at his arena, one of the first open air arenas in the country, that some of the greatest fighters in the sport trained or fought. It was also a popular hangout for sports writers too, especially Damon Runyon who made Leiperville and the Baron famous nationwide. The Baron, who Tex Rickard once said was one of the best referees in the country, was the third man in the ring for three of jack Dempsey’s bouts, and in 1925, was the first imported referee to work a fight in California. He was well-known nationally as a referee, promoter and manager of fighters. He was friends with Jack Johnson and even worked as his manager for some of his bouts in Philadelphia. He gave Dempsey a job at his hotel and let him train there in late 1918 for his fight with Battling Levinsky, which he refereed. He was also responsible for getting Jack Blackburn out of jail, who later would be instrumental in training and guiding Joe Louis to the world heavyweight championship. In the sport of boxing, everyone knew the “Baron”. As a boxer, trainer, manager, referee, promoter and fight camp owner, Jimmy Dougherty stands alone. For more information, contact the author at rp1751@aol.com or call at 267-280-6696.

Pagano Book Signing at Mickey Vernon Museum
Author Richard Pagano will be signing his new book, “The Baron of Leiperville: The Life and Times of James F. Dougherty “at the museum on June 13th and 14th.
Father’s Day is just around the corner, and Richard Pagano’s new book entitled, “The Baron of Leiperville: The Life and Times of James F. Dougherty”, would make a great gift for that sports minded Dad. Pagano, whose first book was entitled “Delaware County Sports Legends”, will be having two book signings at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum which is located on the second level of the Granite Run Mall near Boscov’s. The first signing will be Friday, June 13, 2014, from 11:00am to 3:00pm, with a second signing the following day, Saturday, June 14, 2014, from 12:00 to 2:00pm. His new book can be purchased and signed by the author for $19.95. There will also be copies (only a few left) of his first book, “Delaware County Sports Legends” available for the same price of $19.95.
“The Baron of Leiperville: The Life and Times of James F. Dougherty” is the biography of one of Delaware County’s larger than life sportsman whose hotel, bar and fight arena in Leiperville, now known as the Crum Lynne section of Ridley Township, was a mecca for boxing from 1916 to 1947. During this time, he was the owner of one of the busiest fight camps in the country. It was at his arena, one of the first open air arenas in the country, that some of the greatest fighters in the sport trained or fought. It was also a popular hangout for sports writers too, especially Damon Runyon who made Leiperville and the Baron famous nationwide.
The Baron, who Tex Rickard once said was one of the best referees in the country, was the third man in the ring for three of jack Dempsey’s bouts, and in 1925, was the first imported referee to work a fight in California. He was well-known nationally as a referee, promoter and manager of fighters. He was friends with Jack Johnson and even worked as his manager for some of his bouts in Philadelphia. He gave Dempsey a job at his hotel and let him train there in late 1918 for his fight with Battling Levinsky, which he refereed. He was also responsible for getting Jack Blackburn out of jail, who later would be instrumental in training and guiding Joe Louis to the world heavyweight championship. In the sport of boxing, everyone knew the “Baron”. As a boxer, trainer, manager, referee, promoter and fight camp owner, Jimmy Dougherty stands alone.
For more information, contact the author at rp1751@aol.com or call at 267-280-6696.

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Chris Wheeler to Speak at the Mickey Vernon Museum Chris Wheeler, former Phillies announcer and color commentator[left in photo], will be the special guest of the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum in the Granite Run Mall on Wednesday, June 18, from noon to 1:30 PM. The museum is on the second floor of the mall, near Boscov's "Wheels," as he became known, joined the Phillies in 1971 as an Assistant Director of Publicity and Public Relations . He began broadcasting games in 1977 and in 1982 was named Director of Community Relations. In 1983, he took on the responsibillity of Camp Coordinator for the Phillies Dream Week. With such qualifications, there are few people that can discuss the past forty plus years of Phillies history with more authority than Chris, a graduate of Marple Newtown High School. Chris has promised that he will have available a dozen or more copies of his book, "View From The Booth." His talk kicks off a new series, Sports Talk at the Mall, hosted by Delco Athletes Hall of Fame icon Joe Cirilli. For more information, call Joe at 610-494-3845.

Chris Wheeler to Speak at the Mickey Vernon Museum
Chris Wheeler, former Phillies announcer and color commentator[left in photo], will be the special guest of the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum in the Granite Run Mall on Wednesday, June 18, from noon to 1:30 PM. The museum is on the second floor of the mall, near Boscov’s
“Wheels,” as he became known, joined the Phillies in 1971 as an Assistant Director of Publicity and Public Relations . He began broadcasting games in 1977 and in 1982 was named Director of Community Relations. In 1983, he took on the responsibillity of Camp Coordinator for the Phillies Dream Week. With such qualifications, there are few people that can discuss the past forty plus years of Phillies history with more authority than Chris, a graduate of Marple Newtown High School.
Chris has promised that he will have available a dozen or more copies of his book, “View From The Booth.” His talk kicks off a new series, Sports Talk at the Mall, hosted by Delco Athletes Hall of Fame icon Joe Cirilli. For more information, call Joe at 610-494-3845.

Delaware County’s Wide World of Women’s Sports Exhibit Coming to the Mickey Vernon Museum In 1932, Jean Shiley won a gold medal in the High Jump track and field event at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, defeating the legendary Babe Didrickson. This set the stage for other Delaware County women to achieve greatness in a variety of other Olympic Sports over the years: Jane Barkman–Gold Medal in swimming in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. Char Morett, Karen Shelton and Chris Larson–Bronze Medals in field hockey in the 1984 Olympics. Theresa Shank- Grentz–Head coach of the 1992 Olympic Bronze Medal winning basketball team. Mary Ellen Clark–Bronze Medal winner diver in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. Emily deRiel–Silver medal winner in the pentathlon in the 2000 Olympics And, most recently, Lisa Raymond–2012 silver medal winner in tennis Other Delco women achieving recognition in Olympic sports include Cindy Gilbert-Bevilacqua in Archery, Renee Hykel-Cuddy in Rowing, Karen Anderson,javelin,Dawn Burrell. long jump, Brenda Borgh swimming, Kia Davis and Kate Fonshell in track.During the past 80 plus year time period, Delco women were competing at the national and world level in sports that were not included as Olympic Sports, most notably, lacrosse. Since Virginia Allen and Putty Willetts became involved with the sport of lacrosse in the early 1930s, no fewer than twenty Delco women lacrosse players have been inducted into the National Women’s Lacrosse Hall of Fame.In addition, the following notable representatives of their respective sports have all given Delaware County residents reason to cheer: Auto Racing–Mares Stellfox Bowling–Sadie Dixon and Patricia Mescanti Boxing–Fredia Gibbs Curling–Taylor and Sarah Anderson Figure Skating–Mojca Kopac-Tiernan Golf–Dorothy Germain-Porter Gymnastics–Donna Fletcher Ice Hockey–Gina Kearns Rodeo–Kim McKee Soccer–Sinead Farrelly Softball–Theresa Dunbar Triathlon–Shannon Grady Volleyball–Shelbey Manthorpe All of these outstanding athletes and many more will be included in an exhibit coming to the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum on May 30, 2014 and lasting until October 11, 2014. The museum is located on the second level of the Granite Run Mall close to Boscov’s. For more information contact vankoski21@comcast.net or call Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919

Delaware County’s Wide World of Women’s Sports Exhibit Coming to the Mickey Vernon Museum
In 1932, Jean Shiley won a gold medal in the High Jump track and field event at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, defeating the legendary Babe Didrickson. This set the stage for other Delaware County women to achieve greatness in a variety of other Olympic Sports over the years:
Jane Barkman–Gold Medal in swimming in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics.
Char Morett, Karen Shelton and Chris Larson–Bronze Medals in field hockey in the 1984 Olympics.
Theresa Shank- Grentz–Head coach of the 1992 Olympic Bronze Medal winning basketball team.
Mary Ellen Clark–Bronze Medal winner diver in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.
Emily deRiel–Silver medal winner in the pentathlon in the 2000 Olympics
And, most recently, Lisa Raymond–2012 silver medal winner in tennis
Other Delco women achieving recognition in Olympic sports include Cindy Gilbert-Bevilacqua in Archery, Renee Hykel-Cuddy in Rowing, Karen Anderson,javelin,Dawn Burrell. long jump, Brenda Borgh swimming,
Kia Davis and Kate Fonshell in track.During the past 80 plus year time period, Delco women were competing at the national and world level in sports that were not included as Olympic Sports, most notably, lacrosse. Since Virginia Allen and Putty Willetts became involved with the sport of lacrosse in the early 1930s, no fewer than twenty Delco women lacrosse players have been inducted into the National Women’s Lacrosse Hall of Fame.In addition, the following notable representatives of their respective sports have all given Delaware County residents reason to cheer:
Auto Racing–Mares Stellfox
Bowling–Sadie Dixon and Patricia Mescanti
Boxing–Fredia Gibbs
Curling–Taylor and Sarah Anderson
Figure Skating–Mojca Kopac-Tiernan
Golf–Dorothy Germain-Porter
Gymnastics–Donna Fletcher
Ice Hockey–Gina Kearns
Rodeo–Kim McKee
Soccer–Sinead Farrelly
Softball–Theresa Dunbar
Triathlon–Shannon Grady
Volleyball–Shelbey Manthorpe
All of these outstanding athletes and many more will be included in an exhibit coming to the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum on May 30, 2014 and lasting until October 11, 2014. The museum is located on the second level of the Granite Run Mall close to Boscov’s. For more information contact vankoski21@comcast.net or call Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919

 

Recently, over seventy years of legendary Delaware County women athletes were in attendance at the Grand opening of the Mickey Vernon Museum's Wide World of Women Sports Exhibit. Those present erupted in applause as Putty Willetts, Swarthmore High School class of 1943, took her place among the star-studded cast of amateur and professional athletes. Putty, the only living member of both the National U.S. Field Hockey and National U.S. Lacrosse Halls of Fame is in the center, joined by, seen from left to right in the photo: Strath Haven's Megan Smith Fizzano--Lacrosse Sun Valley's Kim McKee--Rodeo Drexel Hill's Shelbey Manthorpe--Volleyball Upper Darby's Tiz Griffith--Field Hockey Marple Newtown's Sarah, Courtney and Taylor Anderson--Curling Museum curator Jim Vankoski Springfield's Mares Stellfox--Auto Racing Haverford's Renee Hykel Cuddy--Olympic Rowing Lansdowne's Patricia Mescanti--Bowling Archbishop Prendergast's Theresa Dunbar--Softball Jim Vankoski believes this to be the most talented assemblage of local women athletes together at one time representing such a extensive period and so many different games. The women brought with them personal memorabilia to be placed on display at the museum--artifacts representing seventy-five years of Delaware County sports history. The museum is located on the second floor of the Granite Run Mall, close to Boscov's. The exhibit can be viewed free of charge every Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm.

Recently, over seventy years of legendary Delaware County women athletes were in attendance at the Grand opening of the Mickey Vernon Museum’s Wide World of Women Sports Exhibit. Those present erupted in applause as Putty Willetts, Swarthmore High School class of 1943, took her place among the star-studded cast of amateur and professional athletes.
Putty, the only living member of both the National U.S. Field Hockey and National U.S. Lacrosse Halls of Fame is in the center, joined by, seen from left to right in the photo:
Strath Haven’s Megan Smith Fizzano–Lacrosse
Sun Valley’s Kim McKee–Rodeo
Drexel Hill’s Shelbey Manthorpe–Volleyball
Upper Darby’s Tiz Griffith–Field Hockey
Marple Newtown’s Sarah, Courtney and Taylor Anderson–Curling
Museum curator Jim Vankoski
Springfield’s Mares Stellfox–Auto Racing
Haverford’s Renee Hykel Cuddy–Olympic Rowing
Lansdowne’s Patricia Mescanti–Bowling
Archbishop Prendergast’s Theresa Dunbar–Softball
Jim Vankoski believes this to be the most talented assemblage of local women athletes together at one time representing such a extensive period and so many different games. The women brought with them personal memorabilia to be placed on display at the museum–artifacts representing seventy-five years of Delaware County sports history.
The museum is located on the second floor of the Granite Run Mall, close to Boscov’s. The exhibit can be viewed free of charge every Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm.

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Mickey Vernon--April 22, 1918-September 24, 2008 September 24, 2014 will mark the sixth anniversary of Mickey Vernon's death. Help to celebrate his life by coming to the Mickey Vernon Museum in the Granite Run Mall at 12 noon on September 24 to see a 30- minute video of favorite memories of Mickey. The museum is on the second floor of the mall, near Boscov's. " Mickey was the nicest man I ever met."--teammate Rudy Minarcin

Mickey Vernon–April 22, 1918-September 24, 2008
September 24, 2014 will mark the sixth anniversary of Mickey Vernon’s death.
Help to celebrate his life by coming to the Mickey Vernon Museum in the Granite Run Mall at 12 noon on September 24 to see a 30- minute video of favorite memories of Mickey. The museum is on the second floor of the mall, near Boscov’s.
” Mickey was the nicest man I ever met.”–teammate Rudy Minarcin

Veterans Day Contest

In the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum's new exhibit, Athletes and Authors-- Books by and about Delaware County Sports Legends, there is a special baseball section saluting those Delaware County players who served in the military. Given special recognition in this section are Jimmy Dykes (WW I ), Mickey Vernon, Danny Murtaugh, and Stanley Glenn (WW II), and Terry Allvord (Iraq). In association with this exhibit, the museum is sponsoring a Veterans Day Contest. If you know the names of the living members of Baseball's Hall of Fame that served in the military during WW II, email your answer to vankoski21@comcast.net. On November 11th (Veterans Day), a winner will be selected from all correct answers submitted. The museum has a nice surprise gift for the winner. The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum is located in the Granite Run Mall, on the second floor near Boscov's, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 4:30 pm.

In the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum’s new exhibit, Athletes and Authors– Books by and about Delaware County Sports Legends, there is a special baseball section saluting those Delaware County players who served in the military. Given special recognition in this section are Jimmy Dykes (WW I ), Mickey Vernon, Danny Murtaugh, and Stanley Glenn (WW II), and Terry Allvord (Iraq).
In association with this exhibit, the museum is sponsoring a Veterans Day Contest. If you know the names of the living members of Baseball’s Hall of Fame that served in the military during WW II, email your answer to vankoski21@comcast.net. On November 11th (Veterans Day), a winner will be selected from all correct answers submitted. The museum has a nice surprise gift for the winner.
The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum is located in the Granite Run Mall, on the second floor near Boscov’s, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 4:30 pm.

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Basketball Section On Exhibit At Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum in the Granite Run Mall includes exhibits of Delaware County Athletes and Authors. The Basketball Section of the exhibit is shown below. This section includes books by or about regional basketball greats such as Jack Ramsay, Jack McKinney, Bo Ryan, Jameer Nelson, Theresa Grentz and Phil Martelli, as well as a book on Pennsylvania's Greatest High School Basketball Players, written by Mark Hostutler. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 4 pm. This exhibit can be seen through December 31, 2014

Basketball Section On Exhibit At Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum
The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum in the Granite Run Mall includes exhibits of Delaware County Athletes and Authors. The Basketball Section of the exhibit is shown below. This section includes books by or about regional basketball greats such as Jack Ramsay, Jack McKinney, Bo Ryan, Jameer Nelson, Theresa Grentz and Phil Martelli, as well as a book on Pennsylvania’s Greatest High School Basketball Players, written by Mark Hostutler. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 4 pm. This exhibit can be seen through December 31, 2014

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People familiar with Delaware County’s Sports Heritage are well aware of the achievements of County athletes and coaches. However, it might come as a surprise that many of these same individuals are also authors. Among this group are: Jimmy Dykes, the only baseball major league player to play for over 20 years and manage for over 20 years in the big leagues.Emlen Tunnell, first African American to be elected to football’s Hall of Fame.Jack Ramsay, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, Jack McKinney, NBA coach of the year and Phil Martelli are all St. Joseph University basketball coaches turned authors.Two more basketball coaches–“Bo” Ryan and Theresa Grentz–are as current as you get, with Bo having coached the University of Wisconsin Basketball team to the 2014 final four and Theresa being elected in 2014 to the Basketball Hall of Fame.Vince Papale of Invicible lore, Joe Klecko and Joe Fields are three football stars with books to their credit.Rich Westcott has written 24 books, including Mickey Vernon The Gentleman First Baseman.Rich Pagano has published a recent book on fight promoter Baron Dougherty.Colleen Hroncich, Danny Murtaugh’s granddaughter has authored his biography.Ray Didinger has compiled a New Eagles Encyclopedia that is soon to be released.Books by these authors are among the many included in an exhibit slated to open in mid-October at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum. The museum is located in the Granite Run Mall, on the second floor near Boscov’s. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. For more information, contact vankoski21@comcast.net.

People familiar with Delaware County’s Sports Heritage are well aware of the achievements of County athletes and coaches. However, it might come as a surprise that many of these same individuals are also authors. Among this group are:
Jimmy Dykes, the only baseball major league player to play for over 20 years and manage for over 20 years in the big leagues.Emlen Tunnell, first African American to be elected to football’s Hall of Fame.Jack Ramsay, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, Jack McKinney, NBA coach of the year and Phil Martelli are all St. Joseph University basketball coaches turned authors.Two more basketball coaches–“Bo” Ryan and Theresa Grentz–are as current as you get, with Bo having coached the University of Wisconsin Basketball team to the 2014 final four and Theresa being elected in 2014 to the Basketball Hall of Fame.Vince Papale of Invicible lore, Joe Klecko and Joe Fields are three football stars with books to their credit.Rich Westcott has written 24 books, including Mickey Vernon The Gentleman First Baseman.Rich Pagano has published a recent book on fight promoter Baron Dougherty.Colleen Hroncich, Danny Murtaugh’s granddaughter has authored his biography.Ray Didinger has compiled a New Eagles Encyclopedia that is soon to be released.Books by these authors are among the many included in an exhibit slated to open in mid-October at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum. The museum is located in the Granite Run Mall, on the second floor near Boscov’s. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. For more information, contact vankoski21@comcast.net.

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FINAL EXHIBIT at Mickey Vernon Museum to close at 4 pm on March 7, 2015 The Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum at the Granite Run Mall opened on April 21, 2013. Since then, over 8,000 visitors have come to appreciate the great sports heritage of Delaware County PA. Besides the extensive permanent collection, the museum has assembled, in just nearly two years of operation, special exhibits on Delaware County Olympians; an exhibit on professional boxing in Delaware County–curated by author Rich Pagano; The Wide World of Delaware County Women’s Sports exhibit and an exhibit titled Athletes and Authors, Books by and about Delaware County Sports Legends.As it’s final exhibit, the museum will present a retrospective on its namesake, Mickey Vernon. Titled “Mickey Vernon: Grand Memories of a Great Champion“, the exhibit will feature numerous photos and artifacts of Mickey’s days in Major League Baseball as a player, manager, coach and scout. This final display of the museum will start on February 4 2015, closing on March 7 2015. Please take advantage of visiting the museum for what will be your final opportunity to see over 100 years worth of Delco athletes showcased at this Granite Run Mall location.The museum is located on the second floor of the mall, close to Boscov’s, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 4 pm. For more information, view our website www.delcosportsmuseum.org or contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

 

Looking for

Suggestions

With the Granite Run Mall scheduled for demolition this coming summer, The Mickey Vernon Sports Museum will have to find a new home. Its departure from the mall will have to occur even earlier-- most likely in March of 2015, when its lease at the mall expires. As a result, the time has come to start looking for an idea to keep the Mickey Vernon Museum in the public eye until a new site can be found. What do you think of finding a site at which a Delaware County Sports Rarity of the Month from the museum collection can be showcased? We would need a very nice high-traffic area that is safe and secure where we could display a different piece of Delaware County sports memorabilia each month-one that is appropriate to the sport season. I'd appreciate it if you'd give it some thought and let me know if you have any suggestions. March will be here before you know it.Thanks, Jim Vankoski email vankoski21@comcast.net website www.delcosportsmuseum.org

With the Granite Run Mall scheduled for demolition this coming summer, The Mickey Vernon Sports Museum will have to find a new home. Its departure from the mall will have to occur even earlier– most likely in March of 2015, when its lease at the mall expires. As a result, the time has come to start looking for an idea to keep the Mickey Vernon Museum in the public eye until a new site can be found. What do you think of finding a site at which a Delaware County Sports Rarity of the Month from the museum collection can be showcased? We would need a very nice high-traffic area that is safe and secure where we could display a different piece of Delaware County sports memorabilia each month-one that is appropriate to the sport season. I’d appreciate it if you’d give it some thought and let me know if you have any suggestions. March will be here before you know it.Thanks, Jim Vankoski email vankoski21@comcast.net website www.delcosportsmuseum.org

April eNews for Billy - pg5 REVISED

University of Wisconsin basketball coach and Chester native, Bo Ryan's NCAA 2007 Division One Coach of the Year Adolph Rupp Cup is on display at the Rocky Run Y in Media, Pa. The cup will be on display for members during the month of April 2015. Ryan, a 1965 graduate of Chester High School led the Badgers to a then school record 30 wins that season and the first # 1 ranking in school history. A recent addition to the Mickey Vernon Delaware County Sports History Museum welcomes you to its new home in the Rocky Run YMCA in Media, PA. The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in a case adjacent to the gym. Items from the museum's collection, including the monthly Rarity, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. If you are one of the more than 19,000 members of the Rocky Run Y be sure to visit this site often to view periodic updates. If your club or organization is interested in hosting a hands-on presentation of any of these sports rarities at a meeting place of your choice, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

University of Wisconsin basketball coach and Chester native, Bo Ryan’s NCAA 2007 Division One Coach of the Year Adolph Rupp Cup is on display at the Rocky Run Y in Media, Pa. The cup will be on display for members during the month of April 2015. Ryan, a 1965 graduate of Chester High School led the Badgers to a then school record 30 wins that season and the first # 1 ranking in school history.
A recent addition to the Mickey Vernon Delaware County Sports History Museum welcomes you to its new home in the Rocky Run YMCA in Media, PA. The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in a case adjacent to the gym.
Items from the museum’s collection, including the monthly Rarity, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. If you are one of the more than 19,000 members of the Rocky Run Y be sure to visit this site often to view periodic updates. If your club or organization is interested in hosting a hands-on presentation of any of these sports rarities at a meeting place of your choice, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

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Together Again–Danny Murtaugh and Mickey Vernon In the mid 1930s, Danny Murtaugh and Mickey Vernon were teammates on Chester’s American Legion baseball team. In the late 1930s, they entered professional baseball, playing in the Eastern Shore league. In the early 1940s, they both reached their goal of becoming major league players, beginning careers that were interrupted by World War II. During the war, they served in the United States military–Danny in the Army and Mickey in the Navy. In the late1940s and early 1950s, they were back playing major league baseball,–Danny in the National League and Mickey in the American League. In 1960, they were both part of the National League champion Pittsburgh Pirates that defeated the New York Yankees to gain the World Championship–Danny as the manager and Mickey as a player/coach. Now, eighty years after first playing for that Chester American Legion team, they will be brought together again posthumously in a museum exhibit held in the Delaware County Historical Society Museum and Research Library located at 408 Avenue of the States in Chester PA. The exhibit combines artifacts from the Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum is free and will open to the public April 11, 2015 and last through October 2015. Additional information about this exhibit can be found on the Mickey Vernon Museum’s website www.delcosportsmuseum.org or call the Delaware County Historical Society Museum at 610-872-0502. The curator of this exhibit is Jim Vankoski. He can be reached at vankoski21@comcast.net or 610-909-4919. Many thanks to Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia for helping to make this exhibit possible.

Together Again–Danny Murtaugh and Mickey Vernon In the mid 1930s, Danny Murtaugh and Mickey Vernon were teammates on Chester’s American Legion baseball team. In the late 1930s, they entered professional baseball, playing in the Eastern Shore league. In the early 1940s, they both reached their goal of becoming major league players, beginning careers that were interrupted by World War II. During the war, they served in the United States military–Danny in the Army and Mickey in the Navy. In the late1940s and early 1950s, they were back playing major league baseball,–Danny in the National League and Mickey in the American League. In 1960, they were both part of the National League champion Pittsburgh Pirates that defeated the New York Yankees to gain the World Championship–Danny as the manager and Mickey as a player/coach. Now, eighty years after first playing for that Chester American Legion team, they will be brought together again posthumously in a museum exhibit held in the Delaware County Historical Society Museum and Research Library located at 408 Avenue of the States in Chester PA. The exhibit combines artifacts from the Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum is free and will open to the public April 11, 2015 and last through October 2015. Additional information about this exhibit can be found on the Mickey Vernon Museum’s website www.delcosportsmuseum.org or call the Delaware County Historical Society Museum at 610-872-0502. The curator of this exhibit is Jim Vankoski. He can be reached at vankoski21@comcast.net or 610-909-4919. Many thanks to Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia for helping to make this exhibit possible.

 

A recent addition to the Mickey Vernon Delaware County Sports History Museum welcomes you to the museum’s new home in the Rocky Run YMCA in Media, PA. The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in a case adjacent to the gym. The Sports Rarity for May will be a game-used ball from Gertie Dunn’s 1952 Rookie of the Year season with the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. The ball will be on display for Y members during the entire month. Dunn, a graduate of Sharon Hill High School and West Chester University, is arguably the best woman athlete in the history of Delaware County. In addition to playing in the AA/GPBL–the league made famous by the movie A League of Their Own–Gertie, now deceased, is the only player ever to be inducted into both The National Field Hockey and National Lacrosse Halls of Fame. Items from the Museum’s collection, including the monthly Rarity, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. If you are one of the more than 19,000 members of the Rocky Run Y, be sure to visit this site often to view periodic updates. If your club or organization is interested in hosting a hands-on presentation of any of these sports rarities at a meeting place of your choice, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

A recent addition to the Mickey Vernon Delaware County Sports History Museum welcomes you to the museum’s new home in the Rocky Run YMCA in Media, PA. The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in a case adjacent to the gym. The Sports Rarity for May will be a game-used ball from Gertie Dunn’s 1952 Rookie of the Year season with the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. The ball will be on display for Y members during the entire month. Dunn, a graduate of Sharon Hill High School and West Chester University, is arguably the best woman athlete in the history of Delaware County. In addition to playing in the AA/GPBL–the league made famous by the movie A League of Their Own–Gertie, now deceased, is the only player ever to be inducted into both The National Field Hockey and National Lacrosse Halls of Fame. Items from the Museum’s collection, including the monthly Rarity, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. If you are one of the more than 19,000 members of the Rocky Run Y, be sure to visit this site often to view periodic updates. If your club or organization is interested in hosting a hands-on presentation of any of these sports rarities at a meeting place of your choice, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

Long and Foster Sales1

Tom Berry SM

On both Saturday, June 20th and Saturday, June 27th, there is a 3:05 start time for the Phillies game. The timing of that game makes for a good self guided day trip for your family and friends when combined with the following three nearby attractions: A visit to our Danny Murtaugh--Mickey Vernon Exhibit in the Delaware County Historical Society Museum. Something unique, a visit to an old-time boxing gym which is right around the corner from the museum. Harrah's Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack. 777 Harrah's Blvd. Chester, Pa. The museum, at 408 Avenue of the States in Chester, PA, is where the Murtaugh-Vernon exhibit is on display, with artifacts and information relating to those two local legends of major league baseball. The Must Fight Boxing Gym, just a one-block walk from the museum, is at 504 Edgmont Avenue in Chester. It’s a place where young boxers train and older pugilists spar just to stay in shape, with a look that is right out of the 1930s. It was recently used in the filming of the movie "Creed", the latest in the Rocky series. Harrah’s, of course, needs no introduction, and is always a good source of entertainment. For those fans that enjoy the historic aspect of sports, this makes for a great trip. Visit the museum and the gym in the morning then spend some time winning money at the casino and racetrack until it’s time to get to the game. All three of these attractions are only about an easy twenty-minute ride from Citizens Bank Park and the Phillies. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at vankoski21@comcast.net or 610-909-4919. For more information on the museum exhibit, visit www.delcosportsmuseum.org.

On both Saturday, June 20th and Saturday, June 27th, there is a 3:05 start time for the Phillies game. The timing of that game makes for a good self guided day trip for your family and friends when combined with the following three nearby attractions:
A visit to our Danny Murtaugh–Mickey Vernon Exhibit in the Delaware County Historical Society Museum.
Something unique, a visit to an old-time boxing gym which is right around the corner from the museum.
Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack. 777 Harrah’s Blvd. Chester, Pa.
The museum, at 408 Avenue of the States in Chester, PA, is where the Murtaugh-Vernon exhibit is on display, with artifacts and information relating to those two local legends of major league baseball.
The Must Fight Boxing Gym, just a one-block walk from the museum, is at 504 Edgmont Avenue in Chester. It’s a place where young boxers train and older pugilists spar just to stay in shape, with a look that is right out of the 1930s. It was recently used in the filming of the movie “Creed”, the latest in the Rocky series.
Harrah’s, of course, needs no introduction, and is always a good source of entertainment.
For those fans that enjoy the historic aspect of sports, this makes for a great trip. Visit the museum and the gym in the morning then spend some time winning money at the casino and racetrack until it’s time to get to the game. All three of these attractions are only about an easy twenty-minute ride from Citizens Bank Park and the Phillies.
For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at vankoski21@comcast.net or 610-909-4919. For more information on the museum exhibit, visit www.delcosportsmuseum.org.

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Kim McKee’s Rodeo Memorabilia

Items from the Museum’s collection, including the monthly Rarity, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. If you are one of the more than 19,000 members of the Rocky Run Y, be sure to visit this site often to view periodic updates. If your club or organization is interested in hosting a hands-on presentation of any of these sports rarities at a meeting place of your choice, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or www.vankoski21@comcast.net.

Kim McKee's Rodeo Memorabilia from her National Collegiate Championship Career will be on display at the Rocky Run Y in Media, Pa. The memorabilia will be on display for members during the month of July 2015. McKee a graduate of Sun Valley High School and The University Tennessee Martin is arguably the best woman Rodeo athlete in the history of Delaware County. Kim winning a National College Finals Championship held in Bozeman Montana, aired on ESPN, she later rode exclusively as a professional, making it to the International Rodeo Finals in Wichita Kansas. This addition to the Mickey Vernon Delaware County Sports History Museum welcomes you to its home in the Rocky Run YMCA in Media, PA. The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in a case adjacent to the gym. Items from the museum's collection, including the monthly Rarity, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. If you are one of the more than 19,000 members of the Rocky Run Y be sure to visit this site often to view periodic updates. If your club or organization is interested in hosting a hands-on presentation of any of these sports rarities at a meeting place of your choice, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.


Kim McKee’s Rodeo Memorabilia from her National Collegiate Championship Career will be on display at the Rocky Run Y in Media, Pa. The memorabilia will be on display for members during the month of July 2015. McKee a graduate of Sun Valley High School and The University Tennessee Martin is arguably the best woman Rodeo athlete in the history of Delaware County. Kim winning a National College Finals Championship held in Bozeman Montana, aired on ESPN, she later rode exclusively as a professional, making it to the International Rodeo Finals in Wichita Kansas.
This addition to the Mickey Vernon Delaware County Sports History Museum welcomes you to its home in the Rocky Run YMCA in Media, PA. The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in a case adjacent to the gym.
Items from the museum’s collection, including the monthly Rarity, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. If you are one of the more than 19,000 members of the Rocky Run Y be sure to visit this site often to view periodic updates. If your club or organization is interested in hosting a hands-on presentation of any of these sports rarities at a meeting place of your choice, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

 

A recent addition to the Mickey Vernon Delaware County Sports History Museum welcomes you to the addition’s new home in the Rocky Run YMCA in Media, PA. The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in a case adjacent to the gym. The Sports Rarity for August will be Phillies Broadcast Team’s Ben Davis’ game-worn jersey and game-used catcher’s mitt from Ben’s 2004 season with the American League Seattle Mariners. The jersey and mitt will be on display for Y members during the entire month of July. Davis was born in Chester,Pa., grew up in nearby Aston and earned acclaim as an accomplished catcher while at Malvern Prep. In 1995, he was selected second overall in the Major League Baseball Draft. Ben played seven years at the major league level, including stints with the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox. Items from the Museum’s collection, including the monthly Rarity, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. If you are one of the more than 19,000 members of the Rocky Run Y, be sure to visit this site often to view periodic updates. If your club or organization is interested in hosting a hands-on presentation of any of these sports rarities at a meeting place of your choice, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

A recent addition to the Mickey Vernon Delaware County Sports History Museum welcomes you to the addition’s new home in the Rocky Run YMCA in Media, PA. The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in a case adjacent to the gym. The Sports Rarity for August will be Phillies Broadcast Team’s Ben Davis’ game-worn jersey and game-used catcher’s mitt from Ben’s 2004 season with the American League Seattle Mariners. The jersey and mitt will be on display for Y members during the entire month of July. Davis was born in Chester,Pa., grew up in nearby Aston and earned acclaim as an accomplished catcher while at Malvern Prep. In 1995, he was selected second overall in the Major League Baseball Draft. Ben played seven years at the major league level, including stints with the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox. Items from the Museum’s collection, including the monthly Rarity, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. If you are one of the more than 19,000 members of the Rocky Run Y, be sure to visit this site often to view periodic updates. If your club or organization is interested in hosting a hands-on presentation of any of these sports rarities at a meeting place of your choice, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

 

Producers and Directors George Case III and Jim Vankoski are proud to announce that the film "Ballfield to Battlefield and Back--From FDR to JFK" has been selected for showing at the Tenth Annual Baseball Film Festival, to be held at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY from September 25-27, 2015, The dvd features sixty minutes of color footage of WW II and Korean War-era major league players from 1939 through 1962. More than eighty players in the dvd who served in the military, including 40 members of the Hall of Fame, are identified, along with their branch of service. Among the Hall of Fame veterans featured are Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Bob Feller, Warren Spahn, Hank Greenberg, Jackie Robinson, and Yogi Berra. All of those featured were professional ballplayers prior to WW II, served their country during the war and then returned to the ballfield. Ted Williams was called to serve again during the Korean war. The dvd also features four presidents (FDR, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and JFK) "throwing out the first ball" in Washington DC. In addition, there is color footage of Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium in 1947 and of the legendary Honus Wagner when he was a coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. This national treasure was filmed and narrated by two former major league players, George Case (six-time stolen base champion and four time all-star) and Mickey Vernon (two-time batting champion and seven-time all-star). For information on how to obtain this dvd for your own pleasure or for that special fan, contact Jim Vankoski at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum at 610-909-4919 or go to www.timelessbaseball.com.

Producers and Directors George Case III and Jim Vankoski are proud to announce that the film “Ballfield to Battlefield and Back–From FDR to JFK” has been selected for showing at the Tenth Annual Baseball Film Festival, to be held at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY from September 25-27, 2015, The dvd features sixty minutes of color footage of WW II and Korean War-era major league players from 1939 through 1962.
More than eighty players in the dvd who served in the military, including 40 members of the Hall of Fame, are identified, along with their branch of service. Among the Hall of Fame veterans featured are Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Bob Feller, Warren Spahn, Hank Greenberg, Jackie Robinson, and Yogi Berra. All of those featured were professional ballplayers prior to WW II, served their country during the war and then returned to the ballfield. Ted Williams was called to serve again during the Korean war.
The dvd also features four presidents (FDR, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and JFK) “throwing out the first ball” in Washington DC. In addition, there is color footage of Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium in 1947 and of the legendary Honus Wagner when he was a coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This national treasure was filmed and narrated by two former major league players, George Case (six-time stolen base champion and four time all-star) and Mickey Vernon (two-time batting champion and seven-time all-star).
For information on how to obtain this dvd for your own pleasure or for that special fan, contact Jim Vankoski at the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum at 610-909-4919 or go to www.timelessbaseball.com.

Together Again Exibit Trading Card1
Together Again Exibit Trading Card2

Artist rendition of center atrium wall by George Rothacker.

Artist rendition of center atrium wall by George Rothacker.

Sports Rarity of the Month: Mares Stellfox “The Lady Outlaw”

An addition to the Delaware County Sports scene, open free of charge to all residents, awaits you at the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in their atrium. With this addition The Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum are preparing for a December 12, 2015 opening for a permanent Sports Legends of Delaware County installation also to be held at the Radnor Township building. The Sports Legends of Delaware County exhibit promises to preserve the rich sports history of Delaware County by honoring those athletes that have earned national and international acclaim for their accomplishments. The Sports Rarity for November will be Mares Stellfox’s Auto Racing Helmet and Fire Suit that she wore as a Professional Auto Racing Champion. These items will be on display Monday through Friday the entire month of November during the township’s normal business hours. Mares a graduate of Springfield High School, made her debut in the world of micro sprint racing with her car at Delaware’s Airport Speedway. In 1988 Mares joined a racing club called the Tri- State Outlaws. Mares was the only woman among the nearly one hundred men in the club. Because of her unique status she became known in the racing world as ” The Lady Outlaw” For more information contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net or www.delcosportsmuseum.org --Photo courtesy of Jim Young--

An addition to the Delaware County Sports scene, open free of charge to all residents, awaits you at the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in their atrium. With this addition The Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum are preparing for a December 12, 2015 opening for a permanent Sports Legends of Delaware County installation also to be held at the Radnor Township building. The Sports Legends of Delaware County exhibit promises to preserve the rich sports history of Delaware County by honoring those athletes that have earned national and international acclaim for their accomplishments. The Sports Rarity for November will be Mares Stellfox’s Auto Racing Helmet and Fire Suit that she wore as a Professional Auto Racing Champion. These items will be on display Monday through Friday the entire month of November during the township’s normal business hours. Mares a graduate of Springfield High School, made her debut in the world of micro sprint racing with her car at Delaware’s Airport Speedway. In 1988 Mares joined a racing club called the Tri- State Outlaws. Mares was the only woman among the nearly one hundred men in the club. Because of her unique status she became known in the racing world as ” The Lady Outlaw” For more information contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net or www.delcosportsmuseum.org

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Sports Legends of Delaware County Opening Reception

photo credit James Doling Jr.

photo credit James Doling Jr.

 

photo credit George Rothacker Sports Legends of Delaware County presents the opening reception for Its new museum exhibit, to be held Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 11 am to 3 pm at the Radnor Township Municipal Building on 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, PA. Included in the numerous events that will be available free of charge that day will be the following: Book signings by noted Delaware County Sports authors. Rich Westcott, the most prolific author in the history of Delco, will be there to discuss many of the 25 books that he has written. Rich Pagano, author of the very popular book Delaware County Sports Legends, will be there with his new book on boxing Baron Dougherty "The Baron of Leiperville". Jack Lemon will also be there to sign his book Black Gold a History of the African-American athlete from Media High School. He will also tell you about his soon to be published book on Ted Meredith. Ted who attended Media High School and Williamson Trade School won two Gold Medals in the 1912 Olympics. Ron Oser from Huggins and Scott auction house will be there to answer that nagging question that you may have about the value of your sports memorabilia free of charge. A unique piece of baseball memorabilia will be on display that day. Once owned by Delco baseball great Mickey Vernon, it is a 25x42- inch piece of horsehide that was signed by all of the players and managers from every American League team during the 1957 season, complete with caricature drawings of many of the signers. Just back from being selected to be shown at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Film Festival in Cooperstown, NY is the dvd Ballfield to Battlefield and Back, filmed and narrated by Mickey Vernon and George Case. In this film, you will be treated to rare color footage of 40 Hall of Fame players as they practiced and played during the 1939 to 1962 era. Also on the big screen will be highlight film of Radnor's own Emlen Tunnell, as well as other Delco football greats Billy Johnson, John Cappelletti, Al Atkinson, Joe Klecko and Randy Grossman. Radnor artist George Rothacker, the artist for the Sports Legends of Delaware County exhibit will be on hand to present his work to the public and answer any questions you have with regards to the purchase of prints, or custom image of other legends. In all, this will be a truly exceptional exhibit, not to be missed by the sports fan of Delaware County. For more information visit www.delcosportsmuseum.org or email vankoski21@comcast.net

photo credit George Rothacker
Sports Legends of Delaware County presents the opening reception for Its new museum exhibit, to be held Saturday, December 12, 2015
from 11 am to 3 pm at the Radnor Township Municipal Building on 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, PA. Included in the numerous events that will be available free of charge that day will be the following:
Book signings by noted Delaware County Sports authors. Rich Westcott, the most prolific author in the history of Delco, will be there to discuss many of the 25 books that he has written. Rich Pagano, author of the very popular book Delaware County Sports Legends, will be there with his new book on boxing Baron Dougherty “The Baron of Leiperville”. Jack Lemon will also be there to sign his book Black Gold a History of the African-American athlete from Media High School. He will also tell you about his soon to be published book on Ted Meredith. Ted who attended Media High School and Williamson Trade School won two Gold Medals in the 1912 Olympics.
Ron Oser from Huggins and Scott auction house will be there to answer that nagging question that you may have about the value of your sports memorabilia free of charge.
A unique piece of baseball memorabilia will be on display that day. Once owned by Delco baseball great Mickey Vernon, it is a 25×42- inch piece of horsehide that was signed by all of the players and managers from every American League team during the 1957 season, complete with caricature drawings of many of the signers.
Just back from being selected to be shown at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Film Festival in Cooperstown, NY is the dvd Ballfield to Battlefield and Back, filmed and narrated by Mickey Vernon and George Case. In this film, you will be treated to rare color footage of 40 Hall of Fame players as they practiced and played during the 1939 to 1962 era.
Also on the big screen will be highlight film of Radnor’s own Emlen Tunnell, as well as other Delco football greats Billy Johnson, John Cappelletti, Al Atkinson, Joe Klecko and Randy Grossman.
Radnor artist George Rothacker, the artist for the Sports Legends of Delaware County exhibit will be on hand to present his work to the public and answer any questions you have with regards to the purchase of prints, or custom image of other legends.
In all, this will be a truly exceptional exhibit, not to be missed by the sports fan of Delaware County. For more information visit www.delcosportsmuseum.org or email vankoski21@comcast.net

 

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is excited to announce that–in addition to authors Rich Westcott, Jack Lemon and Rich Pagano–Dallas Green has been added to a book-signing event to be held December 12, 2015. The book signing will be part of the museum’s opening reception, to be highlighted by a display of artifacts from the Delco Athletes’ Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Museum Collection. Dallas, along with having a host of other major league credits, is a former Philadelphia Phillies player and was the Phillies manager when they won the 1980 World Championship. His book, The Mouth that Roared: My six Decades in Baseball, recalls the many ups and downs of Phillies baseball since the early 1960s. The book signing will be held at the museum on Saturday, December 12th from 12 pm to 2 pm. The museum is located in the Radnor Township Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA. For more information, call Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is excited to announce that–in addition to authors Rich Westcott, Jack Lemon and Rich Pagano–Dallas Green has been added to a book-signing event to be held December 12, 2015. The book signing will be part of the museum’s opening reception, to be highlighted by a display of artifacts from the Delco Athletes’ Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Museum Collection.
Dallas, along with having a host of other major league credits, is a former Philadelphia Phillies player and was the Phillies manager when they won the 1980 World Championship. His book, The Mouth that Roared: My six Decades in Baseball, recalls the many ups and downs of Phillies baseball since the early 1960s.
The book signing will be held at the museum on Saturday, December 12th from 12 pm to 2 pm. The museum is located in the Radnor Township Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA. For more information, call Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919

 

A recent addition to the Delaware County Sports scene Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum welcomes you to it's new home in the Radnor Township. Municipal Building located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa. Ben Davis will bring his game-worn jersey and game-used catcher's mitt from his 2004 season with the American League Seattle Mariners. Ben will be at the Museum's opening reception from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on December 12, 2015. Davis grew up in nearby Aston and earned acclaim as an accomplished catcher while at Malvern Prep. In 1995, he was selected second overall in the Major League Baseball Draft. Ben played seven years at the major league level, including stints with the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox. Ben is currently a member of the Phillies Broadcast Team. Items from the Mickey Vernon Museum's collection, which will be housed in the museum, including the Davis Jersey, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. For more information contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

A recent addition to the Delaware County Sports scene Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum welcomes you to it’s new home in the Radnor Township. Municipal Building located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa.
Ben Davis will bring his game-worn jersey and game-used catcher’s mitt from his 2004 season with the American League Seattle Mariners. Ben will be at the Museum’s opening reception from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on December 12, 2015.
Davis grew up in nearby Aston and earned acclaim as an accomplished catcher while at Malvern Prep. In 1995, he was selected second overall in the Major League Baseball Draft. Ben played seven years at the major league level, including stints with the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox. Ben is currently a member of the Phillies Broadcast Team.
Items from the Mickey Vernon Museum’s collection, which will be housed in the museum, including the Davis Jersey, can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. For more information contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

 

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is excited to announce that--in addition to authors Rich Westcott, Jack Lemon and Rich Pagano--Dallas Green has been added to a book-signing event to be held December 12, 2015. The book signing will be part of the museum's opening reception, to be highlighted by a display of artifacts from the Delco Athletes' Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Museum Collection. Dallas, along with having a host of other major league credits, is a former Philadelphia Phillies player and was the Phillies manager when they won the 1980 World Championship. His book, The Mouth that Roared: My six Decades in Baseball, recalls the many ups and downs of Phillies baseball since the early 1960s. The book signing will be held at the museum on Saturday, December 12th from 12 pm to 2 pm. The museum is located in the Radnor Township Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA. For more information, call Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is excited to announce that–in addition to authors Rich Westcott, Jack Lemon and Rich Pagano–Dallas Green has been added to a book-signing event to be held December 12, 2015. The book signing will be part of the museum’s opening reception, to be highlighted by a display of artifacts from the Delco Athletes’ Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Museum Collection.
Dallas, along with having a host of other major league credits, is a former Philadelphia Phillies player and was the Phillies manager when they won the 1980 World Championship. His book, The Mouth that Roared: My six Decades in Baseball, recalls the many ups and downs of Phillies baseball since the early 1960s.
The book signing will be held at the museum on Saturday, December 12th from 12 pm to 2 pm. The museum is located in the Radnor Township Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA. For more information, call Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919

memorabilia

Winners of the Creed Coloring Contest
The Must Fight Boxing Club and the Art on Avenue of the States Gallery, both located in Chester, PA are happy to announce the winners of the Creed Coloring Contest, held in conjunction with the recent opening of the movie Creed. The contest was open to all third, fourth and fifth grade students. There were a total of 127 entries for the judges, all of whom are artists from the Avenue of the States gallery, to review.
First place winner, from the Harris School in Collingdale PA, is Connor Young. Second place winner, also from the Harris School, is Layla Duggan. Both have the same art teacher–Mrs. Hall. The third place winner, from the Drexel Neumann Academy, is Brayan Guaman. Brayan’s art teacher is Mrs. Morrow. Congratulations to all three!
The winners were awarded gifts donated by Modell’s Sporting Goods, Burman’s Medical Supplies and former Chester High School basketball great, Brent Hagwood. The students’ winning entries are on display at www.delcosportsmuseum.org.

First place winner Connor Young

First place winner Connor Young

 

Second place winner Layla Duggan

Second place winner Layla Duggan

 

Third place winner Brayan Guaman

Third place winner Brayan Guaman

Ben Davis with Uniform

Here is a photo of former major league baseball player and current Phillies announcer Ben Davis with his 2004 game-worn Seattle Mariners uniform. It was taken when Ben recently paid a visit to the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum, where the uniform is on display. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA

Here is a photo of former major league baseball player and current Phillies announcer Ben Davis with his 2004 game-worn Seattle Mariners uniform. It was taken when Ben recently paid a visit to the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum, where the uniform is on display. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA

Mickey Vernon’s WW II Uniform

An addition to the Delaware County Sports scene, open free of charge to all residents, awaits you at the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in a case in their atrium. With this addition The Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum are preparing for a December 12, 2015 opening for a permanent Sports Legends of Delaware County installation also to be held at the Radnor Township building. The Sports Legends of Delaware County exhibit promises to preserve the rich sports history of Delaware County by honoring those athletes that have earned national and international acclaim for their accomplishments. The Sports Rarity for December will be Mickey Vernon's World War II Uniform that he wore while serving in the Navy 1943 through 1945. This item will be on display Monday through Friday the entire month of December during the township's normal business hours. Mickey born in Marcus Hook he was a graduate of Eddystone High School was Delaware County's greatest baseball player making his major league debut in 1939 with the Washington Senators and ending his playing career in 1960 with the World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. Along the way he won two batting titles and appeared in seven all star games. For more information contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net or www.delcosportsmuseum.org

An addition to the Delaware County Sports scene, open free of charge to all residents, awaits you at the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa The addition is a Sports Rarity of the Month exhibit, on display in a case in their atrium. With this addition The Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame and the Mickey Vernon Sports History Museum are preparing for a December 12, 2015 opening for a permanent Sports Legends of Delaware County installation also to be held at the Radnor Township building. The Sports Legends of Delaware County exhibit promises to preserve the rich sports history of Delaware County by honoring those athletes that have earned national and international acclaim for their accomplishments.
The Sports Rarity for December will be Mickey Vernon’s World War II Uniform that he wore while serving in the Navy 1943 through 1945. This item will be on display Monday through Friday the entire month of December during the township’s normal business hours.
Mickey born in Marcus Hook he was a graduate of Eddystone High School was Delaware County’s greatest baseball player making his major league debut in 1939 with the Washington Senators and ending his playing career in 1960 with the World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. Along the way he won two batting titles and appeared in seven all star games. For more information contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net or www.delcosportsmuseum.org

 

This extraordinary portrait of Emlen Tunnel was completed by Radnor Township employee James Corcoran for the opening reception of The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum, held on December 12, 2015. Emlen, a 1942 graduate of Radnor High School, and a WW II Veteran was the first African American to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. The portrait will be on display in the Emlen Tunnell Gallery at the museum's home on the second floor of the Radnor Township Municipal Building, located at 301 Iven Avenue.

This extraordinary portrait of Emlen Tunnel was completed by Radnor Township employee James Corcoran for the opening reception of The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum, held on December 12, 2015. Emlen, a 1942 graduate of Radnor High School, and a WW II Veteran was the first African American to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.
The portrait will be on display in the Emlen Tunnell Gallery at the museum’s home on the second floor of the Radnor Township Municipal Building, located at 301 Iven Avenue.

 

This extraordinary portrait of Lewis "Hack" Wilson is the work of Radnor Township employee James Corcoran. Hack lived in the Leiperville section of Delaware County from childhood through his formative years. He still holds the major league record for most RBIs in a single season, driving in 191 in 1930. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1979. This portrait will be on display in the Mickey Vernon Gallery of the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum on the first floor of the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA. For more information on this portrait or other aspects of Delaware County sports history, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919.

This extraordinary portrait of Lewis “Hack” Wilson is the work of Radnor Township employee James Corcoran. Hack lived in the Leiperville section of Delaware County from childhood through his formative years. He still holds the major league record for most RBIs in a single season, driving in 191 in 1930. He was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1979.
This portrait will be on display in the Mickey Vernon Gallery of the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum on the first floor of the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA. For more information on this portrait or other aspects of Delaware County sports history, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919.

 

This extraordinary portrait of Dawn Burrell is the work of Radnor Township employee James Corcoran. Dawn, a two-time Daily Times "Track Athlete of the Year", helped Penn Wood High School win the 1991 PIAA State Championship. She also competed in track at the University of Houston. In 2000, Dawn competed in the Olympics--held in Sydney, Australia that year. The portrait is on display in the Jane Barkman/Mary Ellen Clark Gallery at the museum's home on the first floor of the Radnor Township Municipal Building, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. Contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 for more information

This extraordinary portrait of Dawn Burrell is the work of Radnor Township employee James Corcoran. Dawn, a two-time Daily Times “Track Athlete of the Year”, helped Penn Wood High School win the 1991 PIAA State Championship. She also competed in track at the University of Houston. In 2000, Dawn competed in the Olympics–held in Sydney, Australia that year.
The portrait is on display in the Jane Barkman/Mary Ellen Clark Gallery at the museum’s home on the first floor of the Radnor Township Municipal Building, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. Contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 for more information

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The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is hosting a symposium entitled Defining the Delaware County Athlete--A Geographic and Cultural Perspective. The symposium will present various opinions by those present on what criteria should be used for any particular geographic area to make the claim that a sports figure can rightfully be considered part of its domain. Currently, there are photographs of 130 sports personalities in the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. Certainly they were not all born in Delaware County. They did not all go to a Delaware County High School. They did not all spend the majority of their adult years living in Delaware County. So what exactly is it that defines a Delaware County sports personality? The answer to this question is what this symposium will attempt to deliver. The symposium will be held at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA on January 27, 2016 from 12:30 to 2 pm. It will be free and open to all interested parties. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or email vankoski21@comcast.net.


The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is hosting a symposium entitled Defining the Delaware County Athlete–A Geographic and Cultural Perspective. The symposium will present various opinions by those present on what criteria should be used for any particular geographic area to make the claim that a sports figure can rightfully be considered part of its domain.
Currently, there are photographs of 130 sports personalities in the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. Certainly they were not all born in Delaware County. They did not all go to a Delaware County High School. They did not all spend the majority of their adult years living in Delaware County. So what exactly is it that defines a Delaware County sports personality? The answer to this question is what this symposium will attempt to deliver.
The symposium will be held at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA on January 27, 2016 from 12:30 to 2 pm. It will be free and open to all interested parties. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or email vankoski21@comcast.net.

 

Bo Ryan 2007 Award for NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Coach of The Year

Bo Ryan 2007 Award for NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Coach of The Year Recently retired University of Wisconsin basketball coach and Chester native, Bo Ryan’s NCAA 2007 Division One Coach of the Year Adolph Rupp Cup is on display at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. The museum is located in the Radnor Township Municipal Building 301 Iven Avenue Radnor Pa. This Sports Rarity of the Month will be on display for visitors during the month of January 2016. Ryan, a 1965 graduate of Chester High School led the Badgers to a then school record 30 wins that season and the first # 1 ranking in school history. Ryan is the winningest coach in school history with 364 victories, and his 172-68 record [.717] in conference play is the best winning percentage in Big Ten history. Items from the museum’s collection can be viewed at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. If your club or organization is interested in hosting a hands-on presentation of any of these sports rarities at a meeting place of your choice contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at vankoski21@comcast.net

The John R Wooden Award for Player of the Year is given annually to the most outstanding college basketball player. For the 2003/2004 season, this award was given to Saint Joseph’s University’s Jameer Nelson. After leading Chester High School to the State Championship in 2000, Jameer led the hawks to a 27-0 regular season record and a number 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in the 2003/2004 season. He is currently in his twelfth NBA season. Jameer’s 2004 Wooden Award is now on display at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. This Sports Rarity will be on display for visitors during February 2016, compliments of the Saint Joseph’s University Athletic Department and it’s Director of Athletics, Dominick DiJulia. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, Pa. It is open from 9am to 3pm on Monday through Friday and on certain weekend days by appointment. For more information contact Jim Vankoski at vankoski21@comcast.net or call 610-909-4919

The John R Wooden Award for Player of the Year is given annually to the most outstanding college basketball player. For the 2003/2004 season, this award was given to Saint Joseph’s University’s Jameer Nelson. After leading Chester High School to the State Championship in 2000, Jameer led the hawks to a 27-0 regular season record and a number 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in the 2003/2004 season. He is currently in his twelfth NBA season. Jameer’s 2004 Wooden Award is now on display at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. This Sports Rarity will be on display for visitors during February 2016, compliments of the Saint Joseph’s University Athletic Department and it’s Director of Athletics, Dominick DiJulia. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, Pa. It is open from 9am to 3pm on Monday through Friday and on certain weekend days by appointment. For more information contact Jim Vankoski at vankoski21@comcast.net or call 610-909-4919

Fredia Gibbs

Fredia Gibbs

During the month of February, the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum will be highlighting the athletic achievements of four outstanding African-American women athletes. The four being honored are track stars Kia Davis and Dawn Burrell, Professional Bowler Sadie Dixon Waters and Cabrini College All-American Fredia Gibbs. You can find out more about these amazing women by visiting the museum, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor PA. Hours are 9am to 3pm Monday through Friday. For information call Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919.

african american

This extraordinary portrait of Dawn Burrell is the work of Radnor Township employee James Corcoran. Dawn, a two-time Daily Times "Track Athlete of the Year", helped Penn Wood High School win the 1991 PIAA State Championship. She also competed in track at the University of Houston. In 2000, Dawn competed in the Olympics--held in Sydney, Australia that year. The portrait is on display in the Jane Barkman/Mary Ellen Clark Gallery at the museum's home on the first floor of the Radnor Township Municipal Building, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. Contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 for more information

This extraordinary portrait of Dawn Burrell is the work of Radnor Township employee James Corcoran. Dawn, a two-time Daily Times “Track Athlete of the Year”, helped Penn Wood High School win the 1991 PIAA State Championship. She also competed in track at the University of Houston. In 2000, Dawn competed in the Olympics–held in Sydney, Australia that year.
The portrait is on display in the Jane Barkman/Mary Ellen Clark Gallery at the museum’s home on the first floor of the Radnor Township Municipal Building, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. Contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 for more information

 

Richard Norris Williams lived much of his adult life in St. David's in Delaware County. He survived the sinking of the Titanic by jumping 40 feet into the frigid ocean. When rescued, he was found clinging to a water-logged raft where he had been in 20-degree water for six hours. When he returned home, he enrolled at Harvard University, where he captured both the Intercollegiate Singles and Doubles championships twice each. He also won the 1914 and 1916 US Open singles titles and the 1915 US Clay Court championship. In 1916-Williams' senior year-he was ranked number one in the nation. Williams captured a doubles title at Wimbledon, and two US Open doubles crowns in 1925 and 1926. He was a member and captain of five winning Davis Cup teams, teaming up with Bill Tilden to form an unbeatable duo. He was rated among the top ten players in the world seven times, twice in the top five. At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, France, he captured the mixed doubles gold medal.

Richard Norris Williams lived much of his adult life in St. David’s in Delaware County. He survived the sinking of the Titanic by jumping 40 feet into the frigid ocean. When rescued, he was found clinging to a water-logged raft where he had been in 20-degree water for six hours. When he returned home, he enrolled at Harvard University, where he captured both the Intercollegiate Singles and Doubles championships twice each. He also won the 1914 and 1916 US Open singles titles and the 1915 US Clay Court championship. In 1916-Williams’ senior year-he was ranked number one in the nation.
Williams captured a doubles title at Wimbledon, and two US Open doubles crowns in 1925 and 1926. He was a member and captain of five winning Davis Cup teams, teaming up with Bill Tilden to form an unbeatable duo. He was rated among the top ten players in the world seven times, twice in the top five. At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, France, he captured the mixed doubles gold medal.

 

On the heels of "Race", the movie that tells the story of Jesse Owens winning four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum is presenting a Sports Rarity of the Month that reflects Delaware County's involvement in that same Olympics. On display on the second floor Olympic Gallery, compliments of author Rich Pagano, is the blazer worn by Fred Luerhing during the Opening Ceremonies of that famous Olympic year. Mr. Luehring was Chairman of the Olympic Swimming Committee for the Games in Berlin. Previous to that, he was Secretary of that same committee for the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He has also been honored by the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for having more years of service than any other United States physical education leader. Fred was a long time resident of Delaware County, having resided in Swarthmore for over fifty years. This sports rarity will be on display to visitors during the month of March, 2016. The museum, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor Township, is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or www.delcosportsmuseum.org.

On the heels of “Race”, the movie that tells the story of Jesse Owens winning four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum is presenting a Sports Rarity of the Month that reflects Delaware County’s involvement in that same Olympics.
On display on the second floor Olympic Gallery, compliments of author Rich Pagano, is the blazer worn by Fred Luerhing during the Opening Ceremonies of that famous Olympic year. Mr. Luehring was Chairman of the Olympic Swimming Committee for the Games in Berlin. Previous to that, he was Secretary of that same committee for the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He has also been honored by the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for having more years of service than any other United States physical education leader. Fred was a long time resident of Delaware County, having resided in Swarthmore for over fifty years.
This sports rarity will be on display to visitors during the month of March, 2016. The museum, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor Township, is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or www.delcosportsmuseum.org.

 

March is Women's History Month, and there is plenty to celebrate at the Wide World of Women's Sports exhibit at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum. The museum's Jane Barkman/Mary Ellen Clark Gallery highlights the achievements of women in twenty-five different sports. Special emphasis is placed on women's lacrosse, with an entire display case dedicated to the sport in which over twenty Delaware County women have been honored by being inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. The museum is at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. For more information, call 610-909-4919.

March is Women’s History Month, and there is plenty to celebrate at the Wide World of Women’s Sports exhibit at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum.
The museum’s Jane Barkman/Mary Ellen Clark Gallery highlights the achievements of women in twenty-five different sports. Special emphasis is placed on women’s lacrosse, with an entire display case dedicated to the sport in which over twenty Delaware County women have been honored by being inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
The museum is at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. For more information, call 610-909-4919.

 

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum salutes Joe Cirilli of the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame for his over seventy years of service to the Delaware County sports community. Joe passed April 3, 2016. Thanks for the memories Joe. You truly will be missed.

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum salutes Joe Cirilli
of the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame for his over seventy years of service to the Delaware County sports community. Joe passed April 3, 2016. Thanks for the memories Joe. You truly will be missed.

 

The Sports Legends of Delaware County museum's Sports Rarity of the Month for April reflects Delaware County's participation in fifty years of NFL Super Bowl games. Compiled by Rich Pagano and displayed on the second floor of the Emlen Tunnell Gallery of the museum, is a 24"x36" framed poster entitled Fifty Years of Delco Super Bowl Legends. The poster, with its accompanying information, identifies Delaware County's sixteen Super Bowl participants, their high schools and colleges attended, their pro team and the Super Bowl played.

The Sports Legends of Delaware County museum’s Sports Rarity of the Month for April reflects Delaware County’s participation in fifty years of NFL Super Bowl games.
Compiled by Rich Pagano and displayed on the second floor of the Emlen Tunnell Gallery of the museum, is a 24″x36″ framed poster entitled Fifty Years of Delco Super Bowl Legends. The poster, with its accompanying information, identifies Delaware County’s sixteen Super Bowl participants, their high schools and colleges attended, their pro team and the Super Bowl played.

Delco Super Bowl Players 8x11

Mickey Vernon and Hank Aaron

Mickey Vernon and Hank Aaron

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Gold Medal Winners

Two Gold Medal winning Olympians sharing time at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum's Grand Opening on May 7, 2016. Dr. Eddie Coyle and Jane Barkman. Truly something to brag about.

Two Gold Medal winning Olympians sharing time at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum’s Grand Opening on May 7, 2016. Dr. Eddie Coyle and Jane Barkman. Truly something to brag about.

Joe Crawford with his Golden Whistle Award

The Sports Rarity of the Month for May, 2016 at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum will be Joe Crawford's 2014 Gold Whistle award, the most coveted award in the world of sports officiating. This international award is presented annually to a recipient selected by the National Association of Sports Officials to an individual considered to be of a high degree of integrity and ethics who has made significant contributions to the betterment of officiating. Joe was also chosen by the Daily Times Sports Department to be the 2015 Delco Sports Figure of the Year. During his illustrious career, which began in 1977, his reputation has earned for him the right to have officiated a record fifty NBA Finals games. His award can be seen in the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum, first floor showcase, at 301 Iven Road in Radnor, PA on Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. For more museum information, visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com.

The Sports Rarity of the Month for May, 2016 at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum will be Joe Crawford’s 2014 Gold Whistle award, the most coveted award in the world of sports officiating. This international award is presented annually to a recipient selected by the National Association of Sports Officials to an individual considered to be of a high degree of integrity and ethics who has made significant contributions to the betterment of officiating.
Joe was also chosen by the Daily Times Sports Department to be the 2015 Delco Sports Figure of the Year. During his illustrious career, which began in 1977, his reputation has earned for him the right to have officiated a record fifty NBA Finals games.
His award can be seen in the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum, first floor showcase, at 301 Iven Road in Radnor, PA on Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. For more museum information, visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com.

 

The Sports Rarity of the Month for June, 2016 at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum will be the Heisman football once owned by the late Joe Cirilli. Joe's sons, Vince and Mike Cirilli, have graciously placed the ball on loan to the museum so that visitors can view this unique item. The football was given to Joe by John Cappelletti (Heisman winner in 1973) and is signed by 23 Heisman trophy winners. John was able to gather the signatures at the 75th anniversary of the Heisman award ceremony held in 2009. Shown here is Joe receiving the ball from his nephew Nick Cirilli and Mike Iannacci at a Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame award dinner. The Heisman ball was given to Joe by John Cappelletti because of the respect he had for decades of significant contributions that Joe made to Delaware County's world of sports. Joe's legacy of sportsmanship and fair play will be remembered always by those that knew him. This Heisman football can be seen in the first floor showcase of the Mickey Vernon Gallery located in the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Road in Radnor, PA on Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. For more museum information, visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com.

The Sports Rarity of the Month for June, 2016 at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum will be the Heisman football once owned by the late Joe Cirilli. Joe’s sons, Vince and Mike Cirilli, have graciously placed the ball on loan to the museum so that visitors can view this unique item.
The football was given to Joe by John Cappelletti (Heisman winner in 1973) and is signed by 23 Heisman trophy winners. John was able to gather the signatures at the 75th anniversary of the Heisman award ceremony held in 2009. Shown here is Joe receiving the ball from his nephew Nick Cirilli and Mike Iannacci at a Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame award dinner. The Heisman ball was given to Joe by John Cappelletti because of the respect he had for decades of significant contributions that Joe made to Delaware County’s world of sports. Joe’s legacy of sportsmanship and fair play will be remembered always by those that knew him.
This Heisman football can be seen in the first floor showcase of the Mickey Vernon Gallery located in the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Road in Radnor, PA on Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. For more museum information, visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com.

 

The Sports Rarity of the Month for July, 2016 at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum will be a twelve-inch standing figure maquette in bronze, a replica of the Harry Kalas statue that was installed at Citizens Bank Park in 2011. The sculptor, Lawrence Nowlan, who passed on July 30, 2013, was a 1983 graduate of Archbishop Carroll High School. A lifelong athlete and sports fan himself, he led the effort to memorialize Kalas, the longtime Phillies broadcaster. The reproduction is on loan from the Shane Victorino Foundation. Shane, a big fan of Harry, hung Kalas' signature baby-blue blazer and white loafers in the dugout during every game after his demise. This statue can be seen in the first-floor showcase of the Mickey Vernon Gallery of the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Road in Radnor, PA every Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. Harry often said that Mickey was his baseball hero as a kid and remained so when he became an adult.

The Sports Rarity of the Month for July, 2016 at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum will be a twelve-inch standing figure maquette in bronze, a replica of the Harry Kalas statue that was installed at Citizens Bank Park in 2011. The sculptor, Lawrence Nowlan, who passed on July 30, 2013, was a 1983 graduate of Archbishop Carroll High School. A lifelong athlete and sports fan himself, he led the effort to memorialize Kalas, the longtime Phillies broadcaster.
The reproduction is on loan from the Shane Victorino Foundation. Shane, a big fan of Harry, hung Kalas’ signature baby-blue blazer and white loafers in the dugout during every game after his demise.
This statue can be seen in the first-floor showcase of the Mickey Vernon Gallery of the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Road in Radnor, PA every Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. Harry often said that Mickey was his baseball hero as a kid and remained so when he became an adult.

Olympic Map

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Jane Barkman Olympic Memorabilia

A recent addition to the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is Olympic memorabilia of two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Jane Barkman from 1968 and 1972 . In 1968, Jane postponed the beginning of her senior year at Radnor High School so that she could compete in the Olympic Games in Mexico City. At those games, she won a gold and bronze medal. Four years later, Jane returned for the 1972 Olympics, held in Munich, Germany. On display is her favorite Stars and Stripes suit from those 1972 games, where she again captured a Gold Medal. Now, through Jane's generosity, we are now able to view her striped suit as well as the parade uniform dress that she wore during those 1968 games. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor PA. It is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. For more information, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

A recent addition to the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is Olympic memorabilia of two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Jane Barkman from 1968 and 1972 .
In 1968, Jane postponed the beginning of her senior year at Radnor High School so that she could compete in the Olympic Games in Mexico City. At those games, she won a gold and bronze medal. Four years later, Jane returned for the 1972 Olympics, held in Munich, Germany. On display is her favorite Stars and Stripes suit from those 1972 games, where she again captured a Gold Medal.
Now, through Jane’s generosity, we are now able to view her striped suit as well as the parade uniform dress that she wore during those 1968 games. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor PA. It is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. For more information, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

Emlen Tunnell Football Hall of Famer & WWII Hero

The Sports Rarity of the Month for August, 2016 of the Sports Legends of Delaware County (SLDC) museum will be the silver life saving medal given to US Coast Guard Steward's Mate First Class Emlen Tunnell. This medal is given by the Coast Guard to individuals that put their own life in danger to save another. According to Rear Admiral Joseph Castillo, Tunnell was twice cited for exceptional acts of heroism during his service. In 1944, while aboard the USS Etamin, a Japanese torpedo blew a hole in the side of the ship. Tunnell came to the aid of shipmate Fred Shaver, who was on fire. Tunnell carried him to safety, sustaining burns of his own in the process. He saved the life of another man in 1946, when shipmate Alfred Givens fell overboard into 32-degree water and nearly drowned. Tunnell jumped into the water to his rescue. The medal is on loan from David Lyons via Emlen's late sister Vivian Robinson and her daughter, Catherine Robinson, of Radnor. It, along with many other medals and awards bestowed on Emlen, was given to the Tunnell family as he was posthumously honored by the Coast Guard when the gym at Coast Guard Island, Alameda,California was dedicated to him in 2011. The dedication of the gym is appropriate, since Tunnell, in addition to his meritorious military service, is also a member of the Pro- Football Hall of Fame! The medal, along with other medals and awards given to Tunnell, can be seen in a first-floor showcase of the All-Star Atrium of the SLDC museum at 301 Iven Road in Radnor PA every Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

The Sports Rarity of the Month for August, 2016 of the Sports Legends of Delaware County (SLDC) museum will be the silver life saving medal given to US Coast Guard Steward’s Mate First Class Emlen Tunnell. This medal is given by the Coast Guard to individuals that put their own life in danger to save another.
According to Rear Admiral Joseph Castillo, Tunnell was twice cited for exceptional acts of heroism during his service. In 1944, while aboard the USS Etamin, a Japanese torpedo blew a hole in the side of the ship. Tunnell came to the aid of shipmate Fred Shaver, who was on fire. Tunnell carried him to safety, sustaining burns of his own in the process. He saved the life of another man in 1946, when shipmate Alfred Givens fell overboard into 32-degree water and nearly drowned. Tunnell jumped into the water to his rescue.
The medal is on loan from David Lyons via Emlen’s late sister Vivian Robinson and her daughter, Catherine Robinson, of Radnor. It, along with many other medals and awards bestowed on Emlen, was given to the Tunnell family as he was posthumously honored by the Coast Guard when the gym at Coast Guard Island, Alameda,California was dedicated to him in 2011. The dedication of the gym is appropriate, since Tunnell, in addition to his meritorious military service, is also a member of the Pro- Football Hall of Fame!
The medal, along with other medals and awards given to Tunnell, can be seen in a first-floor showcase of the All-Star Atrium of the SLDC museum at 301 Iven Road in Radnor PA every Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

Bobblehead Exhibit Closing

closing
Bobblehead Exhibit

The Sports Legends of Delaware County museum and its Mickey Vernon Gallery are joining forces to present an exhibit that will feature one of the largest public displays of bobblehead figurines ever assembled in Delaware County. In order to bring about this presentation, the museum curators are asking for your help. If you happen to have an old bobblehead figurine hanging around your house collecting dust, you can donate it and we will display it in our upcoming exhibit, to be held this August and September. For your generosity, you will receive a coupon good for a chance to have your own bobblehead made to your very own specifications, compliments of Choice Marketing. To kick-start this event, more than a dozen bobblehead figurines that have been donated in memory of former collector Frank Upton will soon be on display at the Golden Impulse jewelry store at 25 West State Street in Media, PA. Bring your donated figurine to the store or to the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA during the months of June or July any Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm and receive your chance to win a personal bobblehead figurine for supporting this event. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

The Sports Legends of Delaware County museum and its Mickey Vernon Gallery are joining forces to present an exhibit that will feature one of the largest public displays of bobblehead figurines ever assembled in Delaware County.
In order to bring about this presentation, the museum curators are asking for your help. If you happen to have an old bobblehead figurine hanging around your house collecting dust, you can donate it and we will display it in our upcoming exhibit, to be held this August and September. For your generosity, you will receive a coupon good for a chance to have your own bobblehead made to your very own specifications, compliments of Choice Marketing.
To kick-start this event, more than a dozen bobblehead figurines that have been donated in memory of former collector Frank Upton will soon be on display at the Golden Impulse jewelry store at 25 West State Street in Media, PA. Bring your donated figurine to the store or to the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA during the months of June or July any Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm and receive your chance to win a personal bobblehead figurine for supporting this event.
For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

You Are There: Danny Murtaugh History making Moments

Remember when Walter Cronkite would place you in a figurative time warp as the host of the old TV show You Are There? Well, keynote speaker Bruce Markusen, a noted author and currently the manager of Digital and Outreach Learning at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY, will do the same as he sets the stage for three of Danny Murtaugh's history-making moments at a dinner celebration to be held in the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum. The museum is inviting you to help us celebrate those three moments. The first moment occurred on October 13,1960, when Danny managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to an upset victory over the New York Yankees in a game in which Bill Mazeroski hit his historic seventh game walk-off home run. The second history-making moment occurred on September 1, 1971, when Danny became the first major league manager to pencil-in the first all-minority lineup--24 years after Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier. The third moment occurred on October 17,1971, when the Pirates--again managed by Danny--defeated the heavily-favored Baltimore Orioles--also in a series lasting seven games. The dinner celebration will take place on October 8, 2016 at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA. The cost of an individual ticket is one hundred dollars. Bruce Markusen's book, The Team that Changed Baseball:Roberto Clemente and the 1971 Pirates, will be one of the special complimentary gifts offered to those that purchase a ticket. For more information, visit the museum's website www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com or contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919, vankoski21@comcast.net.or Phil Damiani 610-565-0476

Remember when Walter Cronkite would place you in a figurative time warp as the host of the old TV show You Are There? Well, keynote speaker Bruce Markusen, a noted author and currently the manager of Digital and Outreach Learning at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY, will do the same as he sets the stage for three of Danny Murtaugh’s history-making moments at a dinner celebration to be held in the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum.
The museum is inviting you to help us celebrate those three moments.
The first moment occurred on October 13,1960, when Danny managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to an upset victory over the New York Yankees in a game in which Bill Mazeroski hit his historic seventh game walk-off home run.
The second history-making moment occurred on September 1, 1971, when Danny became the first major league manager to pencil-in the first all-minority lineup–24 years after Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier.
The third moment occurred on October 17,1971, when the Pirates–again managed by Danny–defeated the heavily-favored Baltimore Orioles–also in a series lasting seven games.
The dinner celebration will take place on October 8, 2016 at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA. The cost of an individual ticket is one hundred dollars. Bruce Markusen’s book, The Team that Changed Baseball:Roberto Clemente and the 1971 Pirates, will be one of the special complimentary gifts offered to those that purchase a ticket.
For more information, visit the museum’s website www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com or contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919, vankoski21@comcast.net.or Phil Damiani 610-565-0476

Danny Murtaugh Making History

Tickets are now available for the Danny Murtaugh History-Making Gala to be held on October 8, 2016 at the Radnor Township Municipal Building home on the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa. Visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com or call Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 or Phil Damiani 610-565-0476

Tickets are now available for the Danny Murtaugh History-Making Gala to be held on October 8, 2016 at the Radnor Township Municipal Building home on the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa. Visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com or call Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 or Phil Damiani 610-565-0476

Tickets to Danny Murtaugh’s History Making Moments Gala

Tickets are now available for the Danny Murtaugh's History-Making Moments celebration to be held on October 8, 2016. A Rawlings Official Major League Baseball, autographed by Bobby Shantz and inscribed 1952 MVP, will be given to the first twenty-five purchasers of tickets to this event. Bobby played an integral part in the deciding seventh game of the 1960 World Series while pitching for the New York Yankees--a game in which Bill Mazeroski hit his historic game-winning home run that enabled the Murtaugh-managed team to become World Champions. Through Bobby's respect and admiration for Danny and Mickey Vernon, he graciously agreed to place his signature on the balls. Bobby is the oldest living MVP, and having his signature on an Official MLB ball would enhance the value of any collection. Visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com for more information, or call Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or Phil Damiani at 610-565-0476.

Tickets are now available for the Danny Murtaugh’s History-Making Moments celebration to be held on October 8, 2016. A Rawlings Official Major League Baseball, autographed by Bobby Shantz and inscribed 1952 MVP, will be given to the first twenty-five purchasers of tickets to this event.
Bobby played an integral part in the deciding seventh game of the 1960 World Series while pitching for the New York Yankees–a game in which Bill Mazeroski hit his historic game-winning home run that enabled the Murtaugh-managed team to become World Champions. Through Bobby’s respect and admiration for Danny and Mickey Vernon, he graciously agreed to place his signature on the balls. Bobby is the oldest living MVP, and having his signature on an Official MLB ball would enhance the value of any collection.
Visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com for more information, or call Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or Phil Damiani at 610-565-0476.

Baseball History is Made

Tim Murtaugh [left], grandson of Danny Murtaugh, is shown here presenting to Jim Vankoski, curator of the Sports Legends of Delaware County (SDLC) museum, the jersey that his grandfather wore when the Pittsburgh Pirates, then managed by Danny, defeated the New York Yankees in a game in which Bill Mazeroski hit his historic seventh-game walk-off home run. The public will have it's first chance to see the jersey on Saturday, September 3rd, from 10 am to 12 pm at the Mickey Vernon Gallery on the first floor of the SLDC museum. After that the jersey can be viewed during museum regular hours each Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA. On the same subject, a Danny Murtaugh Making History Gala will take place on October 8, 2016. For ticket information, contact Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 or visit the museum's website at www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com.

Tim Murtaugh [left], grandson of Danny Murtaugh, is shown here presenting to Jim Vankoski, curator of the Sports Legends of Delaware County (SDLC) museum, the jersey that his grandfather wore when the Pittsburgh Pirates, then managed by Danny, defeated the New York Yankees in a game in which Bill Mazeroski hit his historic seventh-game walk-off home run.
The public will have it’s first chance to see the jersey on Saturday, September 3rd, from 10 am to 12 pm at the Mickey Vernon Gallery on the first floor of the SLDC museum. After that the jersey can be viewed during museum regular hours each Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA.
On the same subject, a Danny Murtaugh Making History Gala will take place on October 8, 2016. For ticket information, contact Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 or visit the museum’s website at www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com.

manny-sanguillen

Click here to read the Danny Murtaugh Oct 8th Gala Program Book.

Danny Murtaugh Making History Celebration

Danny Murtaugh's historic number 40 jersey, shown in the photo below and last seen at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY, will be on display during this event. Sponsorship Information The Sports Legends of Delaware County museum is inviting you to help us celebrate three history-making moments in the career of one of Delaware County's favorite sons--Danny Murtaugh. The first moment occurred on October 13,1960, when Danny managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to an upset victory over the New York Yankees in a game in which Bill Mazeroski hit his historic seventh-game walk-off home run. The second history-making moment occurred on September 1, 1971, when Danny became the first major league manager to pencil-in the first all minority line-up--24 years after Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier. The third moment occurred on October 17,1971, when the Pirates--again managed by Danny--defeated the heavily-favored Baltimore Orioles--also in a series lasting seven games. The celebration will take place on October 8, 2016 at the SLDC museum at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor PA 19087. Attendance will be limited to no more than 130 and is expected to last from 6 pm to 9 pm. We are looking for ten sponsors to make this a very special evening. Your sponsorship of $1,000 will entitle you to a pre-banquet reception in our hospitality suite as well as recognition of you or your company in our banquet program. The reception will be hosted by the board of directors of the SLDC museum, with a special guest giving a personal insight into the careers of two Delaware County athletes that participated in what could truly be called one of the most historic moments in baseball history. Your sponsorship will also entitle you and nine additional friends, family or colleagues to our regular program, which includes dinner, entertainment, and video presentations as well as what perhaps will be the highlight of the evening: A talk by Bruce Markusen, the author of a book on one of the most important teams in the history of sports--the 1971 Pirates. Mr. Markusen currently is the manager of Digital and Outreach Learning at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Thank you for considering this request. If you have any questions, please get in touch with me at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net. Jim Vankoski,PresidentSLDC Inc. (A 501c3 organization)

Danny Murtaugh’s historic number 40 jersey, shown in the photo below and last seen at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY, will be on display during this event. Sponsorship Information
The Sports Legends of Delaware County museum is inviting you to help us celebrate three history-making moments in the career of one of Delaware County’s favorite sons–Danny Murtaugh.
The first moment occurred on October 13,1960, when Danny managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to an upset victory over the New York Yankees in a game in which Bill Mazeroski hit his historic seventh-game walk-off home run.
The second history-making moment occurred on September 1, 1971, when Danny became the first major league manager to pencil-in the first all minority line-up–24 years after Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier.
The third moment occurred on October 17,1971, when the Pirates–again managed by Danny–defeated the heavily-favored Baltimore Orioles–also in a series lasting seven games.
The celebration will take place on October 8, 2016 at the SLDC museum at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor PA 19087. Attendance will be limited to no more than 130 and is expected to last from 6 pm to 9 pm. We are looking for ten sponsors to make this a very special evening. Your sponsorship of $1,000 will entitle you to a pre-banquet reception in our hospitality suite as well as recognition of you or your company in our banquet program. The reception will be hosted by the board of directors of the SLDC museum, with a special guest giving a personal insight into the careers of two Delaware County athletes that participated in what could truly be called one of the most historic moments in baseball history.
Your sponsorship will also entitle you and nine additional friends, family or colleagues to our regular program, which includes dinner, entertainment, and video presentations as well as what perhaps will be the highlight of the evening: A talk by Bruce Markusen, the author of a book on one of the most important teams in the history of sports–the 1971 Pirates. Mr. Markusen currently is the manager of Digital and Outreach Learning at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
Thank you for considering this request. If you have any questions, please get in touch with me at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.
Jim Vankoski,PresidentSLDC Inc. (A 501c3 organization)

 

This Danny Murtaugh plaque is part of the Danny Murtaugh-Making Memories exhibit now available for viewing at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne PA. The plaque is a creation of Zenos Frudakis, a world-renowned sculptor. Laran Bronze of Chester, PA. is the foundry credited with the finished product as seen below. The museum is open each Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. For more information, log onto www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com.

This Danny Murtaugh plaque is part of the Danny Murtaugh-Making Memories exhibit now available for viewing at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne PA.
The plaque is a creation of Zenos Frudakis, a world-renowned sculptor. Laran Bronze of Chester, PA. is the foundry credited with the finished product as seen below.
The museum is open each Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. For more information, log onto www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com.

SLDC Book Signing and Memorabilia Sale

Authors Rich Westcott, Rich Pagano, Jack Lemon and Bob McLaughlin to Have Book Signing at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. Springfield resident and noted author Rich Westcott is easily the most prolific author that Delaware County has ever produced. During the past fifty years, he has served on the staff of various newspapers and magazines and has written twenty-five books. Rich has appeared frequently on radio and television shows and has made speaking appearances at numerous sites, including the Baseball Hall of Fame.Rich will be appearing Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum in the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA. He’ll be there from 11 am to 2 pm to discuss and sign his most recent book, The Champions of Philadelphia, The Greatest Eagles, Phillies, Sixers and Flyers Teams.In addition to Rich, other authors of books on local sports notables will be there: -Rich Pagano, author of the very popular book, Delaware County Sports Legends will be there with his book on boxing’s Baron Dougherty, “The Baron of Leiperville”. -Jack Lemon will also be there to sign his book on Ted Meredith. Meredith, who attended Media High School and Williamson Trade School, was Delaware County’s first Olympic Gold Medal winner, winning two of them in the 1912 games. -Rounding out the lineup of attendees will be St. James High graduate Bob McLaughlin. His book tells the story of the close life-long friendship of baseball’s Danny Murtaugh and Mickey Vernon who led the Pirates to the 1960 World Series championship. He’ll be there with his new book, Danny Murtaugh and Mickey Vernon Ordinary Heroes. Their books, as well an array of Sports Memorabilia will be available for those early holiday shoppers looking for that ideal gift for the fan of local sports.

Authors Rich Westcott, Rich Pagano, Jack Lemon and Bob McLaughlin to Have Book Signing at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum.
Springfield resident and noted author Rich Westcott is easily the most prolific author that Delaware County has ever produced. During the past fifty years, he has served on the staff of various newspapers and magazines and has written twenty-five books. Rich has appeared frequently on radio and television shows and has made speaking appearances at numerous sites, including the Baseball Hall of Fame.Rich will be appearing Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum in the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA. He’ll be there from 11 am to 2 pm to discuss and sign his most recent book, The Champions of Philadelphia, The Greatest Eagles, Phillies, Sixers and Flyers Teams.In addition to Rich, other authors of books on local sports notables will be there: -Rich Pagano, author of the very popular book, Delaware County Sports Legends will be there with his book on boxing’s Baron Dougherty, “The Baron of Leiperville”. -Jack Lemon will also be there to sign his book on Ted Meredith. Meredith, who attended Media High School and Williamson Trade School, was Delaware County’s first Olympic Gold Medal winner, winning two of them in the 1912 games. -Rounding out the lineup of attendees will be St. James High graduate Bob McLaughlin. His book tells the story of the close life-long friendship of baseball’s Danny Murtaugh and Mickey Vernon who led the Pirates to the 1960 World Series championship. He’ll be there with his new book, Danny Murtaugh and Mickey Vernon Ordinary Heroes. Their books, as well an array of Sports Memorabilia will be available for those early holiday shoppers looking for that ideal gift for the fan of local sports.

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Welcome to a first look at our Sports Legends of Delaware County Inc. museum logo. The logo was carefully designed by Dan Falone of Choice Marketing to include a variety of symbols that indicate Delaware County's place in the sports world. Here is the story of these symbols: The Initials SLDC are the most prominent feature. They stand for Sports Legends of Delaware County, reminding us that our mission is to acknowledge excellence, preserving the heritage of our local sports history by recognizing and rewarding such excellence. Across the top of the shield are 49 stars that represent the 49 political units that make up Delaware County. The top star represents Radnor Township, acknowledging the township's foresight in providing the space for the museum. At the bottom of the shield is an outline map of Delaware County, with a single star representing the Radnor Township location of the museum. The shield itself represents the Olympic Shield that was displayed on the uniform worn in the 1912 Olympics-- significant to Delaware County because it was during these games that Ted Meredith received the first Olympic Gold Medal ever won by a Delaware County athlete. Finally, the red, white and blue colors symbolize the patriotism of many of the athletes honored. Many of the honored athletes served in our armed forces. The military service of Delaware County athletes dates well before the Olympics--as far back as the Civil War. Trading one uniform for another, many other athletes also served during WWI, WWII, and the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Conflicts. Jim Vankoski, curator

Welcome to a first look at our Sports Legends of Delaware County Inc. museum logo. The logo was carefully designed by Dan Falone of Choice Marketing to include a variety of symbols that indicate Delaware County’s place in the sports world. Here is the story of these symbols:
The Initials SLDC are the most prominent feature. They stand for Sports Legends of Delaware County, reminding us that our mission is to acknowledge excellence, preserving the heritage of our local sports history by recognizing and rewarding such excellence.
Across the top of the shield are 49 stars that represent the 49 political units that make up Delaware County. The top star represents Radnor Township, acknowledging the township’s foresight in providing the space for the museum.
At the bottom of the shield is an outline map of Delaware County, with a single star representing the Radnor Township location of the museum. The shield itself represents the Olympic Shield that was displayed on the uniform worn in the 1912 Olympics– significant to Delaware County because it was during these games that Ted Meredith received the first Olympic Gold Medal ever won by a Delaware County athlete.
Finally, the red, white and blue colors symbolize the patriotism of many of the athletes honored. Many of the honored athletes served in our armed forces. The military service of Delaware County athletes dates well before the Olympics–as far back as the Civil War. Trading one uniform for another, many other athletes also served during WWI, WWII, and the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Conflicts.
Jim Vankoski, curator

2017 Card Set

A first look at the Sports Legends of Delaware County 2017 Card Set will be unveiled on December 10th from from 11am to 2pm at the SLDC museum, located at 301 Iven Ave. in Wayne, PA. The 50-card set showcases county athletes in 15 different sports, as well as numerous coaches and officials that have received national recognition by their involvement in NBA and NCAA championship games and meets; Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series games; and the NFL Super Bowls. The first 25 people in attendance will be able to select 10 complimentary cards from the set to add to their sport card collection. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919

A first look at the Sports Legends of Delaware County 2017 Card Set will be unveiled on December 10th from from 11am to 2pm at the SLDC museum, located at 301 Iven Ave. in Wayne, PA.
The 50-card set showcases county athletes in 15 different sports, as well as numerous coaches and officials that have received national recognition by their involvement in NBA and NCAA championship games and meets; Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series games; and the NFL Super Bowls. The first 25 people in attendance will be able to select 10 complimentary cards from the set to add to their sport card collection.
For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919

SPORTS LEGENDS OF DELAWARE COUNTY MUSEUM DECEMBER 2017 610-909-4919

Delco Football Players Who Played in the Pros

Compiled by Rich Pagano

Archbishop Carroll

1. Maurice Stovall -WR – Notre Dame- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006-2010) – 7 seasons – 81 games

Detroit Lions (2011)

Jacksonville Jaguars (2012)

2. Brandon Moore –OL – Duke – New England Patriots (1993-1995) – 3 seasons – 26 games

3. Burt Grossman – DL – Pitt – San Diego Chargers (1989-1993) – 6 seasons – 85 games

Philadelphia Eagles (1994)

Cardinal O’Hara

1. Gerry Feehery – C – Syracuse – Philadelphia Eagles (1983-1987) – 6 seasons – 47 games

Kansas City Chiefs (1988)

2. Don Clune – WR – Penn – New York Giants (1974- 1975) – 3 seasons – 28 games

Seattle Seahawks (1976)

3. Kevin Jones – RB – Virginia Tech – Detroit Lions (2004-2007) – 5 seasons – 64 games

Chicago Bears (2008)

4. Tom Savage – QB –Rutgers – Houston Texans (2014) – 1 season – 2 games

5. Corey Brown – WR –Ohio State – Carolina Panthers (2014) – 1 season – 13 games

Chester

1. Bill Cottrell – OL – Delaware Valley – Detroit Lions (1967-1970) – 5 seasons – 63 games

Denver broncos (1972)

2. Ted Cottrell – LB – Delaware Valley – Atlanta Falcons (1969-1970) – 2 seasons – 24 games

3. Will Hunter – DB – Syracuse – Minnesota Vikings (2005-2006) – 2 seasons – 23 games

Chichester

1. Billy “White Shoes” Johnson – WR – Widener – Houston Oilers (1974-1980) -14 seasons – 143 GP

Atlanta Falcons (1982-1987)

Washington Redskins (1988)

2. Dennis Borcky – DL – Memphis – New York Giants (1987) – 1 season – 2 games

3. John Mobley – LB – Kutztown – Denver Broncos (1996-2003) – 8 seasons – 105 games

Clifton Heights

1. Mike Phillips – OL – Western Maryland – Baltimore Colts (1947) – 1 season – 12 games

2. Dan Morgan – LB – Miami – Carolina Panthers (2001-2007) – 7 seasons – 59 games

Darby Township

1. Chris Arnold – WR – Virginia State – Oakland Raiders (1974) – 1 season – no games

Eddystone

1. Ed Walsh – OT – PMC – New York Titans (1961) – 1 season – 6 games

Glen Mills

1. Ralph Jarvis – DL – Temple – Indianapolis Colts (1990) – 1 season – 8 games

2. John Jones – TE – Indiana of Pa. – Baltimore Ravens (2000-2003) – 4 seasons – 49 games

3. Bernard Pierce – RB – Baltimore Ravens (2012-2014) – 4 seasons – 48 games

Jacksonville Jaguars (2005)

Haverford High

1. Sam Venuto – HB – Guilford – Washington Redskins (1952) – 1 season – 3 games

2. Steve Joachim – QB – Temple – New York Jets (1976) – 1 season – 1 game

3. Randy Grossman – TE – Temple – Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-1981) – 8 seasons – 118 games

4. Todd Feldman – WR – Kent State – Miami Dolphins (1987) – 1 season – 1 game

Haverford School

1. Mike Mayock – DB – Boston College – New York Giants (1982-1983) – 2 seasons – 9 games

2. Will Barker – OT – Virginia – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010) – 2 seasons – 3 games

Interboro

1. Vince Papale – WR – St. Joe’s – Philadelphia Eagles (1976-1978) – 3 seasons – 41 games

Lansdowne

1. Ned Wilcox – RB – Swarthmore – Frankford Yellowjackets (1926-1927) – 2 seasons – 26 games

Marple Newtown

1. Karl Chandler OL – Princeton – New York Giants (1974-1977) – 6 seasons – 66 games

Detroit Lions (1978-1979)

2. George Schmitt – DB – Delaware – St. Louis Cardinals (1983) – 1 season – 16 games

3. Bill Maas – DL – Pittsburgh – Kansas City Chiefs (1984-1992) – 10 seasons – 130 games

Green bay Packers (1993)

Mitchell School

1. Jim Culbreath – FB – Oklahoma – Green Bay Packers (1977-1979) – 4 seasons – 41 games

Philadelphia Eagles (1980)

New York Giants (1980)

Monsignor Bonner

1. Al Atkinson – LB – Villanova – New York Jets (1965-1974) – 10 seasons – 120 games

2. John Cappelletti – RB – Penn State – Los Angeles (1974-1978) – 9 seasons – 105 games

San Diego Chargers (1980-1983)

3. Anthony Becht – TE – West Virginia – New York Jets (2000-2004) – 12 seasons – 167 games

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005-2007)

St. Louis Rams (2008)

Arizona Cardinals (2009)

Kansas City Chiefs (2011)

4. Sean McHugh – TE – Penn State – Green Bay Packers (2004) – 6 seasons – 40 games

Detroit Lions (2005-2007)

Pittsburgh Steelers (2008)

PMC Prep

1. Jack Klotz – OT – PMC – New York Titans (1960-1962) – 5 seasons – 41 games

New York Jets (1963)

Houston Oilers (1964)

Radnor

1.Rae Crowther – TE – Colgate – Frankford Yellowjackets (1925-1926) – 2 seasons – 33 games

2. Saville Crowther – OL – Colgate – Frankford Yellowjackets (1925) – 1 season – 2 games

3. Emlen Tunnell – DB – Toledo & Iowa – New York Giants (1948-1958) – 14 seasons – 167 games

Green bay Packers (1959-1961)

4. Ted Dean – RB – Wichita State – Philadelphia Eagles (1960-1963) – 5 seasons – 44 games

Minnesota Vikings (1964)

5. Willie Sydnor – WR – Syracuse – Pittsburgh Steelers (1982) – 1 season – 7 games

6. Brian Hennesey- RB – Bucknell – St. Louis cardinals (1994) – 1 season – 3 games

Ridley

1. Matt Blundin – QB – Virginia – Kansas City Chiefs (1993-1994) – 3 seasons – 3 games

Detroit Lions (1995)

2. Bob Kuberski – DT – Navy – Green Bay Packers (1995-1999) – 5 seasons – 42 games

3. Joe Valerio – OL – Penn – Kansas City Chiefs (1991-1995) – 6 seasons – 62 games

St. Louis Cardinals (1996)

Ridley Park

1. John Dempsey – OL – Bucknell – Philadelphia Eagles (1934) – 2 seasons – 4 games

Pittsburgh Pirates (1934)

Philadelphia Eagles (1937)

2. Frank Quillen – TE – Penn – Chicago Rockets (1946-47) – 2 seasons – 20 games

Springfield

1. Mike Siano – WR – Syracuse – Philadelphia Eagles (1987) – 1 season – 3 games

St. James

1. Lou Ferry – OT – Villanova – Green Bay Packers (1949) – 6 seasons – 71 games

Chicago Cardinals (1951)

Pittsburgh Steelers (1952-1955)

2. Dick Christy – RB – North Carolina State – Pittsburgh Steelers (1958) – 5 seasons – 51 games

Boston Patriots (1960)

New York Titans (1961-1962)

New York Jets (1963)

3. Andy Nacrelli – E – Fordham – Philadelphia Eagles (1958) – 1 season – 2 games

4. Frank Gallagher – OG – North Carolina – Detroit Lions (1967-1972) – 7 seasons – 90 games

Atlanta Falcons (1973)

Minnesota Vikings (1973)

5. Joe Klecko – DL – Temple – New York Jets (1977-1987) – 12 seasons – 155 games

Indianapolis Colts (1988)

Strath Haven

1. Lamar Campbell – DB – Wisconsin – Detroit Lions (1998-2002) – 5 seasons – 64 games

2. Isaac Jones – WR – Purdue – Indianapolis Colts (1999-2000) – 2 seasons – 2 games

3. Mark Jones – WR – Tennessee – New York Giants (2004) – 6 seasons – 62 games

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005-2007)

Carolina Panthers (2008)

Tennessee Titans (2009)

4. Dan Connor – LB – Penn State – Carolina Panthers (2008-2011) – 6 seasons – 52 games

Dallas Cowboys (2012)

New York Giants (2013)

Carolina Panthers (2013)

5. Steve Johnson – LB – Kansas – Denver Broncos (2012-2014) – 4 seasons – 44 games

Tennessee Titans (2015)

Swarthmore

1. Jim Lukens – TE – Washington & Lee – Buffalo Bills (1949) – 1 season – 11 games

2. Carl Gersbach – LB – West Chester State – Philadelphia Eagles (1970) – 7 seasons – 76 games

Minnesota Vikings (1971-1972)

San Diego Chargers (1973-1974)

Chicago Bears (1975)

St. Louis Cardinals (1976)

Upper Darby

1. Charlie Gauer – RB – Colgate – Phil-Pitt (1943) – 3 seasons – 23 games

Philadelphia Eagles (1944-1945)

2. Rich Mostardi – DB – Kent State – Cleveland Browns (1960) – 3 seasons – 26 games

Minnesota Vikings (1961)

Oakland Raiders (1962)

3.Tony DiMidio – OL – West Chester State – Kansas City Chiefs (1966-1967) – 2 seasons – 26 games

4. Todd Rucci – OL – Penn State – New England Patriots (1993-2000) – 8 seasons – 85 games

5. Floyd Wedderburn – OL – Penn State – Seattle Seahawks (1999-2002) – 4 seasons – 46 games

Yeadon

1. John Rauch – QB – Georgia – New York Yanks (1949-1950) – 3 seasons – 27 games

Philadelphia eagles (1951)
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Dallas was truly a friend of Mickey Vernon and will be a big loss to our museum. Dallas you will be missed.

Barbara and Jim Vankoski at the SLDC museum with Dallas Green.

March Madness

Basketball is being highlighted at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum during the month of March. An exhibit assembled by museum curators, with professional hanging and installation by Glyn Daugh-Wood, features memorabilia from five iconic Delco coaches that have taken their respective teams to NCAA tournament play. Included are items from the coaching careers of Fran Dumphy, Phil Martelli, Jack McKinney, Jack Ramsay, and Bo Ryan. In the case of Jack Ramsay and Jack McKinney NBA Championships are a part of their resume.
The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA. It is open on Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm and on Saturdays 11am to 2pm. For more information, call 610-909-4919

Baseball Has Quite a Heritage in Delaware County

Danny Murtaugh’s Favorite Windbreaker on Display

Danny Murtaugh, a 1935 graduate of Chester High School, played nine years of Major League Baseball, losing two playing seasons to WW II. He managed the Pittsburgh Pirates for fifteen years–a span that included 1,115 wins, with World Series victories over the Yankees in 1960 and the Orioles in 1971. He was named manager of the year three times–1958,1960, and 1971.
One of his favorite articles of clothing throughout his managerial career was a black windbreaker. On display at the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum for the entire month of August will be the windbreaker worn by Danny during the 1964 season. The museum, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA.19087 is open from 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday and 11am to 1:30pm on Saturday.
This piece of memorabilia comes through the compliments of Danny’s nephew Patrick Newlin.
For more information visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecouty.com

Bill Giles to attend SLDC Museum Luncheon

In a photograph taken at the time, former National League President Warren Giles is shown presenting to 1967 National league batting champion Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates the silver bat emblematic of that achievement. The National League Championship Trophy is now named in honor of the late Mr. Giles.
At the conclusion of this year’s Sports Legends of Delaware County Cavalcade of Stars Luncheon, Bill Giles, son of Warren Giles and the former owner of the Philadelphia Phillies, will replicate his father’s presentation by presenting that very same silver bat to its current owner, Steve Burman. Steve will then present the bat to SLDC Museum officials, who will place the bat on display in the Mickey Vernon Gallery. Mickey himself was a silver bat winner in 1953.
Roberto has a special place in baseball history and his connection with Delaware County’s own Danny Murtaugh is something we are anxious to celebrate. He was a part of Danny’s three history-making moments: The first was when Danny’s Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series; the second was when Roberto was the starting right-fielder in a game in which Danny fielded baseball’s first all-minority lineup on September 1, 1971; and the third was when Roberto was named MVP of the 1971 World Series, when the Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles.
This special Cavalcade of Stars luncheon will take place on Saturday, September 16th, from 11am to 1pm at the SLDC museum, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA 19087. For ticket information, log onto www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com or contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919

Cavalcade of Stars Luncheon


Holiday Book Signing

Baseball Great Bobby Shantz & Noted Author Rich Westcott to Appear at Sports Legends of Delaware County Book Signing and Memorabilia Sale

The Sports Legends of Delaware County museum is truly excited to have as its very special guest the iconic Bobby Shantz, former pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and the New York Yankees. His appearance will be in conjunction with that of three Delaware County baseball writers and a sale of baseball memorabilia.

Bobby was the winner of the American League’s Most Valuable Player award in 1952, when he played for the Philadelphia Athletics. In 1958, he was a member of the World Champion Yankees.

Rich Westcott, the most prolific author Delaware County has ever produced, will appear with Bobby, together with fellow authors Rich Pagano and Bob Mclaughlin, in the Mickey Vernon/Danny Murtaugh Gallery of the museum on Saturday, December 9, 2017 from 11am to 1pm. Their appearance will be in celebration of the 25 books that Rich Westcott has authored. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA.

No ball park in Philadelphia is more revered than Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium, located at Twenty-First Street and Lehigh Avenue, and few players who played on that field were as outstanding or memorable as Bobby Shantz. He made his major league debut there in 1949 with the Philadelphia A’s and his last major league appearance with the 1964 Phillies.

Besides winning the 1952 MVP award, Bobby was also an eight-time Golden Glove award winner and three-time All-Star. In the 1952 all-star game, he struck out three fearsome hitters of the era–Whitey Lockman, Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial–in a row.

Mr. Shantz, a World War II veteran, is, at 92, the oldest living major league player to have won baseball’s Most Valuable Player award. Don’t miss this chance to see, upfront and personal, a true living legend of Major League baseball.

Also on display that day will be two of the most intriguing pieces of baseball memorabilia in the entire country. One is the National League Championship Silver Bat award that was presented to Roberto Clemente in 1967 by NL president Warren Giles. The other is a 25″ by 42″ horsehide having over 200 American League Baseball signatures of team players, coaches and managers collected by Mickey Vernon during the 1957 season at Fenway Park.

For more information on the book signing and baseball memorabilia sale, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

Bo Ryan Basketball Hall of Fame


Fredia Gibbs World Championship Belt on Display

You are welcome to the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor, PA to view a recent addition to the Wide World of Women’s Sports gallery. The addition is Fredia Gibbs’ World Championship Kickboxing Belt, currently on display in a showcase on the first floor atrium level.
Fredia, a graduate of Chester High School and Cabrini College, is arguably the best woman athlete in the history of Delaware County. In addition to being the first African-American to win the World Kickboxing Championship, Fredia was a state championship track star as well as a professional basketball player, playing in the European Professional League.
This and other Items from the museum’s collection can also be viewed by logging on to www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm and on Saturday from 11am to 1:30pm. Photo by Chuck Weems
For more information, contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net

A Salute to Tore Fiore

In The Community: Tunnell statue gets its unveiling date.


Billy ‘White Shoes’ Johnson will be a special guest June 2 when a statue of the late Emlen Tunnell,
a war hero and former NFL player and coach who hailed from Radnor, will be unveiled.
By Harry Chaykun
For Digital First Media
The unveiling ceremony for the statue of Emlen Tunnell is getting near.
The memory of Tunnell, the Radnor High All-Delco football player who saved a pair of lives while serving with the Coast Guard during World War II, will be honored when the statue is unveiled June 2. He was also the first African-American inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame following his NFL playing career with the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers and his work as an assistant coach with the Giants.
The statue will be placed outside the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum at the Radnor Township Building on Iven Road.
Museum curator Jim Vankoski has headed the statue planning committee, along with Phil Damiani of the Media Sports Hall of Fame and local sports historian Rich Pagano.
“We were very excited to receive confirmation from Billy ‘White Shoes’ Johnson that he will be coming up from Atlanta to be a special guest at the dedication ceremony,” Vankoski said recently
Johnson was an All-Delco football player at Chichester High in 1969, joining five other future professional players on that All-Delco team: Monsignor Bonner’s John Cappelletti, the 1973 Heisman Trophy winner at Penn State who played for the Rams and Chargers; Haverford High’s Randy Grossman (four Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers) and Steve Joachim (tryouts with the Eagles and Baltimore Colts); Cardinal O’Hara’s Don Clune (New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks); and the late Chris Arnold of Darby Township High, who, after being cut by the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, played for the Birmingham Americans, 1974 champions of the World Football League in the one full season that league operated.
Johnson was a Division III All-American and set a number of receiving and kick return records at Widener University, then was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 15th round of the 1974 NFL Draft.
He returned five punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns in his first four years with the Oilers, was MVP of the 1975 Pro Bowl, in which he returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown, and also played in the 1977 Pro Bowl. He became famous for his “funky chicken” end-zone celebration dances following touchdowns.
Johnson was named the kick returner on the NFL’s All-75th Anniversary Team and remains the only member of that team who has not been elected to the Pro Football Hall to Fame.
He also played for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins as well as the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes. He has worked for the Falcons and has coached at Duluth (Georgia) High School.

Emlen Tunnell Statue Unveiling

June 2, 2018 Emlen Tunnell Statue Unveiling. SLDC Museum 301 Iven Ave Wayne, Pa 19087. Sculptor Jennifer Frudakis Petry to the right of #45. Emlen’s niece Catherine Robinson, to the left of the 7 foot bronze statue.

Danny Murtaugh Portrait and Photo

An art show produced by Art on Avenue of the States Gallery of Chester, Pa. and hosted by Harrah’s Casino and Racetrack, is currently on exhibit at Harrah’s Casino. One of the works on display in the show is a portrait of former major league baseball player and manager the late Danny Murtaugh by artist George Rothacker of the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. The show will last until June 2018.
It is interesting to note that before and during Danny’s professional career, he worked as a piece-work counter for welders at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. At the time, the company occupied the present site of the current Harrah’s Casino at what is now 777 Harrah’s Boulevard in Chester. During the time Danny was employed at the shipyard, he lived just a few blocks away, on Barclay Street. It’s an ironic indication of just how professional sports salaries have changed over the years that a man who was, in 1941, a league-leading major league base-stealer playing for the Philadelphia Phillies would find it worthwhile to pick up extra money during the off-season in this manner.
The exhibit is on Harrah’s ground floor lobby and is open 24/7 year-round. All the works of art displayed in the exhibit can be found on the gallery’s website www.artavestates.com. For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919. Photo compliments of Delco Times

Roberto Clemente’s 1972 Game Worn Road Jersey on Display

Currently on display at the Sports Legends of Delaware County (SLDC) museum is a 1972 road jersey and pants worn by Roberto Clemente during his historic final season, when he got his 3,000th career hit at his final time at bat. Later that year, Roberto would make the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to help others in need on December 31, when he perished in an airplane crash while flying to Nicaragua to deliver supplies to earthquake victims.
During his 18-year career, Clemente was a 15-time All-Star, a 12-time Golden Glove Award recipient, a four-time Batting Champion, 2 time World Series Champion, and both a National League and World Series MVP Award winner. This significant knit jersey, with black and gold trim, has the Pirates team name across the front with his number 21 below it.
It has been confirmed by the Clemente family that they were presented with this uniform by the team during memorial ceremonies at Three Rivers Stadium at the start of the 1973 season.
The jersey and pants will be on display at the SLDC museum through December 31 of this year–the 45th anniversary of Roberto’s death. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA 19087 and is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday from 11am to 1:30pm. Photo compliments of Hunt Auctions
For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919

Bo Ryan

Hack Wilson

This photo from the archives of the Delaware County, Pa. Daily Times shows a 1920 Chester, PA semi-pro baseball team. Seated second from left is 20-year-old Hack Wilson.
In 1921, Hack signed a professional contract with Martinsburg, West Virginia. In 1923, his contract was purchased by the New York Giants, He played three seasons with the Giants, but his most productive years were with the Chicago Cubs with whom, in 1930, he hit 56 home runs and drove in a record 191 RBIs. To this day, that RBI number represents the record for Major League baseball. Hack was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1979.
This is one of many historic photographs on display in the Mickey Vernon Gallery of the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum. If anyone has information on any of Hack’s Chester teammates, please contact museum curator Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

Honoring the 100th anniversary of the birth of Delco’s greatest baseball player.

For all of 2018, the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum will have a year-long celebration to honor the birth of James Barton (Mickey) Vernon. With apologies to other great players of local origin–Hack Wilson, Jimmy Dykes, Danny Murtaugh and Mike Scioscia–it can be readily argued that Mickey is certainly the greatest baseball player that Delaware County has ever produced. Born on April 22,1918 and a native of Marcus Hook PA, Mickey was a two-time American League Batting Champion and seven-time All-Star. It’s a testimony to the character of the man that he was said by many of those who had the pleasure of knowing him to be the nicest man they ever met. To commemorate his centennial year, the SLDC website starting in January 2018 will be offering twelve video clips and twelve sports cards, a different one to be presented each month of the year. Find the clips and cards on home page www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com. Called Celebrating a Life Well-Lived, the clips consist of a series of twelve interview segments in which Mickey reminisces about his years in baseball. Many of the segments were filmed just nine days before his death on September 24, 2008. Those that knew Mickey best will tell you over and over again that he was one of those special individuals that should never be forgotten. This material should go a long way toward perpetuating his memory. For more information on how you can obtain a dvd entitled Grand Memories of a Great Champion, containing all twelve interview segments plus other video clips from Mickey’s career, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net.

Mickey Vernon a two-time batting champion and seven-time all star still holds the Major League record for the most double plays in a career by a first baseman. It has been 58 years since he retired in 1960. Mickey died at the age of 90 in 2008. Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is a 501[c][3] organization located at 301 Iven Ave. Wayne, Pa.19087. Our mission is to acknowledge excellence, preserving the heritage of our sports history by recognizing and rewarding such excellence. Donations are appreciated.

Chester High’s 1961/1970 Team of the Decade and The Big Em.

Join the Delaware County Historical Society and the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum as they celebrate Chester High Basketball’s 1961 through 1970 Team of the Decade. The day’s events will also include the unveiling of a memorial created by Haven Memorial Cemetery of the greatest player from that decade, Emerson Baynard. Emerson was buried in the Haven Memorial Cemetery in 1997 without the benefit of a grave site marker. Now over twenty years later this oversight will be corrected. Leading the charge of raising the funds for a memorial was the iconic University of Wisconsin Basketball Coach, Bo Ryan. Bo, himself, had an outstanding Chester High Basketball career while wearing the same number that Emerson wore-42. You are invited to a 11:30am dedication of this monument on September 13, 2018. The dedication will be held at the Delaware County Historical Society’s home located at 408 Avenue of the States, Chester, Pa. Invited, to be a part of this ceremony/luncheon are Chester’s Mayor, Thaddeus Kirkland, himself a noted Chester High School basketball player, State Representative Brian Kirkland and the living members of that 1961/1970 team–Bo Ryan, Mike Marshall, Eddie Swain, Earl Williams, George Tillery, and Ken Shamberger. Also accepting an invitation to attend is Cliff Wilson, the head coach of Chester’s First State Championship Team.The first fifty in attendance will receive a Team of the Decade Poster and a copy of Ed Gebhart’s 1997 Delco Times article “Crying for Glory that Might Have Been”. Jack Lemon, the author of a soon to be published book on Emerson will be the host of this event. For more information contact Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 or email vankoski21@comcast.net

SLDC Swain “Character”

Chester High Basketball Poster

SLDC Museum is being Thrown a Curve

December 8, 2018 SLDC Museum

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, Pa. is excited to welcome iconic former Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees pitcher Bobby Shantz. This season the proud institution will be celebrating Delaware County’s Baseball Winter Meeting with the appearance of Shantz and more enticing events coming during the Winter Wool and the Summer Game exhibit.
Shantz began his professional career in 1949, leaving only three short years in which he played before he was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1952 as a Philadelphia Athletic. Then in 1958, Shantz helped the New York Yankees win their 18th World Championship. This American League All Star and World War II veteran stands proud at 93 years young as the oldest living major league player to have won baseball’s MVP award.
Rich Westcott is recognized as the most prolific author Delaware County has produced. Together with Shantz, Westcott will appear in the Mickey Vernon/Danny Murtaugh Gallery on December 8, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rich will bring many of his twenty six books so holiday shoppers looking for that special gift for the baseball fan in their life will have no trouble finding it at the SLDC Museum.
The grand opening of the SLDC Museum’s newest exhibit, Winter Wool and the Summer Game, will feature three of the most alluring pieces of baseball memorabilia in the nation. The museum will display the Silver Bat award that was presented to Roberto Clemente in 1967 by National League President Warren Giles. Sports’ fans can also view the 25 inch by 42 inch horsehide featuring the signatures of more than 200 American League baseball team players, coaches, and managers. This horsehide was collected by Mickey Vernon during the 1957 season at Fenway Park. The third feartured displayed during the exhibit is an authentic, game-used bat by Ted “The Splendid Splinter” Williams in his 1960 season with the Boston Red Sox. Feel free to vist our website for more information. www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 email vankoski21@comcast.net

Clemente’s Silver Bat at Delco Baseball Winter Meeting Exhibit Dec. 8, 2018

On display December 8, 2018 ,from 11am to 1pm, at the Sports Legends of Delaware County (SLDC) museum will be the exquisite National League Championship Silver Bat that was presented to Roberto Clemente in 1967 for being the NL batting champion that year.
During his 18-year career, Clemente captured the National League batting title four times. He posted a lifetime batting average of .317, with 3,000 hits and over 1,300 RBIs.
The 1967 season saw Clemente’s career-high batting average of .357. Shown here is the National League Silver Bat award that was presented to him for being the NL batting champion that year. The award is in the shape of a professional model Louisville Slugger 125 model bat, measuring 34 inches long and weighing 55.6 Troy ounces. “Batting Champion 1967 National League B.A. .357” is inscribed near the barrel area.
With the exception of the Most Valuable Player award, the Silver Bat is regarded as the most coveted of all personal player awards. This one is an iconic piece from one of the greatest players in Major League baseball history. It will be on display one day only at the SLDC museum December 8th. of this year. The museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, PA 19087 and is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday from 11am to 1:30pm. www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com
For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919

 

Photo compliments of Hunt Auctions

Dustin Pedroia’s Bat (and others) on Display December 8th

Saturday December 8, 2018 from 11 am to 1:00 pm at the Delaware County Baseball

Winter Meeting, sponsored by the Sports Legends of Delaware County ( SLDC ) Museum

there will be a number of game-used Boston Red Sox Bats from the collection of Jeff

Boujoukos on display. Jeff, a Delaware County resident, has collected over 750 game used

bats from every Red Sox position player since the 1960 season. That season was

Ted Williams’ last and Carl Yastrzemski’s first with the venerable Boston franchise. These

iconic bats will be there as well as game-used bats once belonging to Rickey Henderson,

David Ortiz and current Sox players Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia. The Pedroia bat,

shown below, is perhaps the most interesting of the group having a unique patented axe

handle. Museum curator, Jim Vankoski, states that attendees to the one day only event

will be able to hold a few of the bats on display. For that brief moment you will become a

part of baseball history. The SLDC Museum is located at 301 Iven Avenue. Wayne, Pa.

For more information call 610-909-4919 or email vankoski21@comcast.net

Andy Wyeth and Mickey Vernon First Inning

Andrew (Andy) Wyeth was born 100 years ago in 2017, dying in 2009 at the age of 91. Mickey Vernon was born a century ago this year (2018), dying in 2008 at the age of 90. One was an icon of the art world whose principal tools were paint and brush. The other was an icon of the baseball world whose principal tools were a bat and glove. Even though their places of birth–Chadds Ford, PA. for Andy and Marcus Hook, PA. for Mickey, were less than fifteen miles apart, with each continuing to live within that same fifteen miles for over ninety years, they never had the pleasure of meeting.

Andrew Wyeth spent his entire life between his birthplace of Chadds Ford and his summer home in Maine. Mickey Vernon spent his entire life in Delaware County, PA, with summers at various ballparks in the United States. In celebration of the careers of these two men, the Sports Legends of Delaware County museum will unveil a nine inning retrospective poster October 6, 2018 that covers the time period of Mickey’s major league baseball career with iconic works that were produced by Andy Wyeth during that same era.

Two men from such very different backgrounds and lifestyles, and yet according to those that knew them, both had such similar personalities that it makes one wonder just what there is to the nature-vs-nurture conundrum.

www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com
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The below pictures depict Andy Wyeth self portrait 1938 age 21 and Mickey Vernon 1st year in majors 1939 age 21

Delaware County Historical Society Honor’s the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mickey Vernon

STARTING IN SEPTEMBER AND FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2018, the Delaware County Historical Society’s Museum located at 408 Avenue of the States, Chester, Pa. continues a year-long celebration to honor the birth of James Barton (Mickey) Vernon. A display case specially designed for the museum will showcase memorabilia from the life and times of one of Delco’s most illustrious personalities.
Born on April 22, 1918, and a native of Marcus Hook PA, Mickey was a two-time American League Batting Champion and seven-time All-Star. It’s a testimony to the character of the man that he was awarded Delaware County’s Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award in 2005. The award will be among the historical images and memorabilia celebrating Mickey’s career on display. Above, Mickey’s final season as a full-time player was with the 1959 Milwaukee Braves.

 

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Our Archives

Take a look at what’s been happening at the museum recently.  We’ve recognized many of Delaware County’s sports legends. Be sure to bookmark the “This Month” page so you don’t miss out on our next exciting event.

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