2024 Don Clune Christmas Croon

Former NFL wide receiver and Delco sports legend, Don Clune was a 1970 Cardinal O’Hara High School graduate. He was a member of the 1969 All Delco Football Team that included such notable professional players as Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, John Cappelletti, Randy Grossman, Steve Joachim and Chris Arnold. Don’s coach when playing for the New York Football Giants was Emlen Tunnell. Don is getting us ready for the SLDC Museum’s Holiday Gift sale with his amazing rendition of a Holiday Classic.

The story by Erica Burman about Don Clune in our “Tales From the Museum” book on pages 206 and 207 is an up close and personal Delco classic. The book will be available at the SLDC Museum Sunday December 14 from 12noon to 2pm. JIm Vankoski 610-909-4919

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 5 remain. Help us preserve Delco’s Sports History by making a donation to Delco’s only sports museum via our Pay pal button on the home page of our website www.delcosportsmuseum.org

Rich Pagano's book

NBA

Ted Williams batting with Mickey Vernon on deck. 1956

In 1956, Ted Williams and Delco’s own Mickey Vernon enjoyed outstanding years for the Boston Red Sox. Each made the American League All-Star Team and at the conclusion of the season, each was 38 years old. The two men were at the top of their game. Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919

vankoski21@comcast.net www.delcosportsmuseum.org

A National Treasure

The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is saluting the golden age of baseball and this country’s “Greatest Generation” with a DVD called “Ballfield to Battlefield and Back–From FDR to JFK”. The DVD features sixty minutes of color footage of WW II and Korean War-era major league players from 1939 through the 1950s. 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 WW II 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, Ike, and JFK) “throwing out the first ball” in Washington DC. There is also 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 that special fan of the WW II and Korean War era, contact Jim Vankoski at the SLDC Museum at 610-909-4919 or email. vankoski21@comcast.net SLDC Museum

Mickey’s Horsehide Club

Living Members of “Mickey Vernon’s Horsehide Club. As of January 16, 2025