Eleventh class inducted into Sports Hall of Fame

By Tom Waring
Wire Staff Writer

Sixteen individuals, one team and one venue last week were inducted into the 11th class of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Sheraton hotel in the city’s Society Hill section.

The inductees were:

• Bobby Walston, an end and kicker for the Eagles from 1951–62 who made two Pro Bowl teams and was on the 1960 championship team.
• Brian Propp, a five-time all-star for the Flyers from 1979–90.
• By Saam, who broadcast games for the Phillies, Eagles, the Philadelphia Athletics, Philadelphia Warriors and the Temple, Penn and Villanova football teams.
• Chief Bender, a pitcher for 12 seasons for the Philadelphia Athletics and two seasons with the Phillies who won three World Series titles with the A’s.
• Chet Walker, who made three NBA All-Star games with the 76ers and was a member of the 1967 championship team.
• Curt Schilling, who pitched nine seasons for the Phillies, making three all-star teams.
• Ellie Daniel, an Abington High School graduate who won four Olympic swimming medals, including a gold in the 4x100 medley relay in 1968.
• Eric Allen, a defensive back for the Eagles who made five Pro Bowl appearances in his seven years.
• Frank Dolson, a longtime columnist and editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
• Geoff Petrie, a Springfield (Delaware County) High School graduate who played six seasons in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers and was a two-time all-star.
• Herb Pennock, a graduate of Kennett Square’s Cedarcroft Boarding School who pitched for 22 years in Major League Baseball, winning seven World Series championships.
• Jean Shiley, a Haverford High School graduate who won an Olympic gold medal in the high jump in 1932.
• Marvin Harrison, a Roman Catholic High School graduate who was a wide receiver for 13 years with the Indianapolis Colts, making eight Pro Bowl appearances and winning Super Bowl XLI.
• Meldrick Taylor, a Philadelphia native who won an Olympic gold medal in boxing and was a world champion in the light-welterweight and welterweight divisions.
• Mike Richter, a Flourtown native who attended Germantown Academy and was a goalie for 15 seasons with the New York Rangers, winning the Stanley Cup in 1994.
• Paul Costello, who won gold medals in rowing at the 1920, 1924 and 1928 Olympics.
• The Immaculata Mighty Macs, who won women’s basketball national championships in 1972, ’73 and ‘74.
• Shibe Park, located at 21st Street and Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia and home to the Phillies, A’s and Eagles. It opened in 1909, was renamed Connie Mack Stadium in 1953 and closed in 1970. The A’s clinched World Series titles there in 1911, ’29 and ’30. The Eagles beat the Chicago Cardinals, 7–0, in a blizzard to win the 1948 NFL championship. Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox went 6-for-8 in a doubleheader on the final day of the 1941 season to finish with a .406 batting average, and he remains the last player to hit .400 or better for a season. Non-sports figures who appeared at Shibe Park included President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Rev. Billy Graham.

The ceremony was hosted by Pat Williams, who was general manager of the 76ers when they won the 1983 NBA title.

The Hall of Fame is based at Spike’s, a trophy and awards shop at 2701 Grant Ave. in Northeast Philadelphia. The pub­lic is in­vited to view the gal­lery Sat­urdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more in­form­a­tion, vis­it www.phil­ly­hall.org.