For the past 60 years, The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame has honored and inducted over 780 incredible men and women who have made a lasting impact in Pennsylvania through extraordinary athletic achievement and contributions. Whether these activities have been achieved on or off the field, we honor them. Through our future virtual museum, we educate and celebrate their achievements for years to come.
The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame’s 2024 Induction Ceremony and Dinner is Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Delaware County’s The Drexelbrook Event Center..
Ray "Iron Man" Mueller
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Ray Mueller was a Major League Baseball catcher from 1935 to 1944 and 1946 to 1951. Nicknamed “The Iron Man” Mueller was the starting catcher in every game the Cincinnati Reds played (155) – during the wartime 1944 season. Mueller caught a record 233 consecutive games in 1943-1944 and 1946. His 14-year lifetime statistics were a .252 batting average, 56 home runs and 373 RBI, playing for the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Giants.Ray stepped outside the chalk lines and managed minor league baseball and coached in the majors for the New York Giants, Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians.
William Boyd "Bill" McKechnie
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Bill was born in Wilkinsburg, PA in 1886. He made his major league debut in 1907with the Pittsburgh Pirates, appearing in three games. He reemerged again in 1910 in a more substantial role substantially at third base. He played for the Pirates in 1907, 1910 to 1912, 1918 and 1920. Over this period, he also played for six other major league clubs. In 846 games over 11 seasons he posted a .251 batting average; with 319 runs, 8 home runs and 240 RBIs. Following his playing days McKechnie managed for a year in the minors before taking over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1922. He managed the Pirates (1922-1926), St. Louis Cardinals (1928-1929), Boston Braves (1930-1937) and Cincinnati Reds (1938-1946). He compiled a record of 1,896 wins and 1,723 losses. His teams won four National League pennants (1925.’28.’39 and ’40). He is the only National League Manager to win pennants with three teams (Pittsburgh, St Louis, and Cincinnati).
Edward E Miller
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Harrisburg-born football player who in 1910 became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Penn State in a season opener. Held that distinction for 100 years until Rob Bolton started Penn State’s 2010 opener. Miller finished his collegiate career with a record of 21-2-2, including an 8-0 record in 1912.
Paul Joseph Arizin
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Arizin did not play basketball at LaSalle College High School, failing to make the team in his only tryout. During his Freshmen year at Villanova, Paul played Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) basketball and the Villanova Head Basketball Coach attended one of his games. The coach approached Arizin and asked if he would like to go to Villanova, Paul replied, ”I already go to Villanova”. The rest is basketball history. Arizin made the team in 1947 and played for three years. In 1950, he was named the collegiate basketball player of the year after leading the nation in scoring with 25.3 points per game, He was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors with their first pick in the 1950 draft, averaged 17.2 points per game and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. Paul became one of the greatest NBA players of the 1950s, leading the league in scoring during the 1951-52 and 1956- 57 seasons. He sat out the 1952-53 and 1953-54 NBA seasons while serving in the Marines during the Korean War.
Arizin played in a total of 10 NBA All-Star Games (MVP in 1952) and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1952; 1956 and 1957.
Aldo Teo "Buff" Donelli
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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After playing football and being an assistant coach at Duquesne University, Buff Donelli was named the head football coach at Duquesne from 1939-1940, Boston University (1947-1956) and Columbia University (1957-1967). He compiled a career college coaching record of 105-107-2). Buff also had brief stints as a coach in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Rams. Football was not Buff’s only sport as he played and excelled in soccer In the 20s and 30s. He was a member of the United States Men’s National Soccer Team during the 1934 FIFA World Cup.
Robert Duffy
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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A New York native, Roger graduated from Lafayette College in 1926 where he was an All-American football and basketball player. He received his law degree from Dickinson Law School. While at Dickinson he coached the football team, Robert Duffy was the 20th football coach at Dickinson College and held the position for two seasons from 1927 until 1929. His record there was g-9-1.
During the World War II, Duffy was assigned to the T13th Transport Squadron from September,
1942 until January, 1945, first as Intelligence Officer and then the Executive Officer. After the war, Duffy returned to his law practice in Philadelphia and got involved in politics. He Kept his hand in sports as a director of the College Football Hall of Fame and a trustee of the Pop Warner Conference.
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Gola
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Tom Gola was praised as a great all-around basketball player at LaSalle College High School, leading the Explorers to a Catholic League Championship. Upon graduation he entered the hometown LaSalle University Explorers. Gola started as a freshmen and led the Explorers to the NIT Championship in 1954 and was named Tournament MVP. That same year he was selected National Player of the Year. As a senior Tom helped LaSalle finished as the runner-up in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 20.9 points and 19.0 rebounds during 115 games and is still the NCAA All-time rebounding leader with 2,201 career rebounds. After a phenomenal college career, Gola turned pro as a territorial draft pick of the Philadelphia Warriors. He teamed with All-pros Paul Arizin and Neil Johnson to lead the Warriors to an NBA Championship In 1956.
Tom was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 1961, Big Five Hall of Fame in 1977 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame In 1976.
Robert A. "Bob" Higgins
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Bob played college football at Pennsylvania State University, where he was a two-time All-American. After spending time in the service during World War I, he returned to Penn State, and again earned All-American honors In 1919. In 1920 and 1921, he played end for the Canton Bulldogs of the National Football League. Higgins coached four seasons at West Virginia Wesleyan and three seasons at Washington University of St Louis. He returned to Penn State, this time as an assistant coach before becoming head coach in 1930. He served as head coach for 19 seasons. Leading the Nittany Lions to only the second unbeaten seasons in their history. Bob Higgins was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.
Joseph Hill
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Joseph Hill was a graduate of Lebanon High School and Perkiomen School, was a three-year starter at Colgate University where he played on both the offensive and defensive line. In 1952, his senior year, the team was undefeated, untied, unscored upon, and uninvited to the Rose Bowl. Joe played for the East All Stars in the 1933 East-West Shrine Game in San Francisco. That same year he became the head football coach at Wellesley, Mass High School leading the team that had not won a game in two seasons to a 7-2 season. From 1934 to 1936 he was on the Harvard football coaching staff where he coached Joseph Jr. and Jack Kennedy. IN 1937 he was the head freshman football coach at Colgate. The next year returned to Lebanon to practice law. He was also inducted into the Perkiomen School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Lebanon School District Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
George "Whitey" Kurowski
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Whitey played his entire career for the St Louis Cardinals, 1941 to 1949 at third base. He posted a .286 batting average with 106 home runs and 529 RBIs in 916 games. His best year was 1947, when he posted career highs in average (.310).,home runs (27), RBIs (104) and runs (108). He made the All-Star team five consecutive seasons (1943-1947). In four World Series appearances Whitey hit .253 with one home run and nine RBIs in 23 games. His only home run in the series came off Red Ruffing in the bottom of the ninth breaking a 2-2 tie and gave the Cardinals a win over the Yankees in 1947. Arm problems ended his baseball career in 1949.
J. K. Miller
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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William Joseph "Willie" Mosconi
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Willie Mosconi was a professional pool player from Philadelphia. Between 1941 and 1957, he won the World Straight Pool Championship, an unmatched fifteen times. He and Minnesota Fats had many legendary matchups during their careers.
Curt Simmons
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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While attending Whitehall High School he led his team to three straight league title and the Coplay American Legion team to two Pennsylvania crowns. The Phillies signed Curt to a $65,000 bonus (one of the highest ever awarded at that time). Simmons won 17 of 25 decisions during 1950 leading the Phillies to a National League Championship. With the out break of the Korean War, Simmons was called to active duty with only a month remaining in the campaign.
Simmons also missed the 1951 season while in the military. He returned in 1952 to win 14 games, post a stellar 2.82 ERA, and lead the majors with six shutouts. Curt continued to pitch into the late 1950s although for a losing ball club. He was stricken with a sore arm in 1960 and released by the Phillies. Signed as a free agent by the St Louis Cardinal, he began a comeback that culminated in 15 and 18 game winning seasons in 1963 and 1964. He appeared in the 1964 World Series against the Yankees and although losing his only decision compiled a 2.51 ERA. Over twenty years, his record was 193-182. In 569 games pitched and 3,348 innings; Simmons allowed 3,313 hits, recorded 1,697 strikeouts and 1,063 walks.
Charles "Charley" Trippi
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Pittston High School-All-State in football
University of Georgia-halfback
All-American, won Sugar Bowl
1946 won Maxwell and Walter Camp Trophies as college football’s MVP
Signed four-year professional contract with Chicago Cardinals
All Pro with Cardinals, 1947 led them to World Title his first season
1959 inducted into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame
Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 1968
Charles Louis Trippi (born December 14, 1921) played professionally for the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) from 1947 to 1955. Although primarily a running back, his versatility allowed him to fill a multitude of roles over his career, including quarterback, defensive back, punter, and return specialist. A "quintuple-threat", Trippi was adept at running, catching, passing, punting, and defense.
Trippi attended the University of Georgia, where he played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1942 to 1946, with an interlude in 1944 while serving in the military during World War II. As a sophomore, he guided Georgia to victory in the 1943 Rose Bowl and was named the game's most valuable player. As a senior in 1946, he won the Maxwell Award as the nation's most outstanding college football player, was named the Southeastern Conference's player of the year, and earned unanimous first-team All-America recognition.
Drafted first overall by the Cardinals as a "future pick" in the 1945 NFL Draft, Trippi was also pursued by the New York Yankees of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) as well as multiple professional baseball teams. He ultimately signed a record $100,000 contract with the Cardinals. As a rookie, Trippi led Chicago's "Million Dollar Backfield" to victory in the 1947 NFL Championship Game. By the time he retired he had compiled the most yards of total offense by a player in NFL history. Trippi was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the PA Sports Hall of Fame in 1968.
Trippi is the oldest living member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the oldest living first overall NFL draft pick, and one of the oldest living former American football players. He and his wife, Nell, reside in Hazleton. They have two children, Lt. Gregory Saul, USN, and Mrs. Janet Curilla.
Lloyd James “Little Poison,” Waner
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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(March 16, 1906 – July 22, 1982) Lloyd nicknamed “Little Poison,” was a big-league center fielder. His small stature at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) and 132 pounds (68 kg) made him one of the smallest players of his era. Along with his brother, Paul Waner, he anchored the Pittsburgh Pirates outfield throughout the 1920s and 1930s. After brief stints with four other teams (Braves, Reds, Phillies, Dodgers) late in his career, Waner retired as a Pirate. Waner finished with a batting average over .300 in ten seasons. He earned a selection to the All-Star game in 1938. Lloyd with 2,459 hits and Paul Waner with 3,152 hits set the record for career hits by brothers in major league baseball. Lloyd was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1967. He worked as a scout for the Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles after retiring as a player.
Ferdinand Henry John Fritzie Zivic
Deceased
Year Inducted:1968
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Ferdinand Henry John (Fritzie) Zivcich (Zivic) was an American boxer of Croatian descent who held the World Welterweight Championship from October 4, 1040 until July 29, 1941. As a young man, he followed the example of his four elder brothers who boxed and became known as the “Fighting Zivics”. He lost to Billy Conn, 1939 World Light-Heavyweight Champion, before 5,163 In a ten-round split decision at the Duquesne Gardens in Pittsburgh. In January 1939, Zivic defeated Jackie Burke, former Utah Intermountain and Pacific Southwest Welter-Weight title holder in 1939 and avenged a loss to former Junior Welterweight Champ Johnny Judick with a sixth round knockout. He defeated another Pittsburgh boxer, Sammy Angott in an elimination match to determine who would face Henry Armstrong for the World Welterweight Title noted above. Fritzie received a $3,200 Purse for his win, his biggest ever.
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