Inductees

For nearly three decades, Red Manning was Mr. Basketball at Duquesne University. During his tenure as head coach of the Dukes from 1958 through 1974, Red's teams posted 247 victories against 138 losses. He coached 10 players who became All-America during this period, and 10 players went on the excel in the NBA. Red had also been an excellent athlete at Homestead High School where he led the 1946 basketball team to the state championship. After an outstanding career at Duquesne, he was drafted by Fort Wayne, of the NBA. Red was unanimously selected for Duquesne's Sports Hall of Fame, and he was honored in 1980 at Pittsburgh's Dapper Dan Man of the Year.

Trained by the legendary coach Ed McCluskey at Farrell High School, Jack won all-state honors in basketball, became a star at Duke University, and then was drafted in the first round by the NBA's Baltimore Bullets in 1966. At Duke, Jack was named first team Atlantic Coast Conference in 1965 and '66, and he won All-America honors in '66. Marin's hustling play for the Bullets helped turn the team from a cellar dweller into a playoff club. He was named to the 1966-67 NBA All-Rookie Team, and/he played in the NBA All-Star Games in 1972 and ,'73. Jack led the league in free throw percentage (.894) in 1972 and he averaged over 15 points per game during his lengthy NBA career.

One of the all-time great fast pitch softball coaches, Rocco's teams won almost 80 percent of their games. His lifetime record is 1,708 victories and 503 defeats. While managing the Reading Sunners, Rocco won 3 USA Major Amateur Softball Championships, world championships in New Zealand, and 2 Olympic Sports Festival Gold Medals. He also coached the U.S. Pan-Am Teams in 1979, '83, '87 and '91. Rocco was inducted in the P A Softball Hall of Fame in 1987 and the International Softball Hall of Fame in 1991.

A top football and basketball star at Academy High School in Erie, Naz went on to an outstanding career in both sports at Findlay College. He also served as a player-coach on Gannon College's first basketball team. Naz's greatest contribution to the world of sport, however, came as an official in football and basketball for 35 years. Considered one of the nation's finest officials, Naz was invited to work games at the 1971 Pan-Am Games. He also officiated at the 1972 Olympics. He has officiated in Europe, Central America, South America, and in the Caribbean Islands. Naz has been inducted into several halls of fame for officials.

Chuck became famous as a Major League baseball manager for 19 seasons, but he was first a fine player for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland Indians. In eight big league seasons, Chuck hit .261. He later managed the White Sox, Athletics, Pirates, and Braves. Chuck, a native of New Castle, was named Major League Manager of the Yearin 1972 and '78. His greatest success as a manager came during his 10 seasons with the Pirates. Chuck piloted the '79 Bucs to a world championship. Always known for his positive outlook, Chuck serves today as a super scout for the Milwaukee Brewers.

At Penn Manor High School, Wally averaged 32 points and 21 rebounds per game for the basketball team. It was only a sign of greater things to come. At the University of Virginia, Wally won All-America honors. A four-year starter for the Cavaliers, averaging just under 18 points per game, Wally was the Atlantic Coast Conference's most valuable player in 1976. He went on to enjoy a productive eight-year career in the NBA with teams such as the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Seattle Super Sonics. He played an important role on two NBA championship teams in 1977 and '79.

In 25 seasons as head wrestling coach at Clearfield High School, Art produced 14 undefeated teams while piling up a record in dual meets of 184-37-3, Art led his teams to 19 district championships and nine state titles. An astounding 24 Clearfield wrestlers captured 31 PIAA championships under his reign. Considered one ofthe nation's finest wrestling instructors, Art has been honored by dozens of organizations. He was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, the Helms Foundation Wrestling Hall in 1974, and the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1970.

John, who served as Penn State's head basketball coach from 1954 until 1968, still holds the record for most victories by a PSU basketball coach. John's lifetime record stands at 187-135. Highlights during his tenure with the Nittany Lions included invitations to the NCAA Tournament in 1955 and '65, and a berth in the 1966 NIT Tournament. John had been a key player on the PSU basketball teams of 1942 and '43, and he served as co-captain during his senior season. He also made the NCAA All-Tournament team that year. Prior to joining the Penn State varsity as an assistant coach in 1949, he headed the basketball program at Penn State's Dubois campus.

For 17 seasons, Steve was a fixture behind the plate for four American League baseball teams. O'Neill, whose playing career spanned from 1911 through the 1928 seasons,caught 1,528 games. He batted .263 for his career and was considered one of the game's finest defensive catchers. During Cleveland's world championship season of 1920, O'Neill caught every inning of 149 games. After 13 seasons with the Tribe, he also played for the Yankees, Red Sox, and St. Louis Browns. Highly respected for his baseball knowledge, O'Neill went on to manage for 14 years in the big leagues, with such teams as Cleveland, Detroit, Boston, and Philadelphia. Born in Minooka, P A in 1891, O'Neill passed away in Cleveland January 26, 1962.

Richard was a West Chester University player from 1939 to 1943. He participated in the Military All Stars “Spaghetti Bowl”, in Florence, Italy in 1945. He was admitted to the West Chester Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Phoenixville Hall of Fame in 1987. He played baseball for West Chester and in the Cincinnati farm system as a pitcher. He coached football for the Quakertown High School for 16 years, who were the undisputed Bux-Mont Champions 3 times. He is accomplished in community service being the first president of the Quakertown Little League, Co-Organizer of Midget football and Connie Mack baseball.

Patricia was inducted into the WIBC Hall of Fame in 1989. She was twice voted Woman-Bowler-of- the- Year and is a two time PWBA Champion. She holds the record for winning more tournaments than any other woman bowler, 7 in I year. In 1976 she won the U. S. open with a 226 average, held 5 PWBA titles, 2 LPBA titles, and earned close to $40,000, a record for that year. In 1979, she appeared twice on ABC Superstars. And in 1981 she was elected Professional Women’s Bowlers President.

He played center 9 years in the American and National Football Leagues with the New York Jets and Titans, 1960-1965, the Miami Dolphins, 1966, and the Kansas City Chiefs, 1967-1968. He played for the University of Miami Florida from 1953- 1957. He also played for the College All Stars against the New York Giants in 1957. He was an all sports standout at Tunkhannock High School and received All-American recognition in college.

Better known as “The owl without a vowel”. He was basketball’s 1951 Player-of-the-Year and was All American while attending Temple University. He led the nation in scoring with 29.5 points. He holds 6 Temple University records. Some of his accomplishments are 73 points in 1 game, 55 consecutive points in 1 game, which is still an NCAA record, averaged 19 rebounds per game, and scored 46 points in 1 game which is still a Convention Hall record. He played for the Philadelphia Warriors in the National Basketball Association. He was All-State 1948-1949, All Lehigh Valley 1947-1948, and was All-State at Temple University 1950-1951.

All Oliver played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1968-1977. He was the National League Batting Champion in 1982 in Montreal. He hit .300 or better 9 consecutive seasons and 11 times during his career. He played on the 1971 World. Championship Pirates and was a National League All-Star 7 times. He was the first player in modern baseball to hit.300, 200 hits, and 100 RBI’s in both leagues. His lifetime batting average is .303, he had 2,743 hits and 1,326 RBI’s. He received the Roberto Clemente Award and was named Rangers and Expos Player-of-the- Year.

Buzz attended the University of Pittsburgh from 1968-1975. From 1973-1974 the Pittsburgh team won 22 straight games and played in the NCAA Tournament Final 8. He was named East Coach-of-the- Year in 1974. He was the Head Coach at Westminster High School from 1956-1968. He was part of the UPI-AP National College Division Championship team at the University of Pittsburgh in 1962 with a 26-1 record. He was NAIA Coach- of-the- Year in 1962. In 1984, he was selected as 1 of the 5 best coaches in history of a 32-team NAIA tournament. His career record is 313-174, 6 time- NAIA Tournament participant, was in the finals once and semi-finals twice. He is also a member of the NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame.

Patricia was a Gold Medalist in the USA’s 1st International softball team in the 1974 World Games. She was a U.S. All-Star team play 5 times and played professional softball from 1976-1978. She was the first female inducted into the PAASA Hall of Fame in 1986. She coached at California colleges and the P A Clippers after graduating North Penn High School in 1957. In her 20 year fast pitch softball career, she has an ERA of .50 and a strike-out average of 12 per game. She pitched the longest game in the ASA history, 28-2/3 innings, and was the Pennsylvania regional tournament Most Valuable Player 12

Played in 3 World Series games, 2 with the Philadelphia Athletics and 1 with the Chicago White Sox, during 11 year major league career. He had a .287 average as lead-off hitter. He was the first major leaguer to bat against Babe Ruth. He kept his reputation clean during 1919 “Black Sox Scandal”, when 8 of his teammates “sold out” during the playoffs.

He was a 1948 Olympic Bronze Medalist. He was the Pitt Long Jump record holder for 23 years. He was a State high school champion in the 100, 200, and the long jump. He is the founder of the Jesse. Owens International Trophy Award. He was awarded the Pitt Letterman of Distinction and was the Bicentennial Medallion Winner. He is also a member of Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World.

Gene Garber is one of major league’s great relief pitchers. He played in 905 games and succeeded in 212 saves in his 18-year career. He played for Pittsburgh from 1969-1972, Kansas City from 1972-1974, 1977, & 1988, Philadelphia Phillies 1974- 1978, and for Atlanta from 1978-1987. His major league career record includes 5th all-time relief appearances and 6th for all-time ERA (3.33), and he allowed less than 1 hit per inning in 1970. He was an outstanding scholastic athlete at Elizabethtown High School were he had 5 one-hitters and recorded 27 strikeouts in an 11 inning game.

Billy Packer, CBS Tv analyst, proclaims “A referee’s referee. Honzo has set a standard by which all other officials should be judged. He was unmatched in his day, 1944-1979. ” He was a semi-professional Penn Jersey League, ECAC 1955, ACC Southern and Southeast Conference, Big 5, NIT Finals, 1959, and a NCAA Final 4 official an unprecedented 7 times. He is a member of the Basketball Officials Hall of Fame.

Eugene Benson started his seventeen year career in the Negro National Baseball League with the Brooklyn Royal Giants, 1933-1936, From 1937 to 1949, he paced the Philadelphia Stars, ending a very illustrious career with a .330 batting average. Benson was a roomate and confidante of the lengedary Jackie Robinson when the Negro Baseball League sent teams of All-Stars barnstorming South America during the ’40’s. Benson is credited with originating the “Basket Catch” which was later popularized by the inimitable Willie Mays. An All-Star centerfielder in the Negro Baseball League for years. Benson was called “…one of the greatest black baseball stars…” by Monte Irvin, a major league Hall of Famer himself.

Now serving his fifty-first year as an ordained Roman Catholic priest, Father Caey developed a unique association with athletics. He was a former chaplain for the Chicago Black Hawks during his Chicago residence. Father Casey later took up the same duties with the Philadelphia Flyers during their Stanley Cup years when the late Kate Smith used to sing the National Anthem for the Flyers’ play-off games. While Father Casey was certainly concerned about the physical welfare of the Hawks and the Flyers, his presence and spiritual contributions to both these professional sports organizations transcended the mere pre-game blessing.

Percentage-wise, Joe Cesari is the winningest wrestling coach in Pennsylvania high school circles. He coached for twenty-seven years, leading North Schuylkill High to eight undefeated seasons, nineteen league and eight division championships, five regional and two State championships. He was featured in Sports Illustrated (Jan. 16, 1989) and on USA Today. His overall record is 351-31-2. Mr. Cesari has three sons who wrestled and captured State championships. Joe was four-time National Coach of the Year and four-time Pennsylvania Coach of the year, a feat still unmatched.

Bob won eighteen letters in five different sports at Lock Haven State College, mostly in football and wrestling. He was a wrestling finalist in the 1956 Olympic trials. His football coaching record of 211-100-8 includes seven league championships, two District Three Championships, and State runner-up in 1987. Craig's wrestling coaching log shows 401 wins, 83 losses, and 11 ties. His squads captured eighteen League Championships. Coach Craig turned out four State champions, one NCAA champion, and five NCAA place winners. He was inducted into the Allen-Rogowitz Chapter Hall of Fame in 1989.

Bill Flynn went to Notre Dame on a football scholarship in 1945. He won four varsity letters and was a member of Notre Dame’s 1949 National Champions under the late Frank Leahy. Coach Flynn guided Jesuit High in Dallas, Texas, to two state Catholic League Championships, 1956-57. He later coached Pottsville High School to four Pennsylvania Eastern Conference, Southern Division Championships (1971-1976-1978-1980). Bill’s 1978 team captured the Conference Championship, and his 1980 squad’ rang up the first undefeated and untied football team in Pottsville High’s history. Coach Flynn’s overall won-lost record was an outstanding 163-70-6.