Inductees

A native of Pittsburgh, Joe played at Brentwood High School and the University of Pittsburgh where he captained the 6-3 1952 team. As a senior he was selected a first team All-American and played in the Senior Bowl. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and joined the 1952 NFL Champions league best scoring defense.
He appeared in all 12 regular season games and help lead the Lions to the 1953 Championship and 2nd best scoring defense. In 1954, Schmidt was selected All-Pro and a spot in the Pro Bowl the first of 10 consecutive Pro Bowls in his career. In 1956, he was elected team captain, called defensive signals and was the Lions player representative. He had perhaps his best season in 1957 as the Lions won their third Championship in six years. He was selected first team All-Pro and was named the NFL Lineman of the year.

Joe Scott was a Philadelphia businessman and Founding partner of the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers won two Stanley Cups with Scott as President in 1974-1975.

Frank Thomas was born June 11, 1929 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended high school at Our Lady of Mount Carmel secondary school. As a teenager he attended a seminary in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and studied for the Roman Catholic priesthood for five years before entering pro baseball. Thomas signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1947. He debuted with the Pirates in 1951 and was adept at playing first, and third and left field. With the Pirates, he made three All-Star games (1954,55,58). In 1958Thomas finished fourth in the voting for Most Valuable Player, when he batted .281, finished second in the National League to Ernie Banks with 35 home runs, and had 109 RBIs. Thomas appeared on the cover of the July 28, 1958 issue of Sports Illustrated. He also won his only NL Player of the Month award in June, batting .275, with 9 HR, and 29 RBI. On August 16, 1958, Thomas hit three home runs in a 13-4 rout of the Cincinnati Reds. In 1959 Thomas was traded to Cincinnati and continued in big-league baseball with various teams until 1966. In a 16-season career, Thomas posted a .266 batting average with 286 home runs and 962 RBIs in 1,766 games. He was larger than the average player of his time, and known for his opinionated nature. One of his nicknames as a player was "The Big Donkey." In retirement Thomas was active in supporting charities especially “Kids with Cancer.” Because of the other famous Frank Thomas who was inducted into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame in 2014, he would tell all he was the “original one.”

Held the record for consecutive years in the Major leagues (25). Had a lifetime batting average of .333 and amassed 3,310 career hits. Was a member of Connie Mack’s infamous $100.000 infield. After retirement as a player he was the General Manager of the Boston Red Sox. Resided in Lansdowne, PA for many years and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.

Referred in Time Magazine’s February 10, 1947 issue as “Allentown’s most esteemed citizen”, Crum is one of those rare men who coached all three major sports; football, basketball and baseball at Allentown High School from 1925-1949. A member of Scholastic Coaches National Hall of Fame. Birmey came out of Muhlenburg to build a dynasty in sports at Allentown. His Basketball teams won four Stat Championships.

A three-sport letterman at Blairsville High School and a three-year Backfield star for Duquesne University, playing on Duquesne Orange Bowl team. Coached at Johnstown Catholic High School an Blairsville High School before entering service for World War II, Came to Saint Vincent College where his 14 year tenure included his 1949 squad won The Tangerine Bowl.

One of the real power hitters in baseball during his time in the National League. He Is number one all-time home run hitter for the Phillies with 259 Lifetime homers. Had 288 lifetime major league home runs. Ranks Second in total career RBI’s for the Phillies with 1,124 RBI’s in his twelve- year career. Del batted .311, hit 31 home runs and drove in 126 runs in the Phillies 1950 pennant run. “ Rookie of the Yeat” in 1946; batting .313 and drove in over 100 runs. The first of his seven seasons to drive in over 100 runs. His 1,124 RBI’s in 6,327 at bats, figures out to be one RBI every 5.6 at bats in twelve season career.

Si, a product of Boys’ High School in Brooklyn N.Y, started as a sophomore at Duquesne University, scoring 392 points: broke 4 records at Duquesne; most points in one season-662; field goals -241; most free throws – 183; record for points per game – 24.7. He electrified crowds with his speed, driving ability and clutch plays. His knee- high socks were his trade- mark. Made Helms All-American Team in 1956 He played in the NBA for ten seasons with Rochester, St. Louis, Chicago, Baltimore and Boston.

Born in South Dakota and moved to Pennsylvania at the age of five. Max operates a horse breeding farm in Mechanicsburg, PA; showed horses during his childhood, started breeding Standard Bred Horses in 1942. Top Horses; Stenographer, Horse of the Tear in 1954 former World Champion, Harlan Dean won Hambletonian in 1961, former World Champion, Played Polo for 30 years and was one of the leading players in the country. Vice-President of Standardbred Owners Assn, of New York. Treasurer of Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Assn., Director of U.S. Trotting Assn, And Chairmen of a District, President of Hambletonian Society; Director of the Meadows. Served in U S. Army during World War II,.

In high school,l the 5’8” guard led Wampum to a 31-0 record and a State Championship, directed by his Hall of Fame father L. Butler Hennon. His four-year (1951-19550 high school scoring total of 2.376 points endured until1993. His prolific scoring continued at Pitt where he was a consensus two time All-American. He became a highly respected Pittsburgh surgeon. Don is a member of the Helms Athletic Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame,

Initiated and directed intercollegiate athletic programs at Elizabethtown College 1928-1961. Coached baseball 30 years, men’s basketball 19 years, soccer, women’s basketball, tennis, and cross country. ”Sports Headliner of the Year” in 1959 by the Lancaster Sportswriters and broadcasters. Baseball field at Elizabethtown College named in his honor.

Highest point getter in auto racing history and holder of 32 national track records; 103 wins and 93 second place finishes from 1928 – 1960. In 1975 he held record for 4 National Division Championships. During five Indianapolis races he innovated techniques adopted by present day drivers.

Selected to ten first string All-American teams in 1959. Winner of both Pittsburgh’s Dapper Dan and Philadelphia’s Maxwell Awards emblematic of the year’s Outstanding Collegiate Player, Played with the Buffalo Bills for three seasons. “ Riverboat Rich” helped revolutionize Penn State’s football offense and one of the nations leading quarterbacks

High School All-State in football 1952-’53 and basketball 1953. Oklahoma University All-American 1955-’56; Ap-UPI, Colliers, Look Magazine. Sporting News Player of the Tear 1956, Maxwell Award 1956, MVP North-South Shrine Game 1956, MVP in the in Big 8 Football Conference 1955-’56. Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957. Member of Eagles roster 1957-’63, Dallas Cowboys 1964, Los Angeles Rams 1065-’66, Atlanta Falcons 1967 and Cleveland Browns 1968. All -Pro six times; 495 total catches, over 8,000 and 84 touchdowns

An American Hockey League record five -time first string All-Star. Played 3 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, 8 years with the PittsburghHornets, 6 years with the Hershey Bears, Coached Hershey Bears for 17 seasons, Coaching 3 Calder Cup Championship Teams. Considered Dean of American Hockey League Coaches when he retired in 1973. Played fullback with both Winnepeg and Ottawa Grey Cup (CFL) Championship Team

All-Pro seven years; NFL Rookie of the Year in 1956; playedin 4 NFL Championship Games while with the Baltimore Colts, While with the Colts; he scored 113 touchdowns, had 1,069 carries for a 4.84 average per carry, had 363 receptions for 6,039 yards. Outstanding back at Penn State 1952-1956, scoring 25 touchdowns. Inducted int Pro-Football Hall of Fame.

Started professional baseball career with Waynesboro in the BlueRidge League and played in the minors until 1934. After playing in the minorsfor Giants until 1934 he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds and played for the Reds from 1935 till 1940. Playin for the Reds in the 1939 and 1940 World Series. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1941 at which time he ended his playing career.

Best remembered as co-owner of the fabulous Homestead Greys Negro Baseball Team.
He began his life-long association with the Homestead Greys in 1912 as an outfielder and co-owner. Served as player-coach for 8 years; volunteered his services as coach of Homestead High School’s basketball team from 1914 – 1919. Gained national recognition as an owner -player with the famed Leeni Club Independent Basketball team. The national Negro champs for many years under his direction. His 1926 Greys team was a superlative Product of the Posey touch, opened that spring with 43 consecutive wins before losing a contest – his 1931 team had 131 wins and 17 losses with such members as Smokey Joe Williams, Josh Gibson, Oscar Owens, Buck Leonard, Ted Page and Oscar Charleston. Joined Negro League in 1936 and won 8 consecutive Negro League titles.

Played and coached interion lineman on four teams. All-Pro1926-1927 with World Champion Pootsville Maroons, Collier’s All-Pro for 1926-1927. Interior line coach for the Pottsville Maroons, World Champs in 1925; Boston 1929; Providence 1930; Frankford 1931; Shenandoah Presidents 1932-1935. Featured writeups by outstanding Sports Columnists as Dr. Harry March. B Callico and Grantland Rice.

Williamsport’s and the West Branch Valley’s AMBASSADOR OF GOOD WILL AND SUNSHINE. Nationally known organized- Minor League Baseball Executive for 35 years as President of the Eastern and International Leagues. Also, Master of Ceremonies “par excellence” at banquets for Nearly half a century in practically every state of the Union.

Born on March 19, 1894 in Irwin, PA. He joined the US Navy on June 13, 1918. Frank All-Americanin 1956 Was a member of the University off Pittsburgh Track team 1916-’20 and 1921. He Ran Sprint races 100-220 and 440, specializing in the 440. Competing in National AAU and Intercollegiate championships he won the following 440 races; 1917, Junior National AAU Championship; 1917 St. Louis , Senior National AAU Championship; 1918, I.C. 4A Championship in Philadelphia; 1919, National AAU Championship, Cambridge, MA; 1921, National AAU Championship Olympic Tryouts Harvard; 1921, National Collegiate Assn. Championship, Chicago, IL; Best time in National Championship Competition 47.3. In 1922, while attending law school, he was appointed Head Track Coach and in 1923 Frank was given additional duties as Head Cross Country Coach. In his second year as Cross Country Coach his team wan the I.C. 4A Championship in Van Courtland Park, New York City.

Joe took his Luzerne County gridiron talents west in 1932 and became a star at the University of Pittsburgh. He played as a sophomore for Jock Sutherland and was selected All-American in 1933 and 1934. He led a 1933 Pitt defense that held opponents to a mere two touchdowns on way to an 8-1 record. During his career at Pitt the Panthers were 24-3-2. Joe was named to the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame. He became a dentist and returned to Luzerne County.

Played LaCrosse, basketball and football at Penn State. Coached Football and LaCrosse at Western Maryland, Harvard, Brown, George Washington and University of Washington 1930-1959. Athletic Director at Idaho, Portland and Toledo. Father of the Big Sky Conference. Inducted into National Collegiate Athletic Directors Hall of Fame,

The one and only organizers of Little League Baseball. Established the rules and field dimensions by experiments with his young nephews and in 1939 brought into being the Original and First Little league of three teams. In the next 16 years, provided inspirational National Leadership which has increased to over 3,900 teams.

All-State halfback Williamsport High; 4 years University of Pittsburgh halfback; coached 24 years, including Pitt 4 years; Waynesburg College 2 years, with 19-1 record; Nation's No.1 Small College Team 1966. One year Assistant with Steelers. Voted M.V.P. Pitt team 1949; played in Blue-Gray game.