For the past 60 years, the Pa Sports Hall of Fame has honored and inducted over 753 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. And through our future virtual museum we will educate and celebrate their achievements for years to come.
PA STATE HALL OF FAME 2023 INDUCTION CEREMONY is Saturday, October 28, 2023
Roger Kingdom
Living
Year Inducted:2006
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Roger is originally for Vienna, GA. He attended the University of Pittsburgh on a football scholarship where he played with the likes of Dan Marion, Chris Doleman and Jimbo Coleman. Roger is a two-time Olympic champion in the 110 high hurdles. In addition to winning a gold medal in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, he is a five- time U.S. outdoor champion. He won a gold medal at the 1989 World Cup, 1989 World University Games and the 1989 and 1995 Pan Am Games. He set the World Record of 12.92 in the 110 High Hurdles in Zurich, Switzerland in 1989. In the years 2002-2003 Roger worked with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League as an intern speed, strength, and conditioning Coach before signing with California University of PA.
He became the head coach of California University’s cross country and track and field programs. He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2005.
Baptiste Bap Manzini
Deceased
Year Inducted:2006
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Many of Bap Manzini’s former students and football players will tell you that “he was awesome.” His proteges would utter frequently that “the Bapper knows,” in reference to his ability to win football games. With his tough, rugged, furrowed face and deep, raspy voice, he intimidated many a foe. As gruff as he appeared, his players loved him, for he was a good-hearted and decent man beneath it all. Some may have thought of him as simply a jock, but there was an intellectual side to him as well. He was a learned man. He could also size up people very well. If anyone deserves the title of dean of football coaches of the Mid-Mon Valley in the second half of the twentieth century, it is Bap Manzini.
A native of Monongahela, he was born August 27, 1920, the son of Achille and Rita Manzini. Bap starred in football at Monongahela High and graduated in 1939. He went on to St. Vincent College in Latrobe and majored in business administration. He captained the Bearcats in 1942 as a senior and was named All-State center by The Associated Press and United Press International.
Following service in the U.S. Air Force, Manzini turned to the pro ranks and played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1944 and 1945. During World War II because of a player shortage the Steelers and Eagles merged to form the Phil-Pitt “Steagles” in 1943 and 1944. Bap won the Robert J. French Memorial Trophy as the outstanding player in the 1945 Philadelphia Inquirer Charity Game, an honor which earned him a niche in the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Joe Perkowski
Living
Year Inducted:2006
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About This Inductee:
• Coughlin High School-10 letters in football, basketball, track, baseball
• Captain of 1957 championship football team, two-time All-State/All-Scholastic
• Notre Dame University-3 year football letterman-halfback/kicker/running back
• 1961 leading scorer. Against Navy, carried ball 25 times, 131 yards, 9 extra points, one field goal
• Set record of 5 field goals in one game, new record of 49 yards (stood for 11 years)
• Longest field goal-55 yards in 1961 Spring exhibition game (half time against Paul Horning)
• Was also a running back for two years, averaging 5.2 yards per carry for total of 400 yards
• Drafted by NFL’s Chicago Bears, but suffered a first-year career ending injury
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2006
Joe graduated from Coughlin High School where he earned a total of 10 letters in football, basketball, track and baseball. He was captain of the 1957-58 championship football team and helped lead Coughlin to their first Wyoming Valley Conference Championship since 1937 with an 8-1 record. Joe broke the scoring record in 1957 with 18 touchdowns and 19 extra points for 127 points (a Wyoming Valley record that year). He was named as halfback and played for the East in the 1958 UNICO game. Joe scored 10 touchdowns and was named Most Valuable Player of the Year. He was also selected All-State, All-Star, All-Scholastic, and Top 33 in the state in 1956-57. Joe broke the all-time scoring record in the Wyoming Valley Conference. He was elected to the PA Big 33 team in both his junior and senior year, being the only junior ever selected (even now only seniors are eligible). He was on the 1956 championship track team at Coughlin and played on their championship baseball team in 1957-58. Joe went on to the University of Notre Dame where he became the leading scorer in 1961 playing halfback and kicking field goals. He held the record for the longest field goal at 49 yards against USC in 1961; his record stood for 11 years. Joe, famous for his “overtime” kick that beat Syracuse in 1961, was voted by the Associated Press as having made the most unusual play of the year. Notre Dame refers to that play simply as “the kick,” which helped initiate a NCAA rules change. Notre Dame was trailing 15-14 with only three seconds left. Joe lined up to try a 56-yard field goal, a roughing the kicker penalty moved the ball 15 yards, and Joe kicked a 41-yard field goal to win the game. His field goal was also decisive in a 22-20 victory against Purdue in 1961. Joe won a monogram letter three years while at Notre Dame. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears, but a knee injury prevented him from pursuing a professional career. Joe is married to the former Jean Macarelli and resides in Plains. They have two children, Nadine and Matt (who also played fullback and linebacker at Coughlin High School) and four grandchildren.
Paul Stehman
Living
Year Inducted:2006
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Paul graduated from Donegal High School in 1965 and Continued his education at Northwest Missouri State University on a wrestling scholarship. Paul was a three Time NCAA College Division I All-Americanl placing 4th In 1967, 5th in 1968 and a National Champion in 1969. He has coached for 30 years at Lake Mountain High School, Seaford High School, Delaware and Shamokin High Schools with a combined career record of 300-183-4.
He has coached six state champions. Paul has be inducted into the PIAA District 4, Pa State Wrestling, Northwest Missouri State University Halls of Fame.
Jim W Russell
Deceased
Year Inducted:2006
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This biography was written as part of the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame Biographical Journal in 2002
Jim was born in Fayette City, Pennsylvania, on October 1, 1918 the son of James Walch “Dock” Russell, born in Finleyville, PA and Lillian Johnson of Herminie. His father was of Irish-Welsh descent and his mother of Swedish origin. Jim was the first of four children in the family and included Carl, Ruth (Moravek) and Jack. Jim grew up in dire times as his father attempted to eke out a living working in the coal mines. Many of the jobs “Dock” Russell garnered in the mines had baseball teams of which he became a great acquisition. The elder Russell was a standout infielder and slugger. “Dock” was a star in his own right as a member of Hen Wilson’s powerful Fayette City independent teams of the old Mon River League in the late teens and early twenties. He once hit a ball which carried 400 feet on the fly and then rolled 250 feet. He also played a great game of football. “Dock” had a face shaped much like actor Spencer Tracy. His disposition was crusty. “Dock” Russell got his nickname by wearing a fur cap left at his home by a medical doctor, after a visit. Fur military style caps were popular with doctors in the early part of the twentieth century.
“Dock” Russell was rough on his son Jim as he grew up. The youngster played ball in alleyways with rocks as balls and tree limbs as bats. Young Jim was a rambunctious lad who ran himself down health wise and twice contracted rheumatic fever. Because Jim developed rheumatic heart disease, his baseball career and life would both be cut short. His aortic valve was damaged, but initially his heart compensated for the valve, and it didn’t bother him.
Jim entered Fayette City public schools on September 2, 1924. An average student, Jim didn’t finish high school. Instead he worked in the steel mills and coal mines to help his family financially. All the while, he maintained a devotion to playing baseball. An aunt on his father’s side, Margaret Scott, kept a watchful eye on the budding future major leaguer. Whenever he needed a tongue lashing to keep his mind focused, Aunt Margaret was up to the task. Years later Jim gave much credit for his success as an athlete to his aunt. She saw in him many of the talents that would later popularize him as an outstanding ball player: aggressive base running, great fielding abilities, speed, and power at the plate. For a time he lived in Brooklyn, New York, with his aunt.
Russell began his climb to the Major Leagues in professional baseball in 1937. There were many teams along the way until he was finally brought up to the “show” with the Pittsburgh Pirates in September of 1942. Those teams along the way included the McKeesport Little Pirates in 1937. In 1938 he played for Butler of the Penn State Association and Beaver Falls. In 1939 Russell moved to Mayfield of the Mid Atlantic League also known as the Kitty League. In 1940 Russell continued through the Minor Leagues with stops at Youngstown and Springfield, Illinois of the Three-I League consisting of teams in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa sometimes called the Corn Belt League. St. Joseph of the Michigan State League was Russell’s next stop. Russell went to the Southeastern League and Sally League in 1941 playing for Meridian and Memphis. He was promoted to Toronto of the International League the following year. At Toronto he batted .295 and with this performance at the plate, the Pirates chose to purchase his contract at the end of the 1942 season.
Jim’s stint in Memphis was short lived. He resented being sent there and wanted a commensurate salary. The fans picked up on Russell’s displeasure, and his poor play in one game had the fans taunting him. When he made the catch in that game on the last out, Russell deliberately threw the ball with all his might into the bleachers. Jim was sent packing by management. Russell’s temper would hurt his image at times during his career, but his temper was the fire and motivation that helped him reach great feats as an athlete. During the off season, he would work for the Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad. His minor league play was outstanding because of his base stealing exploits. He exemplified the popular thought of baseball minds that speed never goes into a slump. He averaged 40 stolen bases a season. He was tagged the “speed boy” along with “rangy boy” for he was long and lean physically.
Jim was a major league success from the start. A switch hitter, a right hand thrower, at 6 feet 1 inch and 180 pounds, he did his most damage when batting against right-handed hurlers. One of the fastest players in the game, he was a consistently successful base runner and run-getter, besides proving a powerful hitter, dependable fielder and strong thrower. Detroit baseball writer Joe Falls picked him as one of the greatest athletes of all time in 1982, reminiscing that, “He had it all, a great name and the ability to swing from either side of the plate. I imagined him to be the most handsome baseball player in the world.” A real “charmer,” Jim had charisma before the term was coined in the 1960s. When he walked into a room, he had presence.
Russell’s temper could be testy while in the major leagues. He could be goaded into the stands at the ball park if a fan went too far with his heckling, but he could be very gracious, as attested to by a letter written to Jim’s son, Stephen, some forty-nine years after the event. “At Ebbets Field, I was all of six and at the players exit following the game. As the players started to leave, the autograph hounds moved in. I was too shy and intimidated to move in with them. Your father came out, and there I was clutching my glove in one hand, my ball in the other. He asked if I wanted an autograph. I handed him the ball. He took the pen from another kid who ran over and asked me my name. He autographed the ball to me personally, ‘to Larry Smith.’ I was the happiest kid in the world. I was particularly excited because I could read the writing. Your father’s script was almost printed letters connected together. I wanted to tell you, your father was a very nice man who left his imprint on this kid.”
During his years as a Pirate, Jim won the 60-yard baseball dash staged for major league players in connection with the annual relay meet of Purdue University. Jim ran the distance in 6.9 seconds and will always be remembered as a speedster.
In 1944, he was approved as a WPIAL grid official and did football games in the Mon Valley in the off season.
Jim’s best year in the majors was 1944 when he led the Pirates in hitting with a .312 average and 181 total hits. Russell was the first player in Pirates’ history to pinch hit a grand slam homerun on August 20, 1944, when the Pirates played the Dodgers. In 1944 Jim’s 109 runs scored placed him third in the National League behind only Bill Nicholson (116) and Donora’s Stan Musial (112). His 14 triples in 1944 was the fourth best total in the National League. And, in 1944, he was only 16 hits shy of a tie with the league leaders (Phil Cavarretta and Musial). In addition, he was only 11 walks short of tying Musial that year for a third place berth in that department. In 1945, his 15 stolen bases gave him a fourth place finish for top pilferers in the National League. In those days the speed game was not as vibrant and vital as it later became. In fact, in 1945 the top thief was Red Schoendienst who only stole 26 bases - just 11 more than Russell.
In Jim’s final season with the Pirates in 1947, he played between a pair of slugger’s - rookie Ralph Kiner and veteran Hank Greenberg. “Neither one could move” remembered Russell, who stole a Southwestern League high 51 stolen bases when he hit .366 for Meridian and Memphis in 1941.
A story about Jim as a Pirate has become a favorite over the years. Bucky Walters was pitching for the Cincinnati Reds in Crosley Field and Pirate Frankie Zak was on second base. Russell was at bat. Just as Walters started his delivery, Zak called time to the umpire to tie his shoe. Russell hit a homerun to right center field, but it was cancelled due to Zak’s time out. Pirate manager Frankie Frisch, a hard-nosed guy, was livid. Frisch told Zak later he would get him a pair of shoes with buttons. Russell batted again, but only singled. Zak’s career in the majors was short-lived.
Jim was always a favorite of Pirate manager Frisch. He boosted Russell’s speedboy’s stock even as a bunter. Frisch was ever a great lover of speed in players. When he first saw Russell beat out a bunt, he almost fell off the bench. Frisch exclaimed, “Why, that fellow Russell ought to bunt .300 in any league! He actually overtakes and beats the ball when he pulls a bunt down the line!”
Russell saw the color barrier in baseball broken during his playing tenure. In reference to the taunts made toward the first black player in the Big Leagues Jackie Robinson on his first visit to Forbes Field in 1947, Russell remarked that the comments of his fellow teammates made him “sick.” Russell also admitted that Pirate manager Billy Herman ordered his pitchers to knock Robinson down.
In 1948 Russell played for the Boston Braves. He had been traded for Danny Murtaugh who went on to Pirate fame as their skipper. Having a terrific year leading the team to first place and leading in homers and RBIs in August, Jim came down with bacterial endocarditis, an infection of the heart valve brought on by the rheumatic fever he had as a child. The illness cost him the rest of the season and a chance to play in the World Series. Jim recovered with massive doses of penicillin as his wonder drug. He played for the Braves in 1949 but his heart problem began to take its toll with Jim only batting .231. He was traded to the Dodgers as his career waned.
Russell’s greatest games came with the Braves in 1948 and the Dodgers in 1950, when he became the first major leaguer in history to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game more than once. Later, Mickey Mantle would do it 10 times. The game in 1948 was on June 7th in Chicago where Russell hit a home run batting right-handed off lefthander Bob McCall. Hitting left-handed against reliever Ralph Hammer, Russell hit another home run. He also doubled from both sides of the plate to drive in six runs in a 9-5 Brave victory and tie a National League record with four extra base hits in one game. It was Russell’s biggest thrill as a big leaguer. At Ebbets Field in Brooklyn in 1950 Russell again connected for a pair of home runs from both sides of the plate becoming the first player to do so twice in his career. Russell’s victims were the St. Louis Cardinals, lefty Harry “the Cat” Brecheen, and righty George Munger. In Brooklyn at this time the Dodger fans christened him with a nickname for his home run prowess, calling him “Sock.” In 1952, he appeared as a Dodger in the first Topps baseball set. Jim played the outfield for his entire career, with the exception of 11 games played at first base.
Russell spent two campaigns with the Dodgers, pinch hitting in the 1951 club which lost the National League pennant to the New York Giants on the final day on Bobby Thompson’s dramatic home run. While with the Dodgers, Russell played with Brooklyn’s top farm club, the Montreal Royals, shuffling back and forth from the majors to the minors. In Montreal Jim met his future wife Theresa Mary Coreau of Arnprior, Ontario, who was a model in Quebec. They married on Halloween 1951 and had three children Stephen, James and Janet. In 1952 and 1953, Mr. Russell returned to the minor leagues and played for the Portland Beavers.
After retiring from playing professional baseball, Russell scouted nine years for both the Dodgers from 1954-60 and the Washington Senators from 1961-63. At the same time, he owned a beer distributing company in his native town of Fayette City. Russell Brothers Beer Distributing eventually sold out to another local distributor John Yetsconish in the early 1960s. As a scout, Jim signed California High School graduate Don “Ducky” LeJohn who had a brief stint in the majors with the Dodgers. Russell was elected to the Mon Valley Sports Hall of Fame in its second class in 1952.
In 1964, Russell took a chance at a political future. Placing his name before the Rostraver Township School Board, Russell was unanimously selected by the sitting board to fill the unexpired term of Thomas Patterson. His hope was to exercise the position as a springboard for a run for tax collector. This was not necessary because Jim landed a salesman position with Smith-Corona typewriters and office machines representing the Pittsburgh area. Russell spent twenty years with the company, moving to the Tampa, Florida SCM division in early 1978. Russell was a lifelong Democrat, molded as a young man in the tradition of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. He connected with those less fortunate. Russell would run for the Belle Vernon Area School Board in the merger formed by Rostraver and Bellmar three times. In 1967 and 1971 he was overwhelmingly elected. He lost his school board seat in the 1977 election.
In the 1970s, Jim Russell brought American Legion baseball back to Fayette City and the Mon Valley area. Jim Kriek, a sports columnist for the Uniontown Herald-Standard remembered, “the battle of baseline strategies when Jim was managing the Fayette City American Legion teams, and Herman Welsh and Buzz Barnhart had the Connellsville teams. I always looked forward to their games, just to watch those old baseball heads try to out think each other. I can’t recall one time I can ever say the crowd went home disappointed.”
Throughout his middle adult years Jim experienced chest pains, which at times were excruciating. On June 29, 1977 Dr. Ronald Pellegrini, at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, replaced his aortic valve with a pig’s valve. A most astounding fact, his heart was four times the size of a normal heart. An athlete’s heart is normally twice the size. The recovery became touch and go when Russell had a setback. His heart went into an irregular rhythm called atrial fibrillation. Jim’s wife Terry remembered it as “very frightening. It was touch and go. They had to restart his heart in the recovery room, open him up, and massage his heart to a normal rate.” Russell recovered by 1978 and moved to Florida. He frequently played golf as a ten-handicap golfer with former major leaguers Stan Musial and Al Lopez at Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater.
Russell experienced severe heart failure once again in early 1987. He needed mitral valve surgery which was performed on March 12, again at Mercy Hospital with Dr. Ronald Pellegrini. The surgery and recovery were difficult. His energy level increased slightly with the operation. Russell planned a hunting trip to Pennsylvania in the fall of 1987 and departed by plane from Tampa, Florida, the day before Thanksgiving on November 24. He died upon take off. The airplane made an emergency landing in Orlando, Florida. Jim was buried in his beloved Fayette City in Mt. Auburn cemetery.
Russell lived his seventy years with many highs and lows. He survived sub-acute bacterial infections three times and open-heart surgery twice. His major league career showed 1,035 games with 3,595 at bats and 959 hits including 67 home runs, 175 doubles, 51 triples, 554 runs scored, 428 RBIs, and a batting average of .267. He had 59 stolen bases. His fielding average was .981. His highest baseball salary was $16,000. He loved history, especially the Civil War period. He had many a drink and social discussions with his local Mon Valley friends. After baseball, he adored golf and played it frequently.Jim Russell’s testament is reflected in the manner his peers were drawn to him. One remembers a series of pictures of Dodger Roy Campanella leaning on Jim’s thigh in a Dodger team photo and slugger Hank Greenburg with his arm around Jim in an opening day line up picture for the Pirates in 1947. In Russell’s mementos one can see Joe DiMaggio’s Western Union telegram birthday message to Jim in 1949. Dick Williams, player and manager, remembered Jim as his mentor and guide when he was a rookie with the Dodgers. Russell was entertained in the home of singer Bing Crosby, a Pirate owner. He enjoyed the warmth and affection of Stan Musial, Ralph Kiner and Dodger manager Tom Lasorda who called Russell in his hospital room while he was managing a Pirates’ series in Pittsburgh. Chuck Tanner as a youngster idolized him. Russell was best man at Pirate Frank Gustine’s wedding. Maybe his peers recognized that flesh and blood people mattered more to him than the hoopla, hype, and garb of celebrityhood.
Joseph G. Shaff
Deceased
Year Inducted:2006
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Joseph was a Helm’s All-American in 1929 at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was the Quakers top athlete. He won Eastern Collegiate scoring titles 1928-1929 and was names the top player in Eastern USA (over “Honey” Russell) in high school, he led Roman Catholic to Philadelphia title under Coach Billy Markward. Joe was named one of Philadelphia five best athletes from 1900 – 1950, regarded as one of the all-time top ten Philadelphia basketball players through 1960. He coached Reading Central Catholic for 25 years (1945-1969) Winning two Pennsylvania State Catholic titles in (1950-1951)
Glen Bones Adams
Deceased
Year Inducted:2005
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University of Pennsylvania triple threat tailback, leading nationally ranked Quakers to 1952 Ivy League Championship; named Colliers Magazine All-American, AP All-American, All East, All Ivy, Pennsylvania College All State, UP National Player of the Week, set Penn touchdown passing record for single game (4) and total season passing yardage in one season (1,200 plus). Earned 11 Mt. Carmel High School varsity letters. Named All-State and Lower Anthracite Football Player of the Year (1947-1948).
Maria Fantanarosa
Living
Year Inducted:2005
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Marie L. Fantanarosa was Mount Carmel Area High School, State All Time Leading Scorer with 3,823 points from 1981-1985. Most points in a season with 1,318 and most points in freshman season with 886. Career total ranks in top ten nationally. Two-time All Mid-American Conference Selection at Miami University in Ohio. Ninth all time in scoring with 1,086. Currently in her eighth season as head coach at Miami, captured her first MAC East Division title in 2002-03 and in 2003-04 won the overall MAC Championship. Named MAC Coach of the Year.
Scott Fitzkee
Living
Year Inducted:2005
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Scott A. Fitzkee was drafted in 1979 by the Eagles and played with the Eagles in the '81 Super Bowl. Scott played four years in the NFL and was invited in '83 to join the Philadelphia Stars in the U. S. Football League. Played three years with Philadelphia and Baltimore Stars. A Penn State graduate, he held the record of 11 touchdowns and as a Lion played in numerous bowl games from 1976-79. He was the MVP in the Japan Bowl. Scott graduated from Red Lion H.S. in York County in 1975. He was a star running back for three years. Scott was inducted into the Susquehanna Valley Chapter.
John Flannery
Living
Year Inducted:2005
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John J. Flannery was consensus All-American at Syracuse playing center. He was an Outland and Lombardi Trophy semi-finalist. Drafted by Houston in 2nd round. Made All-Rookie Team at guard. Won Super Bowl with Rams in 2000. Played nine seasons with Houston, Dallas and St. Louis. He was a two-sport standout at Pottsville High, was PA Heavyweight wrestling champion. In football, playing center and defensive tackle made all-state, Defensive MVP in Big 33 game.
Greg Gross
Living
Year Inducted:2005
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Gregory E. Gross 1970 B.S. All-American, 4th round draft pick by Houston. 1970-73 Minor League All-Star and Player of the Year. 1974 Sporting News "Rookie of the Year" with Houston, finished 3rd in hitting, 185 hits, most by an Astro (later broken). 1974-76 Houston, 1977-78 Chicago Cubs, 1979-80 Philadelphia Phillies, 1980 played a key role on the Phillies "World Champions" and on the 1983 "National League Champions." Ranked 4th in total pinch hits. 1991-93 coached Malver Prep, two championships, two 1st round draft picks. 1995-96 coached Rockies AA-New Haven, 1997-2000 Rockies minor league hitting coordinator, 2001 Phillies bench coach, 2002-04 Phillies hitting coach, 2001 West Shore Chapter of PSHF Inductee.
Paul "Bucky" Greeley
Living
Year Inducted:2005
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About This Inductee:
• Coughlin High School
• Football-All-Conference, All-Northeast, All-State
• Wrestling-two-time District II, NE Regional champ, All-Conference, All-State
• Baseball-All-Conference-.579 batting average
• Penn State University-football
• Co-captain of undefeated 1994 Big Ten/Rose Bowl Champs
• All-Big Ten second team 1994
• 1995 Rose Bowl Offensive Player of the Game
• NFL-3 seasons with Carolina Panthers
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2005
At Coughlin High School, Bucky was a three-year starter in football, wrestling and baseball. He was named All-Scholastic, All-Conference, All-North East and All-State 1989. He received the Carmen Paulino Award as Wyoming Valley Conference’s Outstanding Lineman. He captained and was starting center in the UNICO All-Star game. His wrestling career record was 84 – 18. He was two-time District 2 champion, two-time Northeast Regional champion, two-time All-Conference, two-time All State, one of eight in the State. He was 5th in the PIAA State Tourney 1990. He won the Hooper Award from the Sunday Independent as outstanding wrestler 1990. As a three-year starter in baseball, he was two-time All-Conference. His batting average was .579.
Paul received a full scholarship to Penn State University, where he lettered in football four years, was co-captain of the undefeated 1994 Big Ten/Rose Bowl Championship team and was All-Big Ten, second team in 1994.
He received the Richard “Dick” McGinnis Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award and was offensive player of the game against the University of Southern California in the 1995 Rose Bowl. He was awarded the Charles Kustanbauer Memorial Scholarship and the Russell T. Bundy Football Scholarship. He was voted one of Wyoming Valley’s “Athletes of the Century” in 2000 by the Citizens’ Voice and was twice the Killer Bees Athletic Club’s Athlete of the Year.
Bucky played three seasons in the N.F.L. for the Carolina Panthers (1996, 1997, 1998 seasons). He was starting center in 1998 before sustaining a career-ending injury.
Paul is the Charlotte market manager of a sports marketing company and resides in Charlotte, NC, with his wife Tanya.
John Kolb
Living
Year Inducted:2005
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Jon Kolb, an offensive lineman, was an All-Big Eight performer in 1967-68 and an All-American 1968 at Oklahoma State University. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers where he became a standout left tackle garnering various All-Pro honors and being named to the All-Time Steeler team in 1982. He was inducted into the Oklahoma State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. In 1981, Jon placed first in the Strongest Man contest.
Bruce Kozerski
Living
Year Inducted:2005
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About This Inductee:
• Coughlin High School-football-All League, All-State
• College of the Holy Cross-senior first team All-American
• First team Academic All-American, first team All-East Coast
• First team All-New England
• NFL 9th round draft pick-Cincinnati Bengals
• 12 year pro football career-three honorable mentions-Pro Bowl
• Played in Super Bowl XXIII 1989
• Head football coach at Holy Cross District High School
• Inducted into PA State Hall of Fame in 2005
He graduated from James M. Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA with a major in Physics and later acquired a Master's in teaching from Xavier University.
Bruce played twelve seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was an alternate in the 1988, 1989, and 1990 Pro Bowls. "Mr. Versatile", as he was called, retired after the 1995 season.
He is a teacher and the head football coach at Holy Cross High School in Covington, Kentucky where he teaches physics, pre-calculus, and calculus. On November 25, 2011, Kozerski, in his 8th year as head coach, led Holy Cross High School's (Covington, Kentucky) football team to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Division 2A, state football championship. It was the Indians' first appearance in the state championship game. Holy Cross defeated Glasgow High School 33-14 in the championship game.
Linda Kreiser
Living
Year Inducted:2005
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Linda Kreiser was a graduate of Lower Dauphin High School, Coach Kreiser went on to play field hockey, basketball and lacrosse at Millersville University. She earned 12 varsity letters. She returned to LD to teach and became head field hockey coach in 1978. Four years later, Linda captured her first District 3 championship, 11 years later she won her first state title with an undefeated 1993 season. In 2003, Linda won a 6th District 3 title on top of two State Championships, and a 475-76-32 career record. Coach Kreiser was inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame on January 10, 2004.
Ron Solt
Living
Year Inducted:2005
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About This Inductee:
• Coughlin High School-football
• 1980 Wyoming Valley Conference champs
• All-Scholastic, All-State, All-American
• University of Maryland-4-year starter
• Played in Aloha, Tangerine, Japan, North-South Bowls
• 1983 Atlantic Conference Lineman of the Year, first team All-ACC
• 1983 Rookie of the Year with NFL’s Indianapolis Colts
• Named to AFC Pro Bowl, UPI All-Pro Team 1987
• Lineman of the Year with Philadelphia Eagles 1990
• Outstanding Lineman of the Year with Colts 1991
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2005
Ron Solt graduated from Coughlin High School in 1980 with a 3.8 grade point average. Along with his honors as a student, Ron excelled in football, wrestling and track at Coughlin. Ron starred on Coughlin’s undefeated 1980 football team, which went on to become Wyoming Valley champions. Ron was All-Scholastic two years in 1979 and 1980. He was named to the PA All-State team in 1980, as well as being named to the High School All-American team as an offensive guard and a defensive tackle. He was also named to the Adidas All-American Team. Ron also excelled in wrestling at Coughlin High where in 1980 he was district champion, regional champion, and finished second in the state wrestling tournament that year. Ron also led Coughlin’s track team, earning a first place in the Shot Put in the district meet and a fourth place in the PA State meet.
Ron earned a football scholarship to the University of Maryland and graduated with a 3.5 scholastic average. He played four years at Maryland, participating in the Aloha Bowl, Tangerine Bowl, Japan Bowl, and the North and South Bowl. He was voted the Atlantic Conference Lineman of the Year in 1983, and also named to the First Team All-ACC in 1982 and 1983.
Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1983, Ron was “Rookie of the Year.” Ron was named to the AFC Pro Bowl and the UPI All-Pro Team in 1987. In 1988, Ron was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles and in 1990 started his 100th straight game. Ron was named the Philadelphia Inquirer Lineman of the Year that same year. Ron went back to the Colts in 1991 through 1993, and was named Outstanding Lineman again in 1991.
Ron again resides in the Wyoming Valley and has six children, Kierra, Lauren, Tayler, Jarred, Matthew and Ryan.
Gary Bower
Living
Year Inducted:2005
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Gary E. Bower has 24 perfect games and eight 800's, three game series. A member of the 1979 United States FIQ team that competed in the World Tournament in the Philippines. Two ABC National titles, seven State titles, 40 local titles and many other titles. Harrisburg Patriot News honored him as one of the Mid-States top 50 Athletes of the Century. Inducted into the Capital Area Chapter, Lebanon, Harrisburg and Pennsylvania Bowling Halls of Fame. Inducted into the ABC National Hall of Fame, March 15,2001 in Reno, Nevada.
William George
Deceased
Year Inducted:2005
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About This Inductee:
• Two-time PIAA Wrestling champion
• Three-time Southern Conference wrestling champion
• Football All-American at Wake Forrest
• Second round draft choice of the Chicago Bears, he became "Mr. Bear" for 14 years
• The original NFL middle linebacker
• Selected NFL All-Pro eight times
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974
He played professionally as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League.
George was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles south of Pittsburgh. He is among numerous legendary football players born in football-rich Western Pennsylvania. He attended college at Wake Forest University, and was the Bears' second-round draft pick in 1951. He began his pro football career the following year as a middle guard in the then-standard five-man defensive front. He was selected to play in eight consecutive Pro Bowls, from 1954 to 1961.
George is credited as the first true middle linebacker in football history and, inadvertently, the creator of the 4–3 defense. Noting during a 1954 game with the Philadelphia Eagles that his tendency to hit the center right after the snap led to the quarterback passing right over his head, he began to drop back from the line, not only enabling him to intercept and otherwise disrupt several passes from that game forward but also creating the familiar 4–3 setup (four linemen and three linebackers).
In addition to his 18 career interceptions, George also recovered 19 fumbles, and in 1954 scored 25 points on 13 PATs and four field goals. In 1963, he led the Bears defense when they won the NFL Championship.
George was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. The Bears retired his uniform number 61. In a 1989 article, in which he named his choices for the best athletes ever to wear each uniform number from 0 to 99, Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly not only chose George for number 61, but called him "the meanest Bear ever," no small thing considering the franchise's long history and reputation for toughness. In 1999, he was ranked number 49 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
George was killed in an automobile accident in Rockford, Illinois on September 30, 1982.
Stanley "Bucky" Harris
Deceased
Year Inducted:2005
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About This Inductee:
• Also known as the "The Boy Wonder”
• Hit .300 as rookie second baseman for Washington 1920
• As player/manager, won 2 flags in a row and World Series 1924
• Won 2,159 games in 29 years as manager-Tigers, Red Sox, Phillies, Yankees
• Led Yankees to World Championship 1947
• 1975 inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2005
Stanley "Bucky" Harris spent seven decades in majors as player, manager and executive.
When Harris was 19, the Detroit Tigers, signed him to his first contract and farmed him to the Class B Muskegon Reds of the Central League, where he struggled as a batsman and was released. Harris then caught on with the Scranton Miners, Norfolk Tars and Reading Pretzels through 1917, before reaching the highest level of minor league baseball with the 1918–1919 Buffalo Bisons of the International League. Harris improved his batting skills during the latter season with the Bisons, making 126 hits and raising his average to .282.
He then was recommended to the Washington Senators by baseball promoter Joe Engel, who led the Chattanooga Lookouts at Engel Stadium. In August 1919, at the age of 22, he came up to Washington was a regular second baseman in 1920. He was batting .300 and making a mark for himself as a tough competitor, standing up to even ferocious superstar Ty Cobb, who threatened Harris when he tagged Cobb in their first encounter.
Harris spent most of his playing career as a second baseman with the Senators (1919–1928). In 1924, he was named player-manager; at the age of 27 he was the youngest manager in the Majors. He proceeded to lead the Senators to their only World Series title in Washington in his rookie season, and was nicknamed "The Boy Wonder." He won a second consecutive American League pennant in 1925, but the Senators lost the 1925 World Series in Pittsburgh in the late innings of Game 7 after leading 3–1 in the Series. He batted .333 and hit two home runs in the series, including an important round tripper in Game 7 which opened the scoring and gave Washington a 1–0 lead in the 4th inning. These feats are even more impressive considering that the light-hitting Harris only hit 9 home runs in his entire career.
Harris’ initial departure from the Senators in 1928 (he would twice return to manage them again from 1935–42 and 1950–54) came in a trade to the Tigers as player-manager. Although he retired as a player after the 1931 season, his playing career effectively ended with his trade to Detroit. Harris only made 11 cameo appearances in the Tiger lineup: seven in 1929 and four in 1931. In all, he appeared in 1,263 games over parts of 13 seasons, and collected 1,297 hits, with 224 doubles, 64 triples, nine home runs, 472 bases on balls, and 167 stolen bases. Harris batted .274 lifetime with 508 career runs batted in.
In addition to Harris‘ three separate terms as field leader of the Senators, he also managed the Tigers twice (1929–33 and 1955–56), Boston Red Sox (1934), Philadelphia Phillies (briefly known as the Blue Jays, 1943) and New York Yankees (1947–48).
Harris signed as manager of the Red Sox for 1934. As a new manager, and despite an injury-riddled season by newly purchased ace left-handed pitcher Lefty Grove, broke the losing-season streak, finishing at .500 (76–76). But Harris's stay in the Boston dugout lasted only one season. He and Eddie Collins, the Red Sox' general manager, had feuded since their playing days and Yawkey may have hired Harris without consulting Collins. Harris' second term in Washington lasted for eight seasons (1935–1942), his longest tenure as a skipper. However, he never approached the highs of 1924 or 1925. Only one of his teams, the 1936 Senators, had a winning record (82–71) and first-division finish. Harris kept the club out of the American League basement, but three consecutive seventh-place finishes from 1940–1942 led to his departure and his only season in the National League as skipper of the 1943 Phillies.
Perhaps the worst team (42–109, .278) in baseball in 1942, the Phillies had just been sold to lumberman William D. Cox. Under Harris, the 1943 edition improved to play .424 baseball (39–53), just four fewer than they had in all of 1942. However, Harris chafed at Cox' constant interference. When Harris protested, Cox abruptly fired him on July 27.
Harris then played a role in Cox' banishment from professional baseball for betting on games. On the day after his firing, Harris dropped a bombshell at his hotel room–he had evidence that Cox was betting on baseball. Harris's friends, outraged at his firing, informed Commissioner of Baseball Kenesaw Mountain Landis that Cox was violating baseball's anti-gambling mandate. Landis then summoned Harris to his office to testify in person about Cox' behavior. The owner was suspended indefinitely three months later and banned from baseball outright soon afterward. The Phillies were sold to R. R. M. Carpenter in November 1943.
Harris then spent three seasons out of the big leagues, then served as general manager (1944–1946) and field manager (1944–1945) of the Buffalo Bisons, his old team in the International League.
In August 1946, the Yankees' co-owner and GM, Larry MacPhail, appointed Harris to a front-office position. Harris was named the Bombers' 1947 manager, and he led them to his third American League pennant — the Yankees' 15th league title. Behind Most Valuable Player Joe DiMaggio and newly acquired starting pitcher Allie Reynolds, the 1947 Yanks won 97 games and prevailed over the Tigers by a 12-game margin. Then they won Harris's second World Series championship, defeating the Jackie Robinson-led Brooklyn Dodgers in a thrilling, seven-game Fall Classic.
Although MacPhail sold his stake in the Yankees and left baseball immediately after the 1947 Series, Harris returned for a second season as manager. His 1948 Yankees won 94 games to finish a close third in a hectic pennant race, two games behind the Cleveland Indians and Red Sox, who ended the regular season in a tie for first place. But the result dissatisfied the Yankees' post MacPhail ownership team, Dan Topping and Del Webb, and their new general manager, George Weiss, and they replaced Harris with Casey Stengel.
Harris returned to the minor leagues in 1949, as manager of the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League, before launching his third stint as skipper of the Senators, coming off a 104-loss 1949 season. His first campaign, 1950, saw a 17-game improvement for Washington, then he led the Senators to a winning (78–76) mark in 1952, but the team could not escape the second division in Harris's five-year, final term as Washington's manager.
In 1955, and in the first season of his second term in Detroit, Harris again produced a turnaround. The 1955 Tigers won 79 games (eleven more than 1954's edition) and had their first above-.500 season since 1950, then Detroit won 82 games in 1956. Harris closed out his 29-year MLB managing career with a win-loss record of 2,158–2,219 (.493). As of September 2019, Harris ranked seventh in MLB manager career wins.
In 1957, at 60, Harris rejoined the Red Sox in a front office capacity. He was assistant general manager to Joe Cronin for two seasons, and then, when Cronin was named president of the American League, succeeded him as GM in January 1959, 24 years after Cronin had displaced Harris as Boston's field manager. On his watch, the Red Sox finally broke the baseball color line by promoting Pumpsie Green from Triple-A on July 21, 1959, more than a dozen years after Robinson's debut with the Dodgers. They were the last of the 16 pre-expansion teams to integrate.
Harris ended his long MLB career as a scout for the White Sox (1961–1962) and special assistant for the new expansion Washington Senators franchise that played in D.C. from 1961 to 1971 before moving on to Arlington, Texas. All told, he spent over 55 years in baseball. He died November 8, 1977 on his 81st birthday.
Bruce Baumgartner
Living
Year Inducted:2004
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Four-time Olympic Medalist Bruce Baumgartner is considered by many as the greatest heavyweight freestyle wrestler in American history. He won the 1986, 1993, and 1995 World Championships. In 1996 Bruce was voted Co-Captain of the U.S. Olympic Team and carried the Flag in the Opening Ceremonies at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. He was the winner of the James E. Sullivan Award in 1995 as the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. From 1981 through his retirement in 1997, he did not lose a match to an American Wrestler. One of eight athletes in U.S. history to medal in four different Olympiads winning a bronze, a silver, and two gold medals.
Jerry Bergman
Deceased
Year Inducted:2004
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Jerry was an official in the National Football League from 1966 until 1995. His tenure of 30 years is the third longest in the history of the league. He was the head linesman in four Super Bowls, two Pro Bowls, and numerous post season games. He is a graduate of North Catholic High School in Pittsburgh where he quarterbacked the football team. He has coached sandlot teams and presently coaches a grade school team which has a record of 148 wins and 28 losses. From 1951 till 1965 he also found some time to umpire baseball. He has received numerous sports and civic awards including Pittsburgh Dapper Dan Awards in 1979 and 1985.
Leon Bud Carson
Deceased
Year Inducted:2004
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Bud was an All WPIAL performer at Freeport High School and went on to become an All-Conference player at the University of North Carolina. He went directly into coaching after graduation and spent 7 seasons at UNC as an assistant, became Defensive Coordinator at South Carolina and then Georgia Tech, and moved up to Head Coach at Tech where he had a 25-25 record. He moved on to become one of the top Defensive Coordinators in the NFL. Except for a two year stint as Head Coach at Cleveland, his career spanned seven teams, including seven years with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he became the architect of the famed "Steel Curtain" defense.
Leonard Gus DeAugustino
Deceased
Year Inducted:2004
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In high school, Gus was a "State Champion in 1949. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 1952. In 1953 he was an NCAA Champion that was undefeated in college dual competition. After college he turned to coaching his beloved sport and began producing championship wrestlers and championship teams. His record included 22 Section Championships, seven WPIAL Championships, and six State Titles. He was a four time, WPIAL and two time PIAA Coach of the Year Honoree. He turned to college coaching and won the Eastern Regional Championship in 1994 and 1996 at Duquesne University. He has been the recipient of a National Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Service Award.
Arnold Pope Galiffa
Deceased
Year Inducted:2004
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An outstanding performer at quarterback on some great Donora High School teams where his senior season brought him High School All-American Honors. He took his leadership and athletic skills to West Point and garnered 11 major letters playing football, basketball, and baseball. His athletic career was interrupted by his military obligation in Korea. He returned a highly decorated veteran and managed to play two seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants and the San Francisco 4gers in 1953 and 1954. Upon leaving the game, he enjoyed a very successful business career in the Chicago area.
George Ken Griffey Sr
Living
Year Inducted:2004
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An all-around athlete out of Donora, PA , Ken chose a baseball career which spanned 19 seasons from 1973-1991. During that time he played with the Reds, Yankees, Braves, and Mariners. His play with the Cincinnati Reds led to his recent induction into the "Big Red's" Hall of Fame. He played in 2,097 games, batted .296 and had 2,143 hits, 152 home runs and 859 RBI's. Playing the outfield, he was an All-Star selection in 1976, 1977, and 1981. In 1990 he became part of the leagues first father-son playing duo when he was joined on the Mariners by son Ken Griffey Jr. After his retirement he coached with both the Reds and the Mariners.
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