Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Announces Final Nominees for Third Inductee Class

Baseball Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Roy Campanella, Basketball Hall of Famer Earl Monroe and former Philadelphia Eagles great Reggie White are some of the all-time legends to appear on the final ballot for the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame's Inductee Class III. They join former 76er Hal Greer, former Flyer Bill Barber, former Philadelphia Warrior Joe Fulks, plus coaches Joe McCarthy and Fred Shero.

We are thrilled with the way the ballot for the third class came together with a well-rounded group for our voting body to consider.” says Dr. Pete Georgelos, who handles the public nomination process for the Hall of Fame. The Hall truly embraces the diversity of Philadelphia sport and the ballot speaks to that with men and women from over a dozen different professional and amateur sports.”

The nominees range from the late 1890s and Ed Delahantys achievements with the Phillies through the end of the 20th century with Leroy Burrells dominance in track and field. In this, the 50th anniversary year of the Big 5, local college basketball is well represented by Harry Litwack, Bobby McNeil, Jack Ramsay and Lionel Simmons.

Native sons who grew up in the Philadelphia area, but succeeded elsewhere include: Roy Campanella, Tommy Lasorda, Mickey Vernon, Herb Adderley and Leroy Kelly. Other local legends include Ora Washington, Don Bragg, Willie Mosconi, Anne Townsend, Hobey Baker and Helen Sigel Wilson. Legendary NBA referee Earl Strom is the first official or referee to make the final ballot in the Hall of Fames first three years of voting.

Though not a component of the election process, a Fans Perspective Poll is available. The public is invited to submit their choices at: http://www.phillyhof.org/poll
When voting ends, the results of the fans choices will be published on the Halls website at www.phillyhall.org.

Public nominations for Inductee Class III ended September 1. According to the Hall of Fames charter, the five individuals with the highest number of publicly submitted nominations make the ballot. This years Fans Selections” are Roy Campanella, Del Ennis, Joseph Bud” Sutton, Bobby McNeil and Mickey Vernon. The election process begins the first week of October, with the ballots mailed to the Hall of Fames blue ribbon voting body, consisting of area sportswriters, current Inductees and others from the local sports community. The results are tallied over the following ten weeks, with the Hall of Fames Selection Committee meeting in mid-December for its Selection Sunday to review the voting results and finalize the third class of hall-of-famers.

Biographical information about the nominees is available at: http://www.phillyhof.org/nominees/

For information about the Hall of Fames nomination process contact Dr. Pete Georgelos via email at pete.georgelos @ phillyhall.net or visit the web site at: http://www.phillyhof.org/nominee.asp