Author: Frank Fitzpatrick
The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame doesn't yet have a home, but at least it now has its charter members.
Yesterday, the 19 athletes who will make up the hall's initial class, a group spanning local sports history from Connie Mack to Julius Erving, from Bill Tilden to Joe Frazier, were announced by the hall's foundation. A banquet and an induction ceremony are planned for February, according to foundation director Ken Avallon. The selections were made by a panel that included local sportswriters, coaches, athletes, broadcasters and college athletic directors. Voting totals were not released.
The all-male group included six from baseball, five from basketball, three from football, two from hockey, and one each from tennis, boxing and rowing.
Those named were baseball's Mack, Richie Ashburn, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts and Jimmie Foxx; basketball's Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, Billy Cunningham, Paul Arizin and Tom Gola; football's Bert Bell, Chuck Bednarik and Steve Van Buren; hockey's Bernie Parent and Bob Clarke; boxing's Frazier; tennis' Tilden; and rowing's Jack Kelly Sr.
Among those not chosen were Willie Mosconi (pocket billiards); Chuck Klein, Lefty Grove and Del Ennis (baseball); Guy Rodgers and Eddie Gottlieb (basketball); Helen Sigel Wilson (golf); Lew Tendler (boxing); Carl Lewis (track and field); and Tommy McDonald (football).
The foundation also plans to recognize Sonny Hill and Harry Kalas at its initial gathering. Hill, whose youth basketball leagues have developed several generations of Philadelphia stars, will receive the inaugural Lifetime Commitment Award. Kalas, the Phillies' Hall of Fame broadcaster, will receive the Legacy of Excellence Award.
The foundation is a year-old nonprofit group whose ultimate dream is to develop and build a museum saluting Philadelphia's sports history. Members have been soliciting corporate donations with an eye toward establishing a scholarship program, sports camps, and a hall facility.
"With such a wonderful sports legacy, we want to recognize the significant contributions of athletes, teams, venues and events that have graced our city," said Avallon, a 41-year-old technology executive from Wyncote. "This charter class is the embodiment of that legacy."
