Author: Kevin Mulligan
ON THE DAY Pete Pihos joined a list of legends in the second class of Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame inductees, word came from Winston-Salem, N.C., that he can use our prayers.
Pihos, the six-time Pro Bowl Eagle and 60-minute star of the Birds' 1948 and 1949 title teams, is battling Alzheimer's disease under specialized care and the help of his loving ex-wife, Donna. Speaking for the Pro Football Hall of Famer, she said news of his inclusion among Philly's greatest "made him so happy and proud."
Pihos, 81, led the NFL in receiving three straight seasons (1953-55), while also shining at defensive end (making All-NFL on defense in 1952) for the NFL champion Eagles. "Philadelphia means so much to him," Donna said. "When he was able to converse last year, when he heard about the first Hall of Fame group, he wondered if he might be in it someday. I know how much this means to him, and I hope to be up there with him in April, God willing. It's so nice for so many to have remembered Pete."
Joining Pihos in the 2005 class, announced yesterday, are living legends John Chaney (Temple basketball); Vic Seixas (tennis); Joe Verdeur (swimming); Carl Lewis (track and field); Tommy McDonald (Eagles); Cathy Rush (Immaculata basketball); Jay Sigel (golf); and ex-76er Charles Barkley, by far the youngest Hall inductee to date, a surprise choice by voters so early in his eligibility.
Posthumous inductees are Grover Cleveland Alexander (Phillies pitcher); Lefty Grove (A's pitcher); Eddie "Mr. Basketball" Gottleib (SPHAS, NBA Warriors); James "Jumbo" Elliott (Villanova track); and Guy Rodgers (Temple basketball, the best guard Philadelphia ever produced).
Flyers and 76ers chairman Ed Snider will be awarded the prestigious Philadelphia Medal. Broadcaster Bill Campbell, statistician Harvey Pollack and sports impresario Bob Levy will be honored for their lifetime achievements. The 50th anniversary of the 1954 La Salle NCAA basketball champions, led by Tom Gola, also will be celebrated.
"This is pretty special, to be among this group of great people," said Sigel, one of golf's most decorated amateurs in history, now on the Champions Tour. "I mean, I watched Tommy McDonald and I can't believe how young he looks [at 70]. I never would have dreamed it, starting at age 12 and here I am 60.
Simply astounding highlights from our Hall of Famers: Alexander 30 or more games three straight seasons (1915-17). . . Grove led the American League ERA nine times and won 20 or more games seven straight years (1927-33) for the A's, including 31-4 in 1931. . . Seixas, a West Philly native, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his 1954 U.S.Open championship. . . Verdeur, who swam for La Salle, set 19 world records and won 20 national titles from 1940 to '50 and was dubbed "the greatest swimmer of the first half century" by sports writer Grantland Rice. . . Barkley is one of only four players in NBA history to reach 20,000 points (23,757), 10,000 rebounds (12,546), and 4,000 assists (4,215). . . Lewis, a Willingboro, N.J. native, was unbeaten in the long jump for 11 1/2 years. . . Rodgers scored 10,415 career points and recorded 6,917 assists and has yet to be voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. . .
The dinner is April 8 at the Sheraton Society Hill. Tickets and info can be found at the Hall of Fame's web site (www.phillyhof.org).
