Chester County Sports Hall of Fame News Update Volume 1 Issue 2 Summer 2009 2009 Inductees Named 2009 Inductees Named The votes are in and the ART DOUGLAS Irvin sparked the Giants’ Dallas Green Luncheon following sports luminaries miraculous comeback to have been named to the In 1955, Arthur M. Marple overtake the Dodgers in the Valor Bowl Highlights Chester County Sports Hall came to Chester County to pennant race, batting .312 … and much more! of fame for 2009. work for WCOJ Radio in with 24 homers and a Coatesville. He became Art league-best 121 runs batted HOWIE BEDELL Douglas, the “Voice of in, en route to the World Chester County” for over 40 A former Major League Series (he went 11-24 for years. Art was well known .458). That year Irvin Baseball player, Howie for broadcasting high school was a part of Ed Good’s teamed with Hank Thomp- sports, Little League Base- son and Willie Mays to form Pottstown baseball team ball, but most of all, he was that won a nationally- the first all-black outfield in deeply dedicated to the the majors. Later, he fin- recognized 48 straight West Chester University games in the early days of ished third in the NL’s MVP football program, where he voting. In 1952 he was the Ches-Mont League. An enjoyed doing play by play outfielder, Bedell played named to the NL All-Star on the radio. During his team. In his major league for the Milwaukee Braves time with West Chester in 1962 and the Philadel- career, Irvin batted .293, University Football, he had with 99 home runs, 443 phia Phillies in 1968. He missed fewer than five batted left-handed and RBI, 366 runs scored, 731 Inside this issue: games—an Olympian feat hits, 97 doubles, 31 triples, threw right-handed. While of endurance, also covering in the American Associa- and 28 stolen bases, with Chester County’s high 351 walks for a .383 on base 2009 Inductees 1 tion in 1961, Bedell re- school football and basket- corded a league record 43- percentage, and 1187 total ball games with the same bases for a .475 slugging game hitting streak. After consistency. Due to failing News Bites 2 average in 764 games his playing career ended, health, Art retired in 1996 Bedell managed several played. He was elected to and died on July 31, 2005. the Baseball Hall of Fame in Dallas Green Luncheon 2 minor league teams, headed the Phillies’ farm ____________________ 1973. system, winning his first of ____________________ Valor Bowl 5 three World Series rings in MONTE IRVIN 1980. He coached the Kan- Irvin was a former left BILLY JOE sas City Royals in 1984 fielder and right-handed During his stellar sports Banquet ticket order form 5 and the Seattle Mariners in batter in the Negro Leagues 1988, and was farm direc- career he starred in football and Major League Baseball and track and field. He was tor of the Cincinnati Reds who played with the New- in 1990 and 1991. He is all Ches-Mont in both ark Eagles (1938-42, 46- sports, excelling in football presently a professional 48), New York Giants baseball consultant. as a hard running fullback. (1949-55) and Chicago He earned his B.A.in Eco- Cubs (1956). Monte Irvin nomics in 1963 from Vil- attended Lincoln Univer- sity and was a star baseball lanova University, where and football player. In 1951, Continued page 3 PAGE 2 NEWSUPDATE VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 News bites 2009 Banquet It’s official! The 2nd annual CCSHOF induction banquet to honor the new class of inductees will be held November 7th at the Red Clay Room in Kennett Square. Tickets go on sale September 1st and are $45 per person. To purchase tickets, contact Pam McCardell at [email protected] or mail the form included on page 5. Memorabilia Needed at Winner’s Circle As we mentioned in the previous news letter, Nick Cacchione, owner of the Winner’s Circle Sports Grille has partnered with the CCSHOF to display the Hall of Fame’s memorabilia in the front of the restaurant’s Exton location. The Winner’s Circle is a family- friendly, sports oriented restaurant and is a great partner for the CCSHOF. Memorabilia from local teams as well as out of area teams hang from the walls and you can always catch a sports game on one of their many plasma televisions. Nick Cacchione is working on making the memorabilia display a hit for his patrons. However, there are certain items from the collection that cannot be displayed for insurance purposes, this leaves a lot of room for more memorabilia. Nick is asking members of the CCSHOF for their help in filling out the display. Anyone who has memorabilia from the 2008 inductees and would like to put it on display at The Win- ner’s Circle should contact Jerry Schneider at 610-869-0887 or e-mail [email protected] Blue Rocks Outing Thirty members and friends attended West Chester Community Night at the Wilmington Blue Rocks on May 7. District Judge Mark Bruno threw out the first pitch for the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame contingent. CCHOF Web Site Our Web site is up and running! Please visit www.chestercountysportshalloffame.com for a sneak peek. Dallas Green Luncheon On Tuesday, July 7, the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame held a luncheon at the West Chester Golf and Country Club to honor former Phillies manager and CCSHOF inductee, Dallas Green. Green had been unable to attend last year’s in- duction banquet because of the Phillie’s drive to the World Series Championship. West Chester Mayor Dick Yoder, Bill Kashatus, and Howie Bedell gave intro- ductory remarks. Green presented a wonderful speech in which he thanked the CCSHOF for an informal and intimate gathering. Approximately 20 CCSHOF members were in attendance. Among the attendees at the luncheon were (front row): Jerry Schneider, Dick Yoder; (back row) Howie Bedell, guest of honor Dallas Green, and Roy Jackson. Chester County Sports Hall of Fame News Update is published by the Chester Country Sports Hall of Fame Contributors: Jerry Schneider, Jessica Travers, Tom Walsh. Editing, layout & design: Dianne Walsh, The Write Connection VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 NEWSUPDATE PAGE 3 2009 Inductees, con’t. HUGH “BUTCH” McDEVITT ever to be named twice as the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of Year. Curt is He continued his football career. He also Butch McDevitt attended Downing- regarded as one of the best playoff earned a B.A. in History from Cheyney town High School until his family pitchers in MLB with a career record (PA) State College and a M.A. in Secondary moved to West Chester in 1921. He of 11-2 . Curt Schilling retired in Education from Antioch (Ohio) College. He graduated from St. Agnes High School March of 2009 with a won-loss record was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the where he began writing about school of 216-146, a 3.46 ERA and 3116 American Football League (1962) and activities for the Daily Local News. career strikeouts (14th most in major played professionally with Buffalo, (1965), During his senior year in 1923, he be- league baseball). He will appear on Miami (1966-67) and the New York Jets gan working for the Local. In the late the MLB Hall of Fame ballot in 2013. (1968-69) He then moved on to coaching at ‘20s he became sports editor and ________________________ Cheyney State College, Central State (Ohio) served in that capacity until named and Florida A&M University. He was the managing editor in 1951. For more than DON STROCK 1963 Rookie of the Year in American Foot- 25 years he covered all sports for St. ball League. He made the AFL all-star team Agnes and West Chester as well as Strock is a college football head for the Buffalo Bills in 1965 when they won other local high schools. He also re- coach and former player who was the the Championship over the San Diego ported on West Chester State Teachers head coach of the Florida Interna- Chargers. Billy also coached the running College and was their sports publicity tional University football team from back under Head Coach Dick Vermeil from director for 10 years terminating in 2002-2006.Strock played for Owen J. 1979-80. He is the number two all time win- 1959. While he was the sports editor he Roberts H. S. and Virginia Tech. In ningest coach for a career for Black was also a full-time reporter. Butch was 1972, Strock led the nation in total Coaches. He is second in career wins in a sports and news correspondent for the passing and total offense, yet finished Division 1 AA from 1972-present with 237 Philadelphia Bulletin (25 years), In- only ninth in voting for the Heisman wins. (.685 winning percentage) He is 4th quirer (15 years), and other Philly pa- Trophy. To date, Strock still holds in total wins in Division 1 behind only pers and national news services. He many collegiate football passing re- Bobby Bowden, Joe Paterno, and Lou was a charter member of the Philadel- cords at Virginia Tech and was in- Holtz. Presently he is the head coach at phia Sports Writers Association and ducted into the Virginia Tech Athlet- Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama was their first treasurer, a position he ics Hall of Fame in 1985. Strock (Division 11). held for 15 years. Butch was active in played in the NFL as a quarterback the West Chester community and was a and spent the majority of his profes- _________________________ member of numerous local organiza- sional career with the Miami Dol- tions.