Bats and Balls Awards

Old Timers Bats and Balls Award!

The committee decided on honoring someone with an award called “Old Timers Bats and Balls Award.” Our first honoree was Bobby Shantz, Homesburg Ramblers outstanding baseball player, Lincoln Nebraska Minor League player, and 1952 A.L. MVP from the Philadelphia A's.

The next person we honored was Bill “Pickles” Kennedy, Temples All American in Baseball and Basketball and Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA. Sadly, Pickles died in an automobile accident in Florida .

The Old Timers have had good write ups in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Daily News, NE Times and The City Bulletin. When we honored Mickey Vernon, Channel 3 TV was there and it was on TV 6: 00 and 11:00 news.

Bobby Shantz and Joe Scarpatti have been to all of our luncheons. Skip Wilson, greatest baseball coach from Temple University is always there. Doug Clemens, former Phillies outfielder, Sean Landeta Eagles punter are also regulars.

In the past we have had Jay Wright, Fran Dunphy, Phil Martellli, Sonny Hill, John Baum, John Chaney, Vince Papale, Bob “The Hound” Kelly, Mayor Michael Nutter and Mickey Vernon.

The Old Timers sell hats, shirts, sweat shirts, and windbreakers with our logo on them. If you want you can get your name printed on them, you pay exactly what it cost the club. You also can have a 10% discount card for Randi's.

The committee will do our best to have special guests attend our luncheons; we will keep honoring someone with the “Pickles Kennedy Memorial Award”, who knows you could be next.

Bill "Pickles" Kennedy Award Honorees:

		2006
Bobby Shantz	Bill Kennedy	Joe Solandro
Sonny Hill	“Skip” Wilson

	2007
Dan Fleming	Al Angelo	Bill Hochenbury
Jay Norman

2008
Jack Purdy	Mickey Vernon	Hank DeVincent
Ron March	Buddy Kline

		2009
George Ulmer	Doug Clemens	Charles MacGregor
Emanuel “Manny” Cambria	Ray Capriotti Sr.	Raymond Capriotti
Michael Capriotti	Frank Russo

	2010
Ken March	John Quinn	Larry Conti
Bill Ellerbee	John Schlyer	Frank Menardi
Chuck News	Marty Levin	Joseph Scarpaati Jr.

2011
Steve Van Buren	Sean Landeta	Jack Newns
Flat Iron AC	Del Ennis	Larry Shane
Thomas Joseph Wood	Hank Kropinski	Matt Fanning

		2012
Joe McCloskey	Donald Flynn	Ed Wade
Dave Riddick	Ruth Richard	William McGuckin
Ron Fritz	Anthony Salem	Harry Daut

Profile Highlights:

Robert Clayton Shantz

Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 139 lb.

A left-hander, Shantz began his career as a starting pitcher, but about halfway through he converted to a competent relief pitcher. In 1951 he added the knuckleball to his repertoire.

He enjoyed his best season in 1952 when he led the American League in wins (24) and won the MVP Award.

A highly skilled fielder, Shantz won eight consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1957 to 1964.

Shantz also was selected for the All-Star Game in 1951, 1952 and 1957. In the fifth and final inning of the 1952 All Star Game, the left–handed Shantz exhibited his distinctive sidearm delivery and sharp curve. He struck out three respected hitters in a row: Whitey Lockman, Jackie Robinson, and Stan Musial.

Shantz won a World Series with the New York Yankees in 1958.

In This Corner

Hank Kropinski is honored by the “Old Timers Bats and Balls”

Hank Kropinski is a boxing announcer who estimates that he has worked 30,000 bouts. This means that during the last 35 to 40 years, he has introduced 60,000 boxers and announced 30,000 decisions.
"One time, I announced 100 bouts in Colorado Springs, flew home to Philly and did a 15-bout show that night," he recalled.

He has called his share of professional fights at arenas, including the Blue Horizon and the Atlantic City casinos. He's done a couple of world championships and even worked professional wrestling shows.

But he is most active in amateur boxing, for which he is much more than a mere announcer. For decades, he has been one of the highest-ranking and hardest-working officials in regional amateur boxing.

Sean Edward Landeta is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League. Landeta played 22 seasons in the National Football League for five different teams between 1985 and 2006. Landeta, who got his start in the USFL and played on both of the Giants' Super Bowl championship teams under Bill Parcells, played for the Giants from 1985-92 and was a five-time All-Pro.