Shoppers buy veggies at the Frankford market. JENNY SWIGODA / TIMES PHOTO
Bob Cassidy, a Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame board member, rattled off the numbers as he tried to explain the greatness of the hall’s inductees.
Cassidy noted that past inductees — 152 individuals, five teams, two organizations, one venue and one event — are members of 272 other Halls of Fame.
“That’s how great a sports city Philadelphia is,” he said.
Last week, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame — which is based at Spike’s, a trophy and awards shop at 2701 Grant Ave. — announced its 10th class during a news conference and luncheon at the Sheraton Society Hill.
The new members will be:
• Geno Auriemma, a Norristown native and Bishop Kenrick High School graduate who has coached the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team to eight NCAA championships.
• Ernie Beck, a West Catholic graduate who was a two-time All-American basketball player at Penn and a member of the 1955 Philadelphia Warriors team that won the NBA championship.
• Michael Brooks, a basketball star at West Catholic and La Salle University who captained the 1980 Olympic team that did not compete because the U.S. boycotted the Moscow games over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He also played six years in the NBA.
• Bob Brown, an Eagles offensive tackle who made three Pro Bowls.
• Joe Burk, a champion rower, who was expected to compete in the 1940 and ’44 Summer Olympics, but they were canceled during World War II. He coached rowing at Penn from 1950–69.
• Henry “Shag” Crawford, a National League umpire from 1956–75 who worked in three World Series.
• Eddie George, a star running back at Ohio State who won the 1995 Heisman Trophy. He played nine years in the NFL and played in a Super Bowl game for the Tennessee Titans.
• Joe Hand Sr., a boxing promoter and gym owner who pioneered closed-circuit and pay-per-view sporting events.
• John LeClair, who scored 333 goals and made five all-star games for the Flyers from 1995 to 2004.
• Greg Luzinski, an outfielder for the Phillies from 1970–80. He hit 223 home runs and was a three-time all-star. In 1980, he had two game-winning hits as the Phillies defeated the Houston Astros in the National League Championship Series. He and the Phils went on to win the World Series.
• Linda Page, a Dobbins basketball star who scored 100 points in a 1981 game against Mastbaum. She went on to play at North Carolina State.
• Carl Robie, a Monsignor Bonner graduate and swimmer whose specialty was the 200-yard butterfly. He won two NCAA titles at Michigan State, an Olympic silver medal in 1964 and an Olympic gold medal in 1968.
• Dave Robinson, a Moorestown, N.J., native who was an All-American football player at Penn State. He was a linebacker for 12 years with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins. He won three NFL titles with the Packers, including Super Bowls I and II.
• Tina Sloan Green, a star lacrosse player at West Chester who coached the Temple women’s team to NCAA championships in 1984 and ’88.
• Andrew Toney, a guard for the 76ers from 1980–88. A two-time all-star, he played for the Sixers when they won the 1983 NBA championship.
• William “Bucky” Walters, who pitched in Major League Baseball for 16 years with the Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Boston Braves, compiling a 198–160 record with a 3.30 earned run average. He made six all-star games, was the 1939 National League Most Valuable Player and was on the 1940 Reds team that won the World Series. He also managed the Reds for two years.
• Pat Williams, who was general manager of the 76ers when they won the 1983 NBA title.
The induction ceremony will take place on Nov. 7 at the Society Hill Sheraton. Members of the first nine classes are expected to attend the 10th anniversary celebration.
Past inductees Dan Baker, Stan Hochman, Ray Didinger and Bill “Speedy” Morris attended the news conference.
Baker, a veteran college basketball broadcaster and the longtime public address announcer for the Phillies and Eagles, was master of ceremonies at the news conference.
Hand, Luzinski, Green and Williams were in attendance.
Baker used his stadium voice to announce, “The Bull, №19, left fielder Greg Luzinski.”
“I can’t wait for November 7th,” said Luzinski, who was joined by his wife Jean.
Speedy Morris, the legendary high school and college basketball coach, spoke for Beck, who had jury duty.
Veteran NBA referee Joe Crawford, who officiated Sunday’s Game 2 of the NBA finals between Miami and San Antonio, spoke for his late father, Shag.
“The Crawfords are not used to that clapping,” Crawford said of the applause from those who attended the news conference.
Williams, the longtime NBA executive, also spoke of everyone’s disdain for sports officials.
“I send Joey a Christmas card every year — in Braille,” he joked.
The Hall of Fame has a display at Spike’s. Company president Keith Baldwin said the public is invited to view the gallery Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The public is also invited to the induction ceremony. For more information, visit Phillyhall.org/class10 ••
