HomeNewsOldtimers honor three former athletes

Oldtimers honor three former athletes

Aaron McKie, Bill “Dapper” Walsh and Mike Polin were recognized for their passion for sports.

Ballplayers: Bill “Dapper” Walsh (from left), Mike Polin and Aaron McKie were honored with the William “Pickles” Kennedy Award by the Oldtimers Bats and Balls Association. TOM WARING / TIMES PHOTO

The Oldtimers Bats and Balls Association recently honored three people with the William “Pickles” Kennedy Award.

The honorees were Aaron McKie, Bill “Dapper” Walsh and Mike Polin.

McKie led Simon Gratz High School to the Public League basketball championship as a senior in 1990. His coach, Bill Ellerbee, was in attendance. He had an outstanding career at Temple and was drafted 17th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. He played in the NBA from 1994 to 2007 for the Blazers, Detroit Pistons, 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers. He was an assistant coach for the Sixers from 2007–13 and is now an assistant at Temple.

Walsh was an All-Catholic League football player and two-year captain at Roman Catholic, class of 1951. He was also captain of the basketball team. He later was a referee in the ABA and the Catholic League.

Polin played on the Loudenslager American Legion baseball team that won the 1957 state championship. He later played for Sal’s Lunch, a fast-pitch softball team that won the 1969 world championship. He’s also been a high school and college softball official and a clock operator in college football.

The Pickles Kennedy Award is named in memory of a former star basketball player at Abraham Lincoln and Temple. Kennedy spent a year with the NBA’s Philadelphia Warriors, then played minor league baseball for several years in the Pirates organization.

Among those attending the luncheon were Bobby Shantz, a former American League Most Valuable Player; Joe Scarpati, a former pro football player best known as the holder for Tom Dempsey’s then-NFL-record 63-yard field goal in 1970; Doug Clemens, a former Phillies outfielder; and Dick Richards, a star football and baseball player at West Chester who is best known as the ori­gin­al drum­mer for Bill Haley & His Comets, whose smash hit was Rock Around the Clock.

The Oldtimers group consists of former athletes and officials. Members meet four times a year at Randi’s Restaurant & Bar, 1619 Grant Ave. in Grant Plaza II in Bustleton.

The Oldtimers will meet again on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at noon. Lunch costs $11.

For in­form­a­tion on the group, call Jack Purdy (215–968–0404) or Ron March (609–209–0849), or vis­it www.bat­sand­balls.org ••

Philadelphia
broken clouds
37.2 ° F
39.1 °
35.6 °
94 %
2.9mph
75 %
Sat
50 °
Sun
51 °
Mon
58 °
Tue
56 °
Wed
45 °

STAY CONNECTED

11,235FansLike
2,089FollowersFollow

Related articles

4

Keystone Academy tackles bullying

November 14, 2024

9

Be All You Can Be

October 24, 2024

14

Around Town

October 14, 2024

15

Famous Birthdays

October 14, 2024

17

Reunions

October 10, 2024

19

Community Pride Award for GBCL

September 30, 2024

24

Around Town

September 28, 2024

27

Scholars

September 28, 2024

28

Sports briefs

September 28, 2024

29

Jerry McGovern, at your service

September 28, 2024

30

A family affair

September 28, 2024

31

Manor opens Nursing Skills Lab

September 28, 2024

32

Gill wants penalties for ‘car...

September 28, 2024
Community Calendar

33

Community Calendar

September 28, 2024

34

Chloe is a snuggler

September 28, 2024

36

Website accepting prayer requests

September 28, 2024

38

TWU 234 backs Dougherty

September 28, 2024

40

Around Town

September 27, 2024