The Oldtimers Bats and Balls Association last week welcomed former Flyers great Brian Propp to its quarterly meeting at Randi’s Restaurant & Bar, 1619 Grant Ave. in Grant Plaza II in Bustleton.
Propp received the Pickles Kennedy Award, 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.
Propp played for the Flyers from 1979-90 and later played for the Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars and Hartford Whalers. He played in five NHL all-star games.
In 1,016 games, he totaled 425 goals and 579 assists for 1,004 points.
For nine years, he served as a Flyers radio analyst.
In 2007, he ran as a Republican for a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly.
In 2015, he suffered a massive stroke that left him unable to talk for three months. He rehabbed for 18 months.
Today, he is a Realtor and attends every Flyers home game as a team ambassador, along with Bernie Parent and Dave Schultz.
Propp also plays hockey twice a week at the Flyers Skate Zone in Pennsauken. After he scores, he performs his famous “Guffaw” goal celebration.
“Every day is a blessing,” he said.
Also receiving the Pickles Kennedy Award were Meade Palmer, who told stories of working under George Steinbrenner as a New York Yankees scout; and Keith Hughes, a former Major League Baseball outfielder.
The Chuck Newns Recognition Award was presented to Donald Massi, who played football at St. Joseph’s Prep and Palmyra; and Maurice Boyle, a former Philadelphia police detective and director of security at Chestnut Hill Academy who is a suite attendant at Eagles and Phillies games and drove the late Phillies goodwill ambassador Maje McDonnell to every home game.
Tommie McGuckin led the group in the Eternal Rest Prayer in memory of 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. Richards died last month at age 95. He lived in Ocean City, New Jersey.
Others attending the luncheon included 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; and Sean Landeta, who punted for the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Stars.
The Oldtimers group consists of former athletes and officials. Members meet four times a year at Randi’s. Lunch costs $11.
The next meeting is Nov. 13.
For information on the group, call Jack Purdy (215-968-0404) or Ron March (609-209-0849), or visit www.batsandballs.org. ••
