The Oldtimers Bats and Balls Association last week honored three people with the Bill “Pickles” Kennedy Award.
The group held its quarterly meeting on Feb. 12 at Randi’s Restaurant & Bar, 1619 Grant Ave. in Grant Plaza II in Bustleton.
Receiving the Pickles Kennedy Award were Larry Haas, Harry Booth and Paul Jolovitz. The award is named in memory of Kennedy, a former star basketball player at Lincoln and Temple. He spent a year with the NBA’s Philadelphia Warriors, then played minor league baseball for several years in the Pirates organization.
Haas grew up near Grant Avenue and Academy Road and was a star athlete at Chestnut Hill Academy. He played football and basketball at Trinity College (Connecticut). Among friends joining him in the celebration was Dave Sims, a fellow Chestnut Hill Academy grad who is the TV announcer for the Seattle Mariners.
Booth played baseball and basketball at Bishop Neumann High School (class of 1957) and St. Joseph’s College. He also coached both sports at St. Joe’s. He coached basketball at Bishop McDevitt and was an assistant under Rollie Massimino when Villanova won the NCAA title in 1985.
Jolovitz is a Washington, D.C. native and Penn graduate who works for WIP and as a standup comic. In a question-and-answer session, he said he is not a fan of 76ers guard Ben Simmons, doesn’t believe any of the four major Philadelphia professional teams are close to a championship and thinks Phillies general manager Matt Klentak has failed to secure enough good pitching.
Others attending the luncheon included the Phillie Phanatic; Bobby Shantz, a former American League Most Valuable Player; former Phillies outfielder Doug Clemens; former Phillies shortstop and coach Bobby Wine; former Penn and Temple basketball coach Fran Dunphy; 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 May 13. Guests will include former Phillies Mickey Morandini and Dickie Noles.
For information on the group, call Jack Purdy (215-968-0404) or Ron March (609-209-0849), or visit www.batsandballs.org. ••
