The Oldtimers Bats and Balls Association last week honored Hugh McGovern with the Bill “Pickles” Kennedy Award.
The March 8 meeting took place at Randi’s Restaurant & Bar, 1619 Grant Ave. in Grant Plaza II in Bustleton.
McGovern suffered a heart attack the night before the luncheon. Accepting the award for him was Lou Pacchioli, who played in the New York Mets organization and was the longtime baseball coach at Bucks County Community College and athletic director at William Tennent.
McGovern is a Father Judge graduate (class of 1964) who was a Catholic League track champion and part of the mile relay that won the Penn Relays. His time of 48.2 in the 400 meters remains a school record.
McGovern received a full athletic scholarship to Nebraska, where he was a Big Eight champion and All-American. He was a teacher and athletic director at Springfield (Montco), retiring in 2005. He was assistant AD at Lansdale Catholic for two years and AD at St. Basil for 14 years until it closed in 2021.
McGovern and Pacchioli are close friends who have enjoyed attending 10 Villanova women’s basketball games this season.
Among those attending the luncheon were 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; former Phillies outfielder Doug Clemens; and Bobby Shantz, a former American League Most Valuable Player.
The Oldtimers group consists of former athletes and officials. Members meet three times a year at Randi’s. Lunch costs $12.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 12, at noon. The guest is expected to be retired longtime Penn State women’s volleyball coach Russ Rose, who led the Lady Lions to seven NCAA championships.
For more information on the group, call Jack Purdy at 215-968-0404 or Jack Newns at 215-677-5983 or visit www.batsandballs.org. ••
