The Oldtimers Bats and Balls Association last week honored Hugh McGovern and Duke Greco with the Bill “Pickles” Kennedy Award.
The July 12 meeting took place at Randi’s Restaurant & Bar, 1619 Grant Ave. in Grant Plaza II in Bustleton.
McGovern was to have been honored at the group’s March meeting, but suffered a heart attack the night before the luncheon. Accepting the award for him was his friend, 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 has recovered and was at last week’s meeting, introduced by Pacchioli.
McGovern grew up on Alcott Street, attending St. Martin of Tours and playing sports for Summerdale Boys Club. He 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. He excelled in the 440 and 880 yards, and gives credit to Judge coach Pete Toughill for helping him.
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 AD at St. Basil for 14 years until it closed in 2021.
Greco is a Lower Moreland graduate who was a star quarterback at Delaware Valley University. He’s been head coach of Del Val since 2014, and has an 82-13 record, with five Middle Atlantic Conference championships and six trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs. He has coached players who have gone on to play in the USFL, Canadian Football League and XFL.
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, and former Phillies outfielder Doug Clemens.
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, Nov. 8, at noon. The Father Judge baseball team will be honored for winning the PIAA Class 6A championship.
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. ••
