Daily News sports writer Phil Jasner joins a distinguished Class VII of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, it was announced today at a press conference at the Society Hill Sheraton.
Jasner, who has been with the Daily News since 1972, was named the Hall's Legacy of Excellence winner.
This year's class is laden with stars. Phillies slugger Dick Allen and Eagles wide receiver Mike Quick, now a broadcaster, were among those in the class who attended the press conference.
Joining Allen, Quick and Jasner as Hall of Famers:
** Hobie Baker, who grew up in Philadelphia and was an All-American in both football and hockey. He is the only person who is in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame. The award for college hockey's outstanding player each year is named after Baker.
** Elizabeth Becker, who won gold and silver medals in diving in the 1924 Olympics and went on to another gold in 1928.
** Tom Brookshier, All Pro cornerback from the Eagles who went on to a distinguished career in network TV and local sports radio. Brookshier passed away in January.
** Ron Hextall, the acrobatic and fiery longtime Flyers goalie.
** William Hyndman III, one of the all-time great area amateur golfers. Hyndman was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur in 1955 and the British Amateur in 1959, '69 and '70.
** Bobby Jones, sixth man extraordinaire for the 76ers. Jones, a defensive whiz, played on the last Sixers NBA title team during the 1982-83 season.
** Leroy Kelly, a product of Simon Gratz High School, who went on to a great career as a running back for the Cleveland Browns. Kelly scored 90 career touchdowns.
** Tug McGraw, who was on the mound as the Phillies clinched the World Series in 1980. Who can forget McGraw at the Phillies parade that year, holding aloft the Daily News "We Win" front page?
** Jim Phelan, La Salle grad, who went on to coach Mount St. Mary's in basketball and amassed an amazing 830 career wins.
** Bobby Shantz, lefthanded pitcher for the Philadelphia A's, Phillies and several other teams in a career from 1949-1962. Shantz was the AL MVP in 1952.
** Marianne Stanley, one of the stars of the Immaculata Mighty Macs. Stanley went on to a Hall of Fame coaching career in college and the WNBA.
** Forrmer heavyweight champ Jersey Joe Walcott, of Merchantville, N.J. Walcott was the oldest ever to claim the heavyweight title when he won it in 1951 at age 37.
** The Lighthouse Boys Club, honored for its lifetime commitment to youth soccer in Philadelphia.
Jasner, who has been the beat writer for the Sixers for many years, also has covered college sports, the Eagles and pro soccer.
It is the fifth Hall of Fame for Jasner. He also has been honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and the halls at both Overbrook High School and Temple University.
Jasner is the fourth member of the Daily News to be honored with the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame's Legacy of Excellence. He joins Stan Hochman, Ray Didinger (now with Comcast SportsNet) and Bill Conlin.
The Class VII will be formally inducted at a banquet on Nov. 11 at the Society Hill Sheraton.
For more information on the PSHOF, visit www.phillyhall.net
