The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 36

MARCH 17, 1991 Newest elsim melodies seven ledleetees Three played pro baseball, football D2 SUNDAY NEWS JOURNAL Dodgers because they had Jackie Robinson playing second base. I never really thought about quitting because I hit .300 most of those years in the minors." Tim Wilson Wilson's football success started at De La Warr High, took a giant stride at the University of Maryland, before he went on to play six seasons with the Houston Oilers in the National Football League. Wilson, a hard-nosed fullback, rushed for 1,385 yards and caught 99 passes for another 609, but was best known as the blocking back for the great Earl Campbell. In 1980 Wilson rushed for 319 yards for tire 11-5 Oilers and scored three touchdowns. Former Oilers Coach Bum Phillips called Wilson "the best blocker I've ever seen." Wilson was a standout running back at Maryland and a teammate of Delaware native Randy White, who went on to become an All-Pro defensive lineman with the Dallas Cowboys.

Wilson was named the winner of the John J. Brady Award as the 1979 Delaware Athlete of the Year. In 1982 Wilson was switched from fullback to tight end by Houston. Wilson also played for the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints before he retired in 1985. Dave Johnson )i ''IV- I f.

w. V- I vjT if '(J 1 fzjzz" '-i A 1 (ft without surgery," said Bruton. "I remember having surgery on the first day of the World Series. Even though we lost the series in '58 it was-the tops for me." Bruton said his major-league debut in 1953 was his biggest thrill. "I remember leaning in the stands in Cincinnati to catch a couple of long drives and had a couple of hits," said Bruton.

"To finally be in the big leagues was my No. 1 thrill. I will never forget that day." Bruton played with some talented Milwaukee teams. "It started in 1956 and I think we missed winning four straight pennants by about three games," said Bruton. "We had strong pitching with Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, Bob Buhl, Don McMa-hon, along with hitters like Hank Aaron, Joe Adcock, Eddie Mathews and Del Crandall.

Bruton labels Aaron and Willie Mays as the best he played with and against. "The best I have ever seen is Joe DiMaggio," said Bruton. "He was my idol and could do it all in center field." Forrest "Spook" Jacobs Jacobs, a native of Cheswold, now living in Milford, spent three years in the- majors with the A's (in Philadelphia and Kansas City) and Pittsburgh. Jacobs, a second baseman, spent 17 years in organized baseball. He promptly set a record by going 4-for-5 in his major-league debut.

The record was equaled by Seaford's Delino De-Shields of Montreal last year. Jacobs was living in Pennsville, N.J., during most of his pro career and graduated from Salem High in 1943. "The guy I really want to thank for this honor is George Frick of Dover," said Jacobs. "He is a voting member of the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame and has, really pushed for me over the years." By JACK IRELAND Staff reporter Bill Bruton, Forrest "Spook" Jacobs and Tim Wilson climbed all the way to the professional ranks in their respective sports. Dave Johnson reached the heights of an All-America swimmer at Yale University.

Tom Mason and Pete Salvatore were recognized for their expertise as officials while Francis "Franny" Walsh gained success as a player and a coach. All seven make up the inductees to the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame for 1991. The five living inductees are former major league baseball players Bruton and Jacobs, swimmer Johnson, football star Wilson and Softball umpire Mason. Basketball official Salvatore and Walsh, a former standout basketball player and coach at Sale-sianum in the 1920s and 1930s, will be inducted posthumously. All seven members will be honored at the 16th annual Delaware Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet May 9 at the Du Pont Country Club.

Tickets are available at $30 each by calling Joseph Young in Wilmington at 478-7978 or George Frick in Dover at 734-8192. Tables of 10 are available. Bill Bruton Bruton, who had a 12-year major league career as a center fielder with the Braves (both in Boston and Milwaukee) and Detroit, has the thrill of joining his -father-in-law, the late Judy Johnson in the Delaware Hall. a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, was inducted in Bruton, who grew up in Ala--bama, came to Delaware in 1947 lafter his World War II Army ser--vice. Bruton compiled a lifetime 1.273 average and led the National League in stolen bases his first three seasons.

Bruton was the hitter in the 1958 World Series against the New York Yan--kees with a .458 average. Bruton and his wife, Loretta, in Marshallton. "I'm thrilled. I am sure I will be thinking a lot about Judy on the night of the banquet," said Bru-ton. "I am doubly thrilled because 4 of Judy.

I wish Judy knew about it and was here to see this. I was very fortunate to have set a pretty good cornerstone with 12 years in the major leagues. I played on some pretty good teams." Bruton tore knee ligaments in 'midseason and missed the 1957 World Series win against the Yan- kees. He returned to have a great in '58 as the Braves lost in seven games to the Yankees. "I tried to heal the knee in '57 Johnson, an Archmere Academy graduate, was an All-America swimmer at Yale and a member of the 1968 U.S.

Olympic team. In the 1969 national championships Johnson won the 200 individual medley and was second in the' 400. Johnson scored 52 points in the 1969 Eastern Intercolle-giates with meet records in the 200 and 400 IM. Johnson 44, is an orthopedic surgeon practicing in Washington, D.C. He does clinical work at Georgetown University and George Washington.

This year's Hall of Fame inductees include: Franny Walsh (top left), who was an All-America college basketball player and a coach in Delaware for many years; Bill Bruton (top right), who played in the majors for 12 years with the Boston and Milwaukee Braves; Tom Mason (above left), making an out call during his 33 years of umpiring; Spook Jacobs (above right), who spent three years in the major leagues with the Philadelphia and Kansas City A's and Pittsburgh; Dave Johnson (below left), an Ail-America swimmer from Yale and member of the 1968 U.S. Olympic team; Tim Wilson (below center), who played six seasons with the NFL's Houston Oilers, and Paul Salvatore (below right), a basketball referee who operated his own training school for officials. Jacobs excelled in the minors and won MVP honors for Ashe-ville of the Tri-State League in 1948. Jacobs had 95 RBIs, 48 stolen bases and scored 102 runs as his team won the league by 17V games. "I stuck it out nine years in the minors to get there," said Jacobs, whose two sons, Bob and Tom, were varsity athletes at Lake Forest and Milford, respectively.

"I'm very happy to be honored in my home state. Four years ago I was inducted into the Columbus, Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame. This is another big thrill." Jacobs spent eight years in the; Dodgers' organization before getting his shot with the A's. "I was drafted off Montreal. wasn't going anywhere with thi; "This honor is totally unexpected," said Johnson, whose brother, Edgar, is the athletic di- rector at the University of Delaware.

"It was like getting a call from, a distance and a past lifetime. I'm thrilled and sort of embarrassed that people even remember me as an athlete." Johnson said one of his biggest thrills came when he upset Yale teammate and Olympic superstar Don Schollander in the 200 individual medley in college. Johnson was a sophomore at Yale when he upset Schollander. "Beating Don Schollander was a biggie," said Johnson. "I remember my coach wanted me to go out in the race and be like a rabbit for Schollander.

I felt slighted by that strategy. When the race went off I remember I couldn't see Don's feet in the water. All I could think is how far he might be ahead of me. Then at the end of the breaststroke we were even. I remember beating him in a pool- and Yale-record time." Johnson credits Bob Mattson of the Wilmington Aquatic Club for turning him into a first-rate swimmer.

"I think the reason I did so well was because I swam for him," said Johnson. "As my coach he taught me every stroke." duiinsuii saia nis Diggest tnnn came as a high school swimmer. "The most exciting meet was my very first one in 1962," said Johnson. "I was swimming the 100-yard backstroke in the Delaware State Championships at Price's Run Pool. I beat the water to death.

I had no style and won on heart. I remember I didn't even know how to make the turns when I reached each end of the pool. When I hit my head I knew it was time to turn." A I -v i 1 1 1 1 I 'L Ll day, who talk about him and his athletic achievements. When my brother Mike and I were growing-up as students at St. Ann's School we received the full flavor of athletics in a first-class manner." national championships.

"My biggest game came when I worked behind the plate at the 1964 women's major fast-pitch championship in Orlando, said Mason. "Orlando won the game 1-0. It was a scoreless game in the seventh inning when I waved in the winning run on an obstruction call at third base. I have an 8-by-10 photo of that play. Thank God it shows I did make the right call." Franny Walsh Bradley, president of the Delaware Hall and a former Board 11 referee.

"His strict discipline was always tempered with fairness on the court." Salvatore attended Wilmington High and the Wilmington Trade School. He operated his own training school for local officials. Salvatore, who was involved in various city recreational projects, never married. He is survived by his two sisters, Edith and Emily Salvatore. "Pete Salvatore was a man ahead of his time," said Bradley.

"He was one of the very best officials in this area." Pete Salvatore Salvatore, who worked college basketball games at the Palestra and the U.S. Naval Academy on a regular basis, was one of the founders of Board 11, International Association of Approved Basketball Officials. "As an official Pete handled all the big local high school and CYO league games," said Stan Name Year Johnny Aiello 1980 HuckBetts 1980 Rev. John Birkenheuer. 1988 Bernie Blaney 1981 Lou Brooks 1985 Mike Brown 1990 Bill Bruton 1991 Jimmy Caras 1976 Bob Carpenter 1978 Ruly Carpenter 1987 AlCartwright .1980 Dom "Quack" Carucci 1990 PaulChadick 1984 Shorty Chalmers 1981 Bill Chambers 1990 Eddie Cihocki 1981 Nate Cloud 1984 Billy Cole 1979 Johnny Cooper 1983 Frank Coveleski 1982 Al Crawford 1985 JackCrimian 1985 Brandy Davis 1989 Billy Doherty 1984 Gerald P.

Doherty II 1980 Gerald P. Doherty III 1985 Matt Donohue 1981 Dave Douglas 1978 Chris Dunn 1989 Will du Pont 1979 Carlton B. Elliott 1988 George Estock 1988 Bryan Field 1980 Jennifer Franks 1989 Cliff Garvine 1982 Benjamin George 1987 Charlie Givens 1986 Steve Gregg 1989 Dallas Green 1983 CapGrier 1979 Grant Guthrie 1987 JimHagan 1987 Patsy Hahn 1990 Tom Hall 1980 Walter Hayes 1985 Conway Hayman 1986 Eddie Hazewski 1983 John Hickman 1986 Bob Hoffman 1988 Forrest "Spook" Jacobs. 1991 Dave Johnson 1991 Judy Johnson 1976 George Johnson 1986 Rita Justice 1988 BobKelley' 1989 Cas Klosiewicz 1984 Pat Knight 1981 Koffenberor 1977 Name Year Jim Krapf 1985 Vic Lichtenstein 1986 Fran Lore 1989 John "Cookie" Lucas 1990 Marion MacLure 1976 Chip Marshall 1982 Dallas Marvil 1978 Tom Mason 1991 Dave May 1984 WillardMcConnell 1985 BillMcGowan 1977 RaeMcGraw 1984 Matchie McMahon 1979 Eddie Michaels 1976 Creighton Miller 1976 Rosemary Miller 1983 Dim Montero 1978 Johnny Morris 1987 JackMulvena 1983 Bill Murray 1983 Millard Naylor 1979 AINeiger 1984 Dave Nelson 1978 Frank Newlin 1977 Rev. James O'Neill 1982 Ed Oliver 1976 Joe (Pennock) Pankowski 1987 Jackie Pitts 1983 Harry Rawstrom 1987 Kevin Reilly 1985 Herm Reitzes 1990 Bob "Peanuts" Riley 1990 Willie Roache 1986 Pete Salvatore 1991 Ralph Sasse 1981 Nancy Sawin 1977 George Schollenberger.

1979 Frank Shakespeare 1982 Chris Short 1979 Bill Skinner 1981 Russ Snowberger 1988 Gretchen Spruance 1989 HymieSwartz 1988 Ellis Taylor 1982 Johnny Tosi 1982 AITribuani 1977 DougTurley 1986 Bunny Vosters 1980 Ron Waller 1977 Francis Walsh 1991 Tex Warrington 1978 Buck Wharton 1978 John Wilcutts 1985 Vic Willis 1977 Tim Wilson 1991 Walter Zablotny 1985 VicZwolak 1976 Inducted pofiumously PIRE-SPRING SALE Air Filters 911, 924, 944 9.99 911t, 924t 15.99 928 31.99 Walsh played football and basketball at Sallies from 1924-28 and gained first team All-Catholic honors in Philadelphia for both sports. Walsh attended La Salle College and graduated from Alabama. In 1933 the Central States Amateur Independent Basketball Association chose Walsh as one of 10 players on its All-America basketball team. Walsh played professional basketball for Wilmington in the Eastern League and coached Sale-sianurrr to a second-place Catholic League finish in 1935. As a coach Walsh was known as a perfectionist and disciplinarian.

Walsh coached 10 seasons for St. Ann's in the Boys CYO Parochial League and eight in the Du Pont men's league. New Castle County Sheriff Mike Walsh and Wilmington Attorney David Walsh are his two sons. Walsh, a Du Pont Co. executive, died at the age of 69 in 1977.

"This is an award we always thought dad was deserving of," said David Walsh. "My father passed away 14 years am. bui I still run into people alm. every EFI Fuel Filters 417.99 Tom Mason Mason, from Newark, began as a Softball fast-pitch umpire in 1957. He served 18 years on the national umpire staff of the Amateur Softball Association of America, nine of those as national umpire-in-chief.

Mason was inducted into the ASA National Hall of Fame in 1982. Mason spent 18 years as a high school basketball official and 33 in scholastic football. "What a thrill. It has been tougher to make the Delaware Hall of Fame than the National ASA Hall," said Mason, who retired from the Du Pont Co. in 1985 and helps his son (Tom Jr.) as an assistant softball coach at Wilmington College.

"Umpiring and officiating put me on the map. It is a thrill I never had as an athlete. It helped me fulfill my sports life." Mason's work in softball included umpiring in 2'm state, six regional, four militant and five -11 10.99 7.99 Oil Filters 911, 928 924, 944 Prtcr Motorcars. 995-2211 (Si 3801 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE 19805 No coupons. Above oriceAmod thru 329Q1.