Area History: SUPPLEMENT - SPORTS IN MAHANOY CITY
PAGES 92 - 96
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SUPPLEMENT - SPORTS IN MAHANOY CITY BY BILL KERN
PAGES 92 - 96


A CENNENTIAL HISTORY:
THIS MATERIAL IS TRANSCRIBED FROM THE 1963 CENTENNIAL BOOKLET ENTITLED
“MAHANOY CITY, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 1863-1963, A HISTORY”.
THE HISTORIANS WHO COMPILED THIS HISTORY WERE:
JOSEPH H. DAVIES, CHAIRMAN
CHARLES H. ENGLE
ELWOOD M. YOUNG

Transcribed by:
Shirley E. Thomas Ryan
June 22, 2002


SUPPLEMENT

SPORTS IN MAHANOY CITY
BY
BILL KERN

In preparing this special edition for the Centennial History, I wish to acknowledge the 
valued assistance given to me by my esteemed friend Joe Murtin, who in my book, is the 
No. 1 sportsman here in the community.

Murtin, not only was an athlete himself, but was “behind the scenes” in the promotion of 
many sporting events that put our community right on the map and for years, the sporting 
center in the entire anthracite region.  “Joe” was the first president of the active 
Mahanoy City Social Club, an organization that down through the years, has always paid 
tribute to the athletes of our area.

The tail end of the 19th Century and the first decade was a “berry” of sports events, 
particularly here in Mahanoy City.  The grandstand at the West End Park collapsed back 
in 1894 while the large turnout of fans were witnessing a 100 yard race between Mart Fahey 
and Mick Salmon, with Fahey the winner.  Despite the grandstand collapse, the entire program
was concluded.  In addition, the West End Park in those years was the scent of many 
outstanding foot races, pigeon matches and bicycle races.  Also, chicken fights were not 
held in esteem, but however, were held secretly and on numerous occasions.

A glance at the record books indicated that the best cyclists in the country were right 
here in town, performing around the beveled raised outer track at the West End Park with 
J. Fred Bernet, definitely one of the best.  He conducted the clothing store in the center 
of town (now the Hendricks-D’Amico store).  The best in the business performed from 1899 
to 1905.  McMichaels was quite popular and a local favorite.  The Gill brothers of Park Place; 
also our own Morris Leahy (now recuperating from a recent illness at his West Mahanoy Street 
address) and Tom McGinnity were outstanding bikers of that era.

The great Jack O’Shallow, Mart Fahey, Mick Salmon, Tommy McGeough and the topnotch trainer, 
Owen McNally, of Girardville, put on the money battles in the 100 yard dash.  The Salmon-Fahey 
duels were won by Fahey in the early ‘90’s and the 1900’s.

The pigeon matches in 1900 through 1910 were outstanding to say the least.  We featured the 
splendid dutchman, Nate Benner, of town, pitted against such top wingshots as Dempsey, of 
Greensbury, and Fen Cooper, of town, definitely one of the greatest in the east.  Mike Alasko 
moved in later and caused plenty of competition.  He later moved to Beaver Meadows.  
Ned Fogarty, a constable and former Chief Burgess here in town, used to keep the crowds back 
by firing salvos of scattershot from his musket.  Billy Fox and Broadbeck were rivals of 
Benner.  Fred Coleman, Pottsville, was the daddy of them all.  He could always knock off 
Cooper.  They were really tops as birdmen in that era.

Football prowess was a must that involved the Reliance team of town and the Emeralds of 
Shenandoah.  A major battle between the two teams developed in 1904 with the game being 
played in Hazleton.  Special trains were run over the Lehigh Valley tracks.  Numerous fights 
broke out and delays in the playing of the contest resulted in a no decision match.

Great stars made their appearance at this time, such as Frank Copley, his brother Charley, 
who later played for Muhlenberg and Missouri colleges and afterwards with the Akron, Ohio Pros 
in 1920, along side of the immortal Fritz Pollard and against Thorpe, Guyon, Calac, all great 
Indian performers on the gridiron.  The Foley boys, Paddy and Jim, Kull, O’Donnell and others 
were tops at this time.  Pat O’Brien, all 140 pounds, was good despite the fact that football 
in those days was actually brute strength.  The same can be added about “Shorty” Brennan.  
And then how about the 1906 Young Shamrocks with Capt. DeFrehn Fallon, Dick Deihl, Abe Hawkes, 
Barrett Kull and the Robinsons.

Baseball was played on skin (dirt and rock, no grass) diamonds in those days with the locals 
managed by Jim Quirk, who at that time, was in charge of the Kaiers Opera House.  He brought 
in the 1910 Philadelphia Athletics to play the local nine.  Mahanoy brought in a rookie by 
the name of Lefty Johnny Lush to pitch.  It’s interesting to note that Lush had pitched a 
no-hitter for the Phillies that year and was the only lefty in history to turn in such a 
performance for the National League club.  Local stars on the diamond in those “goo old days”, 
were Johnny Lyons, Frank Trainer, Glover Lotwick and others.  Pat O’Donnell’s ball club in 
the early 1900’s were the regional class to say the least.  Jumpin’ Joe Dugan 
(of New York Yankee fame) was born in Hills Patch in the early 1890’s, however, his family 
moved away from this vicinity before Dugan could take his place among the stars of the region.

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The Moxies made their appearance on the local scene in 1906 with Fatty Newhard, The Davies, 
Ben Walters, Frank Prosser and the Edwards clan, to turn out a classy performance on the 
diamond.  The West End team of Dulsky’s, Spitzer Brown, Yankee-Dutch, Stasey and others, 
beat everything in sight.  And how about our own Lizzy Stride, the bloomer girl star, who 
was one of the first female baseball players of her time and went on to turn in some 
outstanding performances with lady champs all over the globe.

And the old-timers are still talking about the great Johnny Ryan-Davis battles for sprint 
supremacy around 1911 which attracted thousands of fans here in the area.  Fabulous amounts 
of money changed hands on the outcome of these two races.  The first race at 100 years was 
won by Davis, then considered to be the fastest human being.  The second race, at 60 yard 
distance, was held at Orwigsburg, and also won by Davis, who broke the spirit and the 
pocketbook of the town and area with his brilliant performances.  Davis was brought in as 
a “ringer” to perform at his best and was required to do so in order to top the great coal 
digger Johnny Ryan who made his home in Buck Mountain.  Other races which attracted major 
attention were the Taylor and Harry Fife duels which always proved to be crowd pleasers.  
Both college men turned in performances under 10 seconds.  Our own Jimmy Curley was the 
Matt Rice open field type in the 1905-15 era, a terrific sprinter.

Nate Cartmell beat the great Davis (his real name was Martin) in a 220 yard dash that 
electrified the county and held here at the West End stadium.  The marathon race was also 
a popular one in 1904 and a fine grueling 25 mile encounter occurred between Guldin, a ringer, 
and Fehy, of Shenandoah, which was won by Guldin.  In addition, our own little Tommy Fay, 
of town, was winning his share of the marathon races.  Other top men in this field were:  
Jim Seader of the Jermania Club, Vinc Stank, Pete Sokel, all of town and Deffley and 
Muggsy Keating out of Jacksons.  Actually, they’d run five and ten miles around town, and 
at one time, Seader lost his shoe but continued the battle on the icy ruts in the street 
to finish in second place.  Each year they’d battle on the haul between Mahanoy City to 
Lakewood and over to Lakeside on the Father Matthews Pioneer picnic day for valuable prizes.
On Columbus Day in 1914, an AAU meet was held at the West End Park and some of the locals 
plugged against the peerless Indian runner Paul LaFuna and also Hayes of Olympic fame and 
Nate Cartmell, the great Penn star and others who ranked with the best in the land, 
performing right here in our own backyard.  The 220, 440 and 880 yard dashes along with 
the shotput and other field events were presented under the direction of Dan Ferris.

The year 1912 found a new fence and grandstand, seating 1500 people, being built at the West 
End Park to house some outstanding sporting events in the community up until the end of 1924 
when the star-studded Mahanoy City Bluebirds left town.  Actually, the grandstand left too, 
as the independent miners took good advantage of the wood for use in their bootleg operations.  
Joe Boley, perhaps the greatest diamond star the community ever developed along with the one 
and only Mike Roman, were on their way up the ladder in baseball ranks.  Herb Wheat 
(outfielder) and George Britton (pitcher) were just about the best in amateur ranks on the 
diamond.  As today, both ends of our community had parks at that time and leagues flourished 
with available manpower here in the area as work was plenty at the various breaker and mine 
operations.  It can be truthfully said that many outstanding baseball greats, who developed 
at either the West End or East End parks in that era, would have made the grade if conditions 
were as they are in the present time.  Geroge “Shorty” Gordon who was one who could have made 
a name for himself and there were countless others.  Father McEnroe, rector of 
St Canicus Church (and noted for this switch) was the one who arranged for the lease of the 
West End Park from Philadelphia & Reading Coal Company officials and it was nothing for him 
to storm downtown and throw open the gates of the park for the youngsters of that era whom 
they would complain to him that they were being kept out.  Father McEnroe stating that the 
park belonged to the youngsters of our community.

In 1914, the Milo football team of town played the best in the region, including the famed 
Coaldale “Big Green: of Jim Gildea, Blue Bonner, the Older Honey Boy Evans along with 
McFadden, etc., and then there were the always tough clubs from Shenandoah, Jacksons and 
Morea.  In fact, Morea and Mahanoy City battled in 1914 on Johnny Mitchell’s Day for a side 
bet of several thousand dollars with Mahanoy coming out on top by the score of 27-10.  
Joe Boley, Mike O’Brien, the Zagarinsky brothers, Joe Murtin, Copley, along with Morea’s 
Charley Peters, Paul Ferry, Campbell, McElhenny, Charley Heeney were some of the players 
participating.  Dugey Donavan of Shenandoah and “Bumper” Downey of Jacksons played for the 
locals around that time.  Bill Sheehan came along a few years later and became a pro with 
the Gilberton team of the Fritz Pollard era in 1925.  Tommy Myers, outstanding athlete at 
Mahanoy City High fame, was picking up All-American mention for his great backfield play 
at Fordham University in 1923 and was named on the honorable mention list by 
Walter Camp’s All-American group.

Page 94 - 

In boxing, we had the clever Mickey Mills (now retired East Penn Transportation chauffeur) 
and Johnny Mahoney (McAdoo) bouts to keep us happy and then Jimmy Smith and Ken Carlin fought 
the cream-of-the-crop between 1910 and the outbreak of World War I.  Jimmy Bonner, who later 
kept a café across from the Reading R.R. station, fought the tops in that era.  His several 
battles with young George Chip were really wicked, mean and tops for boxing in that day.

Following the end of World War I in 1919, the West End Clubs, including Tommy and John Myers, 
the Trusky brothers, Tony and Tommy, Tom Boley, John Pasieka, Tom Trachim and others, were 
taken over by Joe Murtin which actually led to the forming of the Anthracite Baseball League 
in the year 1921.  Joe Boley and Mike Roman would play Sunday contests with the locals, 
prior to the time that the Mahanoy City Bluebirds came about. The Pennsylvania Blue Laws 
(no ball on Sunday) were enforced in the Commonwealth at that time, both in major and minor 
league action, therefore, Mahanoy city was able to bring in such greats at one time or the 
others as:  Lefty Russell, Jack Onslow, Jake Pitler, Joe Harris, Bert Galia, Scott Perry, 
all ex-major leaguers.  We also had the opportunity of having Gabby Street play here in 
Mahanoy City.  He was the major leaguer who caught the first ball dropped by the immortal 
Walter Johnson from the Washington monument.  Street performed at the East End Park in 1920 
and at the same time, John Ogden, former Phillie and now in charge of player personnel for 
the Phils, pitched.  Sherwood Mages played first, Castle was in the outfield, Shovelin at 
short, all former major leaguers.  The Mahanoy City club beat a star-studded Shenandoah 
club by the score of 2-1 in a real thriller.  And we must inject the fact that Ron Northey, 
another major leaguer who made good, was born here in Mahanoy City although his family 
moved and are still located in Frackville.

Basketball hadn’t as yet taken a hold in the early years of our town but at the time that 
World War I hit, it was being recognized actually more than a school build-up.  We featured 
here in town the likes of Biff Clifford, Roy Harlor, Johnny Goepfert, Ham Richards and others 
but the cream-of-the-crop was popping up in local schools.  John Campbell, Sam Bohorad, 
Sam Smith, Tommy Myers and Crellin Davis to mention a few were leading up to what developed 
into the only state championship basketball team ever produced here in Mahanoy City, in 1922 
when Johnny Goepfert (now retired and living at the 615 East Centre Street address) came 
along with such scholastic standouts as Dick Dawson, Tom Courtney (currently manager of 
Kleckner’s store); Jimmy Leonard (living here and working out of Pottsville0; Edward Tolan 
and Jim Deem (both deceased); Peter Kapo, Ed August (runs a potato chip route locally) and 
of course the coach of the club, Johnny Goepfert.

Few people realize it but McCann’s School of Business had a topnotch club in those days, 
playing their games at the old Armory Hall.  In fact, they played the Eastern League pro 
stars from Reading, the night the balcony rail gave way and fans came tumbling to the floor.  
McCann’s had the Hobbs brothers of Shenandoah, Dalius and Zerby, etc., while the great 
Hoss Haggerty, Harry Hough and Frackville’s Charlie O’Donnell performed for Reading.

Mahanoy City’s pride and joy, the Curley Indians, took the spotlight on the football from 1924 
through 1927, in fact, the club were coal region champions during the year 1927. They had a 
terrific urge to be good and really were, to say the least.  They battled the might Gilberton 
Orange Buds of Matt Rice, and what a player he was!  Kenny Weeks (general chairman of the 
Centennial Committee here in town), along with Paul Petrucka, Zakmare of St. Clair were all 
outstanding football players at that particular time.  The Curley Indians really went after 
the best in the region and had a well-moulded ball club that included:  the 1924 edition - 
Leon Keiser (deceased); Charlie Chesnuskie, Herbie Beckett, Steve Mall, Albert Grouge, 
Jack Hall, Frank Kersavage, Joe Kuchinsky, Tony Maff, Frank Seick (coach); Steve Engle, 
Billy Josephs, John Curley (deceased); Todd Curley, Jim Curley, Pete Conrad, Tony Malchuski, 
Joe Whalen (captain and deceased); Joe Curley (water boy and deceased); Ed Hanley and Frank 
and Joe Sieck (mascots).  Additions to the 1925 squad were Jim Curley captained included:  
Tom Dixon (deceased); Red “Mick” Holland, Steve Gavala, Jimmy Sullivan, Bull Peel, 
Mark Holland, Albie Kluchinsky, Bill Walinchus, Tom Kelly and Mickey Pell.  Bobby Coombe 
was the new mascot while John Cornelius (deceased) was the business manager and acted as 
secretary-treasurer of the team while Baron McCann (deceased) was the ticket collector.  
The Indians were not too active in 1926 but came back in 1927 to capture the coal region 
championship under the coaching of Bill Sheehan (well known beer and soda distributor).  
The new additions to the squad included Ed “Scrappy” Byron; Bill Wendell, Ducky Dunsavage, 
John (Gyp) Downey, “Wop” Faust and Ben Brentari.

It’s interesting to note that back in 1925 during the miners strike, Jim and John Curley, 
Billy Joseph, Mickey Pell, Packy Groudge and Ed Hanley decided to go back to Mahanoy City 
High to play some football under Johnny Goepfert and at that time the

Page 95 - 

Eligibility rule was set at age 20.  One of the outstanding games played by the club was the 
7-0 loss to a strong Harrisburg Tech team on the Island.

Mark Holland, Len and Pete Gudd and Alex Kilkuski followed with outstanding success in all 
lines of sport at Mahanoy City high and later at college.

Through the efforts of Joe Boyle, Joe Matthews, Jake Markus and Joe Murtin, pro baseball was 
revived here in the community with the introduction of the Mahanoy City Brewers of the North 
Atlantic ‘D” League back in 1947.  Our own Charlie (Lefty) Dugan and Tom Murphy (now captain 
of police in Mahanoy City) were two standouts for the Brewers.  Dugan took his turn pitching 
and also played first base while Murphy was quite a valuable “all-around” performer”.  The 
club actually never had any major league tie-in, however, several clubs farmed out players 
to be seasoned here.  Actually, the North Atlantic circuit had such standouts as Ken Boyer 
(all-star thirdsacker with the Cardinals) who made his debut in town with the Lebanon Chix; 
Carl Swatski Phillies-Cubs) who was the home-run king of the Bloomingdale, N.J. Troopers and 
his teammates Jim Lemon (up with the Washington and Philadelphia clubs) and Danny O’Connell 
(Pirates-Giants).  All home games of the Brewers were played at the East End stadium and 
later with the formation of the Mahanoy Area Joint School District, the lights were 
transferred to the West End stadium for all home football games of the Mahanoy Area Golden 
Bears.

The community produced their share of standouts, in particular, Joe Boley, who starred for 
many years with Jack Dunn at Baltimore and was later to become a part of the majors No. 1 
keystone combination Joe Boley to Max Bishop on Connie Mack’s World Champions in 
Philadelphia from ’29 through ’31 inclusive.

White on the topic of baseball for the moment, its interesting to point out that Babe Ruth, 
who played against Boley, visited Mahanoy City back in 1923 when the Yankees were in for an 
exhibition game and the “Babe” belted several home run balls over the fence across the creek 
with the balls landing in the yard of the Slovak Church. At that particular time, the home 
plate at the West End Park was even with South Street, which certainly made these clouts 
some kind of a record for the West End field.

Mahanoy City produced a number of outstanding football performers, who went on to stardom 
in college and in particular, Dr. Bill Walinchus (practicing dentistry at his 
400 West Centre Street address) who played at Mahanoy City High and went on to star at 
the University of Pittsburgh and performed in the Rose Bowl contest; Ed “Ski’ August, 
considered one of the outstanding greats in high school and Villanova College, who had seen 
action with the Provident Steamrollers in pro ball; Al Sadusky, another topnotch athlete, 
who went on to stardom at Western Maryland where, he too, received All-American mention;  
Al (Lezousky) Leeson, who starred at Pittsburgh and is the father of one of the state’s 
outstanding gridders Rick Leeson, now in his second year at Pitt and in later years, 
Joe Matalavage, who after a brilliant career at Mahanoy City High, moved into the 
Naval Academy at Annapolis and had the honor of being the team captain in his final year.

The same can be said about basketball.  Hundreds of outstanding cagers were developed by 
Johnny Goepfert, considered by many as the “Maker of Champions”, who in his 33 years of 
coaching at Mahanoy City High, compiled an incredible record of 803 victories against 
only 179 defeats.  His teams won a total of 27 championships overall in the sport.

Heading the list of basketball alumnus at Mahanoy City High was George Senesky, who led the 
nation in collegiate scoring while playing for St. Joe’s of Philadelphia in 1942-43 with 
515 points.  He was also the recipient of the Helms Award for being the outstanding college 
player in the nation.  George (regarded as the Blond Bomber) was a member of the 
Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA and later served as coach of the club and currently 
is a successful salesman in the Philadelphia area.

Mahanoy City produced two all-state performs in Jack Goepfert (son of the coach) in 1941 
and Joe Griggs in 1945 along with having scores of players receiving honorable mention at 
one time or another.

Mahanoy City was unable to crash the championship circle as a charter member of the Eastern 
football conference. The school finished runnerup in 1958 and again as Mahanoy Area last year.  
The 1958 team, spearheaded by Johnny Pilconis, son of head coach Joe Pilconis, lost out to 
Shenandoah for the championship on a “technicality” under the rating system.

Pilconis directed his only unbeaten but tied eleven here in 1962, when Mahanoy Area battled 
Tamaqua High for the Southern Division honors and the now Golden Bears will be a part of the 
Centennial Program as they meet St. Clair here under the arcs in an effort to keep their 
victory streak intact.

Page 96 - 

Although he graduated from Mahanoy Township High School, Jack McCloskey, highly successful 
basketball and baseball coach at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, was born 
and raised right here in Mahanoy City and his parents still live in the community.  Jack 
was the only athlete to ever win five varsity awards at Penn.

In addition to having the West End stadium (football) and the East End stadium 
(all lines of sports) the community also looks with pride towards the South Sixth Street 
area where a group of energetic citizens from the community constructed one of the finest 
Little League stadiums in the state.  The program is well established and developing 
youngsters who carry on in the local Teener League, organized locally for the first time 
this year.

The young ladies of the community and surrounding areas are also engaged in a healthy program 
during the summer months in Mahanoy City Lassie League program.

Summing up the sports activities here in the community for the past 100 years, it has been 
interesting “digging into the past”, and with confidence and trust in God we look forward 
to the future when the history is prepared for other celebrations, it can be said that many 
of our “future citizens of tomorrow”, will make a name for themselves in various lines of 
sports activities.


*Photo 1922 State Basketball Champions.  Caption….Members of the 1922 Mahanoy City High School 
state championship basketball team.  Reading left to right, seated:  Dr. Edward Tolan 
(deceased); Edward (Ski) August, James (Pidge) Leonard, James (Humps) Deem (deceased); 
Dr. Vladimir (Blondy) Smith.  Standing: Dr. Peter (Pete) Kapo, Thomas (Red) Courtney, 
John L. (Goep) Goepfert, coach; Dr. frank (Dick) Dawson and Russell (Bob) Green, manager 
and publicity.

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