Edward “Eddie” Halicki

Category
1989
About This Inductee

Edward “Eddie” Halicki, from Askem in Hanover township was an outstanding three sport athlete and community legend in the 1920’s.  At Hanover High School as a student, he served as the co-captain of three sports (football, basketball and baseball) in his sophomore, junior and senior years. Halicki punished opposing tacklers with his bruising style of running. On the basketball court, he was noted for his quickness and his defensive abilities. When spring came, he dazzled the opposition with his fastball and curve. He continued his multi-sport career at Bucknell University and it was there he became “the man with the iron mask.” For all of his exploits as an undergraduate at Bucknell, he was inducted into the Bucknell University Hall of Fame. The ceremonies took place on the Lewisburg campus. “I’m telling you it was one of the most beautiful ceremonies that I had ever witnessed in my life,” said Halicki.  Eddie, played for the Bisons from 1925 to 1928. He was co-captain of the football team in his senior year and received All-American honorable mention honors. He was a 5-foot-8, 186-pound fullback. “Bucknell was big time in those days. Carl Snavely was our coach. When I received a broken nose he designed a special mask for me. It was made of stainless steel and was covered with leather. “I received worldwide recognition for that mask. They even heard about the mask in China. I was known as the ‘man with the iron mask.” Following graduation from Bucknell, he played both professional football and baseball. He performed for the Frankford Yellow Jackets, the forerunner to the Philadelphia Eagles. After the pro football season, he donned a baseball uniform for the St. Louis Cardinals. “My pro baseball career was short lived,” said Halicki. “I broke my shoulder at the Polo Grounds when we played New York Giants in football. In the spring, I couldn’t pitch and that was the end of my baseball career. My pitching career lasted just two years. “While playing with Frankford, I received $165 a game. That was big money in those days. I was the highest paid player at the time. “We had All-American linemen who were getting much less.” Following his pro playing days, Halicki taught at Hanover Township High School for many years prior to his retirement. He also was the varsity football coach at Hanover for 20 years, compiling a 92-77-15 mark. He retired from coaching following the 1956 season.