Edward “Eddie” Halicki

Category

Edward “Eddie” Halicki, deceased, Asken Hanover was an outstanding 3 sport athlete legend of the com-munity in the 1920 era. He punished opposing tacklers with his bruising style of running. He gained world-wide recognition as the “man with the iron mask.” On the basketball court, he was noted for his quick-ness and his defensive abilities. When spring came, he dazzled the opposition with his fastball and curve. And for all his exploits as an undergraduate at Bucknell University, Edward (Eddie) H. Halicki 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, who starred for Hanover Township High School prior to being a standout in three sports, football, basketball and baseball, at Bucknell. Halicki, with played for the Bisons in 1925 through 1928, was co-captain of the football team in his senior year. 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 world-wide recognition for that mask. They even heard about the mask in China. I was known as the ‘man with the iron mask.’ Halicki was an amazing athlete in his day. 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 shortlived,” 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 followign the 1956 season. 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. He received All-American honorable mention honors while playing for Bucknell.