Military All-Star baseball return to Delaware County

For the third year in a row, Delaware County's Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau and the U.S. Military All-Stars are joining forces to promote the awareness of all Americans in support of the honorable sacrifices our armed forces make in defense of our freedom. The All-Stars consist of outstanding players selected from all branches of the military.

For the past 21 years they have toured the country playing baseball teams at all levels during their Red, White and Blue Tour of America. This year the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame in partnership with the Visitors Bureau invited the All-Stars to participate in three events with the first being a game against The Delco Diamonds, a youthful group of talented players. Helping to coach this team will be former major league pitcher and Delaware County resident Pete Filson. Pete pitched a total of six years in the majors his last being in 1987 while playing with the New York Yankees. The game is scheduled to be played Tuesday July 6 at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, Delaware. Opening ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m.

Starting pitcher for the Military team will be Bonner High School grad and Marine Rob Graham just back from a tour of duty in Iraq. This “Living Legend” game will honor U.S. Army veteran and 1952 AL MVP winner Bobby Shantz. On July 7, beginning at 11 a.m., the All-Stars will be part of a symposium as former players from the Delaware County Baseball League, the oldest incorporated league in the country, reminisce about their glory years lasting from just before World War II through the Korean War. This event will be held at Delaware Veterans Post #2535, Veterans Drive Wilmington, De. 19810.

Closing out the All-Stars tour will be a basketball game against the Old but Slow Paul Arizin All-Stars. The game will be played July 7 at the Paul Arizin Court in the Media Youth Club, Media Pa. Opening ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m. The court is named after the late Paul Arizin a Marine Corps veteran and NBA Hall of Famer.

For more information contact Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 or bvankoski@hotmail.com.