“Anthracite Hard” was the term sportswriters used to describe the hard-nosed football players who came out of the hard coal towns of northeastern Pennsylvania. Anthracite pros from the rough-tough days of the 1930s and 1940s include:
ASHLAND: Bill Kellagher.
CARBONDALE: Ed Stacco.
COALDALE: John Gildea; John Kuzman.
DICKSON CITY: “Big John” Koniszeweski.
DUNMORE: Patsy Martinelli; Lou Palazzi.
DURYEA: John Rogalla.
GLEN LYON: Joe Tereshinski.
HANOVER: Andy Dudish; Ed Halicki; John Mellus.
HAZLETON: George Cherverko; Joe Dudeck; Mike Katrishen; George Kracum; John Yackanich.
KINGSTON: Bill Kern; Ed Shedlosky; Len Supulski.
KULPMONT: Bernie Barkouskie.
LANSFORD: Mike Holovak; Mike Lukak; Joe Repko.
LARKSVILLE: John “Bull” Lipski; John Siegal; Jop Skladany; Leo Sladany.
MAHANOY CITY: John Durko; Tommy Myers; Joe Setcavage.
MAUCH CHUNK: Fritz Ferko.
MOUNT CARMEL: Ted Anrulewicz; Len Eshmont; Tony Kostos; Steve Filipowicz.
NANTICOKE: Doug Turley.
NESQUEHONING: John Kusko.
OLD FORGE: Chuck Cherundolo; Lou “Babe” Tomasetti.
PITTSTON: Al Kaporch; Vinnie Sites; Pete Stevens; Charlie Trippi.
PLYMOUTH: Vince Ragunas.
POTTSVILLE: Thomas “Potsy” Jones; George Somers.
SCRANTON: Carl Butkus; Ed “Beef” Eiden; Edgar “Special Delivery” Jones; Hank Reese.
SHNANDOAH: Al Babartsky; Al Matuza; Joe Pilconis; Larry Sartori.
TUNKHANNOCK: Glen Frey.
WEST HAZLETON: George Platukis.
WILKES-BARRE: Al Bednar; Chet Pudloski; Izzy Weinstock; George Young.
While none of the above-named players was from the Lykens Valley, the fact that the list only includes players who made it to the pros from the 1930s and 1940s does not preclude other unnamed players who may have made it to the tryouts, or players who were with teams in the Anthracite Football League prior to the 1930s. The names of many of those earlier players have been lost due to accurate records not being kept of teams and performances from that era.
The photograph at the top of this post is of a 1904 team from Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, a coal mining town. It shows the type of gear worn by players of that era. Unfortunately, none of the individuals in the photo have been identified.
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Information for this post has been taken from Football Legends of Pennsylvania, by Evan Burian, published in 2001.
The photograph of the 1904 team from Williamstown is from the Sesquicentennial History of Williamstown and Williams Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, published in 1976. For availability of copies of this book, contact the Williamstown and Williams Township Historical Society, 115 W. Market Street, Williamstown, Pennsylvania 17098.