press archive

Eagles vs. Cowboys Sweepstakes and Fundraiser

The All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey is pleased to partner with Tix4good to present an opportunity to win tickets to the Eagles vs. Cowboys game on 12/29/24. If you use our dedicated link, a very generous portion of each entry goes directly to the museum and enables us to continue our mission to celebrate and commemorate our rich sports landscape.

Additionally, we are offering chances to win tickets to the Q102 Jingle Ball, and even The Big Game! Please use the links below to enter-

Eagles vs. Cowboys Sweepstakes and Fundraiser2024-11-27T09:09:38-05:00

Announcing the induction of Michael Cudemo and Andre Buck

Michael Cudemo and Andre Buck will be inducted into the All Sports Museum and Hall of Fame of Southern New Jersey on Saturday, 11am., September 21, 2024. The ceremony will be held at the Museum located at 8 Richie Kates, Sr. Way and Babe Ruth Drive, Bridgeton, NJ.

The induction ceremony is open to the public.

Announcing the induction of Michael Cudemo and Andre Buck2024-09-05T19:52:23-04:00

Riverview Sports News: A hidden gem

Riverview Sports News

A hidden gem

Growing Bridgeton museum overflows with memorabilia linked to South Jersey’s rich sporting past; Morganti to enter HOF Saturday

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

BRIDGETON — If you’re not quite sure where you’re going you just might miss it, just like Todd Frazier did – twice – with humorous results when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, but once you get there you’ll be amazed at what’s inside.

VALELLA

From the outside, Building 7 that houses the All Sports Museum (and Hall of Fame) of Southern New Jersey appears to be just another unassuming building in the city’s athletic complex, but within its walls contains a veritable treasure trove of memorabilia commemorating the region’s rich sporting past.

The quaint five-room, 1,500-square foot white bungalow that serves a variety of purposes for the city houses more than 15,000 artifacts, photos and films from across the sporting spectrum with some connection to the state’s eight southern-most counties – only about half of which is currently on display.

“A hidden gem, you said the exact words,” museum and Hall chairman Dom Valella said during a recent tour for a first-time visitor. “When we have an athlete down here who’s not familiar with this area and they see it, they say this is a hidden gem you have here.

“We’re very proud of that. We’re all volunteers; we’re all guys who just love the sport, love doing this. We just enjoy having the athletes come down (and) meeting them on a personal level.”

It certainly gave pause to Frazier, the former Shore-area baseball great who gained early fame as the hero of Toms River East’s 1998 Little League World Series title team and went on to become a two-time major-league All-Star and Home Run Derby champion over 11 big-league seasons. Once he found the museum, he was, of course, blown away by its offerings.

The story goes that Frazier was driving around town looking for the building and twice was stopped by local police as a suspicious vehicle. Once it was determined who they had detained and what his purpose was for being in the area, they gave him a full police escort to the facility.

It is easy to see how one could get waylaid. The official address is 8 Richie Kates Way, a street just off the main drag renamed named in honor of the local boxer and Hall of Fame inductee who twice fought for the light-heavyweight championship and had WBA champ Victor Galindez beat in their 15-rounder in South Africa. (There’s a life-sized cutout of a ring-ready Kates right outside the case displaying his memorabilia as well as homages to Joe Frazier (who trained for a time in Vineland and sparred with Kates in Philadelphia) and Jersey Joe Wolcott).

But to have the GPS get you there you have to punch in 8 Burt Street.

It’s two turns off Hwy. 49 as you get into town, just past the high school football stadium and right across the street from Alden Field, home of the annual Bridgeton Invitational semi-pro baseball tournament that introduced MLB to the concept of pitch clocks and designated hitters long before those innovations became fashionable. They still talk about the night two of tournament teams brought in a couple ringers named Dickie Noles and Tug McGraw to pitch against each other.

The museum has items from every sport imaginable. There’s an early vaulting pole, a French foil from the 70s, the original four-pound green sneakers of the Phillie Phanatic (a popular item with the kids), local trophies that date back to 1904, photos that go back to 1896, several game-used equipment and jerseys and more than 200 autographed baseballs. There’s a game-used bat from Jackie Robinson and even the partial uniform of baseball’s first professional female umpire, Bernice Gera, following a swap for their complete uniform with Cooperstown.

“People are surprised at how big it is,” said Ed Forman, in his 19th year as the fourth-ever curator of the museum that was founded by Ed Alden as a Bridgeton-centric repository. “Looking at it from the outside it looks like we just have one room or something like that, so when they come in and find out we have this room and this room and this room … (they’re amazed).

“I love the fact they’re amazed. Mostly everything here was donated. The only things that weren’t donated were the two (Little League World Series) trophies in the first room. It is impressive. I’m impressed with some of the things.”

Dom Valella, chairman of the All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey, points to the plaque of Flayers great Rick MacLeish, one of the nearly 150 inductees into the museum’s Hall of Fame. The next Hall induction ceremony is Saturday.

There’s a heavy presence of Phillies, Eagles and Flyers – many of whom lived in the South Jersey suburbs – but there is just as much emphasis on the accomplishments of athletes with natural roots in the area.

Coming through the door you’re welcomed by a display cases honoring locally high school and Little League championship teams. There are rooms dedicated to baseball, football, basketball and hockey. There are dedicated displays for Baseball Hall of Famer Goose Goslin; football’s George Jamison, Lydell Mitchell and Dave Robinson; track’s John Borican and auto racing pioneer Bunky Higbee. The exhibit for Millville native son Mike Trout takes up an entire wall.

There’s even a “writers wing,” a section dedicated to prominent local media, whose ranks will increase by one with Saturday’s Hall of Fame induction of Al Morganti, a Massachusetts kid who earned his chops as a Philadelphia hockey writer and network analyst. His induction brings to 135 the coaches, athletes, contributors, pioneers and teams enshrined in the Hall with many more luminaries holding a place in the museum.

There’s a distinction between the Hall of Fame and the museum – not all museum benefactors are inducted into the Hall, but inductees are asked if they’d like to donate an item to the Hall – but If there’s a connection to South Jersey, no matter how small, it’s in there.

‘Our mission statement is to preserve, protect and display all sports memorabilia connected from Philly on down, South Jersey and Philly,” Valella said. “It is surprising (the number of accomplished sportsmen hail from the area). We should be proud of it.”

Everyone who comes through the museum, which is open with free admission from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday or by appointment, has a favorite piece, but the star of the show is the 1960 National League Gold Glove of Willie Mays, whose connection to South Jersey runs from his days as a minor leaguer in Trenton to his somewhat controversial (at the time) connection to promoting the casinos in Atlantic City.

Mays, who passed away earlier this summer, came to Bridgeton as a guest of the Invitational. Between games tournament officials were known to give away baskets of local peaches and plums as door prizes. A son of the south, Mays wasn’t interested in peaches, but did want to know what it’d take to get some of those plums.

Tournament organizers said if he made a donation to the museum they’d provide him as many plums as he could stand. Mays told them to come see him at Resorts and he’d have something for them. When they arrived, he presented them the Gold Glove (he won 12 of them) with the caveat not to sell it, trade it or give it away. The award is displayed on the first shelf of a case in the middle of the back wall in the main room.

“That’s the No. 1 item that’s here,” Valella said. “I think the Gold Glove is one of the nicest things we’ve got here – and the story.”

There’s no telling how much all the memorabilia housed in the museum is worth, but rest assured it’s all insured. Former Phillies reliever, current studio host and future Hall inductee Ricky Bottalico toured the museum during broadcast partner Michael Barkann’s induction and asked what they thought the Mays Gold Glove was worth. Museum officials estimated conservatively $150,000. Bottalico said they should double it, in a tone that that suggested even his assessment was low.

After all, you can’t put a price on memories.

Curator Ed Forman (L) and chairman Dom Valella flank the most prized possession of the All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey — Willie Mays’ 1960 National League Gold Glove.

Riverview Sports News: A hidden gem2024-08-10T14:46:35-04:00

Announcing the Induction of National Hockey League Hall of Famer, Al Morganti

Al Morganti
Al Morganti

The All Sports Museum and Hall of Fame of Southern New Jersey proudly announces the induction of National Hockey League Hall of Famer, Al Morganti, on Saturday, 11am, August 10, 2024.

The Induction ceremony will be held at the Museum located at 7 Richie Kates, Sr. Drive (formerly Burt St.), Bridgeton, NJ. The public is invited.

Morganti’s national and international sports journalism career has spanned 6 decades as a newspaper and magazine columnist, a game-day and daily TV analyst and a sports radio co- host.

Announcing the Induction of National Hockey League Hall of Famer, Al Morganti2024-08-12T08:41:27-04:00

Recent HOF Inductee: Jersey Joe Walcott

Arnold Raymond Cream was born to Barbadian immigrant parents, in Pennsauken Twp., Camden County, New Jersey on January 31, 1914.

Young Arnold left high school at 14 to work, helping his parents care for his 11 siblings. His father passed a year later. At 16, he began his profes-sional boxing career, taking the name of his boxing idol, Joe Walcott, a welterweight from Barbados and added “Jersey” to distinguish himself and his birthplace.

Recent HOF Inductee: Jersey Joe Walcott2024-05-31T15:03:04-04:00

Recent HOF Inductee: Russell H. Bell, Jr.

Athlete

Russell H. Bell, Jr. quickly gained the admiration and respect of his teammates and coaches as his athletic skills were honed on the local and regional baseball diamonds, basketball courts and football fields. He regularly dominated each game and each league he played in. Newspapers in South Jersey routinely featured his name in sport’s section’s headlines.

Entering Bridgeton High School in 1952, Russ’ excelled with his award-winning play as a 3 sport letterman in baseball, basketball and football. Russell was a key player and leader on the BHS varsity baseball team that won South Jersey Group 4 Champioships in 1952 and 1954, competing against Camden, Collingswood, Atlantic City and Vineland.

As a pitcher and centerfielder, Russell earned two All State Awards, an All Group 4 and All County Awards. Russell attracted interest from scouts from every major league team during his BHS career, particularly from the New York Giants. Russell was signed by Giants Scout Frank Burke to a Professional Baseball Contract shortly after he graduated in June 1955. His signing bonus was $500 together with subsequent bonuses of $3,000 and $2,500. His monthly salary was $175.00

Russ soon reported to the Giants minor league team, the Sandersville Giants in the Class D Georgia State League and played in 22 games that summer with teammate and future Hall of Famer Willie “Pops” McCovey. An illness in August 1955 shortened his season. Russell lost 40 lbs. in a very short time.

Russell returned home to recover and prepare for the 1956 season. That season and the 1957 season came and went without a cure for the undiagnosed and untreatable illness.

Russell’s contract was purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1958 through 1961.

While illness restricted and shortened his pro baseball career, Russell’s stellar high school career was recognized with First Team All Century Classic Era Team honors (1939 – 1974) and induction into the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995.

During the off-seasons with Giants and the Athletics, Russell earned his Bachelor of Art’s teaching degree from Trenton State College (The College of New Jersey).
For 4 decades he taught Drafting at BHS where both his students and colleagues praised his teaching skills and professionalism.

For 3 decades, Russell and his wife, Delia (Dee), were a highly respected real estate sales team as members of the Roarke Agency. Many local homeowners have Russ and Dee to thank for the purchase of their first home.

Married for “forever”, the Bell’s have 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

The All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey proudly welcomes Russell Hires Bell, Jr. into its Hall of Fame on this date, May 4, 2024.

Russell H. Bell, Jr.
Russell H. Bell, Jr.
Recent HOF Inductee: Russell H. Bell, Jr.2024-05-13T08:51:25-04:00

Upcoming Inductions !!! May 4 and May 25

Upcoming Inductions !!!
May 4 and May 25

Join us at the All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey to honor these two great gentlemen and their families.

Russell H. Bell
Saturday, May 4, 2024, 11:00 am.

A 3-sport star athlete at B.H.S.,1955 -’56, NY Giants (baseball) minor leaguer and long-  time local educator and realtor.

Arnold “Jersey Joe Walcott” Cream
Saturday, May 25, 2024, 11:00 am.

Camden, NJ’s late, great Heavyweight Boxing Champ, first African American Camden

County Sheriff, Hollywood actor and youth advocate.

Upcoming Inductions !!! May 4 and May 252024-05-31T15:04:16-04:00

All Sports Museum and Hall of Fame of Southern New Jersey is the 2024 recipient of the SABR Russell Gabay Award

The All Sports Museum and Hall of Fame of Southern New Jersey is the 2024 recipient of the SABR Russell Gabay Award, which honors entities and people who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to baseball in New Jersey.

“It’s a testament to the rich history of sports in the southern half of the Garden State, underscored by Salem, New Jersey native and 1968 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Leon “Goose” Goslin,” said David Krell, chair of SABR’s Elysian Fields Chapter, which covers the northern half of New Jersey. The recipient was chosen by a group of three: Krell along with Anthony Arot, chair of the southern New Jersey chapter named after Goslin, and Russell’s sister, Lori.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’d like to thank the Elysian Fields Chapter of SABR for selecting our museum,” states Dom Valella, Chairperson. “To receive this award named after Mr. Gabay is truly an honor and a privilege, given his outstanding career in media and his dedication to sports, family, and the countless number of colleagues along his life’s journey.”

Russell Gabay was a noted sports producer and a native of Springfield, New Jersey. He began his career in the late 1970s, producing for ESPN after graduating from University of Hartford. He later became a Production Manager at HBO, where he supervised several shows, including Inside the NFL, documentaries, and championship fights. Until his sudden death in 2016, Russell was a high-level producer at Major League Baseball Network for more than a decade. He was known throughout the sports industry as a gentleman and a true professional whose generosity knew no bounds, whether towards people trying to break into the business or veterans with several decades of experience.

All Sports Museum and Hall of Fame of Southern New Jersey is the 2024 recipient of the SABR Russell Gabay Award2024-02-07T10:03:52-05:00
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