Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Content: Sports Equipment

Mayan Game Group
Joyce de Guatemala, 1981
* abstract Mayan sports equipment
* There's an unlocked gate on Howard with a path leading back to the piece, which is partially visible from the sidewalk
* East side of Howard, just North of West Huntingdon.
* 39.989725,-75.131900 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Joyce de Guatemala page

Smashing Barriers
Steve Tobin, 2006 (approximate)
* Unlabeled tribute to Arthur Ashe
* big abstract partial tennis ball and racquet
* This complex was originally named the Arthur Ashe Tennis Center.
* Courtyard. Legacy Youth Tennis. South of Ridge at Schoolhouse.
* 40.012660,-75.202720 [map] [nearby]
* On the Manayunk tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Black Lives
* See also:
+stevetobin.com
+wikipedia.org's Arthur Ashe page
+legacyyte.org

Rocky
A. Thomas Schomberg, 1980
* Statue of Rocky Balboa
* standing person, boxing gear
* This statue has had several homes, including the top of the Art Museum steps and the Spectrum steps. It was moved to the current location September, 2006. The first picture is from the current location. The second picture is from the Spectrum.
* East side of the Art Museum. 25th and the Parkway.
* 39.965125,-75.179300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Art Museum Grounds tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Favorites, Moved
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+schombergstudios.com
+wikipedia.org's Rocky Balboa page
+philamuseum.org

Dr. J
Barney Bright, 1987
* Statue of Julius Erving
* standing person, basketball
* Was in front of the Spectrum at Broad and Pattison. The Spectrum was demolished early 2011. Reinstalled in the current location. The last picture is from the Spectrum.
* inscription:
Julius Winfield Erving II * Nine years captain of the 76ers * Captain of the 1983 World Champions * NBA Most Valuable Player 1981 * 11 Time NBA All Star * All Star MVP 1977, 1983 * Member of the ABA Champions 1974, 1976 * ABA Most Valuable Player 1974, 1976 * Five time ABA All Star * Athlete, Sportsman, Gentleman
* On the path from the parking lot behind Xfinity Live. Southwest of the Southwest corner of 11th and Pattison.
* 39.903900,-75.169800 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Moved, Black Lives
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Barney Bright page
+wikipedia.org's Julius Erving page
+xfinitylive.com

Joey Giardello
Carl Levotch, 2011
* statue of Joey Giardello
* standing people, boxing gloves, 3 panels of text
* There are 70 boxers listed on this piece, which exceeds my general guidelines for creating a new person entry. Individuals other than Giardello are listed in the inscription.
* inscription:
Joey Giardello was born Carmine Orlando Tilelli July 16, 1930 in Brooklyn, NY. He came to South Philly and started his 19-year Hall of Fame Boxing career in 1948. Giardello trained at the Passyunk Gym once located nearby at Passyunk and Moore and posted a professional record of 101-25-7 against the greatest boxers of his era. Giardello won the world middleweight championship in 1963 by defeating Dick Tiger.

Top 50 South Philly Boxers of Italian Ancestry
Teddy Baldwin, Carmen Bartolomeo, Joey Belfiore, Santa Bucca, Dan Bucceroni, Frakie Caris, Jimmy Carlini, Frankie Carto, Nunzio Carto, Tony Cocco, Bobby Dean, Vinnie Decarlo, Johnny Demarco, Eddie Dempsey, Mickey Diamond, Frankie Donato, Gus Dorazio, Joey Falco, Tony Falco, Paul Febbo, Nick Fiorentino, Joe Flocco, Vince Forgione, Johnny Forth, Tommy Forth, Joey Giardello, Eddie Giosa, Joe Grim, Tommy Howell, Eddie Lenny, Kid Locke, Johnny Marcelline, Ray Mitchell, Tony Morgano, Battling Murray, Frankie Murray, Tony Murray, Mike Rossman, Babe Ruth, Franke Sodano, Patsy Wallach, Dick Welsh, Billy Willis, Joe Wilton, Henry Kid Wolfe, Bobby Wolgast, Johnny Wolgast, Midget Wolgast

Landmark South Philly Boxing Venues
Municipal Stadium, Spectrum, National A.C., Olympia A.C. The Alhambra, Toppi Stadium, Broadway A.C., The Plaza, Shetzline Park, Mason Hall

Landmark South Philly Boxing Gyms
Philadelphia Boxing Club, Passyunk Gym, Juniper Gym, Southside Gym, Olympia Gym, Percy Street Gym, Augie's Gym Pen-Mar, Christian Street YMCA, Marian Anderson Rec Center

Twenty South Philly Boxing Legends
Matthew Saad Muhammad, Tommy Loughran, Jeff Chandler, Lew Tendler, Yiyi Erne, Tyrone Everett, Harry Lewis, Battling Levinsky, Al Trainor, Tim Witherspoon, Tim Callahan, Pal Moore, Eddie Kid Wagner, Billy Arnold, Buster Drayton, Harry Kid Brown, Johnny Carter, Danny Dougherty, Mike Evans, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
* Center of the triangle bounded by 13th, Mifflin, and Passyunk.
* 39.926660,-75.167125 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Philly tour
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+carllevotch.com
+wikipedia.org's Joey Giardello page

Joe Frazier Monument
Stephen Layne, 2015
* Statue of Joe Frazier
* standing person, boxing gloves
* Also listed on the artist's site as the "Smokin' Joe" Frazier Monument and Smoking Joe Frazier's Monument. The Public Art Association simply lists it as Joe Frazier.
* In front of Xfinity Live. Southwest corner, 11th and Pattison.
* 39.904575,-75.168975 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Black Lives
* See also:
+stephenlaynestudio.com
+wikipedia.org's Joe Frazier page
+xfinitylive.com

MVP
Brian McCutcheon, 2019
* statue inspired by Ora Washington
* small standing person, basketball
* inscription:
MVP depicts a young, African American female basketball player, She has just taken possession of the ball and is poised in a decisive moment which will dictate what happens next. The statue represents the power and potential of young girls, exemplifying the pursuit of success through dedication and hard work.
The artwork is inspired by Ora Washington (1898-1971). Ms. Washington was a legendary trailblazing Philadelphian who excelled in basketball and tennis. She played for the Philadelphia Tribunes basketball team from 1931 to 1943 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. A multitalented athlete, she was also the American Tennis Association's National Women's Tennis Champion every year from 1925 to 1937.
Ms. Washington's achievements in the face of racial oppression and its systemic obstacles to equal opportunity embody the narrative of determination triumphing over injustice.
* Smith Playground. Southwest of the Southwest corner, 24th and Snyder.
* 39.925890,-75.187240 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Athletic, Black Lives
* See also:
+brianmccutcheon.com
+wikipedia.org's Ora Washington page

Old St. Mary's Bench
* small standing people, sitting and kneeling people, sports equipment, tools, water, plants, horse, horn, fish, umbrella, hats
* Medallions are set into the curved brick back of the bench.
* Just South of Old St. Mary's. West side of 4th, South of Locust.
* 39.945375,-75.148475 [map] [nearby]
* On the Society Hill tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Unidentified, Black Lives
* See also:
+oldstmary.com
+wikipedia.org's St. Mary's page

Penn Athletic Club
1925
* small lion heads, standing people, athletic equipment
* West Wall. Northeast corner, 18th and Locust.
* 39.949300,-75.170750 [map] [nearby]
* On the Rittenhouse Square tour
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the building

Children Playing
Sarala Ruth Pinto, 1969
* small abstract standing people, balls
* Palmer Playground. Northeast side of Comly between Decatur and Thornton.
* 40.095190,-74.989775 [map] [nearby]

Batter
Joe Brown, 1976
* big standing person wearing a helmet, baseball bat
* Originally on the walkway around Veterans Stadium until it was torn down in 2004. The last picture is from the original location. The inscription on the attached plaque is related to the history of the original location and not to the subject of the sculpture.
* inscription: Veterans Stadium hosted many concerts including Bruce Springsteen, Genesis, Madonna, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, The Who, Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U-2, Billy Joel, Elton John, Dave Matthews and N'Sync. Other events included religious conventions, pro wrestling, Hero Scholarship Thrill Show, truck/tractor pull and closed circuit championship boxing.
* North side of the parking lot North of Pattison and East of Broad.
* 39.907350,-75.169800 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Moved
* See also:
+wikipedia.org Joe Brown page

Tackle
Joe Brown, 1976
* big people standing, football, helmets
* Originally on the walkway around Veterans Stadium until it was torn down in 2004. The last picture is from the original location.
* inscription:
Veterans Stadium was home to the Eagles from 1971 through two playoff games in January 2003. Biggest of their 11 playoff games at the Vet was a 20-7 win over the bitter rival Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship game before 70,696 roaring fans, January 11, 1981.
The Vet was home to another pro football team, the Philadelphia Stars, of the United States Football League. The Stars played there during the 1983 and 1984 USFL seasons. Included was one playoff game in their initial season.
Seventeen times the Army/Navy college football classic was played at the Vet. The stadium was home to Temple University football, 1974-2002. Among other college teams that made their appearances at the Vet were Notre Dame, Penn State, BYU, Villanova, Florida A&M, Howard University and Delaware State.
* North side of Pattison, East of Broad.
* 39.905440,-75.172125 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Moved
* See also:
+wikipedia.org Joe Brown page

The Point
Rebecca Rose, 1985
* abstract group of parts of people, sports equipment
* High on the South wall. North of the Northwest corner of 26th and Master.
* 39.977350,-75.178325 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Athletic

Station no. 6 - Celebration of Water
Ellen Fletcher, 1989
* small seated person wearing a hat, tackle box, fish
* The fisherman was lost in 1999 in the flooding caused by hurricane Floyd and recovered or replaced in late 2005 or early 2006. Lost again in September 2021 to the flooding from Hurricane Ida. Reappeared some time before May 2023.
* Schuylkill Banks between the Waterworks and the Spring Garden Bridge at the foot of the spiral staircase.
* 39.964950,-75.183300 [map] [nearby]
* On the Art Museum Grounds tour

Roberto Clemente
Phil Sumpter, 1997
* Statue of Roberto Clemente
* small standing person, helmet, baseball bat, map of Puerto Rico
* inscription:
"Quiero que me recuerden como uno que dio todo lo que tenia para dar."
"I want to be remembered as someone who gave all that he had to give."
Roberto Clemente Walker
1934-1972
* Courtyard. Roberto Clemente Middle School. South side of Erie between Front and 2nd.
* 40.006575,-75.130000 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Black Lives
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Roberto Clemente page
+clemente.philasd.org

Mike Schmidt
Zenos Frudakis, 2004
* Statue of Mike Schmidt
* standing person, helmet, baseball bat
* inscription: Phillies Hall of Fame Third Baseman 1972-1989
* Southwest entrance Citizens Bank Park. North side of Pattison East of Broad.
* 39.905000,-75.168150 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+zenosfrudakis.com
+wikipedia.org's Mike Schmidt page
+wikipedia.org's Citizens Bank Park Page

Robin Roberts
Zenos Frudakis, 2004
* Statue of Robin Roberts
* standing person, hat, baseball glove
* inscription: Phillies Hall of Fame Pitcher 1948-1961
* Southeast entrance Citizens Bank Park. North side of Pattison East of Broad.
* 39.904900,-75.165850 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+zenosfrudakis.com
+wikipedia.org's Robin Roberts page
+wikipedia.org's Citizens Bank Park Page

Steve Carlton
Zenos Frudakis, 2004
* Statue of Steve Carlton
* standing person, hat, baseball and glove
* inscription: Phillies Hall of Fame Pitcher 1972-1986
* Northwest entrance Citizens Bank Park. North side of Pattison East of Broad.
* 39.906990,-75.167790 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+zenosfrudakis.com
+wikipedia.org's Steve Carlton page
+wikipedia.org's Citizens Bank Park Page

Wilt Chamberlain
Omri Amrany, 2004
* Statue of Wilt Chamberlain
* person kneeling, person jumping, basketballs and basket
* inscription:
The worth of a man is measured by the size of his heart
Wilton Norman Chamberlain
August 21, 1936 - October 12, 1999
* Plaza. Southeast corner of the Wells Fargo Center. West side of 11th, South of Pattison.
* 39.900425,-75.171200 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Black Lives
* See also:
+artist's picture of this piece
+rotblattamrany.com
+wikipedia.org's Wilt Chamberlain page
+wikipedia.org's Wells Fargo Center page

Negro Leagues Memorial
Phil Sumpter, 2005
* Dedicated to Bill Cash, Mahlon Duckett, Stanley Glenn, Harold Gould and Wilmer Harris
* small standing person, hat, baseball bat
* inscription:
front: Dedicated to Bill Cash, Mahlon Duckett, Stanley Glenn, Harold Gould, Wilmer Harris, April 15, 2005
back: A special thanks to the Phillies organization for all of their wonderful support for this monument
* Southwest corner Belmont and Parkside.
* 39.977675,-75.213700 [map] [nearby]
* On the West Park tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Black Lives
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Bill Cash page
+wikipedia.org's Mahlon Duckett page
+wikipedia.org's Stanley Glenn page
+wikipedia.org's Harold Gould page
+wikipedia.org's Wilmer Harris page

Walk Together Forever
statues.com, 2013
* Statue of Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent
* small standing people, hockey equipment, Stanley Cup
* Located in an outdoor seating area. It may be difficult to see up close.
* inscription:
Since their inception in 1967, the Flyers have always done everything possible to put a winning team on the ice. That work ethic was rewarded on May 19, 1974 when the Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins in six games to become the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers then repeated the feat on May 27, 1975 with a six game series win over the Buffalo Sabres.
On both occasions, Flyers greats Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent accepted the Stanley Cup for the Flyers and began the on-ice celebration. Those moments are immortalized with this statue, which honors all of those who made the Broad Street Bullies a legendary part of Philadelphia Flyers history and forever cemented their spot in hockey lore.
* In front of Xfinity Live. Southwest corner, 11th and Pattison.
* 39.904600,-75.169100 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+statues.com
+wikipedia.org's Bobby Clarke page
+wikipedia.org's Bernie Parent page
+xfinitylive.com

Fence
Greg Leavitt
* standing people, sitting person, partial person, sports and playground equipment, water
* Fence. Cohocksink Recreation Center. Southeast side of Cedar St. at East Cambria.
* 39.984300,-75.112775 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* See also:
+gregleavitt.com

Play at Second Base
Joe Brown, 1976
* big two people, one standing, one sliding, baseball glove, hats
* Originally on the walkway around Veterans Stadium until it was torn down in 2004. The last picture is from the original location.
* inscription:
The Phillies played at Veterans Stadium, 1971-2003. They reached the post-season seven times and won three National League Pennants (1980, 1983, 1993). The Phillies' greatest moment was winning the World Series over the Kansas City Royals, October 21, 1980, before 65,838 delirious fans at the Vet. Twice, the Phillies hosted the All-Star Game, 1976 and 1996, with the National League winning both games.
Following the last out of the 2003 season, the Phillies closed Veterans Stadium with an emotional Closing Ceremony that featured a parade of alumni and the 2003 team. Tug McGraw, who got the final out in the 1980 World Series win, threw the simulated last pitch. The date was September 28, 11,859 days after the first game, April 10, 1971.
Hundreds of youth from the area played at Veterans Stadium through numerous baseball programs, including the Carpenter Cup for high school players, Liberty Bell Classic and Bill Giles Cup for colleges and Philadelphia Recreation Department Games. The Home Run Derby championships were held there annually.
* North side of Pattison East of Broad.
* 39.905200,-75.170300 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Moved
* See also:
+wikipedia.org Joe Brown page

Score!
Gil Whitman, 1976
* small people, one standing, one kneeling, hockey equipment
* Was behind the Spectrum at Broad and Pattision. The Spectrum was demolished early 2011. Reinstalled 2012 in the current location. The last picture is from the original location
* On the path from the parking lot behind Xfinity Live. Southwest of the Southwest corner of 11th and Pattison.
* 39.903800,-75.169900 [map] [nearby]
* On the South Broad tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, Moved
* See also:
+lcme.com's Gil Whitman obituary
+xfinitylive.com

McVeigh Children's Relief
Anthony Visco, 1981
* small groups of children standing, sitting, sticks, balls, and swings
* Access is through the gate on D. The picture of the West side of the piece (the side with the swings, which is in much worse physical condition than the East side) has been heavily retouched to remove scribbled names.
* On the grounds of the McVeigh Recreation Center. South side of Ontario West of D.
* 40.000610,-75.121435 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* See also:
+woodmereartmuseum.org's Anthony Visco page

Fishtown Hockey Rink Sign
* sign, two people, one standing, one kneeling, hockey equipment
* the facility was renovated in 2023 but the sign predates the renovation
* Above the entrance. Fishtown Recreation Center. West side of E. Montgomery, North of E. Girard.
* 39.971855,-75.127660 [map] [nearby]
* On the Kensington tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, New, Unidentified
* See also:
+facebook.com/fishtownrecreation

Athletics
George R. Anthonisen, 1983
* small vertical, horizontal people, helmets, other sports equipment
* Wall. Anita M. Carboni Ball Field. Northwest of the West corner, 63rd and Eastwick.
* 39.919940,-75.223150 [map] [nearby]
* On the Southwest Philly tour
* Exhibits: Athletic
* See also:
+ganthonisen.com

The Tuttleman Center
2001
* partial people, seated people, ball of yarn, cat, cell phone and calculator, cooking utensils, movie equipment, chinese characters, flower, food, masks, musical instruments, pencil and paper, sand, shells, sports equipment, water
* This is only a representative sampling of the art.
* North wall. Southwest from School House Lane and Henry Ave..
* 40.019400,-75.192375 [map] [nearby]
* On the Jefferson East Falls Campus tour

A Quest for Parity: The Octavius V. Catto Memorial
Branly Cadet, 2017
* Memorial to and statue of Octavius Catto
* big and small standing person, ideas, cube and mirrored orb, steles representing a streetcar and a representational streetcar, buildings, plants, horse, clouds, groups of people, some sitting, hats, guns, baseball equipment
* inscription:
South side of steles, North side of cube:
There must come a change which will force upon this nation that course which providence seems wisely to be directing for the mutual benefit of all peoples.
West side of steles, West side of cube:
Educator Leader Major Athlete Activist
South side of cube: October 10, 1871
East side of cube:
XV
Amendment to the United States Constitution
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
North side of steles:
1839 Born February 22 in Charleston, South Carolina
1854 Becomes a student at the Philadelphia Institute for Colored Youth
1858 Graduates from the Institute for Colored Youth
1859 Chosen as a member and recording secretary of the Banneker Institute, an all black literary society led by Jacob White, Jr. Hired as an English and mathematics teacher at his alma mater. Campaign to desegregate the horse-drawn streetcars in Philadelphia begins.
1863 becomes a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Helps lead a civil war recruitment committee with Frederick Douglas, members of the Union League, and others, which raises eleven regiments of black troops who trained at Camp William Penn in Cheltenham.
1864 Named corresponding secretary of the Pennsylvania Equal Rights League, an affiliate of the National Equal Rights League. Appointed Vice President of the State Convention of Colored People held in Harrisburg. Led civil disobedience protests and lobbied white legislators in Harrisburg to desegregate streetcars.
1865 Co-authored the state Equal Rights League call for voting rights, streetcar desegregation, and the hiring of black teachers for black students in public schools.
1867 Governor signs statewide "Bill of Rights" law desegregating streetcars. Led the Pythians Base Ball Club of Philadelphia to an undefeated season.
1869 Named principal of male students at the Institute for Colored Youth Pythians play the Olympic Ball Club in Philadelphia in the first match between black and white teams. A leader of the unsuccessful effort to integrate the private City Wide Congress of Literary Societies. Helps lead successful Pennsylvania campaign to pass the 15th Amendment which led to thousands of black men registering to vote.
1870 The Union League presents Octavius Catto, Frederick Douglas, and Robert Purvis with a banner celebrating Pennsylvania's adoption of the 15th Amendment at a ceremony on Broad Street. Writes curriculum for new schools for freed former slaves in the District of Columbia. Becomes a member of the original Franklin Institute breaking the color line at the prestigious national forum for advancing American science and technology.
1871 Named an Inspector General with the rank of Major in the Pennsylvania National Guard. Shot to death on October 10, on South Street in the midst of election day riots. He was 32, and one of many black men shot or attacked that day by opponents of the 15th Amendment. As one of Philadelphia's most influential leaders, more than 5,000 mourners attended his funeral and procession down Broad Street.
* South side of City Hall. North side of S. Penn Square at Broad.
* 39.951775,-75.164100 [map] [nearby]
* On the City Hall tour
* Exhibits: Athletic, War, Black Lives, Mass Transit
* See also:
+branlycadet.com
+wikipedia.org's Octavius Catto page
+philadelphiabuildings.org's City Hall page
+wikipedia.org's City Hall page

Penn Quad Gargoyles
1894 - 1911
* small crouching and horizontal people, heads, headgear, squirrel, seahorse, donkeys, frogs, dragon, balls, shields, books, food, staff, musical instruments
* Walls. Penn Quad. South side of Spruce from 36th to 38th.
* 39.950875,-75.197400 [map] [nearby]
* On the Penn Campus tour
* Exhibits: Gargoyles
* See also:
+philadelphiabuildings.org entry for the Quad