An all-around guy

Jim Grazione doesn’t need to hear stories about the great Wilt Chamberlain; he has his own.

In 1954, Grazione was a Southeast Catholic player with the unenviable task of guarding Overbrook’s Chamberlain in the City Title game.

The 6-foot-2 swingman couldn’t do much to stop the 6-foot-11 legend from scoring 32 points in Overbrook’s 74-50 victory.

"I played a lot of big guys, but nobody like that," said Grazione, now 67. "You’re hoping he doesn’t do too well, but there was no way of stopping him."

When he wasn’t facing Wilt, Grazione did quite well himself in a trio of sports.

The 1955 Southeast Catholic graduate was an All-Catholic football, basketball and baseball player. As quarterback for the Pirates football team, he led the squad to an undefeated season and a win over Frankford for the City Title in 1954.

Grazione went on to become a football star at Villanova University and played briefly on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad before an ankle injury ended his career.

More than a half-century since he left Southeast Catholic (now Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti High), Grazione is still considered one of the greatest high-school athletes in city history.

The resident of Eighth and Tasker streets will be inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame City All-Star Chapter on April 7.

"I was elated," said Grazione, who received the news four months ago. "I was caught somewhat off guard, but I figured better late than never."

The ceremony will be held at Dugan’s Caterers, 7900 Roosevelt Blvd. in Northeast Philadelphia, at 7 p.m. Grazione will be among a group of 12 inductees that includes Philadelphia Phillies CEO Dave Montgomery.

HIGH-SCHOOL ATHLETICS were such a big deal in Grazione’s playing days that he wasn’t allowed to join neighborhood teams.

"They didn’t want you getting hurt," said Grazione, already a member of the Pirates Athletic Hall of Fame.

The athlete played for the legendary Paul "Bart" Bartolomeo, the winningest football coach (1946-78) in Southeast Catholic/Bishop Neumann/St. John Neumann history.

Grazione enjoyed a great run with Bartolomeo during his four seasons, losing only three games in total. The player particularly shone in the 1954 regular-season finale against Roman Catholic, recording 209 yards and three touchdowns and returning a punt for 70 yards.

The greatest highlight was defeating Frankford 34-0 for the City Title at Franklin Field. Grazione passed for 102 yards and two touch downs in the win.

Three years in a row, we lost one game," he said. "Senior year, we went undefeated and finally got it right."

Grazione credits former teammates Butch Capuano and Joe Pooler for providing key blocks during that championship season.

Bartolomeo, meanwhile, supplied the motivation. Before every Thanksgiving Day game against neighborhood rival South Philadelphia High, the coach would remind his players, "These are the guys you’ve got to live with for the next year."

In Grazione’s four seasons with the

Pirates, Southeast Catholic outscored Southern a combined 96-6 in the annual contest.

Though he didn’t earn championships in basketball or baseball, Grazione excelled in those sports as well.

In 1954, his 18 points helped Southeast Catholic score a 51-45 win over West Catholic and clinch a spot in the City Title basketball game.

Grazione also earned All-Catholic honors as a starting pitcher for the Pirates.

He continued playing football and baseball at Villanova. In three seasons as quarterback, Grazione, an All-American candidate, passed for 1,173 yards. The Philadelphia Eagles were impressed enough to select him with their fourth pick in the 1959 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, Grazione’s career-ending ankle injury came during his rookie season with the Eagles practice squad.

Grazione, who is divorced and has a son, Dan, 27 – who followed in his dad’s foot steps as a lineman at Episcopal Academy – went on to become a private detective. He maintains his ties to the game by watching the Eagles.

"I really admire Donovan [McNabb]," he said. "He is a good quarterback. They have a lot of talented players."

When Grazione’s own talents are in the spotlight next week, he plans to use his two-minute speech to credit others.

"Two minutes is just about enough time to thank the coaches I had," he said.

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Tickets to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame City All-Star Chapter induction ceremony are $40 and can be obtained by calling the chapter office at 215-766-9667. All proceeds go to a scholarship fund for athletes who compete in the city all-star football game in May.