Friday, June 17, 2011

San Pedro Sportswalk

Ever wonder about those triangular bronze plaques embedded in the sidewalk along 6th Street in San Pedro, between Centre St and the harbor? They display names like Tracy Austin, Louis Zamperini, and Jim Thorpe, so I assumed that local--meaning South Bay--sports heroes were being honored. I was close. Most honorees are from the South Bay area, but some have a college or pro connection to Los Angeles instead.

In 1978, Councilman John Gibson came up with the "San Pedro Sportswalk to the Waterfront" to pay tribute to local athletes, or athletes wth a connection to Los Angeles. There's a list of all the Inductees here.

The San Pedro Magazine says the old Trani's Majestic Cafe was a big hangout for sports stars.  Since that restaurant opened in 1925, I'm not gonna argue. The current and fourth J. Trani's is on 9th Street, but my guess is that the first restaurant was on 6th, near where the Sportswalk is now.

The funding/sponsorship for the Sportswalk fizzled after twenty years, but bounced back in 2004. Tony Rodich, who had been on the Sportswalk Committee (of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce) back in the 1990s had a brainstorm: Start it up again with a posthumous award to Pat Tillman.

Tillman was such a hero, no real local connection was needed. Tillman's family supported the idea, and it turned into an annual award given to an athlete who showed exemplary courage--professional or not. Pat Tillman, Sr. comes every year for the ceremony. Louis Zamperini has been awarded, as has Joe Anzack, a football player from South High in Torrance who who was killed in Iraq. Here's a list of other awardees.

As for the regular Sportswalk heroes, I am surprised at some of the L.A. connections. Sparky Anderson? Turns out he went to high school in L.A. Sugar Ray Robinson retired here and started his foundation for youth in Los Angeles. Marty McSorley played hockey for the Kings, but didja know he lives in Hermosa Beach?

For footballer John Brodie and boxer Andy Heilman, though, I draw a blank. Anyone?

4 comments:

Will Campbell said...

There's a stretch of Sunset Boulevard sidewalk through Echo Park that features easily overlooked inset plaques recognizing notable sports figures across history. It's called "Avenue of Athletes" and I'd guess it was installed in 1984 for the summer games.

Barry said...

John Brodie played in the PGA Seniors Tour. John scored his first and only Tour win at the Pacific Golf Classic 1992 at Rancho Park in Los Angeles. He was a member of the La Quinta Country Club. John was also part of the Church of Scientology based in LA. I assume that these are the links.
Andy Heilman the boxer was based in Los Angeles for almost all of his 1962 through 1970 career and most of his fights were in LA at the Olympic Auditorium or in Santa Monica at the Civic Auditorium.

Vickey Kall said...

Thanks so much for that information! Google didn't help me, but you did--

Vickey Kall said...

Thanks so much for that information! Google didn't help me, but you did--