Bob Zavarick

• Post by: mcalibrary
• January 11, 2024
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INDUCTEE

Bob was elected to the Hall in 1986 and was unable to attend, We are glad to be able to induct him to our ranks as member of the class of 2003

If Lesanski’s Barber Shop was still located on Third Street In Mount Carmel, one of the conversations might center around who was the best all around athlete to ever graduate from MCA? Without a doubt, Bob Zavarick would be mentioned as a likely candidate. Bob has left his name splattered throughout the record books in football, basketball, and baseball. As the quiet captain of all three sports in his senior year, Bob let his actions on the field speak for themselves.

When Bob graduated in 1978, he was the holder of 48 individual football marks at MCA, including his six touchdown performance against North Schuylkill in 1976. He also returned 6 kicks for touch down in 76 – more than any team in MCA history – and 8 in his career, He is the only player in school history to return kicks for more than 1000 yards in a season and remains the only player to score points in every possible way. His versatility is reflected in the fact that he is still the career interception leader with 21 and managed to punt for a 38.1 yard average. His 54 career TD’s averaged 32.2 yards , while he averaged 9.7 yards each time he touched the football. He was named a first team defensive back by The Associated Press and was selected to play in the Big 33 game. In that game, Robert played both ways – a real rarity in all star competition – and scored on a 56 run from scrimmage as well as an interception in the East’s 28-6 victory.

From the field to the court, Robert never missed a beat. He started for three years for Coach Paul Bartko’s basketball team and along the way became the school’s all time leading scorer with 1,319 points – a mark that still stands today. He had 33 games over 20 points and 5 games over 30, including three in a row. He led the team into district playoffs in 1977 and 1978, while averaging 19 points per game over his career. Bob also has the distinction of scoring the first varsity points in the new MCA gymnasium in 1977 in a win over Berwick as the team remained undefeated at home during that inaugural season..

As if all that wasn’t enough, Bob saved his best for the baseball diamond. As a three year starter for Coach Ed Kaczmarek, Bob led the Tornadoes to three consecutive Schuylkill League Division Titles and the overall championship in 1978. As a shortstop, Robert batted over .500 during his junior and senior seasons and finished his career with a .495 batting average; knocking out 87 hits and 75 RBI’s. He also tossed at least 6 one-hitters during his time on the mound as well as pitching all 14 innings in a 77 playoff loss to Blue Mountain.

Bob accepted a baseball scholarship to the University of Maryland and became a four year starter at shortstop. He batted .356 over his four- year career and was part of a 35 game home winning streak – the longest in the nation at the time. He was fortunate enough to play in a game against the Baltimore Orioles at The University’s Shipley Field. That game included future Hall of Famers Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray, and Cal Ripken.

Bob has worked for Xerox Corporation from 1983-90 and Oce-USA from 1990-93 and currently works for IKON (HQ-Malvern, PA) from 1994 to the present as a Major Account/Federal Sales Manager in Washington, DC.