Tony “Buddy” Costello

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  • December 18, 2023
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INDUCTEE

From 1947 to 1949, you could have gotten into a great sports argument discussing the relative merits of Mount Carmel Area running backs. Tornado and, of course, thought Glenn “Bones” Adams was the greatest. Mount Carmel Township fans would fight you over Dave Ficca as the top choice. And Catholic High fans backed off from no one over their choice: Tony “Buddy” Costello. Since the other two have already been inducted, it’s only fair that “Buddy” Costello is inducted tonight.

Buddy was a great open field runner. A tireless two-way player who had a reputation for toughness. Since all three great runners competed for schools now part of the area jointure, it would be fun to imagine a team that had all three in the same backfield.

After high school, he received a scholarship to Fordham University. There, he was teamed with Ficca in the same backfield. Fordham was an outstanding Eastern power then. One of its great rivalries was with the University of San Francisco, with whom they split two games. That U.S.F. team had nine of its starting 11 go on to the NFL. Included were Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson, Joe Scudero, Bob St. Clair, and Ed Brown.

He has eight children and is presently Vice President and Controller of PLM Companies, Inc. in Pleasonton, California.

Categories: 1987 Hall of Fame