Temple University Athletics
Temple Mourns Passing of Athletics Hall of Famer Harvey Pollack
6.24.15 | General
PHILADELPHIA - Harvey Pollack, a Philadelphia sports icon and a member of the Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 2001), passed away Tuesday. He was 93 years old.
Known more for his Naismith Hall of Fame career as a NBA statistician, Mr. Pollack was a 1943 graduate of Temple University, and served as a student manager for three different varsity teams.
"Harvey is truly a Philadelphia sports icon," said longtime Temple University staffer Al Shrier. "No one compares to him in terms of the field of sports statistics. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. He will be deeply missed."
Upon graduation he worked as a sports writer for the Philadelphia Bulletin, and then for 20 years in public relations for the City of Philadelphia's Recreation Department.
It was in 1946, however, he found his true calling, as he was hired to work with the Philadelphia Warriors of the Basketball Association of American (later known as the NBA). Six years later, he was named the head of the team's media relations department.
Noted for not only compiling statistics, Mr. Pollack thought outside the box, creating new statistics such as the triple-double.
Mr. Pollack is most remembered for a Warriors game in 1962, when he took the memorable photo of Wilt Chamberlain holding a hand-written sign denoting his record 100 points scored in a game against the Knicks held in Hershey, Pa. It was Mr. Pollack, serving as the media relations staffer, who wrote the number 100 and had the foresight to capture the moment for posterity.
During his NBA career, Mr. Pollack also worked at the college level, overseeing basketball statistics at all six Philadelphia area Division I programs, as well as working on Temple Football statistics. He also spent time in charge of the stats crew for the Philadelphia Wings of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League and the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. Mr. Pollack also served as the head of the stats crew for the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League for 15 seasons.
Outside of sports, Mr. Pollack has served as a reviewer for movies and plays, and has served as a judge for the Mummers Day Parade. He also set a Guiness World Record for wearing a different t-shirt for over 4,000 consecutive days.
Mr. Pollack is survived by two children, Linda Gottfried and Ron Pollack, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 26 at 1 PM at Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael Sacks, 6410 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Known more for his Naismith Hall of Fame career as a NBA statistician, Mr. Pollack was a 1943 graduate of Temple University, and served as a student manager for three different varsity teams.
"Harvey is truly a Philadelphia sports icon," said longtime Temple University staffer Al Shrier. "No one compares to him in terms of the field of sports statistics. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. He will be deeply missed."
Upon graduation he worked as a sports writer for the Philadelphia Bulletin, and then for 20 years in public relations for the City of Philadelphia's Recreation Department.
It was in 1946, however, he found his true calling, as he was hired to work with the Philadelphia Warriors of the Basketball Association of American (later known as the NBA). Six years later, he was named the head of the team's media relations department.
Noted for not only compiling statistics, Mr. Pollack thought outside the box, creating new statistics such as the triple-double.
Mr. Pollack is most remembered for a Warriors game in 1962, when he took the memorable photo of Wilt Chamberlain holding a hand-written sign denoting his record 100 points scored in a game against the Knicks held in Hershey, Pa. It was Mr. Pollack, serving as the media relations staffer, who wrote the number 100 and had the foresight to capture the moment for posterity.
During his NBA career, Mr. Pollack also worked at the college level, overseeing basketball statistics at all six Philadelphia area Division I programs, as well as working on Temple Football statistics. He also spent time in charge of the stats crew for the Philadelphia Wings of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League and the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. Mr. Pollack also served as the head of the stats crew for the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League for 15 seasons.
Outside of sports, Mr. Pollack has served as a reviewer for movies and plays, and has served as a judge for the Mummers Day Parade. He also set a Guiness World Record for wearing a different t-shirt for over 4,000 consecutive days.
Mr. Pollack is survived by two children, Linda Gottfried and Ron Pollack, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 26 at 1 PM at Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael Sacks, 6410 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa.
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