George Savisky - 1948-49 Champion Eagle

1948 Champion Philadelphia Eagles football team included George Savisky

Ocean City’s George Savitsky

George Savitsky was one of my Ocean City neighbors, his daughter Lisa was my mailgirl.

I talked with Savitsky when he was honored at the annual Maxwell sports dinner in Philadelphia one year for being a four time college All-American and a two time Philadelphia Eagles champion lineman.

“I’m honored to be in such company,” he said from his Ocean City home before the dinner, where he was slated to sit at the head table with quarterback Randal Cunningham and former coach Art Shell.

Savitsky, originally from Camden, was named to All American teams each of his four years at Pann (44-47), he also played on two world championship Philadelphia Eagle teams (48-49) and lived in Ocean City for 30 years.

Besides being honored by the Maxwell Club, Savitsky was one of twelve players and three coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in New York.

“I was a two-way lineman in those years at Penn,” said Savitsky, “a year older than Chuck Bednarik.”

Bednarik, the last of the two way, offensive and defensive players, went on to play on the Eagles with Savitsky.

“They were the Steve Van Buren years,” he said, “with Tommy Thompson, the one-eyed quarterback who led us to the championships.”

“It’s nice to be remembered after all these years,” said Savitsky. “Gone, but not forgotten. But no one can accomplish things, alone, without team mates, family and friends.”

To be eligible for nomination to the College Football Hall of Fame a player must be out of college for ten years and must have been a first team All American at least one year during his college career. Among the other players inducted with Savitsky were wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff (Florida State), lineman Alex Karras (Iowa) and Heisman Trophy winners Pat Sullivan (Oklahoma) and Steve Owens (Auburn).

“They’re all younger guys,” Savitsky noted. “I’m about the oldest player among those elected, but that’s pretty good company.”

After playing with the Eagles, Savitsky became a dentist, explaining that they didn’t make the kind of money that current players earn, only getting $300 per game.

“I had to raise a family,” said Savitsky, “and I couldn’t do it playing football.”