FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORT CHESTER, NEW YORK, RESIDENT REVEREND JOHN BLANCO INDUCTED INTO MANHATTAN COLLEGE’S ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Reverend John Blanco, a resident of Port Chester, New York, and a 1953 graduate of Manhattan College, was inducted into the College’s Alumni Society Athletic Hall of Fame on March 27.

Known for his strong bat, Rev. John was the leadoff hitter for the Manhattan Jaspers and held a batting average of .363 in 1952.  He also dominated the field with a .904 percentage as a right-handed third baseman.  Receiving second team All-American honors for these stats, Rev. John was also named to the All-Metropolitan and the NCAA District II teams.  In 1953, Rev. John continued with his strong bat and maintained a .300 average.

Rev. John came to Manhattan after playing semiprofessional baseball.  Ordained a priest in 1964, he earned degrees at Don Bosco College, the Salesian Pontifical Institute in Italy and Tulane University.  Rev. John currently serves as pastor of Mary Help of Christians in New York City.

“John, you brought All-American recognition to Manhattan’s Jasper diamond.  You proved that sharing a love of sport with others teaches lessons that cannot be learned in books.  For this and so much more, Manhattan College proudly welcomes you into its Athletic Hall of Fame,” according to a citation read at the ceremony.  The 25th annual ceremony was held at the College’s Smith Auditorium.

Manhattan College was founded in 1853 upon the Lasallian tradition of excellence in teaching.  Manhattan College is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning that offers more than 40 major programs in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science.

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