Charlie Manuel, Phillies 2008 World Series-winning manager, is PSWA’s Most Courageous Sportsperson of 2024, plus more honorees
The highlight of every Philadelphia Sports Writers Awards Banquet and Dinner is the announcement of our Most Courageous Sportsperson of the Year.
In 2025, the PSWA will recognize 2008 Phillies World Series Champion manager Charlie Manuel.
Manuel, who just turned 81, has returned to work with the Phillies as special advisor to the general manager and, in 2025, will be in his 63rd season of professional baseball, doing so after suffering a stroke during an unrelated surgery back in September, 2023. His road back to baseball has been challenging but he’s done it with the winning attitude that only Charlie Manuel can display.
Manuel will receive the Most Courageous Sportsperson of the Year Award at the 120th PSWA Banquet on Thursday, January 16, 2025, and address the crowd at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, NJ. Tickets to the event are now SOLD OUT!
Among other honorees that night will be the PSWA’s Living Legend, former Phillies owner Bill Giles. His keen insight and ability to draw fans to the ballpark revolutionized Major League Baseball and helped make Phillies games a destination for Philadelphia sports fans. Giles is being honored for his lifetime of work in baseball and of course, in particular his many legendary years with the Phillies.
A Living Legend Team will also be celebrated at this year’s banquet: the 1984 and ’85 USFL Champion Philadelphia Stars who will be represented by GM Carl Peterson, and several former players including but not limited to quarterback Chuck Fusina, wide receiver Scott Fitzkee and tight end Ken Dunek. More former players will be announced.
The PSWA’s 2024 Team of the Year is the Saint Joseph’s University field hockey squad which reached the NCAA Division I Championship Game, making its first-ever appearance in the title game after an amazing upset of No. 1-ranked North Carolina in the national semifinals. The Hawks fell in the title game to Northwestern but it was a historic campaign.
Philadelphia hockey legend Bob Kelly will be recognized on the 50th anniversary of his Stanley Cup-clinching goal, 11 seconds into the third period of Game 6 of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals as the Flyers dropped the Buffalo Sabres, four games to two to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.
The PSWA will recognize its Amateur Athlete of the Year, Iowa women’s basketball standout and eventual WNBA Rookie of the Year, Caitlin Clark. Unfortunately, Clark has a scheduling conflict and cannot join us in Cherry Hill on Jan. 16.
Since 2016, the PSWA has given out the Bill Campbell Award, recognizing excellence in broadcasting. This year, the honor goes to NBC Sports Philly’s ubiquitous host of pregame and postgame shows, Michael Barkann whose been a staple of sports television in Philadelphia since NBC Sports Philly started as Comcast SportsNet on October 1, 1997.
The Philly Sports Writers Association has also given out its Stan Hochman Award since 2016, recognizing excellence in Philadelphia sports writing. This year’s award will be presented to Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer Matt Breen, a Temple University and Archbishop Ryan High School graduate. On Jan. 7, Breen was named the National Sports Media Association’s Pennsylvania Sports Writer of the Year. So there’s lots to celebrate with Matt!
The PSWA will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the historic 1974 Henley Royal Regatta win of the Holy Spirit High School (NJ) rowing team.
Being honored with a special achievement award is Arcadia University women’s ice hockey coach Kelsey Koelzer. A trailblazer, she’s in her fourth season behind the bench for the Knights and is the first Black woman to serve as the head coach of an NCAA women’s ice hockey team. Koelzer is a Horsham, Pa., native and graduate of Hatboro-Horsham High School.The PSWA’s Pro Athlete of the Year is Saquon Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles running back who became the ninth NFL ball carrier in league history to reach the 2,000-yard rushing plateau on Sunday, Dec. 29, in his team’s 41-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Barkley, signed as a free-agent from the New York Giants in March or 2024, needs 101 rushing yards in the Eagles season finale, Jan. 5, 1 p.m., at Lincoln Financial Field against his former team. With the NFC East Division champion Eagles in the playoffs, Barkley is not likely to appear with the Eagles in the postseason but has sent the PSWA a video acceptance speech..
The Sports Writers have selected Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber as the recipient of their Ed Snider Humanitarian of the Year Award. Schwarber, the Phillies 2023 and 2024 nominee for Major League Baseball’s Roberto Clemente Award primarily for his work with Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes — which started in 2017 “to express gratitude for the unique sacrifices of first responders and their families by creating positive experiences, as well as funding wellness, education and crisis needs for first-responder families.” The program has raised more than $1 million in grants since its inception, including more than $600,000 since he joined the Phillies in 2022. Schwarber will accept his award via video.
The association’s Good Guy is Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey. Maxey was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career in 2024 and has quickly become a fan favorite thanks to his indomitable energy and infectious enthusiasm for the game.
More award winners and honorees will be announced soon.