Thomas Ippolite, Sr. of Westville, N.J., a South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and former A-ball pitcher with the Connie Mack Philadelphia A’s, died at home on July 19, 2008, after valiantly fighting a long illness. He was 83.

A lifelong South Jersey resident who earned the respect and admiration of all who knew him, Tom will be remembered by his family and friends for his goodness of heart and generous spirit.

Tom was born in Camden and attended Camden High School. His baseball career began in the 1940’s on the sandlots of South Camden, pitching for the Lower Camden County League and the Penn Mar Team. He could throw a pitch with blinding speed and soon became a prominent pitcher of his era.

“Tom was one of the top pitchers in South Jersey during that time and considered a top prospect by the Philadelphia Athletics,” said his brother-in-law Bob Winters, of Turnersville, a fellow South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame inductee.

Tom’s career was interrupted by military service during World War II, when he served in the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery Instructor with the 764th Field Artillery Battalion. He was awarded an American Service Medal, a Good Conduct Medal and a World War II Victory Medal. Even during wartime, Tom found time to pitch at Fort Hood, TX; Camp McQuade, CA; Camp Breckinridge, KY; Fort Hill, OK; and overseas. One of his most memorable accomplishments was defeating National Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Feller in an exhibition game.

Following his military discharge in 1946, Tom was offered a professional contract by the Philadelphia Athletics. During his minor league career in Lincoln, NE, Tom’s teammates and opponents included such baseball notables as Bobby Shantz, Nellie Fox, Art Ditmar, Carl Sawatski, Gus Bell, Roy Smalley and Roy Sievers. Unfortunately, Tom’s minor league career was cut short in 1949, when an elbow injury brought his pitching days to a close.

For the next 32 years, Tom worked as a dock builder and retired from Local Union 454 in 1982. His work included such local landmarks as the Walt Whitman and Delaware Memorial bridges, the Philadelphia Spectrum, the former Veteran’s Stadium, and Salem Nuclear Power Plant.

He was a member of the American Legion and the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society and a past-member of the Hot Stovers Baseball Club of South Jersey. Tom was inducted into the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. He enjoyed following baseball, the casinos, road trips, yard work, carpentry and spending time with his wife and family

In recent years, Tom became a prolific artist, creating exquisite, one-of-a-kind geometric drawings that dazzle the eye. His work was displayed at the National Arts Program exhibit in Camden County in 2004.

Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to Condolences@GardnerFuneralHome.com.

Garnder Funeral Home, 126 South Black Horse Pike, Runnemede, NJ 08078 (856) 939-2095