Northeast PA Pro Bowl Selections by Year

Written by: Vince Pellegrini on Saturday, January 16th, 2010. Follow Vince Pellegrini on Twitter.

Reported by: Vince Pellegrini

For the first time since 1980, the NFL’s all-stars will not convene in Honolulu instead they will be playing later this month in Miami. On January 31, the NFL’s best will meet in the Pro Bowl at Dolphins Stadium.

However, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area has produced many great football players including a number of stellar offensive linemen. Scranton Central High School’s Mike Munchack was a former first round selection of Houston in the 1982 draft. After starting 156 games at his guard position, Munchack was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. Mike was selected to play in the Pro Bowl nine times including seven straight trips (1987-93).

In the 1951 NFL Draft, did the Cleveland Browns really know who they were getting in Walt Michaels in the 7^th round from little Washington & Lee University? Chances are that they didn’t. Michaels was voted to five straight Pro Bowls (1955-59). He made 133 starts and recorded eleven interceptions over his eleven year career.

Here is a glance at the Northeast Pennsylvanian contribution to the Pro Bowl. Many people compare Youngstown, Ohio to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. Here’s your chance to compare each region in terms of individual National Football League success:

Northeast Pennsylvania High School Pro Bowl Selections by Year

Year	Name	High School	NFL Team	Pos
2000	Tim Ruddy	Dunmore	Dolphins	C
1993	Mike Munchack	Scranton Central	Oilers	G
1992	Mike Munchack	Scranton Central	Oilers	G
1991	Mike Munchack	Scranton Central	Oilers	G
1990	Mike Munchack	Scranton Central	Oilers	G
1989	Mike Munchack	Scranton Central	Oilers	G
1988	Mike Munchack	Scranton Central	Oilers	G
1987	Mike Munchack	Scranton Central	Oilers	G
1985	Mike Munchack	Scranton Central	Oilers	G
1984	Mike Munchack	Scranton Central	Oilers	G
1965	Ed Rutkowski	Kingston	Bills	WR
1964	John Paluck	Swoyersville	Redskins	DE
1963	Lou Michaels	Swoyersville/Staunton Military	Steelers	DE
1962	Lou Michaels	Swoyersville/Staunton Military	Steelers	DE
1959	Walt Michaels	Swoyersville	Browns	LB
1958	Walt Michaels	Swoyersville	Browns	LB
1957	Walt Michaels	Swoyersville	Browns	LB
1956	Walt Michaels	Swoyersville	Browns	LB
1955	Walt Michaels	Swoyersville	Browns	LB
1953	Charley Trippi	Pittston/LaSalle Academy	Cardinals	HB
1952	Charley Trippi	Pittston/LaSalle Academy	Cardinals	QB
1942	Chuck Cherundolo	Old Forge	Steelers	C
	Chuck Drulis	Girardville	Bears	G
	John Siegal	Larksville	Bears	WR
1941	Chuck Cherundolo	Old Forge	Steelers	C
	Al Matuza	Shenandoah/Staunton Military	Bears	C
	John Siegal	Larksville	Bears	WR
1940	John Siegal	Larksville	Bears	WR/DE

Northeast Pennsylvania College Pro Bowl Selections by Year

Year	Name	College	NFL Team	Pos
1942	Enio Conti	Bucknell	Eagles	G
1940	Clarke Hinkle	Bucknell	Packers	FB/LB
1939	Clarke Hinkle	Bucknell	Packers	FB/LB
1938	Clarke Hinkle	Bucknell	Packers	FB/LB
	Stu Smith	Bucknell	Steelers	FB/D