Harry Agganis, The Golden Greek Born Aristotle George Agganis in Lynn, Massachusetts, on April 30, 1930, Harry Agganis was the seventh and last child of George and Georgia Agganis, immigrants from the village of Loggonike in Sparta, Greece. Harry's mother called him “Ari” and over the years this nickname became Americanized to “Harry” by his friends. Later on, Harry was affectionately known as “The Golden Greek” in recognition of both his proud heritage and outstanding athletic achievements. By 1948, Harry was a football, basketball, and baseball phenomenon at Lynn Classical High School; seventy-five colleges including Notre Dame tried to recruit the young sensation. Harry's mother - with whom Harry was close - had been widowed in 1946, and Harry wanted to attend a college that allowed him to stay near her while he pursued his academic and athletic goals. Boston University was a perfect fit. Agganis more than fulfilled his athletic promise while attending Boston University, winning awards for his exploits on both the gridiron and the diamond. After his sophomore year, Harry's collegiate career was put on hold when he was activated for the Korean War; he ultimately served fifteen months in the Marine Corps in 1950-51. Never called to Korea, Harry spent his service time at Camp LeJuene in North Carolina, where he played football and baseball and was named Most Valuable Player of the National Baseball Congress tournament in Wichita, Kansas. Harry resumed his collegiate career in 1952 without missing a beat -- on the diamond, his batting average soared to .322 for the season; on the gridiron, he played both offense and defense and also handled kicking duties. An All-American quarterback, he left BU holding school records for passing yardage, touchdown passes, punting average, and interceptions. Harry had long dreamed of becoming a professional athlete; it was simply a matter of choosing which sport to play. As a junior, he turned down a lucrative offer to play football as the number one draft choice of the Cleveland Browns, opting instead to play baseball for the Boston Red Sox as the team's starting first baseman. A left-handed batter, Harry quickly became Boston's best hitter, achieving an impressive .313 batting average. One memorable Sunday in June 1954, he hit a home run at Fenway Park, and then raced up Commonwealth Avenue to receive his Boston University degree. Sadly, a vibrant young life and a promising future were cut tragically short on June 27, 1955, when Harry Agganis died of a massive pulmonary embolism at the age of twenty-five. His legend endures nearly fifty years later, particularly at Boston University and in Boston's thriving Greek-American community. The athletic stadium at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, a public square in his hometown of Lynn, a street on BU's Charles River Campus, and a BU scholarship are all named in his honor. "The Golden Greek" is also memorialized at the Sports Museum of New England at Boston's Fleet Center. Boston University is proud of the new Agganis Arena in the Student Village, the most recent tribute to this extraordinary individual who left us far too soon. Visit the Agganis Arena at Boston University Golden Greek's Story to Hit the Big Screen By Steve Krause, The Daily Item of Lynn - Wednesday, October 26, 2005 LYNN - Harry Agganis, acknowledged at the turn of the century as the region's top athlete of all time, is about to go national. Agganis' legend is well established in Lynn, in surrounding communities, and even in Massachusetts. But now, a Boston film company is teaming up with a pair of nationally renowned directors to tell the story of Lynn's "Golden Greek," who rose to stardom while with Lynn Classical, Boston University and the Boston Red Sox, and then died tragically at the age of 26 of a pulmonary embolism on June 27, 1955. Dream Alley Pictures of Boston is overseeing the documentary, with Jennifer Heffernan of Hingham directing. Her company produced the video presentation that was shown this past June at Agganis Foundation's 50th anniversary fund-raiser at Boston University's Agganis Arena. The directors are Jim Jermanok, whose most recent film, "Passionata," about the Portuguese community in New Bedford, won a two thumbs up from Ebert and Roper; and Yale Strom, who has directed, among other works, a documentary called "The Last Klezmer," about musician Leopold Kozlowski. "I'm pleased to be able to tell the story about Harry Agganis, because his story is one of heart," Jermanok said. "We're hoping that this will be a film released all over the country, and that we can educate the next generation about him." Strom realizes that while the Agganis legacy may be an easy sell in Lynn and the North Shore, the challenge will be to tell the story in such a way as to make an impression on someone elsewhere in the country who hasn't heard of him.  "We hope not to just tell the story of his sports exploits," Strom said, "but to try to get a feel for what it's like to be young, and to be on your way to stardom, and then have it end suddenly.  "We want this to be a film on the human condition," Strom said. Heffernan hopes that the documentary will open the door for a feature length film - which, she says, both Agganis' nephew, Mike, and grandnephew, Greg, would like.  "These types of documentaries, in Hollywood, increase awareness and help spur feature films." Nancy Sheehan of Cohasset, a former sales executive for WESX in Salem, is an associate producer for the project, and she was in charge of lining up many of the childhood friends and former teammates and coaches interviewed for the film.  "This has been a very spiritually fulfilling project," she said. "He was an exceptional human being." The producers hope to tap into, and spread, the legacy that has led to the formation of the Agganis Foundation and its continuing support, through scholarships, of local and Boston-area student athletes; and the weeklong festival of Agganis baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and football games each July. "We're proud to be a part of this," Jermanok said. "And we hope that we can continue to make Lynn proud through Harry Agganis." Joe Pickering, Jr. - songwriter - King of the Road Music "The thought of the Olympic Games being held in Greece stirred my memory of an athlete who some consider one of the greatest all-around American athletes. There are few major league baseball players who could play in the games, but this man could.  Who was he?  Let others who knew him tell you.   The King and Queen of Greece gave this American citizen a crown, an Olympic olive wreath dipped in silver, because of his athletic ability. Johnny Most, the greatest Boston Celtic announcer, thought he ranked right up there with Jim Thorpe, Bo Jackson, and Jackie Robinson.  He once observed him in street clothes and shoes playing Bill Sharman, the Celtic Hall of Famer, and was amazed at his basketball ability. Hall of Fame broadcaster Curt Gowdy said he was one of the finest competitive athletes in the history of all sports. Ted Williams, our Red Sox Hall of Famer, felt he was an All-American on the football field and baseball field and in every way. The Great Penn State Coach Joe Paterno stated he was a phenomenon, and not to be outdone, Notre Dame Coach Frank Leahy said he was the greatest prospect he had ever seen -- and at the time he was only in high school. I could quote many others who live in the great memories of American sports who remember and cherish this man. I personally received an e-mail from the late great Johnny Unitas who commented that he was an outstanding quarterback and outstanding baseball player. So, who was he? He was Harry Agganis, the Golden Greek, and some of his story is told in the song lyric from the CD Baseball Songs Sports Heroes." - Joe Pickering, Jr. www.kingoftheroadmusic.com "No doubt about it, this is the single best collection of original baseball songs in our library. Great lyrics, great music, and a great collection." - Baseball Almanac     Greece -Cafe    wishes to thank The Agganis Arena at Boston University, The Daily Item of Lynn, Joe Pickering, Jr., and The Boston Red Sox     for information posted to this site