9:00 p.m. EST

January 21, 1997

   ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Bernard C. "Bert" Kuczynski, a Philadelphia native who in 1943 became the first to play pro baseball and football during the same season, has died. He was 77.

   The Allentown resident died Sunday at Sacred Heart Hospital. In 1943, Kuczynski, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics and played football for the Detroit Lions. Three years later, he played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

   He went on to teach history for 27 years before retiring. As a high school football coach from 1953 to 1964, Kuczynski had nine winning seasons in football and won two Lehigh Valley League titles. He also coached baseball from 1961 to 1972.

   He is survived by a daughter, Donna Eck of Catasauqua, and a sister, Jenny Kafel of Bensalem. 

   Services were scheduled Thursday at the John H. Brubaker Funeral Home in Catasauqua.