Red Badgro

Red Badgro
No. 17
Position: End
Defensive end
Personal information
Date of birth: December 1, 1902
Place of birth: Orillia, Washington
Date of death: July 13, 1998 (aged 95)
Place of death: Kent, Washington
Career information
College: Southern California
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 35
Receiving yards: 560
Touchdowns: 7
Stats at NFL.com
Red Badgro
Outfielder
Born: December 1, 1902
Orillia, Washington
Died: July 13, 1998 (aged 95)
Kent, Washington
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 20, 1929 for the St. Louis Browns
Last MLB appearance
September 18, 1930 for the St. Louis Browns
Career statistics
Batting average .257
Home Runs 2
Runs batted in 45
Teams
  • St. Louis Browns (1929–1930)

Morris Hiram "Red" Badgro (December 1, 1902 in Orillia, Washington July 13, 1998 in Kent, Washington) was a multi-sport athlete, best known as a professional American football end in the National Football League for the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Badgro also played two seasons with the St. Louis Browns.

He graduated from the University of Southern California, where he became a member of the Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.[1] He also played basketball in college, earning first-team All-Pacific Coast Conference honors in 1927.

Professional football career

Badgro was highly regarded as a sure-tackling defender and an effective blocker on offense but he was also a talented receiver. In 1934, he tied for the NFL's pass-catching crown with 16 receptions, a significant number in those defense-dominated days when most NFL teams concentrated on grind-it-out football. He also had the distinction of being the first player to score a touchdown in the NFL championship series that began in 1933.[2]

Badgro made many other key catches that were converted into Giants victories, including a 15-yard reception that was a key play in a long drive for the game’s only score in a 3-0 New York divisional title win. Badgro had his big defensive moments as well. Playing against the Boston Redskins in 1935, Red blocked a punt and returned it for a go-ahead touchdown.

He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981, becoming the oldest player elected at age 78,[3] a record held till Jack Butler was elected in 2012 at age 83.

Professional baseball career

Badgro retired after one year with the NFL's 1927 New York Yankees to play baseball. After spending the 1928 season in the minor leagues, Badgro played two seasons as a right fielder for the St. Louis Browns in the 1929 and 1930 seasons.

References

External links