Ace Parker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ace Parker
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Parker pictured in the Chanticleer 1936, Duke yearbook
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| Born | May 17, 1912 Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
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| Died | November 6, 2013 (aged 101) Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
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Football career |
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| No. 7, 31, 88 | |||||||||||||||||
| Position: | Quarterback Tailback Safety |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 178 lb (81 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Woodrow Wilson (Portsmouth, Virginia) |
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| College: | Duke (1934–1936) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1937 / Round: 2 / Pick: 13 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL/AAFC statistics | |||||||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Baseball career |
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| Shortstop | |||||||||||||||||
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| debut | |||||||||||||||||
| April 24, 1937, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | |||||||||||||||||
| September 4, 1938, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .179 | ||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| RBI | 25 | ||||||||||||||||
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Ace Parker
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| Allegiance |  United States |
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United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank |  Ensign |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Clarence McKay "Ace" Parker (May 17, 1912 – November 6, 2013) was an amazing American athlete. He was a professional player and coach in both American football and baseball. Ace Parker played as a quarterback, tailback, and safety in the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Yanks. Later, he played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the New York Yankees.
Parker was an All-American player at Duke University in 1936. He also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937 and 1938. After his playing career, he became the head baseball coach at Duke from 1953 to 1966. Ace Parker was honored for his skills by being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. He also joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Ace Parker was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. His parents were Ernest and Mabel Parker. He grew up in Portsmouth and went to Woodrow Wilson High School. He graduated in 1933. While in high school, Ace was a star athlete. He played five different sports!
College Career at Duke University
After high school, Ace Parker went to Duke University in 1933. He continued to play many sports there. From 1934 to 1936, he was a star running back for the Duke football team. He did most of the running and passing for his team.
In 1935, he was named a second-team All-American. The next year, in 1936, he was a consensus All-American first-team player. This means almost everyone agreed he was one of the best college football players. He was also one of the best punters in college football. Ace set a Duke school record with a 105-yard kickoff return against North Carolina.
In his final year at Duke, he was the team captain. His team, the Duke Blue Devils, had a great season. They won 9 games and lost only 1. They also won their league title. The team finished ranked 11th in the country.
Ace Parker was also a talented baseball player at Duke. He played for the baseball team in 1935 and 1936. Because of his amazing college career, he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. He also joined the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1963. In 1972, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He was one of the first members of the Duke University Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.
Playing Professional Sports
Ace Parker was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1937 NFL draft. He was the third pick in the second round. At first, Ace didn't plan to play in the NFL. Baseball was more popular back then.
But Ace also played for the Philadelphia Athletics in Major League Baseball starting in 1937. He asked the A's if he could play football too, and they said yes. This made him a true two-sport star! He played both Major League Baseball and NFL football in 1937 and 1938. As a baseball player, he played various infield positions. He hit 2 home runs and had 25 runs batted in (RBI) in 94 games. Ace Parker was one of the first players in the American League to hit a home run as a pinch-hitter in his very first time at bat.
NFL Stardom and MVP Award
When Ace Parker joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937, they were not a very good team. But Ace quickly changed that. He was great at running, passing, and punting. He led the team in passing every year he played for them.
In 1938, he led the NFL in passing yards with 865. In 1940, a famous coach named Jock Sutherland joined the Dodgers. This helped Parker's career even more. That year, he threw for 817 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also ran for 306 yards and caught 2 touchdowns. The Dodgers almost won their division, finishing with an 8–3 record. Ace Parker was named the NFL MVP (Most Valuable Player) for his amazing performance.
In 1941, Parker continued to play well. But his NFL career was put on hold in 1942. Like many other players, he left football to join the Armed Services during World War II. After serving for over two years, Parker returned to the NFL in 1945. He played for the Boston Yanks, but in a smaller role.
In 1946, he joined the New York Yankees of the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Ace Parker led the Yankees to win the AAFC East division. This was his only division title in professional football. The Yankees played against the powerful Cleveland Browns in the championship game. The Yankees played well, but the Browns won. Ace Parker retired after that game, ending his great career at age 34. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1972.
Later Years and Legacy
After he stopped playing, Ace Parker became a coach. He was the head baseball coach at Duke University from 1953 to 1966. He was also an assistant football coach there from 1947 to 1965.
From 1949 to 1952, he managed the Durham Bulls baseball team. He was a player-manager for the first three seasons. He was named the Piedmont League manager of the year in 1949 and 1951. Ace Parker was also one of the people who helped start the Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club in Portsmouth, Virginia.
In 2008, Ace Parker was part of the first group inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame. This hall honors athletes, coaches, and leaders from Southeastern Virginia.
When he passed away, Ace Parker was the oldest living member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also the oldest living former professional football player. He was the last living person to have played on the same major league baseball field as Baseball Hall of Fame member Rogers Hornsby. He also played on the same field as baseball legend Lou Gehrig.
Ace Parker died on November 6, 2013, at the age of 101. He was the first member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to live past their 100th birthday. He is also the only Hall of Famer who played only for teams that no longer exist.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their first major league at bat
- List of centenarians (Major League Baseball players)
- List of centenarians (sportspeople)
