Bobby Marshall facts for kids
Bobby Marshall in 1905
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| Position: | End | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | March 12, 1880 Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Died: | August 27, 1958 (aged 78) Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Minneapolis (MN) Central | ||
| College: | Minnesota (1904–1906) | ||
| Career history | |||
Baseball career |
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| First baseman / Manager | |||
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| debut | |||
| 1907, for the Minneapolis Lund Lands | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1923, for the All Nations | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Robert Wells Marshall (born March 12, 1880 – died August 27, 1958) was an amazing American sportsman. He was best known for playing football. But Marshall also played baseball, ran track, boxed, played ice hockey, and wrestled. He was a true all-around athlete!
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Bobby Marshall's Early Life
Bobby Marshall was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His mother was Symanthia Gillespie Marshall. His grandfather, Ezekiel Gillespie, was a former slave who became a civil rights leader. When Marshall was in high school, his mother passed away. He started working as a janitor to help support his three younger brothers and sisters.
In 1918, Marshall married Irene Knott. They had four children together.
High School and College Sports
Marshall was a star athlete in high school. He played first base for the Minneapolis Central High School baseball team for three years. His team won the Twin Cities High School championship in 1900 and 1901.
He continued his sports career at the University of Minnesota. He played first base for the university's baseball team in 1904 and 1905. In 1905, he helped his team win the Western Conference Championship.
Marshall also played end for the University of Minnesota football team from 1904 to 1906. In 1906, he kicked a 48-yard field goal to help his team beat the University of Chicago 4-2. This was a big deal because field goals counted for four points back then!
Marshall made history at the University of Minnesota. He was the first African American to play football in the Western Conference. This conference later became known as the Big Ten.
Playing Professional Football
After graduating in 1907, Bobby Marshall played for professional teams in Minneapolis. These teams included the Deans and the Marines.
From 1920 to 1924, Marshall played in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Rock Island Independents, the Minneapolis Marines, and the Duluth Kelleys. He was one of the first two African Americans to play in the NFL, along with Fritz Pollard. This was a very important step for sports history.
Bobby Marshall's Baseball Career
After college, Marshall played third base for the Minneapolis "Lund-Lands" team in 1906. He also played for a team in Lamoure, North Dakota, helping them finish third in their league.
Marshall also worked as a lawyer for a while. But he soon returned to baseball. He played semi-pro baseball for many years before the Negro National Leagues were formed.
In 1908, he played for the Minneapolis Keystones. In 1909, he joined the St. Paul Colored Gophers. He played for and sometimes managed the Colored Gophers until at least 1916. In 1911, Marshall even bought the Colored Gophers team!
He played with famous players like "Cannonball Jackson" and John Donaldson. Marshall even played with the All Nations team in 1923.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1911, Marshall started working for the Minnesota state grain department. He worked there for 39 years!
He also coached young people in football and boxing in Minneapolis. When he retired from his government job in 1950, he was honored at a special dinner. Important people like Minnesota Governor Luther Youngdahl and famous football coach Bernie Bierman were there.
Bobby Marshall passed away in 1958. In 1971, he was honored for his amazing football career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
See also
