Bulbs Ehlers facts for kids
Ehlers in 1948
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 10, 1923 Joliet, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 17, 2013 (aged 90) South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
| High school | South Bend Central (South Bend, Indiana) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 198 lb (90 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Purdue (1942–1943, 1946–1947) |
| NBA Draft | 1947 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Pro career | 1947–1949 |
| Career history | |
| 1947–1949 | Boston Celtics |
| Career BAA statistics | |
| Points | 800 (8.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | Not recorded |
| Assists | 177 (1.8 apg) |
Edwin Sheffield "Bulbs" Ehlers (born March 10, 1923 – died June 17, 2013) was an American professional basketball player. He was 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 198 pounds. Bulbs played as a forward and guard. He was a very special athlete because he was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first-ever 1947 BAA draft (which later became the NBA). He was also drafted by the NFL and signed by MLB teams! Ehlers played two seasons with the Celtics, scoring about 8.1 points per game.
Contents
Early Life and Amazing Sports Talent
Bulbs Ehlers was born in Joliet, Illinois. But he grew up in South Bend, Indiana. While in high school there, he played basketball for a famous coach named John Wooden. Wooden later became a legend in basketball.
After high school, Bulbs went to Purdue University. He was incredibly talented and played three different sports for Purdue! He played basketball, football, and baseball. Not many athletes can play three college sports at such a high level.
Professional Sports Career
Bulbs Ehlers was one of a kind. In 1947, he was chosen by the Boston Celtics as their third pick in the very first BAA draft. This league later became the NBA.
But that's not all! In the same year, the NFL team Chicago Bears also drafted him. They picked him in the 31st round of the 1947 NFL Draft. And if that wasn't enough, the New York Yankees of MLB also signed him to play baseball!
Bulbs chose to play basketball professionally for the Boston Celtics. He played for them for two seasons, from 1947 to 1949. During his time, he showed his skills as a versatile player.
Even though he played basketball, he also spent five seasons playing minor league baseball. He played three seasons with teams connected to the Yankees and two seasons with teams connected to the Chicago Cubs. He mostly played at the AAA level, which is just below the major leagues. Some of the teams he played for were the Kansas City Blues and the Newark Bears.
Family of Athletes
Bulbs Ehlers came from a family of talented athletes. His son, Tom Ehlers, also became an NFL player.
His granddaughters, Emily and Jessica, played college volleyball. Emily played for Purdue University, and Jessica played for Campbell University. His grandson, Scott Dreisbach, played football at the University of Michigan. Scott also spent several seasons playing in the NFL and the AFL.
Hall of Fame Honors
Bulbs Ehlers is very special because he is a member of two different sports halls of fame in Indiana. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980. Five years later, in 1985, he was also inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. This shows how amazing he was at both sports!
See also
In Spanish: Bulbs Ehlers para niños
