Eddie LeBaron facts for kids
LeBaron in 1958
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
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| Born: | January 7, 1930 San Rafael, California, U.S. |
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| Died: | April 1, 2015 (aged 85) Stockton, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 168 lb (76 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Oakdale (Oakdale, California) |
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| College: | Pacific (1946–1949) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1950 / Round: 10 / Pick: 123 | ||||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Eddie LeBaron (born January 7, 1930 – died April 1, 2015) was a famous American football player. He was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. Before his NFL career, he was a brave veteran of the Korean War. He also played college football at the College of the Pacific. After playing, he became an important executive for the Atlanta Falcons team.
Contents
Early Life and High School
Eddie LeBaron was born in San Rafael, California. He grew up and went to Oakdale High School in Oakdale. This town is located northeast of Modesto.
College Football Star
Eddie LeBaron started college at the College of the Pacific in Stockton when he was only 16 years old. He played college football for the Tigers from 1946 to 1949. He was a great player and earned All-American honors in his senior year (1949).
In 1949, his team had an amazing undefeated season, winning all 11 games! They were the best in the country for how much offense they had, and they scored a record 575 points. Eddie was a "two-way" player, meaning he played both offense and defense. He was a quarterback on offense, a safety on defense, and even a punter for special plays. He also played baseball as a catcher for one year.
Eddie set many records at his college, including most career touchdowns (59) and most touchdowns in a single season (23). Because of his amazing college career, he was put into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980. His jersey number, 40, was retired by the University of the Pacific to honor him.
Military Service in the Korean War
When he was 18, Eddie LeBaron joined the Marine Corps Reserve. When the Korean War started in 1950, he was called to active duty. He became a second lieutenant in the Marines.
In 1951, he was sent to South Korea. He bravely served as a platoon commander during a battle for Hill 673. Eddie was wounded twice during this time. He received the Bronze Star Medal for his bravery and heroism. He was honorably discharged in 1952 as a first lieutenant. Because he was a bit shorter (5 feet 7 inches) but showed great leadership, people sometimes called him the "Littlest General."
In 2008, Eddie LeBaron was honored again by being put into the U.S. Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
Playing for the Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins picked Eddie LeBaron in the 1950 NFL draft. However, he had to leave training camp to serve in the Korean War. When he returned to the NFL in 1952, he quickly became a starter for the Redskins. He even replaced the famous Sammy Baugh in the lineup. Eddie was named the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1952! He was one of the shortest quarterbacks in NFL history, but he proved that size doesn't matter when you have talent.
A Short Time in Canada
In 1954, Eddie played one season for the Calgary Stampeders in Canada. He played quarterback, defensive back, and punter for them. After that year, he decided to return to the NFL.
Back with the Washington Redskins
Eddie LeBaron rejoined the Washington Redskins in 1955. In 1958, he was considered the top-rated quarterback in the league! He completed many passes and threw for 11 touchdowns that season. He played for the Redskins for seven seasons in total. He was also their main punter for his first three years with the team.
Starting for the Dallas Cowboys
In 1960, the Dallas Cowboys team was brand new. They traded for Eddie LeBaron to be their very first starting quarterback. He helped the Cowboys score their first-ever touchdown in an exhibition game. He even set a record for the shortest touchdown pass in NFL history, throwing it from just two inches away from the goal line!
Eddie played for the Cowboys until 1963. He shared playing time with another famous quarterback, Don Meredith.
Retirement from Playing
Eddie LeBaron retired from playing football at the end of the 1963 season. He had played for 12 seasons in the NFL. He threw for over 13,000 yards and 104 touchdowns. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times, which is a huge honor for a player. He is still known as the shortest quarterback ever to be selected for the Pro Bowl. He was also known for being hard to tackle and very good at handling the ball.
Life After Football
After his football career, Eddie LeBaron became a football announcer for CBS Sports from 1966 to 1971. While he was playing football, he also studied law and earned a law degree. He practiced law after he stopped playing.
Later, he became the general manager for the Atlanta Falcons football team from 1977 to 1982. He then served as their executive vice president until 1985. Eddie LeBaron loved to play golf in his retirement. He passed away on April 1, 2015, from natural causes.
Images for kids
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1953 Bowman Gum football card
See also
In Spanish: Eddie LeBaron para niños
