Hawley Pierce facts for kids
| Date of birth: | 1877 |
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| Place of birth: | Cattaraugus Reservation, Erie County, New York |
| Date of death: | Unknown |
Quick facts for kids
Career information
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| Position(s): | Tackle |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| College: | Carlisle Indian School |
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Organizations
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Hawley Pierce was an early professional football player. He played for teams like the Philadelphia Athletics and the Syracuse Athletic Club. He was part of the first National Football League in 1902. He also played in the World Series of Football in 1902 and 1903.
Before becoming a pro, Pierce played for the Carlisle Indian School. This school was in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Hawley Pierce was a Seneca Native American. He was also the brother of another famous football player, Bemus Pierce.
How the Football Pass Changed
A teammate of Hawley Pierce, Howard R. Reiter, claimed he invented the overhead spiral forward pass. This happened when they played for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1902. Hawley Pierce reportedly taught Reiter how to throw an underhand spiral pass.
However, Reiter had short arms. He found it hard to throw the ball far using an underhand throw. So, Reiter started trying to throw the ball overhand. He tried to copy how a baseball catcher throws to second base. After a lot of practice, Reiter found he could throw the ball farther and more accurately this way. This new way of throwing helped change how football was played.
Playing in the World Series of Football
Before the 1902 World Series of Football began, the Syracuse A.C. team signed new players. Their coach, Frank "Buck" O'Neill, brought in three running backs. He also signed Hawley Pierce and his brother Bemus. Other players like Bill Warner and Glenn Warner also joined. Coach O'Neill held daily practices to get the team ready.
Syracuse played against the "New York team" in what was called the first indoor pro football game. Syracuse won, even though New York was expected to win. The final score was 6-0, but touchdowns only counted for five points back then. So, the real score was 5-0, as Pop Warner missed the extra point.
The championship game was on New Year's night against the Orange Athletic Club. Syracuse won again with a score of 36-0. This win made Pierce and the Syracuse team the champions. Hawley Pierce also played for Syracuse in the 1903 World Series of Football.
