Lenny Moore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lenny Moore

Moore in January 2011
No. 24
Position:	Halfback Flanker
Personal information
Born:	(1933-11-25) November 25, 1933 (age 91) Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	191 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:	Reading Senior
College:	Penn State (1952–1955)
NFL Draft:	1956 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9
Career history
Baltimore Colts (1956)
Career highlights and awards
2× NFL champion (1958, 1959) NFL Most Valuable Player (1964) NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1964) NFL Rookie of the Year (1956) 5× First-team All-Pro (1958–1961, 1964) 2× Second-team All-Pro (1956, 1957) 7× Pro Bowl (1956, 1958–1962, 1964) NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1964) NFL scoring leader (1964) NFL 1950s All-Decade Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor Indianapolis Colts No. 24 retired 2× Second-team All-American (1954, 1955) 3× First-team All-Eastern (1953–1955) Most consecutive games with a touchdown: 18 (tied)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 5,174 Rushing average: 4.8 Rushing touchdowns: 63 Receptions: 364 Receiving yards: 6,039 Receiving touchdowns: 48
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Leonard Edward Moore (born in 1933) is a famous American former professional football player. He played as a halfback and flanker for the Baltimore Colts in the National Football League (NFL) from 1956 to 1967. Before joining the pros, he played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Lenny Moore was named the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1956. He was also chosen for the Pro Bowl seven times during his career. In 1975, he was honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Nicknames

Lenny Moore was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. Even from a young age, he showed amazing athletic talent. He went to Reading High School, where his incredible speed on the football field earned him several cool nicknames.

People called him "The Reading Rocket" and "The Reading Rambler" because of how fast he was. He was also known as "Lightning Lenny" for his unmatched speed. Another nickname was "Spats" because of how he taped his high-top shoes. He made them look like low-tops, and he was one of the first players to show his shoe taping on the outside.

College Football Career

Lenny Moore's speed and athletic skills helped him get a football scholarship to Pennsylvania State University. When he started college in 1952, he was the first person in his family to attend college, which was a big achievement.

Back then, freshmen weren't allowed to play in games. But in his three years on the Nittany Lions varsity team, he was very successful. He scored 24 touchdowns in 27 games. Moore became Penn State's all-time leader in several areas. He had 12 games where he rushed for over 100 yards. He also set records for total rushing yards (2,380) and total all-purpose yards (3,543). In 1954, he set a single-season record with 1,486 all-purpose yards.

Moore in 1954, during his college career

Professional Football Journey

Lenny Moore's amazing performance at Penn State caught the eye of scouts from the NFL. In the 1956 NFL draft, the Baltimore Colts picked him as the ninth overall player.

Moore was a rare talent because he was great at both running and catching the ball. He played as a halfback in the backfield and also as a flanker out wide. He was dangerous in both roles for the Colts' offense, led by quarterback Johnny Unitas. Moore often gained at least seven yards every time he carried the ball in three different seasons. His career average was 4.8 yards per carry.

In 1957, he caught 40 passes for 687 yards and seven touchdowns. This was the first of five years where he would have 40 or more catches. At a time when most NFL teams focused on strong running games, Moore showed a glimpse of the future. He averaged 30 catches per year from the backfield throughout his career.

Rookie Success and Championships

In his first year, 1956, Moore quickly showed he was one of the best all-around runners and receivers in the league. He earned the NFL Rookie of the Year award.

In 1958, he caught a career-high 50 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. He helped the Colts win the NFL championship that year. The Colts won again in 1959, with Moore making 47 catches for 846 yards and six touchdowns.

Overcoming Injuries and Comeback

In 1962, during a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Moore was seriously injured. He was tackled out of bounds and hit an exposed spike used for baseball. This spike cracked his kneecap in two.

He later said he didn't realize how bad it was at first. But when he tried to run back to the field, he couldn't bend his knee. This injury forced him to wear a cast from his ankle to his knee. He missed half of the 1962 season, ending his streak of 73 consecutive starts.

Moore lost his starting position in 1963. But he made an incredible comeback in 1964, having his best season ever. He scored 20 touchdowns, leading the league in scoring. He helped the Colts achieve a 12–2 record and reach the NFL Championship Game. He was named Comeback Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player by other players. This was even more amazing because he played most of the season with problems from appendicitis. This showed how tough he was.

Moore set an NFL record by scoring a touchdown in 17 straight games he played in. This streak started in 1963 and continued through all of 1964, ending in 1965. This record lasted for 40 years.

Facing Challenges and Making a Difference

Lenny Moore played in the NFL during the 1950s and 1960s, a time when African American players faced unique challenges. Most teams had only about six African American players on their roster.

After he retired in 1968, Moore tried to become the first black sports broadcaster for CBS Television, but he wasn't given a long-term contract.

Moore often talks to student groups about his experiences as a black football player. He explains that while he was very close with his teammates on the field, things were different off the field. He said, "We were just like glue. One for all, all for one." But after the game, "they (the white players) went their way, we (the black players) went our way. We split. It was race."

Another NFL player, Ollie Matson, helped Moore by warning him about the challenges he would face. Moore learned to stay strong and focused despite difficulties.

Lenny Moore's Lasting Legacy

Lenny Moore retired from professional football after the 1967 season. In 12 seasons and 143 regular-season games, he scored 111 total touchdowns. He gained 11,213 total yards. He was chosen for seven Pro Bowls and five All-NFL teams.

The Baltimore Colts retired his uniform number 24 to honor him. In 1969, sportswriters named him to the National Football League 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. In 1975, Moore was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also named to the NFL's 1950s All-Decade Team. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Moore 71st on its list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. He is the only player in NFL history to have at least 40 receiving touchdowns and 40 rushing touchdowns.

His retired number is honored at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, where the Baltimore Ravens play. In 2008, Moore was inducted into the East-West Shrine Game Hall of Fame. He was also an honorary captain for Penn State's game against Syracuse in 2009, a special honor for a former player.

Moore retired in 2010 from the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services after 26 years. He worked with at-risk children in middle and high schools, helping them stay on a good path. He also gave speeches to churches, organizations, and youth groups, working to improve the lives of troubled teens. In 2013, a road in Baltimore County was named after him. Moore also does charity work, raising money to fight scleroderma, a disease that affected his son, Leslie.

NFL Career Statistics