Eddie LeBaron

refer to caption

1953 Bowman football card

No. 14

Position:

Quarterback

Personal information

Date of birth:

January 7, 1930

Place of birth:

San Rafael, California

Date of death:

April 1, 2015 (aged 85)

Place of death:

Stockton, California

Height:

5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)

Weight:

168 lb (76 kg)

Career information

High school:

Oakdale (CA)

College:

Pacific

NFL draft:

1950 / Round: 10 / Pick: 123

Career history

Washington Redskins (1952–1953)
Calgary Stampeders (CFL) (1954)
Washington Redskins (1955–1959)
Dallas Cowboys (1960–1963)

Career highlights and awards

All-American (1949)
NFL rookie of the year (1952)
4× Pro Bowl selection (1955, 1957, 1958, 1962)
80 Greatest Redskins
Washington Redskins Ring of Fame

Career NFL statistics

Pass attempts:	1,796
Pass completions:	898
Percentage:	50.0
TD–INT:	104–141
Passing Yards:	13,399
QB Rating:	61.4
Player stats at NFL.com

Player stats at PFR

College Football Hall of Fame

Edward Wayne LeBaron, Jr. (January 7, 1930 – April 1, 2015) was an American football quarterback in the 1950s and early 1960s in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the College of the Pacific. He also was an executive vice president of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

Early years

Born in San Rafael, California,^[1] LeBaron graduated from Oakdale High School in Oakdale, northeast of Modesto.

LeBaron enrolled at the College of the Pacific (now the University of the Pacific) in Stockton as a 16-year-old.^[2] He played college football for the Tigers under Amos Alonzo Stagg and Larry Siemering from 1946 to 1949, lettering all four years and achieving All-American honors as a senior. The Tigers registered an undefeated season (11–0) in 1949, led the nation in total offense (502.9 yards a game), and set an NCAA single-season record of 575 points. LeBaron was a two-way, 60-minute player, as a quarterback on offense, safety on defense, and punter on special teams. He also played one year of baseball for the Tigers as a catcher.

He left the school after re-writing many of the football records: career touchdowns (59), touchdowns in a season (23), longest punt (74 yards), most yardage off interception returns in a game (119), most times leading the team in total offense (3).

Military service

LeBaron was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps reserves while in college and served as a lieutenant in the Korean War after graduation. He was wounded twice and was decorated with the Purple Heart. For his heroic actions on the front lines, he was awarded the Bronze Star. Due to his diminutive size, 5 feet, 7 inches, and leadership skills from his military service, he was sometimes known as the "Littlest General".^[3]

In 2008, he was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Washington Redskins (first stint)

LeBaron was selected in the tenth round (123rd overall) of the 1950 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins, but had to leave training camp to perform military service during the Korean War. At 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), he was one of the shortest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL.

He returned to the NFL in 1952 after a two-year commitment to the United States Marine Corps as a lieutenant, when he was discharged after being wounded in combat. He replaced future hall of famer Sammy Baugh in the starting lineup after the fourth game and received All-Rookie honors at the end of the season.^[4] The next year he was limited with a knee injury and also shared the starting position with Jack Scarbath.

Calgary Stampeders (CFL)

In 1954, the Canadian Football League raided the NFL talent to improve its level of play. LeBaron signed with the Calgary Stampeders along with his Redskins teammate Gene Brito, because his college coach Larry Siemering was named the team's head coach.^[5] He registered 1,815 passing yards, 8 touchdowns and 24 interceptions during the season. He also played defensive back and punter. He decided to return to the NFL at the end of the year, after the team fired Siemering.

Washington Redskins (second stint)

On December 9, 1954, he re-signed with the Washington Redskins.^[6] In his seven seasons with the Redskins he started 55 of a possible 72 games at quarterback (he played in 70 of those 72 games).^[7] He was also the primary punter for his first three seasons with Washington (punting 171 times for a total of 6,995 yards in five seasons).^[7] He was the league's top-rated quarterback in 1958. He announced his retirement to focus on his law practice at the end of the 1959 season.^[8]

Dallas Cowboys

After not being able to participate in the 1960 NFL draft during their inaugural year of existence, the Dallas Cowboys traded their first round draft choice in the 1961 NFL Draft to the Washington Redskins in exchange for Le Baron,^[9] convincing him to come out of retirement to become the franchise's first starting quarterback. He started 10 of 12 games in 1960, with rookie Don Meredith and Don Heinrich starting the other two.^[10] He also scored the Cowboys' first-ever touchdown in their first exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers, on August 6 in Seattle. He set a record for the shortest touchdown pass in league history, with his throw to receiver Dick Bielski from the 2-inch line against the Redskins on October 9, 1960.^[11]

LeBaron started 10 of 14 games in 1961, with Meredith starting the other four.^[12] He only started five games in 1962, splitting time with Meredith.^[13] He started the first game of the 1963 season, but was replaced permanently by Meredith for the rest of the season.^[14]

He retired at the end of 1963, after playing 12 seasons, throwing for 13,399 yards and 104 touchdowns and being selected for the Pro Bowl four times in 1955, 1957, 1958, and 1962.^[7] He is the shortest quarterback to ever be selected to the Pro Bowl.^[15] He was also known as an elusive scrambler and great ball-handler.

Personal life

LeBaron became a football announcer for CBS Sports after his NFL career, and worked as an announcer from 1966 to 1971.^[16] He had obtained a law degree during his off-seasons from football, and practiced law after his football career. He was also the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons from 1977 to 1982 and executive vice president from 1983 through 1985.^[17] LeBaron was an avid golfer and continued to play golf in his retirement.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980,^[18] into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2004^[19] and was a charter inductee into the Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in October 2010.^[20] He died on April 1, 2015.^[21]

References

↑ "Eddie LeBaron". National Football Foundation. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
↑ "Whatever happened to... Eddie LeBaron". Washington Redskins. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
↑ "FOOTBALL AND AMERICA: The Korean War". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19521209&id=Fl0eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OcgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5867,3342766&hl=en
↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19540324&id=gkczAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ou4HAAAAIBAJ&pg=2488,2364513&hl=en
↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19541210&id=QYozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=--4HAAAAIBAJ&pg=4570,1150359&hl=en
1 2 3 Eddie LaBaron. - Pro-Football-Reference.com.
↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19600217&id=RBEwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wQ8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7291,3198740&hl=en
↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19600623&id=DgkvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lE4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5675,2694471&hl=en
↑ 1960 Dallas Cowboys: Passing. - Pro-Football-Reference.com.
↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/redskins/longterm/1997/history/allart/dw1960a.htm
↑ 1961 Dallas Cowboys: Passing. - Pro-Football-Reference.com.
↑ 1962 Dallas Cowboys: Passing. - Pro-Football-Reference.com.
↑ 1963 Dallas Cowboys: Passing. - Pro-Football-Reference.com.
↑ "Top 10 Moments in the Giants-Cowboys Rivalry". The New York Times. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
↑ "THE NFL ON CBS ALL-TIME ANNOUNCERS LIST (Year-By-Year)". CBS Express. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
↑ "Whatever happened to... Eddie LeBaron". Washington Times. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
↑ "Greatest Redskins". NFL.com. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
↑ "Hall of Fame Inductees". Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
↑ "Sac-Joaquin Section announces inaugural Hall of Fame class". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
↑ http://www.sacbee.com/sports/article17120402.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eddie LeBaron.

Eddie LeBaron at the College Football Hall of Fame
LeBaron in The Korean War
From War Hero to NFL QB, Eddie LeBaron Had A Successful Journey

Career statistics and player information from NFL.com • Pro-Football-Reference • Databasefootball.com
Gallery of Eddie LeBaron football cards
Eddie LeBaron at Find a Grave

Washington Redskins 1950 NFL Draft selections

George Thomas Hall Haynes Lou Karras Harry Ulinski Frank Spaniel Gene Pepper Jerry Houghton John Rohde Don Winslow Eddie LeBaron Danny Brown Bill Chauncey Clay Davis Lyle Button Alex Loyd Charlie Justice Jim Cullom Alvin Duke Ed White George Bayer Casimir Witucki John deLaurentis Joe Zuravleff Dick Tilton Art Stewart Earl Roth Ed Lee Ralph Shoaf Johnny Lundin Ben Noppinger

Draft years 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1950 AAFC 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Boston Braves / Boston Redskins / Washington Redskins starting quarterbacks

Hank Hughes (1932)
Jim Musick (1933)
Steve Hokuf (1934)
Pug Rentner (1934–1935)
Bill Shepherd (1935)
Eddie Britt (1936)
Ed Smith (1936)
Sammy Baugh (1937–1952)
Bill Hartman (1938)
Frank Filchock (1938–1939, 1941, 1944)
Jim German (1939)
Roy Zimmerman (1942)
George Cafego (1943)
Jim Youel (1946–1947)
Jack Jacobs (1946)
Tommy Mont (1948)
Harry Gilmer (1949–1951)
Eddie LeBaron (1952–1953, 1955–1959)
Jack Scarbath (1953–1954)
Al Dorow (1954–1956)
Ralph Guglielmi (1955, 1958–1960)
Eagle Day (1960)
Norm Snead (1961–1963)
Sonny Jurgensen (1964–1974)
Dick Shiner (1965)
Jim Ninowski (1968)
Billy Kilmer (1971–1978)
Randy Johnson (1975)
Joe Theismann (1976–1985)
Mike Kruczek (1980)
Jay Schroeder (1985–1987)
Ed Rubbert (1987)
Doug Williams (1987–1989)
Mark Rypien (1988–1993)
Stan Humphries (1990)
Jeff Rutledge (1990)
Rich Gannon (1993)
Cary Conklin (1993)
Heath Shuler (1994–1995)
John Friesz (1994)
Gus Frerotte (1994–1998)
Jeff Hostetler (1997)
Trent Green (1998)
Brad Johnson (1999–2000)
Jeff George (2000–2001)
Tony Banks (2001)
Shane Matthews (2002)
Patrick Ramsey (2002–2005)
Danny Wuerffel (2002)
Tim Hasselbeck (2003)
Mark Brunell (2004–2006)
Jason Campbell (2006–2009)
Todd Collins (2007)
Donovan McNabb (2010)
Rex Grossman (2010–2011)
John Beck (2011)
Robert Griffin III (2012–2014)
Kirk Cousins (2012–present)
Colt McCoy (2014)

Calgary Stampeders starting quarterbacks

Spaith Heath LeBaron Knox Finks Wirkowski Clinkscale Kapp Day Liske Keeling Redell Pisarcik Douglas Sherman Hufnagel K. Johnson Threadgill Dattilio Quarles Vavra Barnes R. Johnson Worman Fodor Kramer Te. Jones Porras Barrett Flutie Garcia Moore Dickenson McCoy Crandell Sankey Feterik To. Jones Burris Gesser Wimprine Smith Tate Glenn Mitchell

Dallas Cowboys starting quarterbacks

Eddie LeBaron (1960–1963)
Don Meredith (1960–1968)
Don Heinrich (1960)
John Roach (1964)
Jerry Rhome (1965–1966)
Craig Morton (1965, 1967–1972)
Roger Staubach (1969–1971, 1973–1979)
Clint Longley (1975)
Danny White (1978, 1980–1987)
Glenn Carano (1981)
Gary Hogeboom (1984–1985)
Steve Pelluer (1986–1988)
Reggie Collier (1986)
Kevin Sweeney (1987–1988)
Troy Aikman (1989–2000)
Steve Walsh (1989)
Babe Laufenberg (1990)
Steve Beuerlein (1991)
Bernie Kosar (1993)
Jason Garrett (1993–1994, 1998–1999)
Rodney Peete (1994)
Wade Wilson (1996)
Randall Cunningham (2000)
Anthony Wright (2000–2001)
Quincy Carter (2001–2003)
Ryan Leaf (2001)
Clint Stoerner (2001)
Chad Hutchinson (2002)
Vinny Testaverde (2004)
Drew Henson (2004)
Drew Bledsoe (2005–2006)
Tony Romo (2006–2015)
Brad Johnson (2008)
Jon Kitna (2010)
Stephen McGee (2010)
Kyle Orton (2013)
Brandon Weeden (2014–2015)
Matt Cassel (2015)
Kellen Moore (2015–present)

Atlanta Falcons general managers

Frank E. Wall (1967–1970) Norm Van Brocklin (1970–1974) Pat Peppler (1975–1976) Eddie LeBaron (1977–1982) Tom Braatz (1982–1985) Harold Richardson (1998–2002) Rich McKay (2003–2008) Thomas Dimitroff (2008– )

Eddie LeBaron—awards and honors

Dallas Cowboys 1960 Inaugural Season Roster

80 Greatest Redskins

21 Terry Allen RB 1995–98
56 LaVar Arrington LB 2000–05
41 Mike Bass CB 1969–75
20 Cliff Battles B 1932–37
33 Sammy Baugh QB 1937–52
31 Don Bosseler FB 1957–64
53 Jeff Bostic C 1980–93
4 Mike Bragg P 1968–79
80 Gene Brito DE 1951–53, 1955–58
43 Larry Brown RB 1969–76
77 Bill Brundige DE 1970–77
65 Dave Butz DT 1975–88
21 Earnest Byner RB 1989–93
84 Gary Clark WR 1985–92
51 Monte Coleman LB 1979–94
53 Al DeMao C 1945–53
36 Chuck Drazenovich LB 1950–59
35 Bill Dudley RB 1950–51, 1953
17 Turk Edwards T 1932–40
44 Andy Farkas FB 1938–44
37 Pat Fischer CB 1968–77
28 Darrell Green CB 1983–2002
68 Russ Grimm G 1981–91
55 Chris Hanburger LB 1965–78
57 Ken Harvey LB 1994–98
56 Len Hauss C 1964–77
75 Terry Hermeling OT 1970–80
27 Ken Houston S 1973–80
70 Sam Huff LB 1964–67, 1969
66 Joe Jacoby T/G 1981–93
47 Dick James RB 1955–63
76 Jon Jansen OT 1999–08
80 Roy Jefferson WR 1971–76
9 Sonny Jurgensen QB 1964–74
22 Charlie Justice RB 1950, 1952–54
17 Billy Kilmer QB 1971–78
26 Paul Krause DB 1964–67
79 Jim Lachey T 1988–95
14 Eddie LeBaron QB 1952–53, 1955–59
72 Dexter Manley DE 1981–89
71 Charles Mann DE 1983–93
58 Wilber Marshall LB 1988–92
73 Mark May T 1981–89
79 Ron McDole DE 1971–78
63 Raleigh McKenzie G 1985–94
53 Harold McLinton LB 1969–78
40 Wayne Millner E 1936–41, 1945
49 Bobby Mitchell FL 1962–68
30 Brian Mitchell RB 1990–99
81 Art Monk WR 1980–93
3 Mark Moseley K 1974–86
29 Mark Murphy S 1977–84
21 Mike Nelms KR 1980–84
52 Neal Olkewicz LB 1979–89
23 Brig Owens LB 1966–77
26 Clinton Portis RB 2004–10
65 Vince Promuto G 1960–70
44 John Riggins RB 1976–79, 1981–85
11 Mark Rypien QB 1987–93
60 Chris Samuels OT 2000–09
83 Ricky Sanders WR 1986–93
76 Ed Simmons T 1987–93
87 Jerry Smith TE 1965–77
60 Dick Stanfel G 1956–58
74 George Starke T 1973–84
72 Diron Talbert DT 1971–80
42 Charley Taylor WR 1964–77
84 Hugh Taylor WR 1947–54
21 Sean Taylor S 2004–07
7 Joe Theismann QB 1974–85
67 Rusty Tillman LB 1970–77
85 Don Warren TE 1979–92
25 Joe Washington RB 1981–84
17 Doug Williams QB 1986–89

Administration

George Allen Head Coach 1971–77
Bobby Beathard General Manager 1978–89
Joe Bugel Offensive Line Coach 1981–89, 04–09
Ray Flaherty Head Coach 1936–42
Joe Gibbs Head Coach 1981–92
Richie Petitbon Defensive Coordinator 1978–92

Washington Redskins Ring of Fame

George Allen Head Coach 1971–77
Cliff Battles RB 1932–37
Sammy Baugh QB 1937–52
Gene Brito DE, 1951–53, 1955–58
Larry Brown RB 1969–76
Dave Butz DT 1975–88
Gary Clark WR 1985–92
Jack Kent Cooke Owner 1961–97
Bill Dudley RB, 1950–51, 1953
Wayne Curry Prince George's County Executive 1994–2002
Pat Fischer CB 1968–77
Joe Gibbs Head Coach, 1981–92, 2004–07
Darrell Green CB 1983–2002
Russ Grimm G 1981–91
Chris Hanburger LB 1965–78
Ken Harvey LB 1994–98
Len Hauss C 1964–77
Phil Hochberg PA Announcer 1963–2000
Ken Houston S 1973–80
Sam Huff LB, 1964–67, 1969
Joe Jacoby T/G 1981–93
Dick James RB 1956–63
Sonny Jurgensen QB 1964–74
Charlie Justice RB, 1950, 1952–54
Billy Kilmer QB 1971–78
Eddie LeBaron QB, 1952–53, 1955–59
Vince Lombardi Head Coach 1969
Dexter Manley DE 1981–89
Charles Mann DE 1983–93
George Preston Marshall Team Founder & Owner 1932–69
Wayne Millner End, 1936–41, 1945
Bobby Mitchell Flanker 1962–68
Brian Mitchell RB/KR 1990–99
Art Monk WR 1980–93
Mark Moseley PK 1974–86
Brig Owens DB 1966–77
Richie Petitbon S 1971-72, defensive coordinator 1981-92
Vince Promuto G 1960–70
John Riggins RB, 1976–79, 1981–85
Jerry Smith TE 1965–77
Charley Taylor WR 1964–77
Sean Taylor S 2004–07
Joe Theismann QB 1974–85
Lamar "Bubba" Tyer Head Athletic Trainer, 1971–2002, 2004–08
Doug Williams QB 1986–89

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