Buddy Young
No. 76, 22 | |||||||||||||||
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Position: | Halfback | ||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||
Born: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | January 5, 1926||||||||||||||
Died: | September 4, 1983 Terrell, Texas, U.S. | (aged 57)||||||||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) | ||||||||||||||
Weight: | 175 lb (79 kg) | ||||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||||
College: | Illinois | ||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||||||||
Claude Henry K. "Buddy" Young (January 5, 1926 – September 4, 1983) was an American professional
Early years
Young was as impressive on the gridiron as on the track. He received scholarship offers from several schools, including the
These unusual early successes brought the freshman running back national attention. "Not since the days when
Military service
Football, like other aspects of American life, had to endure wartime hardships. Manpower difficulties forced NFL teams to reduce their rosters from 33 to 25. Some colleges ended football programs for the duration. And most college players had their education and playing days interrupted by wartime commitments. Young was no different. In late January 1945, Young was drafted by the
In mid-December, the top two coast service teams met for the championship. In an earlier contest the Fleet City Bluejackets, Buddy's team, had prevailed 7–0. The championship game was played in Los Angeles at Memorial Stadium before 65,000 fans. It was one of Buddy Young's greatest games. After a scoreless first quarter, Young returned a kickoff for a 94-yard touchdown, he ran back another kickoff for an 88-yard touchdown, and took a hand-off from O'Rourke and scampered 30 yards for a third. The Bluejackets won the game 45–28 to complete an unbeaten season.[1] They challenged the unbeaten West Point team, but the cadets refused the invitation.
Young's performance won accolades from players, coaches, writers, and fans. Charlie O'Rourke still talks excitedly about the game and Young's ability. An opponent stated that he had "never seen his equal" and
Rumors circulated that once Young fulfilled his service obligation he would be drafted by the NFL or lured to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to play for the Bruins. Neither proved true. Young returned to the University of Illinois and helped the Illini in the 1947 Rose Bowl, where he was named Co-Player of the Game, after Illinois hammered UCLA, 45–14.
World War II proved a major boon to sports integration. Not only did the war promote the ideals of democracy and fair play, it also gave blacks a chance to showcase their talents on college, semi-professional and service teams. In football, three of the most talented minority athletes during the war years were Bill Willis, Marion Motley and Young. Buddy was one of the first black men to play pro football; he played on teams where he was typically one of two or three black players, and undoubtedly he had his rough spots, but his warm, bubbling personality carried him through, and made him immensely popular.
Professional career
New York Yankees (AAFC)
Young played ten years in pro football. He was one of the special selections awarded to the
Young was recognized with an honorable mention for the Associated Press' 1951 All-Pro Team at safety.[3]
New York Yanks / Baltimore Colts
The Yanks moved to Dallas after the 1951 NFL season, and the franchise lasted one season there. The holdings and the players of the Texans franchise were moved to Baltimore. Young came with the franchise to Dallas and then was one of 11 Texans players who subsequently played for the Colts.[4] Young retired from football after the 1955 season.
Young was a threat at several positions: five times in his professional career, he eclipsed 1,000 all purpose yards, and in 1954, he was selected to the
Later life and honors
Young was the first Colt to have his number retired, 22. In 1964, he was hired by the NFL, joining their scouting and public relations department and becoming the first African-American executive hired by the a major sports league. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968.[5]
In 1970, Young received the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award, which was presented to him at an awards ceremony in Dallas, Texas.[6]
On September 4, 1983, Young died in a car accident at age 57. At the time, he was living in Hartsdale, New York, and was director of player relations for the NFL.[7]
References
- ^ "The Deseret News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Frank Eck, "Four Cleveland Browns on AP All-Pro Football Team," Chillicothe [OH] Gazette, Jan. 8, 1952, p. 10.
- ^ "1953 Baltimore Colts Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Rosen, Ron (September 6, 1983). "Buddy Young, NFL Great, Killed in Highway Wreck". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ "Buddy Young dies in auto mishap". The Day. September 6, 1983. p. 21. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
External links
- Buddy Young at the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
- Part of his life is retold in the 1950 radio drama "The Buddy Young Story", a presentation from Destination Freedom, written by Richard Durham.