Eddie LeBaron

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Eddie LeBaron
refer to caption
LeBaron in 1958
No. 14
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1930-01-07)January 7, 1930
San Rafael, California, U.S.
Died:April 1, 2015(2015-04-01) (aged 85)
Stockton, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight:168 lb (76 kg)
Career information
High school:Oakdale (Oakdale, California)
College:Pacific (CA) (1946–1949)
Quantico Marines (1950)
NFL draft:1950 / Round: 10 / Pick: 123
Career history
As a player:
As an executive:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts:1,796
Passing completions:898
Completion percentage:50%
TDINT:104–141
Passing yards:13,399
Passer rating:61.4
Rushing yards:650
Rushing touchdowns:9
Military career
Allegiance 
1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment
Battles/wars
Awards
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR
Executive profile at PFR

Edward Wayne LeBaron Jr. (January 7, 1930 – April 1, 2015) was an American Korean War veteran, United States Marine officer, and professional football player. He played as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

LeBaron played

1950 NFL Draft. Following his service in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War, and subsequent honorary discharge, LeBaron started for the Redskins during the 1952 season, winning NFL Rookie of the Year. In 1960, LeBaron became the first starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys,[2] eventually splitting playing time with protégé Don Meredith from the 1960 to 1963 seasons. LeBaron was selected to four Pro Bowls during his NFL career. Following his retirement, LeBaron served as a general manager of the Atlanta Falcons
from 1977 to 1981.

Early years

Born in San Rafael, California,[3] LeBaron graduated from Oakdale High School in Oakdale, northeast of Modesto.

College career

LeBaron enrolled at the

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).

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980,[5] into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2004[6] and was a charter inductee into the Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in October 2010.[7]

LeBaron's #40 worn during his career at Pacific was retired by the University.[1]

Military service

LeBaron as a member of the Marine Corps Reserve during the Korean War, circa 1951.

LeBaron at age 18, joined the

Combat "V" for heroism.[8] He was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant in 1952. Due to his diminutive size, 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m), and leadership skills from his military service, he was sometimes known as the "Littlest General".[9]

While in the Marines, LeBaron played football for the Quantico Marines Devil Dogs, helping lead the team to a 61–21 win over the VPI Gobblers (now known as the Virginia Tech Hokies) in 1950.[10]

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

Professional career

Washington Redskins (first stint)

LeBaron was selected by the Washington Redskins in the tenth round (123rd overall) of the 1950 NFL draft, 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

hall of famer Sammy Baugh in the starting lineup after the fourth game and received All-Rookie honors at the end of the season.[11] The next year, he was limited with a knee injury and also shared the starting position with Jack Scarbath
.

Calgary Stampeders (WIFU)

In 1954, the

NFL
at the end of the year, after the team fired Siemering.

Washington Redskins (second stint)

On December 9,

Washington Redskins.[13] In 1958, he was the league's top-rated quarterback, after completing 79 out of 149 passes for 1,365 yards and 11 touchdowns. He announced his retirement to focus on his law practice at the end of the 1959 season.[14]

LeBaron's 1958 Topps trading card.

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).[15] 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).[15]

Dallas Cowboys

After not being able to participate in the

Washington Redskins in exchange for LeBaron,[16] 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.[17] 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.[18]

LeBaron started 10 of 14 games in 1961, with Meredith starting the other four.[19] He only started five games in 1962, splitting time with Meredith.[20] He started the first game of the 1963 season, but was replaced permanently by Meredith for the rest of the season.[21]

He retired at the end of

touchdowns and being selected for the Pro Bowl four times.[15] He is the shortest quarterback to ever be selected to the Pro Bowl.[22]
He was also known as an elusive scrambler and great ball-handler.

Personal life

LeBaron became a football announcer for

LL.B. degree from George Washington University 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.[24] LeBaron was an avid golfer and continued to play golf in his retirement. He died of natural causes on April 1, 2015.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b RETIRED NUMBERS/JERSEYS at Pacifictigers.com
  2. ^ de la Rosa, Poch (August 23, 2022). "The Life And Career Of Eddie LeBaron (Story)". www.bing.com. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  3. ^ "Eddie LeBaron". National Football Foundation. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  4. ^ "Whatever happened to... Eddie LeBaron". Washington Redskins. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  5. ^ "Greatest Redskins". NFL.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  6. ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees". Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  7. ^ "Sac-Joaquin Section announces inaugural Hall of Fame class". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  8. ^ a b USNI News, April 2, 2015
  9. ^ "FOOTBALL AND AMERICA: The Korean War". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  10. ^ "Leathernecks Trounce VPI; LeBaron Star". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. AP. October 1, 1950. p. 55. Retrieved February 12, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Sammy Baugh, Pigskin Immortal, Set To Retire After One More Game". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  12. ^ "Eddie Lebaron To Play No More For Redskins". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  13. ^ "LeBaron Signs As Expected". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  14. ^ "Le Baron Calls It Quits". Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c Eddie LaBaron. - Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "Redskins Trade LeBaron To Dallas". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  17. ^ 1960 Dallas Cowboys: Passing. - Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  18. ^ "Redskins Finally Win One, 26-14". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  19. ^ 1961 Dallas Cowboys: Passing. - Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  20. ^ 1962 Dallas Cowboys: Passing. - Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  21. ^ 1963 Dallas Cowboys: Passing. - Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  22. ^ "Top 10 Moments in the Giants-Cowboys Rivalry". The New York Times. 14 December 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  23. ^ "THE NFL ON CBS ALL-TIME ANNOUNCERS LIST (Year-By-Year)". CBS Express. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  24. ^ "Whatever happened to... Eddie LeBaron". Washington Times. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  25. ^ "Obituary: Eddie LeBaron, 85, starred at UOP and in NFL". Retrieved February 19, 2016.

Further reading

External links