Ernie Caddel
Corcoran (CA) | |
College: | Stanford |
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Position: | Running back |
Career history | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Career NFL statistics | |
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Ernest Wiley Caddel (March 12, 1911 – March 28, 1992) was an
Early years
Caddel was born in Granite, Oklahoma in 1911 and was raised near Fresno, California.[1]
Stanford
Caddel was given the name "Ee-Dub" after his father's initials E.W., as was the custom in those days. He enrolled at
As a senior in 1932, Caddel starred for Stanford in September and October.
Professional football
After graduating from Stanford, Caddel played professional football in the National Football League for six years from 1933 to 1938. Caddel was 6 feet, 2 inches, and weighed 190 pounds during his football playing career. With blonde, curly hair and "a beach-boy tan," he was "a striking figure in the Midwest" and became known as the "Blond Antelope."[1]
Caddel began his professional football career in 1933 with the Portsmouth Spartans in Portsmouth, Ohio.[8] He ran 82 yards for a touchdown on his first carry for the Spartans.[1] Caddel accumulated 393 yards from scrimmage for the Spartans in 1933 and scored five touchdowns.[8] As a rookie, he led the NFL in receiving touchdowns with three and finished second in the league with an average of 5.2 yards per touch.[9]
In 1934, the Spartans were sold, and the new owner moved the team to Detroit, Michigan, and renamed them the Detroit Lions. Caddel started all 12 games and helped the Lions post a 10-3 record in their inaugural season.[10] He was among the NFL leaders in 1934 with 655 yards from scrimmage (4th in the NFL), an average of 5.7 yards per touch (4th in the NFL), and 528 rushing yards (5th in the NFL).[11]
As a third-year player, Caddel was both the leading rusher and the leading receiver for the 1935 Detroit Lions team that won the 1935 NFL Championship.[12] He was also the second leading passer for the 1935 Lions with 169 passing yards.[12] Caddel also led the NFL in 1935 in all-purpose yards (621), rushing touchdowns (6), yards per rushing attempt (5.2), and yards per touch (6.4).[13] He also finished second in the NFL with 450 rushing yards.[13]
Caddel remained one of the NFL's leading players in 1936. He accumulated 730 yards from scrimmage, third best in the NFL, and led the league with an average of 6.6 yards per touch and 6.4 yards per rushing attempt.[14] His total of 19 pass receptions was also good for third best in the NFL during the 1936 season.[14]
Caddel was the first player in NFL history to finish among the top 10 players in the league in both rushing and receiving yards.[15] He accomplished the feat in 1934 and again in 1936. The next player to twice rank in the top 10 in both categories was Frank Gifford in 1956 and 1957.[15]
In 1937, Caddel led the NFL for the third consecutive year in yards per rushing attempt with an average of 5.6 yards per carry.[16]
Later years
After retiring from football, Caddel operated an automobile dealership, Caddel Chevrolet, in Roseville, California, for 42 years. He became known for his charismatic personality and for starring in light-hearted TV commercials" with "The Roseville Gang."[1] He died due to complications Alzheimer's in Roseville in 1992 at age 81, possibly brought on by head trauma from his years with the Lions.[1]
During his early Spartan years, Caddel met his wife Nell Margaret Gableman, the daughter of Portsmouth's mayor. When they moved to Detroit, during the off-season, Caddel built cars in GM factory. General Motors noted his personality and good looks, and promoted him to sales. They had a daughter, Trudy Frances, and a granddaughter, noted vocalist Connie Champagne née Kelly Brock.[17]
References
- ^ a b c d e Mark McDermott (January 18, 1998). "GLORY ON THE GRIDIRON FROM ERNIE CADDEL TO JIM OTTO TO JIM BREECH, AREA PLAYERS HAVE LEFT THEIR MARKS ON THE NFL". The Sacramento Bee. p. C.1.
- ^ "STANFORD WINS 32-6 CONTEST: Versatile Attack Of Californians Crushes Dartmouth Eleven". The Sun, Baltimore, Md. November 29, 1931.
- ^ "Old Pop Warner's Strategy Is Too Much For Indian". The Lewiston Daily. November 30, 1931.
- ^ "Caddel Stars As Stanford Defeats Dons". San Jose News. September 23, 1932.
- ^ Richard C. Wilson (October 21, 1932). "Troy To Oppose Powerful Card Team Tomorrow". Berkeley Daily Gazette (UP story).
- ^ ISBN 1-58261-910-7.
- ^ "Players Mark Time Awaiting Opening Shot". San Jose News. October 21, 1932.
- ^ a b "Ernie Caddel". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ "1933 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ "1934 Detroit Lions". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ "1934 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ a b "1935 Detroit Lions". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ a b "1935 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ a b "1936 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ a b Dick Kelly (December 10, 1964). "Spotlight on Sports". The Daily Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland.
- ^ "1937 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ "Home". conniechampagne.com.