- Cliff Battles
-
Cliff Battles No. 20 Halfback / Defensive back Personal information Date of birth: May 1, 1910 Place of birth: Akron, Ohio Date of death: April 28, 1981 (aged 70) Place of death: Clearwater, Florida High School: Kenmore High School Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 195 lb (88 kg) Career information College: West Virginia Wesleyan Debuted in 1932 for the Washington Redskins Last played in 1937 for the Washington Redskins Career history As player:
As coach:
- Columbia University (asst.) (1938-1943)
- Brooklyn Dodgers (1946-1947)
Career highlights and awards - 6× All-Pro selection (1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937)
- NFL 1930s All-Decade Team
- 70 Greatest Redskins
Career NFL statistics as of 1937 Rushing yards 3,511 Rushing average 4.2 Receiving yards 546 Passing yards 590 Total touchdowns 31 Coaching record 4-16 Stats at NFL.com Stats at pro-football-reference.com Stats at DatabaseFootball.com Pro Football Hall of Fame College Football Hall of Fame Clifford Franklin Battles (May 1, 1910 – April 28, 1981) was an American football halfback in the National Football League. Battles was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
Contents
Early life
Battles was born in Akron, Ohio, the son of Frank Battles, a saltworker for Goodrich and Firestone tire companies, and Della Battles.[1] He played high school football at Kenmore High School.[1] Kenmore today honors athletes who carry on Battles' tradition, those who letter in three sports their senior year, with the Cliff Battles Award. Kenmore High School is seated on the corner of 13th Street and Battles Avenue, named after Cliff.[1]
College career
Battles attended and played college football at West Virginia Wesleyan College.[2] His most prominent season was 1931, when he scored 15 touchdowns and had four extra points.[2] The best game of his college career was also in 1931 in a game against Salem College, when he scored seven touchdowns and had 354 rushing yards, 91 kick return yards, and 24 receiving yards, totalling 469.[2]
He acquired the nickname "Gip" (sometimes spelled "Gipp") because of his admiration for Notre Dame back George Gipp, the subject of Knute Rockne’s "win one for the Gipper" speech.[3]
While at West Virginia Wesleyan, Battles won 15 letters in five sports - four each in football and track, three each in baseball and basketball, and one in tennis.[2] While there, he was a Phi Beta Kappa scholar and Rhodes Scholarship candidate.[1]
He was named to the West Virginia Hall of Fame in 1950 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.[2]
While at West Virginia Wesleyan, Battles also played semipro football for the South Akron Awnings under the name of Jones.[1]
Professional career
After college, Battles got many offers from NFL teams including the New York Giants and Portsmouth Spartans, among other NFL teams. But he signed with the Boston Braves (now the Washington Redskins) in 1932, who offered him $175 per game, compared with a high of $150 from the other teams.[3]
In 1932, Battles won the NFL's rushing title as a rookie.[4] He also performed well during the 1933 season and on October 8, 1933, Battles, playing for the newly-named Boston Redskins, became the first player to exceed 200 rushing yard in a game, finishing with 215 yards on 16 rushes and one touchdown against the Giants.[4]
"He was the greatest open-field runner I ever saw.
He didn’t run but seemed to lope along. It was
his natural way of running. Whenever we broke him through
the line, it was almost certain to be a touchdown."Teammate Art Bachtel in the Akron-Beacon Journal
on December 13, 1999, on Battles' running style and ability.[3]In 1937, the Redskins moved from Boston to Washington, D.C. and acquired quarterback Sammy Baugh. For the 1937, Baugh and Battles combined their talents just as everyone had anticipated. During their last regular-season game, Battles scored three touchdowns and the Redskins beat the Giants for the Eastern Division title.[4] In the 1937 NFL Championship against the Chicago Bears a week later, Battles scored the first touchdown in a 28-21 victory that gave the Redskins their first NFL title.[4]
In what would end up being his last regular-season game on December 5, 1937, Battles ran for 165 yards against the Giants at the Polo Grounds. This was the record for most rushing yards for a player in the final regular-season game of his NFL career until Tiki Barber broke the record on December 30, 2006 with 234 rushing yards.[5]
In 1937, Battles was again the league’s leading rusher with 874 yards on 216 carries and won all-league honors for the fifth time in six years. In six seasons, Battles totaled 3,511 yards rushing.[4] A two way threat, he also finished his career with 15 interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
After 1937, Battles hoped for a raise in salary. George Preston Marshall, the owner of the Redskins, refused to pay him more than $3,000 a year (the amount Battles had been paid since his rookie season).[4] Battles chose retirement instead, and left the game as a player at the end of 1937.
Coaching career
After the 1937 season, the Battles accepted a $4,000 job as an assistant football coach at Columbia University coached there from 1938 to 1943.[4] While at Columbia, Battles was also the head coach of the men's basketball team from 1942 to 1943.[6] He then served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.[1] After the war, Battles became head coach of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1947.[1]
After football
After the end of his coaching career, Battles became an associate with General Electric in the Washington Metropolitan Area before retiring in 1979.[3] He died on April 28, 1981 in Clearwater, Florida, and is buried in Parklawn cemetery in Rockville, Maryland.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Cliff Battles". Pro Football Researchers. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/22-03-848.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ a b c d e "Cliff Battles' College HOF Profile". College Football Hall of Fame. http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=30143. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ^ a b c d "Cliff Battles". Pro Football Researchers. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/26-02-1019.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Cliff Battles' HOF Profile". Pro Football Hall of Fame. http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?PLAYER_ID=20. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ^ "Barber rushes for team-record 234 yards in Giants' win". ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=261230028. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ^ "Columbia Lions' Coaches - College Basketball". StatSheet.com. http://statsheet.com/mcb/teams/columbia/coaches. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
External links
- The New York Times: Cliff Battles, 70, Football Player Who Gained Hall of Fame, Dead
- The Redskin Report: Legend Profile: Cliff Battles
- Cliff Battles at Pro-Football-Reference.com
- Cliff Battles at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Columbia Lions men's basketball head coaches No coach (1900–1906) • Harry Fisher (1906–1916) • Carl Merner (1916–1917) • John Murray (1917–1918) • Fred Dawson (1918–1919) • Claus Benson (1919–1920) • Joseph Deering (1920–1925) • Daniel Meehan (1925–1933) • Paul Mooney (1933–1942) • Cliff Battles (1942–1943) • Elmer Ripley (1943–1945) • Paul Mooney (1945–1946) • Gordon Ridings (1946–1950) • Lou Rossini (1950–1958) • Archie Oldham (1958–1961) • Kenneth Hunter # (1961) • Jack Rohan (1961–1974) • Tom Penders (1974–1978) • Buddy Mahar (1978–1984) • Wayne Szoke (1984–1987) • Wally Halas (1987–1990) • Jack Rohan (1990–1995) • Armond Hill (1995–2003) • Joe Jones (2003–2010) • Kyle Smith (2010– )
Pound sign (#) denotes interim head coach.
Cliff Battles – championships, awards and honors Records Preceded by
FirstNFL Career Rushing Yards Leader
1937–1941Succeeded by
Clarke HinklePreceded by
FirstNFL single-game rushing record
October 8, 1933 – November 12, 1950Succeeded by
Gene RobertsWashington Redskins Formerly the Boston Braves and the Boston Redskins • Founded in 1932 • Plays in Landover, Maryland • Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia The Franchise Franchise • History • Seasons • Players • Coaches • First-round Draft picks • Draft • Starting QuarterbacksStadiums Culture Hogettes • Cheerleaders • Chief Zee • Hail to the Redskins • Joe Gibbs • Washington Redskins mascot controversyLore Rivalries Dallas Cowboys • New York GiantsHead coaches Division championships (12) Super Bowl appearances (5) League championships (5) Hall of Fame players All-time leaders Seasons 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 • 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 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 • 2011Current league affiliations League: National Football League • Conference: National Football Conference • Division: East DivisionWashington Redskins 1937 NFL Champions Jim Barber | Cliff Battles | Sammy Baugh | Chuck Bond | Eddie Britt | Vic Carroll | Turk Edwards | Dixie Howell | Don Irwin | Ed Justice | Ed Kahn | Jim Karcher | Ed Kawal | Henry Krause | Max Krause | Charley Malone | Bob McChesney | Ed Michaels | Wayne Millner | Les Olsson | Nelson Peterson | Erny Pinckert | Ben Smith | George Smith | Riley Smith | Bill Young
Head Coach Ray Flaherty70 Greatest Redskins 21 Terry Allen RB 1995-98 • 41 Mike Bass CB 1969-75 • 20 Cliff Battles B 1932-37 • 33 Sammy Baugh QB 1937-52 • 31 Don Bosseler B 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 • 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 • 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 • 65 Vince Promuto G 1960-70 • 44 John Riggins RB 1976-79, 1981-85 • 11 Mark Rypien QB 1987-93 • 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 • 84 Hugh (Bones) Taylor E 1947-54 • 42 Charley Taylor WR 1964-77 • 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 •
Coaches
George Allen Head Coach 1971-77 • Ray Flaherty Head Coach 1936-42 • Joe Gibbs Head Coach 1981-92 •NFL's 1930s All-Decade Team Earl "Dutch" Clark | Arnie Herber | Cecil Isbell | Cliff Battles | John McNally | Beattie Feathers | Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans | Ken Strong | Clarke Hinkle | Bronko Nagurski | Bill Hewitt | Don Hutson | Wayne Millner | Gaynell Tinsley | George Christensen | Frank Cope | Turk Edwards | Bill Lee | Joe Stydahar | Ox Emerson | Dan Fortmann | Charles Goldenberg | Russ Letlow | Mel Hein | George Svendsen
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1968 Cliff Battles • Art Donovan • Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch • Wayne Millner • Marion Motley • Charley Trippi • Alex WojciechowiczCategories:- 1910 births
- 1981 deaths
- American basketball coaches
- American football running backs
- American military personnel of World War II
- Boston Braves (NFL) players
- Boston Redskins players
- College Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Columbia Lions football coaches
- Columbia Lions men's basketball coaches
- People from Akron, Ohio
- Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Washington Redskins players
- West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football players
- West Virginia Wesleyan College alumni
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