Henry Ward Beecher (September 13, 1868 – September 26, 1948) was a college football player and sportswriter.[1] He was the subject of the first American football card, printed in 1888.

Harry Beecher
Beecher c. 1888
Yale Bulldogs
PositionQuarterback
ClassGraduate
Personal information
Born:(1868-09-13)September 13, 1868
Peekskill, New York, U.S.
Died:(1948-09-26)September 26, 1948
Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
Career history
CollegeYale (1884–1887)
Career highlights and awards
  • National championship (1886, 1887)

Henry was son of Henry Barton and Harriet Jones Benedict Beecher. His paternal grandfather was Henry Ward Beecher and one of his paternal great-aunts was Harriet Beecher Stowe. He graduated from Yale University in 1888.

Yale edit

Beecher was a prominent quarterback for the Yale Bulldogs football team of Yale University, called by one writer the school's greatest ever at the position.[2]

1886 edit

He accounted for 33 touchdowns in 1886.[3]

1887 edit

He was captain in 1887.[4] One source lists Beecher as the player of the year.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide. 1905. p. 67. ISBN 9780944786796.
  2. ^ Naismith, James; Gulick, Luther Halsey (1892). Physical Education. p. 56.
  3. ^ Bob Barton (August 2008). "Yale's Beecher: A Forgotten Mr Touchdown" (PDF). College Football Historical Society. 21 (4).
  4. ^ Sally Jenkins (2008). The Real All Americans. p. 106. ISBN 9780767926249.
  5. ^ Claire Walter (1982). Winners, the blue ribbon encyclopedia of awards. p. 685. ISBN 9780871963864.