Red Grange biography
Red Grange, byname of Harold Edward Grange, (born June 13, 1903, Forksville, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died January 28, 1991, Lake Wales, Florida), American collegiate {and professional} gridiron soccer participant and broadcaster who was an excellent halfback, recognized for spectacular lengthy runs that made him one of the crucial well-known gamers of the twentieth century. He was an necessary affect in popularizing skilled soccer.
Grange was a star soccer participant at Wheaton (Illinois) High School earlier than getting into the University of Illinois in 1922. There he performed soccer through the 1923–25 seasons and was chosen as an All-American halfback every season. He grew to become a nationwide idol in 1924 when he turned in one of the crucial sensational single-day performances by an athlete in sports activities historical past. Against a extremely rated Michigan crew, Grange ran for touchdowns of 95, 67, 56, and 44 yards within the first quarter of play. In the second half he scored a fifth landing and threw a landing cross in a 39–14 Illinois victory. Grange was nicknamed the “Galloping Ghost” for his blinding velocity and elusive operating model.
The following yr Grange delivered one other spectacular efficiency within the East, the place some sportswriters questioned his means in addition to the standard of Midwestern soccer. He led Illinois to a 24–2 victory over Pennsylvania, scoring three touchdowns and gaining 363 yards. After his final faculty sport in 1925, Grange dropped out of college and signed knowledgeable contract with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Amid a lot controversy over his choice to go away college and turn out to be knowledgeable athlete, Grange drew large crowds to the Bears’ ultimate video games that NFL season and on an prolonged barnstorming tour. He demonstrated the potential for the expansion of professional soccer, a sport that was not extremely regarded on the time by many sports activities followers.
In 1926 Grange performed for the New York Yankees within the American Football League, which he and his agent, Charles C. Pyle, based. The league folded after one season, and the Yankees joined the NFL in 1927. Early that season Grange sustained a critical knee harm, and he sat out the 1928 season; he then returned to play for the Chicago Bears (1929–34). After his harm Grange was now not the explosive runner he had been, however he remained a number one rusher within the NFL for a lot of seasons and was additionally a superb defensive again.
After his retirement from soccer, Grange grew to become the primary well-known athlete to turn out to be a profitable radio and tv broadcaster, with a profession that spanned 25 years (1934–69). Grange was a constitution member of each the College Football Hall of Fame (1951) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963)