Athletes - Red Badgro

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	Athletes - Red Badgro

Morris Hiram "Red" Badgro (December 1 1902 - July 13 1998) was a professional football player for the New York Giants. In 1981, Badgro, at the age of 78, became the oldest person elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame up to that time. The 45-year span between his final game with the National Football League's 1936 Brooklyn Dodgers and his election also was a record. The Badgro saga is even more unusual in that he wasn't even sure he wanted to play pro football and, in fact, retired after one year with the NFL's 1927 New York Yankees to give pro baseball a try. Badro graduated from the University of Southern California.

Badgro played in the major leagues for two years with the St. Louis Browns but eventually decided to give pro football another look. The football Yankees had folded, so he signed with the New York Giants. During his six-year tenure with the Giants that began in 1930, the team was a solid championship contender every year, and Badgro, a two-way end, was one of the most honored stars. He was named to an all-league first- or second-team in 1930, 1931, 1933, and 1934.

Badgro, who was born in Orillia, WA, was highly regarded as a sure-tackling defender and an effective blocker on offense but he was also a talented wide receiver. In 1934, he tied for the NFL's pass-catching crown with 16 receptions, a significant number in those defense-dominated days when most NFL teams concentrated on grind-it-out football. He also had the distinction of being the first player to score a touchdown in the NFL championship series that began in 1933.

Badgro made many other key catches that were converted into Giants victories, including a 15-yard reception that was a key play in a long drive for the game’s only score in a 3-0 New York divisional title win. Badgro had his big defensive moments as well. Playing against the Boston Redskins in 1935, Red blocked a punt and returned it for a go-ahead touchdown. Badgro passed away at the age of 95.

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