Charley Trippi
Encyclopedia
Charles Louis Trippi is a former professional American football
player for the Chicago Cardinals. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1968.
Mr. Trippi currently resides in Athens, Georgia
. The football stadium at Pittston Area High School (Pittston, Pennsylvania) is named "Charley Trippi Stadium" in his honor.
and was a two-time All-America
selection. He played for Georgia in 1942 along side Heisman winner Frank Sinkwich
. Georgia finished the season 11-1 and were named consensus national champions. He was named Most Valuable Player in the 1943 Rose Bowl
in Georgia's 9-0 victory over UCLA. After his college career was interrupted by World War II
, he completed his career at Georgia by playing in 1945 and 1946. He won the Maxwell Award
in the 1946 season. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
Trippi graduated from the University of Georgia in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science
in Education and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1959. He was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
in 1965. In 2007, he was ranked #20 on ESPN's Top 25 Players In College Football History list.
and AAFC
. The AAFC's New York Giants (AAFC) were sure they had signed Trippi, but Charles W. Bidwill Sr.
of the Cardinals signed Trippi to a four year contract worth $100,000.
Trippi's addition completed Bidwill’s quest for a "Dream Backfield." Although Bidwill did not live to see it, Charley became the game breaker in a talented corps that included Paul Christman
, Pat Harder
, Marshall Goldberg
and, later, Elmer Angsman
.
Never was Trippi more magnificent than in the 1947 NFL Championship Game when the Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles
, 28-21. Playing on an icy field in Chicago, Charley wore basketball shoes for better traction and totaled 206 yards, including 102 yards on two punt returns. He scored touchdowns on a 44-yard run and a 75-yard punt return.
Trippi played as a left halfback for four seasons before switching to quarterback for two seasons. He then moved back to offensive halfback for one season before switching over to play defense in 1954 and 1955. He was also the Cardinals' punter and he excelled on special teams.
He is the only player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with 1000 yards of receiving, 1000 yards passing, and 1000 yards rushing (two other players that are not in the hall of fame--George Taliaferro
and Bob Hoernschemeyer--have that distinction as well)
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player for the Chicago Cardinals. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1968.
Mr. Trippi currently resides in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
. The football stadium at Pittston Area High School (Pittston, Pennsylvania) is named "Charley Trippi Stadium" in his honor.
College years
Trippi attended the University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
and was a two-time All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
selection. He played for Georgia in 1942 along side Heisman winner Frank Sinkwich
Frank Sinkwich
Frank Francis Sinkwich Sr. won the 1942 Heisman Trophy as a player for the University of Georgia, making him the first recipient from the Southeastern Conference. In the course of a brief but celebrated career in professional football, Sinkwich was selected for the National Football League Most...
. Georgia finished the season 11-1 and were named consensus national champions. He was named Most Valuable Player in the 1943 Rose Bowl
1943 Rose Bowl
The 1943 Rose Bowl game, played on January 1, 1943 was the 29th Rose Bowl game. The University of Georgia Bulldogs defeated the UCLA Bruins 9-0. The game returned to the Rose Bowl stadium after being played at Duke Stadium the year before...
in Georgia's 9-0 victory over UCLA. After his college career was interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he completed his career at Georgia by playing in 1945 and 1946. He won the Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
in the 1946 season. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
Family
Trippi lives in Athens, Georgia with his second wife, Margaret. He had three children, Charles Jr., Brenda, and Jo Ann with his first wife, Virginia, who died in 1971. Charley Trippi's grandson, Nick Trippi, also resides in Athens, GA where he is the head of security and surveillance at The Loft.Trippi graduated from the University of Georgia in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Education and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1959. He was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is located in Macon, Georgia. It is the largest state sports hall of fame in America at .-Exhibitions:The Hall of Fame houses over of exhibit space broken down into sections including Hall of Fame Inductees, High School, collegiate sports, Olympic, Paralympic,...
in 1965. In 2007, he was ranked #20 on ESPN's Top 25 Players In College Football History list.
NFL career
Trippi was a big part in the battling between the NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and AAFC
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
. The AAFC's New York Giants (AAFC) were sure they had signed Trippi, but Charles W. Bidwill Sr.
Charles Bidwill
Charles W. Bidwill , sometimes known as Charley Bidwill, was an owner of the NFL's Chicago Cardinals. He owned the team for 14 seasons from 1933 until 1947. His interest in sports was demonstrated by his two aims in life: to win an NFL Championship and the Kentucky Derby...
of the Cardinals signed Trippi to a four year contract worth $100,000.
Trippi's addition completed Bidwill’s quest for a "Dream Backfield." Although Bidwill did not live to see it, Charley became the game breaker in a talented corps that included Paul Christman
Paul Christman
Paul Joseph Christman was an American football player and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He played college football for the University of Missouri and professionally for the Chicago Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.-Collegiate career:A St...
, Pat Harder
Pat Harder
Marlin M. "Pat" Harder was a college and professional football player, playing fullback and kicker. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993....
, Marshall Goldberg
Marshall Goldberg
Marshall Goldberg was an American football halfback with the Chicago Cardinals in the National Football League.- Football career :Goldberg was born in Elkins, West Virginia...
and, later, Elmer Angsman
Elmer Angsman
Elmer Angsman was an American football running back in the NFL.He was born on the south side of Chicago in 1925, the son of Elmer and Helen Angsman...
.
Never was Trippi more magnificent than in the 1947 NFL Championship Game when the Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 28-21. Playing on an icy field in Chicago, Charley wore basketball shoes for better traction and totaled 206 yards, including 102 yards on two punt returns. He scored touchdowns on a 44-yard run and a 75-yard punt return.
Trippi played as a left halfback for four seasons before switching to quarterback for two seasons. He then moved back to offensive halfback for one season before switching over to play defense in 1954 and 1955. He was also the Cardinals' punter and he excelled on special teams.
He is the only player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with 1000 yards of receiving, 1000 yards passing, and 1000 yards rushing (two other players that are not in the hall of fame--George Taliaferro
George Taliaferro
George Taliaferro is a former professional American football player. He was the first African American drafted by a National Football League team....
and Bob Hoernschemeyer--have that distinction as well)
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: member biography