Keith Molesworth
Encyclopedia
Keith Frank Molesworth (October 20, 1905 – March 1966) was an American
football
player and coach. He also played and managed
in minor league baseball
.
Molesworth was born in Washington, Iowa
and graduated from Washington High School
. When he was 17 years old, 5 feet (1.5 m), 7 inches tall and weighed 98 pounds. Due to his size he never started a prep football game. He started growing during the following year, never getting bigger than 5-9 by 167, however this spurt started his career in sports.
located in Monmouth, Illinois
, where he won three letters each in four varsity sports football, basketball, baseball and track. He became one of the rare 12-letter performers in the history of Monmouth College. He was elected to the Monmouth College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.
and football. Four of the baseball seasons were in Minor league baseball
. Molesworth played football for the independent professional Ironton Tanks
, who helped defeat the Bears in November 1930 and impressing George Halas in the process. After the Ironton Tanks
folded in 1931, he tried out for the Bears and went on to play seven football seasons with the Chicago Bears
, where he was the T-formation quarterback in a backfield that included Red Grange
and Bronko Nagurski
. The 1932 and 1933 Bears were National Football League
champions. He was elected to the State of Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.
in 1952.
He was Head Coach of the Baltimore Colts
in 1953, the first season of that franchise's existence. He remained with the club as a vice president and director of personnel until dying of a heart attack in March 1966, while seeding his lawn. He was 60.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
football
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 and coach. He also played and managed
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
.
Molesworth was born in Washington, Iowa
Washington, Iowa
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,047 at the 2000 census.-History:...
and graduated from Washington High School
Washington High School (Washington, Iowa)
for schools of the same nameWashington High School is the local public high school in Washington, Iowa. It is a member of the Washington Community School district. The building was built in 1918 and is still currently used...
. When he was 17 years old, 5 feet (1.5 m), 7 inches tall and weighed 98 pounds. Due to his size he never started a prep football game. He started growing during the following year, never getting bigger than 5-9 by 167, however this spurt started his career in sports.
College career
Molesworth went to Monmouth CollegeMonmouth College
Monmouth College is a four-year coeducational private liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Illinois, United States.-History:Monmouth College was founded on April 18, 1853 by the Second Presbytery of Illinois, a frontier arm of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church...
located in Monmouth, Illinois
Monmouth, Illinois
Monmouth is a city in and the county seat of Warren County in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the home of Monmouth College and contains Monmouth Park, Harmon Park, North Park, Warfield Park, West Park, South Park, Garwood Park, Buster White Park and the Citizens Lake & Campground. It is the host...
, where he won three letters each in four varsity sports football, basketball, baseball and track. He became one of the rare 12-letter performers in the history of Monmouth College. He was elected to the Monmouth College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.
Professional career
He played as a professional for nine years, the last seven in both baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and football. Four of the baseball seasons were in Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. Molesworth played football for the independent professional Ironton Tanks
Ironton Tanks
The Ironton Tanks were a semi-professional football team organized in 1919 in Ironton, Ohio.Their historical marker gives the story of the Tanks origin: "Semi-professional football began in Ironton in 1893 with a team known as the Irontonians...
, who helped defeat the Bears in November 1930 and impressing George Halas in the process. After the Ironton Tanks
Ironton Tanks
The Ironton Tanks were a semi-professional football team organized in 1919 in Ironton, Ohio.Their historical marker gives the story of the Tanks origin: "Semi-professional football began in Ironton in 1893 with a team known as the Irontonians...
folded in 1931, he tried out for the Bears and went on to play seven football seasons with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, where he was the T-formation quarterback in a backfield that included Red Grange
Red Grange
Harold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", was a college and professional American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and for the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League...
and Bronko Nagurski
Bronko Nagurski
Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski was a Canadian-born American football player. He was also a successful professional wrestler, recognized as a multiple-time world heavyweight champion.-Youth and collegiate career:...
. The 1932 and 1933 Bears were National Football League
National 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...
champions. He was elected to the State of Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.
Coaching career
Molesworth spent eight years as the backfield coach at the U.S. Naval Academy, then six more as a semipro football coach and one year doubling as a minor-league baseball manager, before becoming backfield coach for the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in 1952.
He was Head Coach of the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
in 1953, the first season of that franchise's existence. He remained with the club as a vice president and director of personnel until dying of a heart attack in March 1966, while seeding his lawn. He was 60.