Mike Sebastian
Encyclopedia
Michael John "Lefty" Sebastian, aka Rose of Sharon (June 7, 1910 - June 28, 1989) was an American football
halfback
in the National Football League
for the Cincinnati Reds
, Boston Redskins
, Philadelphia Eagles
, Pittsburgh Pirates
, (later renamed the Steelers) and the Cleveland Rams
. He also played for the Rams while they were still members of the second American Football League
as well as the AFL's Rochester Tigers
. Prior to his professional career, Mike played college football
at the University of Pittsburgh
. At Pitt, he played under coach Jock Sutherland
, who supposedly had declared Mike the best passer whom he had seen in "many days."
, a coal mining "patch town", located near Greensburg
. He attended Sharon High School in Sharon, Pennsylvania
where he played football
and track, earning All-State honors in both sports. In 1928 Sebastian earned national attention when he scored ten touchdown
s contributing to 63 points in just one game.
where he played as a fullback
and earned All-America
n recognition in 1932 and 1933. While at Pitt, Sebastian helped the Panthers to a shared National Championship
in 1931.
On November 5, 1932, Sebastian faked a pass, cut for the west sidelines, reversed his field, for a 45-yard touchdown run against a heavily favored Notre Dame
. Pitt would go on to win the game 12-0 for the first victory in the rivialry. That same year Mike caught a ball for 52 yards in a 0-0 contest against Ohio State
. Sportswriter John Dietrich of The Plain Dealer later called the game "one of the thrillers of a lifetime." Sebastian contributed to a hard-fought 19-12 Pitt victory over Penn
by catching a 27-yard touchdown pass late in the game. On October 28, 1933, Sebastian's 75-yard touchdown run highlighted a 14-0 win over Duke
. In 1930, and again in 1933, he played in the Rose Bowl, which resulted in a 47-14 and 35-0 losses to the University of Southern California
.
In 1934 Mike played, and was the starting running back, in the first College All-Star Game
. The game which became a tradition from 1934 until 1974 was played between the National Football League
champions and a team of star college seniors from the previous year. That very first game, was played on August 31, 1934 before a crowd of 79,432 at Chicago's Soldier Field
. The game resulted in a scoreless tie between the all-stars and the Chicago Bears
. That year Sebastian also played in the second East-West Shrine Game
in Chicago. The game featured an "East Team" versus a "West Team" of College Football Stars. Mike played on the East Team due to Pitt's location in the eastern United States.
, where he is uncredit by most sources for playing with the team. However he was signed by the team just prior to a game against the Chicago Cardinals. He split the 1935 season
between three teams: the Boston Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles
and the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is not known the order of the teams he played for in 1935. Some records show that he made his start with the Pirates, but there is also a signed original copy of his contract with the Chicago Cardinals, which offered Sebastian $120 per game. However it is still unknown if he played for Chicago.
In 1936 Sebastian played for the Passaic Red Devils of the minor league
American Association
. The following year Sebastian returned to the NFL with the Cleveland Rams. The Rams were a charter member of the second American Football League in 1936. Although the NFL granted membership in 1937 to the same owner, the NFL considers it a separate entity since only four of the players (William "Bud" Cooper
, Harry "The Horse" Mattos
, Stan Pincura
, and Sebastian) and none of the team's management made the transfer to the Rams' NFL team. In 1937, Sebastian and Harry Newman
were mainstays on the AFL's Rochester Tigers.
Mike's career ended after the 1937 season
due to knee and hip problems which not only ended his career, but would eventually end his life.
. After his professional career he went back to school to earn a masters degree. He was then appointed assistant coach at Rochester Area High School
in 1946, with his team going 9-1 that first season. When head coach Earl Ewing resigned, Mike was made head coach for the 1947 campaign and made an instant splash with an 8-0-1 team that featured Babe Parilli
. Mike stayed with the Rams three more years, compiling an overall 23-12-4 record.
In 1951 Ambridge High School hired Mike as their coach for the next 11 seasons. His first team went 7-1-2, but in 1954 the Bridgers finished with a 8-0-1 record that started a four year 31-5-2 run. His 1956 team as 9-0 and outscored their opponents 367 to 51. Mike continued to coach Ambridge through the 1961 season to an overall record of 64-38-4. Afterwards he moved on to New Castle
, where he taught classes and coached football before retiring in 1974.
, where he remained active playing golf
and other activities. However, his inability to stay active due to pain in his hip made him decide to get hip replacement surgery. He died on June 28, 1989, as a result of hepatitis
contracted during the procedure. He was 79 years old.
In 2002 Sebastian was inducted into the Mercer County
Sports Hall of Fame. Then in 2007 Sebastian was inducted into Beaver County's
Sports Hall of Fame.
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...
halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
in the 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...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds (NFL)
The Cincinnati Reds were a National Football League team that played the 1933 season and the first eight games of the 1934 season. The football Reds played most of their home games at Crosley Field...
, Boston Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, 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...
, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh 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...
, (later renamed the Steelers) and the Cleveland Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. He also played for the Rams while they were still members of the second American Football League
American Football League (1936)
Sometimes called AFL II, the second American Football League was a professional American football league that operated in 1936 and 1937. The AFL operated in direct competition with the more established National Football League throughout its existence...
as well as the AFL's Rochester Tigers
Rochester Tigers
The Rochester Tigers were a professional American football team that competed in the second American Football League in 1936 and 1937. Owned by Mike Palm and Harry Newman, the Tigers were originally awarded to Rochester as a charter member of the AFL, but were shifted to Brooklyn two weeks...
. Prior to his professional career, Mike played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. At Pitt, he played under coach Jock Sutherland
Jock Sutherland
Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers...
, who supposedly had declared Mike the best passer whom he had seen in "many days."
Early life
Mike was born in Luxor, PennsylvaniaLuxor, Pennsylvania
Luxor is a village in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States.-History:Luxor is a coal mining "patch town" built by the Jamison Coal and Coke Company built to provide housing for workers of their No. 1 mine dating from the 1890s. Coal mining in the town ended in 1972....
, a coal mining "patch town", located near Greensburg
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The city is named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War...
. He attended Sharon High School in Sharon, Pennsylvania
Sharon, Pennsylvania
Sharon is a city in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in the United States, northwest of Pittsburgh. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
where he played football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and track, earning All-State honors in both sports. In 1928 Sebastian earned national attention when he scored ten touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s contributing to 63 points in just one game.
College career
Mike earned a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where he again starred in both sports and earned a scholarship to the University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
where he played as a fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
and earned 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...
n recognition in 1932 and 1933. While at Pitt, Sebastian helped the Panthers to a shared National Championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
in 1931.
On November 5, 1932, Sebastian faked a pass, cut for the west sidelines, reversed his field, for a 45-yard touchdown run against a heavily favored Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. Pitt would go on to win the game 12-0 for the first victory in the rivialry. That same year Mike caught a ball for 52 yards in a 0-0 contest against Ohio State
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. Sportswriter John Dietrich of The Plain Dealer later called the game "one of the thrillers of a lifetime." Sebastian contributed to a hard-fought 19-12 Pitt victory over Penn
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
by catching a 27-yard touchdown pass late in the game. On October 28, 1933, Sebastian's 75-yard touchdown run highlighted a 14-0 win over Duke
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. In 1930, and again in 1933, he played in the Rose Bowl, which resulted in a 47-14 and 35-0 losses to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
In 1934 Mike played, and was the starting running back, in the first College All-Star Game
College All-Star Game
The Chicago Charities College All-Star Game was a preseason American football game played annually from 1934 to 1976 between the National Football League champions and a team of star college seniors from the previous year...
. The game which became a tradition from 1934 until 1974 was played between the 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 and a team of star college seniors from the previous year. That very first game, was played on August 31, 1934 before a crowd of 79,432 at Chicago's Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
. The game resulted in a scoreless tie between the all-stars and 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...
. That year Sebastian also played in the second East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
in Chicago. The game featured an "East Team" versus a "West Team" of College Football Stars. Mike played on the East Team due to Pitt's location in the eastern United States.
Professional career
After college, Mike went on to a pro football career. He began his career with Cincinnati Reds in 19341934 Cincinnati Reds (NFL) season
The 1934 Cincinnati Reds season was their second and final in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 3–6–1, losing eight games. They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The team was shut out in six of their eight games, losing 64–0 in...
, where he is uncredit by most sources for playing with the team. However he was signed by the team just prior to a game against the Chicago Cardinals. He split the 1935 season
1935 NFL season
The 1935 NFL season was the 16th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Detroit Lions defeated the New York Giants in the NFL Championship Game....
between three teams: the Boston Redskins, 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...
and the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is not known the order of the teams he played for in 1935. Some records show that he made his start with the Pirates, but there is also a signed original copy of his contract with the Chicago Cardinals, which offered Sebastian $120 per game. However it is still unknown if he played for Chicago.
In 1936 Sebastian played for the Passaic Red Devils of the minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
American Association
American Association (football)
The American Association was a professional American football league based in New York City. Founded in 1936 as a minor league with teams in New York and New Jersey, the AA extended its reach to Providence, Rhode Island prior to the onset of World War II...
. The following year Sebastian returned to the NFL with the Cleveland Rams. The Rams were a charter member of the second American Football League in 1936. Although the NFL granted membership in 1937 to the same owner, the NFL considers it a separate entity since only four of the players (William "Bud" Cooper
Bud Cooper
William Gordon Cooper played college football at Penn State. After college in 1936 he became a fullback in the National Football League for the Cleveland Rams, who the played in the second American Football League. When the Rams moved into the NFL in 1937, and Cooper went with them...
, Harry "The Horse" Mattos
Harry Mattos
Harry Mattos , nicknamed "The Horse" or "The Toe", was an American football halfback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and the Cleveland Rams. He played college football at the St. Mary's College of California...
, Stan Pincura
Stan Pincura
Stan Pincura was an American football back in the National Football League for the Cleveland Rams. He played college football at the Ohio State University. Pincura was born in Lorain, Ohio. After high school, Pincura attended Ohio State...
, and Sebastian) and none of the team's management made the transfer to the Rams' NFL team. In 1937, Sebastian and Harry Newman
Harry Newman
Harry Lawrence Newman was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines , the New York Giants , and the Brooklyn/Rochester Tigers .-College career:...
were mainstays on the AFL's Rochester Tigers.
Mike's career ended after the 1937 season
1937 NFL season
The 1937 NFL season was the 18th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Rams joined the league as an expansion team. Meanwhile, the Redskins relocated from Boston, Massachusetts to Washington, D.C....
due to knee and hip problems which not only ended his career, but would eventually end his life.
Rushing stats
| Team | Year | G | Att | Yds | TD | Y/A | Y/G | A/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates Phiadelphia Eagles Boston Redskins |
1935 | 7 | 22 | 79 | 0 | 3.6 | 11.3 | 3.1 |
| Cleveland Rams | 1937 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 6.0 |
Receiving stats
| Team | Year | G | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Lng | Y/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates Phiadelphia Eagles Boston Redskins |
1935 | 7 | 1 | 19 | 19.0 | 0 | 19 | 2.7 |
| Cleveland Rams | 1937 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Passing stats
| Team | Year | G | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | Lng |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates Phiadelphia Eagles Boston Redskins |
1935 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 16.7 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
Coaching career
Mike retired from playing in 1938 and after World War IIWorld 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...
. After his professional career he went back to school to earn a masters degree. He was then appointed assistant coach at Rochester Area High School
Rochester Area High School (Pennsylvania)
Rochester Area Junior-Senior High School is a secondary education school located in Rochester, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1890, it is one of the oldest high schools in the entire state of Pennsylvania. With a current student enrollment of approximately 450 students, Rochester Area Junior-Senior High...
in 1946, with his team going 9-1 that first season. When head coach Earl Ewing resigned, Mike was made head coach for the 1947 campaign and made an instant splash with an 8-0-1 team that featured Babe Parilli
Babe Parilli
-Biography:Parilli was born in the Pittsburgh industrial suburb of Rochester, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Kentucky as an All-American starting quarterback for the Wildcats under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant....
. Mike stayed with the Rams three more years, compiling an overall 23-12-4 record.
In 1951 Ambridge High School hired Mike as their coach for the next 11 seasons. His first team went 7-1-2, but in 1954 the Bridgers finished with a 8-0-1 record that started a four year 31-5-2 run. His 1956 team as 9-0 and outscored their opponents 367 to 51. Mike continued to coach Ambridge through the 1961 season to an overall record of 64-38-4. Afterwards he moved on to New Castle
New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
, where he taught classes and coached football before retiring in 1974.
After football
After retiring Mike moved to Hemet, CaliforniaHemet, California
Hemet is a city in the San Jacinto Valley in Riverside County, California, United States. It covers a total area of , about half of the valley, which it shares with the neighboring city of San Jacinto. The population was 78,657 at the 2010 census....
, where he remained active playing golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and other activities. However, his inability to stay active due to pain in his hip made him decide to get hip replacement surgery. He died on June 28, 1989, as a result of hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
contracted during the procedure. He was 79 years old.
In 2002 Sebastian was inducted into the Mercer County
Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 116,638. Its county seat is Mercer; Sharon is its largest city....
Sports Hall of Fame. Then in 2007 Sebastian was inducted into Beaver County's
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 people per square mile . There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 per square mile...
Sports Hall of Fame.