Burr Baldwin
Encyclopedia
Burr Browning Baldwin was an American college
and professional football player. He was the first UCLA Bruins
player to receive All-America
honors. Baldwin played professional football for three years with the Los Angeles Dons
.
in Bakersfield, California
. He attended college at the University of California, Los Angeles
, where he played on the UCLA football team
as an end from 1940 to 1942. In 1943, he put his education and playing career on hiatus to enter the U.S. Army
during World War II
. After the war, he returned to UCLA, and in 1946, became the first UCLA football player to earn All-America honors
. He played in two Rose Bowls
for UCLA and in 1947
was drafted by the Green Bay Packers
.
After college, Baldwin played professional football with the Los Angeles Dons
from 1947 to 1949. He returned to military service during the Korean War
from 1951 to 1953. Baldwin spent fifty years working as an insurance broker before he retired in July 2007. He died at his home in Bakersfield on August 20, 2007 of complications due to cancer. The Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame inducted Baldwin in February 1969.
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...
and professional football player. He was the first UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
player to receive All-America
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
honors. Baldwin played professional football for three years with the Los Angeles Dons
Los Angeles Dons
The Los Angeles Dons were an American football team in the now defunct All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949 that played in the Los Angeles Coliseum....
.
Biography
Baldwin attended Bakersfield High SchoolBakersfield High School
]Bakersfield High School is a high school located in Bakersfield, California, USA.Institutional names and dates of operation:*Kern County High School 1893-1915*Kern County Union High School 1915-1945*Bakersfield High School 1945–present...
in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
. He attended college at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, where he played on the UCLA football team
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
as an end from 1940 to 1942. In 1943, he put his education and playing career on hiatus to enter the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during 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...
. After the war, he returned to UCLA, and in 1946, became the first UCLA football player to earn All-America honors
1946 College Football All-America Team
The 1946 College Football All-America team was composed of college football players selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers...
. He played in two Rose Bowls
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
for UCLA and in 1947
1947 NFL Draft
The 1947 National Football League Draft was held on December 16, 1946.The National Football League in this draft made the first overall pick a bonus pick determined by lottery. The Chicago Bears won the first lottery...
was drafted by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.
After college, Baldwin played professional football with the Los Angeles Dons
Los Angeles Dons
The Los Angeles Dons were an American football team in the now defunct All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949 that played in the Los Angeles Coliseum....
from 1947 to 1949. He returned to military service during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
from 1951 to 1953. Baldwin spent fifty years working as an insurance broker before he retired in July 2007. He died at his home in Bakersfield on August 20, 2007 of complications due to cancer. The Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame inducted Baldwin in February 1969.