Eddie LeBaron
Encyclopedia
Edward Wayne LeBaron, Jr. (born January 7, 1930) is a former American football
quarterback
in the 1950s and early 1960s in the National Football League
.
.
He started first grade when he was only 5 years old. When it came time for him to attend second grade there were no students who could fill the class so he went on to third grade.
LeBaron started attending Oakdale High School when he was 12. By the time he was 13 he was playing tailback and safety, punted and dropped kicked extra points for the school's football
team, played basketball
and ran the hurdles for the track team. At the time he stood 5-feet 7-inches and weighed only 150 to 155 pounds.
The football team used the single wing formation.
but changed his mind because a lot of his friends from Oakdale High School were going to attend Pacific. He was also influenced because Larry Siemering
, a high school coach at Stockton and some other schools in the area where LeBaron grew up, was going to become an assistant head coach for the football
team.
He played one year, 1946, for Amos Alonzo Stagg
. This was the last year as a head coach for 84 year old, Stagg. The team had a 5-6 record. He played three years under head coach
Larry Siemering
. The Tigers went 9-1, 7-1-2, 11-0 in those years. In the last year, 1949, the Tigers averaged 52 points per game to opponents' 6. LeBaron made All-American in 1949. He played quarterback
on offense, safety on defense, and punter.
He played there from 1946 to 1949, lettering all four years and achieving Little All-American team for three years and All-America
n honors and Heisman Trophy
consideration in 1949 after leading his team to an undefeated season and a 10th place national ranking. He was a two-way, 60 minute player, as a quarterback
on offense, safety on defense, and punter on special teams.
LeBaron was 5-7 in height, weighed 166, and had 19 games in which he played the full 60 minutes. In his college career he completed 197 passes for 3,838 yards and 45 touchdown
s. He also ran for 6 touchdown
s and scored once on an eighty two yard run after a pass interception.
He was Most Valuable Player in the East–West Shrine Game. In 1950 he quarterback
ed the College All-Stars to a 17-7 victory over the NFL champion's Philadelphia Eagles
, where he was runner up for the MVP trophy.
In 1980, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
.
training camp for about two weeks, played in the college all-star game and played in two pre-season games for the Redskins. But the Korean War
had broken out and at the time LeBaron was a Second Lieutenant
in the United States Marine Corps Reserve
. He had joined the Marine Reserves
while in college to stay out of the draft. He was called up to serve, attended a basic school at the Marine Base in Quantico, Virginia and then was shipped to the war zone. He was wounded twice (in his leg and shoulder) during his nine months in Korea and was decorated with a Purple Heart
. For his heroic actions on the front lines he was also awarded the Bronze Star
and the Letter of Commendation. Due to his dimunitive size, 5 feet, 7 inches, and leadership skills from his military service he was sometimes known as the "Littlest General".
After Korea he taught at the Marine Base in Quantico. In 1952, after serving two years, he was released from his commitment to the United States Marine Corps Reserve
and decided to return to the NFL.
In 2008, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps
Sports Hall of Fame.
in the tenth round (123rd overall) of the 1950 NFL Draft
by the Washington Redskins
but left during training camp to perform military service during the Korean War
.
He returned to play in 1952
after being releases from his commitment to the United States Marine Corps
. The legendary Sammy Baugh
was still the Redskins starting quarterback
, but he was 37 years old and had already decided to retire at the end of the season.
Baugh played three quarters of the first game, he played a quarter of the second game, he played the first quarter of the third game and after, that LeBaron started the rest of the games that season, earning a place in the NFL's All-Rookie Team,
In 1953
he experienced a mediocre year due to injuries. He hurt his knee in a pre-season game and didn't play much in the regular season.
, the Canadian Football League
began a series of raids on NFL teams, signing quarterback LeBaron and his team mate Gene Brito
among others.
LeBaron was also influenced to go to the CFL because Larry Siemering
, the former head coach of the College of the Pacific, had been hired as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders
.
He signed with the Stampeders and became their starting quarterback
. He also handled the punting and still found time to record three interceptions playing defensive back.
As a quarterback
, he recorded 1,815 passing yards, 8 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.
The team didn't make the playoffs and Siemering didn't stay. After the season he decided to return to the NFL after the Redskins hired Joe Kuharich
as their head coach.
, 1953
, and 1955
.)
He was the NFL´s top passer in 1958
.
LeBaron is also recognized as one of the 70 greatest Redskins of all time.
during their first year of existence, the Dallas Cowboys
needed a quarterback
, so the team traded their first round draft choice in the 1961 NFL Draft
for LeBaron, who would become the Cowboys' first starting quarterback
. The Redskins ended up drafting Norm Snead
with that selection.
He was the starting quarterback
for the Cowboys for their first three seasons (1960
to 1962
). LeBaron started 10 of 12 games in 1960
, with the rookie Don Meredith
starting one and Don Heinrich
starting the other. LeBaron started 10 of 14 games in 1961
, with the young Don Meredith
starting the other four. He only started five games in the 1962
season, splitting time with Don Meredith
almost evenly. He started the first game of the 1963
season, but was replaced permanently by Meredith for the rest of the season, with LeBaron becoming Meredith's backup.
Some experts say that LeBaron had his best seasons after joining the Cowboys, even though the team itself struggled to win games. (his record during those three seasons was 4-21-1). He was selected to the Pro Bowl
in 1962
.
LeBaron retired at the end of the 1963 campaign
as the No. 11 passer in NFL history, after playing 12 seasons, throwing for 13,399 yards and 104 touchdowns. He was selected for the Pro Bowl
four times in 1955
, 1957
, 1958
, and 1962
. The shortest quarterback to ever be selected to the Pro Bowl
, LeBaron was known primarily as a ball-handler and elusive scrambler.
from 1977 to 1982 and executive vice president from 1983 through 1985. LeBaron is an avid golf
er and continues to play golf in his retirement.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1980, into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
in 2004 and was a charter inductee into the Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in October 2010.
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the 1950s and early 1960s 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...
.
Early years
LeBaron graduated from Oakdale High School in Oakdale, CaliforniaOakdale, California
Oakdale is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. It is part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city was founded in 1871 when the Stockton & Visalia Railroad met the Copperopolis Railroad...
.
He started first grade when he was only 5 years old. When it came time for him to attend second grade there were no students who could fill the class so he went on to third grade.
LeBaron started attending Oakdale High School when he was 12. By the time he was 13 he was playing tailback and safety, punted and dropped kicked extra points for the school's 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...
team, played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and ran the hurdles for the track team. At the time he stood 5-feet 7-inches and weighed only 150 to 155 pounds.
The football team used the single wing formation.
College career
After graduating High School, LeBaron attended the College of the Pacific (now the University of the Pacific) in Stockton, California. He had actually been accepted to Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
but changed his mind because a lot of his friends from Oakdale High School were going to attend Pacific. He was also influenced because Larry Siemering
Larry Siemering
Lawrence Edwin Siemering was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of San Francisco and professionally in the NFL with the Boston Redskins in 1935 and 1936...
, a high school coach at Stockton and some other schools in the area where LeBaron grew up, was going to become an assistant head coach for the 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...
team.
He played one year, 1946, for Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
. This was the last year as a head coach for 84 year old, Stagg. The team had a 5-6 record. He played three years under head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Larry Siemering
Larry Siemering
Lawrence Edwin Siemering was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of San Francisco and professionally in the NFL with the Boston Redskins in 1935 and 1936...
. The Tigers went 9-1, 7-1-2, 11-0 in those years. In the last year, 1949, the Tigers averaged 52 points per game to opponents' 6. LeBaron made All-American in 1949. He played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
on offense, safety on defense, and punter.
He played there from 1946 to 1949, lettering all four years and achieving Little All-American team for three years and 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 honors and Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
consideration in 1949 after leading his team to an undefeated season and a 10th place national ranking. He was a two-way, 60 minute player, as a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
on offense, safety on defense, and punter on special teams.
LeBaron was 5-7 in height, weighed 166, and had 19 games in which he played the full 60 minutes. In his college career he completed 197 passes for 3,838 yards and 45 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. He also ran for 6 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 and scored once on an eighty two yard run after a pass interception.
He was Most Valuable Player in the East–West Shrine Game. In 1950 he quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
ed the College All-Stars to a 17-7 victory over the NFL champion's 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...
, where he was runner up for the MVP trophy.
In 1980, he 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...
.
Military service
In 1950, he attended the Washington RedskinsWashington 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,...
training camp for about two weeks, played in the college all-star game and played in two pre-season games for the Redskins. But 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...
had broken out and at the time LeBaron was a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the United States Marine Corps Reserve
United States Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S...
. He had joined the Marine Reserves
United States Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S...
while in college to stay out of the draft. He was called up to serve, attended a basic school at the Marine Base in Quantico, Virginia and then was shipped to the war zone. He was wounded twice (in his leg and shoulder) during his nine months in Korea and was decorated with a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. For his heroic actions on the front lines he was also awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
and the Letter of Commendation. Due to his dimunitive size, 5 feet, 7 inches, and leadership skills from his military service he was sometimes known as the "Littlest General".
After Korea he taught at the Marine Base in Quantico. In 1952, after serving two years, he was released from his commitment to the United States Marine Corps Reserve
United States Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S...
and decided to return to the NFL.
In 2008, he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Sports Hall of Fame.
Washington Redskins (first stint)
LeBaron was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the tenth round (123rd overall) of the 1950 NFL Draft
1950 NFL Draft
The 1950 National Football League Draft was held on January 20–21, 1950.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
by the Washington 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,...
but left during training camp to perform 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...
.
He returned to play in 1952
1952 NFL season
The 1952 NFL season was the 33rd regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, New York Yanks owner Ted Collins sold his team back to the NFL...
after being releases from his commitment to the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. The legendary Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh
Samuel Adrian "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh was an American football player and coach. He played college football for the Horned Frogs at Texas Christian University, where he was a two-time All-American. He then played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1937 to 1952...
was still the Redskins starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, but he was 37 years old and had already decided to retire at the end of the season.
Baugh played three quarters of the first game, he played a quarter of the second game, he played the first quarter of the third game and after, that LeBaron started the rest of the games that season, earning a place in the NFL's All-Rookie Team,
In 1953
1953 NFL season
The 1953 NFL season was the 34th regular season of the National Football League. The names of the American and National conferences were changed to the Eastern and Western conferences....
he experienced a mediocre year due to injuries. He hurt his knee in a pre-season game and didn't play much in the regular season.
Canadian Football League
In 19541954 NFL season
The 1954 NFL season was the 35th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Cleveland Browns defeated the Detroit Lions in the NFL Championship Game.-Major rule changes:...
, the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
began a series of raids on NFL teams, signing quarterback LeBaron and his team mate Gene Brito
Gene Brito
Gene Herman Brito was an American football Defensive end in the National Football League who played nine seasons for the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Rams from 1951 to 1960.-Early career:...
among others.
LeBaron was also influenced to go to the CFL because Larry Siemering
Larry Siemering
Lawrence Edwin Siemering was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of San Francisco and professionally in the NFL with the Boston Redskins in 1935 and 1936...
, the former head coach of the College of the Pacific, had been hired as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
.
He signed with the Stampeders and became their starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. He also handled the punting and still found time to record three interceptions playing defensive back.
As a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, he recorded 1,815 passing yards, 8 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.
The team didn't make the playoffs and Siemering didn't stay. After the season he decided to return to the NFL after the Redskins hired Joe Kuharich
Joe Kuharich
Joseph Lawrence Kuharich was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of San Francisco from 1948 to 1951 and at the University of Notre Dame from 1959 to 1962, compiling a career college football record of 43–37...
as their head coach.
Washington Redskins (second stint)
In his seven seasons with the Redskins he started 55 of a possible 72 games at quarterback (he played in 70 of those 72 games). He was also the primary punter for his first three seasons with Washington (he would punt 171 times for a total of 6,995 yards in five NFL season, with 164 of those coming in 19521952 NFL season
The 1952 NFL season was the 33rd regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, New York Yanks owner Ted Collins sold his team back to the NFL...
, 1953
1953 NFL season
The 1953 NFL season was the 34th regular season of the National Football League. The names of the American and National conferences were changed to the Eastern and Western conferences....
, and 1955
1955 NFL season
The 1955 NFL season was the 36th regular season of the National Football League. NBC paid $100,000 to replace DuMont as the national television network for the NFL Championship Game...
.)
He was the NFL´s top passer in 1958
1958 NFL season
The 1958 NFL season was the 39th regular season of the National Football League.The Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants, 23–17, in the first sudden-death overtime in an NFL Championship Game...
.
LeBaron is also recognized as one of the 70 greatest Redskins of all time.
Dallas Cowboys
After not being able to participate in the nfl draftNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
during their first year of existence, the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
needed a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, so the team traded their first round draft choice in the 1961 NFL Draft
1961 NFL Draft
The 1961 National Football League Draft took place on December 27–28, 1960. The league would later hold an expansion draft for the Minnesota Vikings expansion franchise, and the Vikings were also awarded the first selection position in this draft. This draft was also the first regular draft for...
for LeBaron, who would become the Cowboys' first starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. The Redskins ended up drafting Norm Snead
Norm Snead
Norman Bailey Snead is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for Wake Forest University and was drafted in the first round of...
with that selection.
He was the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Cowboys for their first three seasons (1960
1960 NFL season
The 1960 NFL season was the 41st regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, Pete Rozelle was elected NFL commissioner as a compromise choice on the twenty-third ballot. Meanwhile, the league expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Dallas Cowboys. Also, the Cardinals...
to 1962
1962 NFL season
The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, CBS signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee....
). LeBaron started 10 of 12 games in 1960
1960 NFL season
The 1960 NFL season was the 41st regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, Pete Rozelle was elected NFL commissioner as a compromise choice on the twenty-third ballot. Meanwhile, the league expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Dallas Cowboys. Also, the Cardinals...
, with the rookie Don Meredith
Don Meredith
Joseph Don "Dandy Don" Meredith was an American football quarterback, sports commentator and actor. He spent all nine seasons of his professional playing career with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League . He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his last three years as a player...
starting one and Don Heinrich
Don Heinrich
Donald Alan Heinrich was an American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback. He played college football at the University of Washington, and also played professionally for the NFL's New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, and in the American Football League for the Oakland Raiders in...
starting the other. LeBaron started 10 of 14 games in 1961
1961 NFL season
The 1961 NFL season was the 42nd regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 14 teams with the addition of the Minnesota Vikings, after the team's owners declined to be charter members of the new American Football League. The schedule was also expanded from 12 games per...
, with the young Don Meredith
Don Meredith
Joseph Don "Dandy Don" Meredith was an American football quarterback, sports commentator and actor. He spent all nine seasons of his professional playing career with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League . He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his last three years as a player...
starting the other four. He only started five games in the 1962
1962 NFL season
The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, CBS signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee....
season, splitting time with Don Meredith
Don Meredith
Joseph Don "Dandy Don" Meredith was an American football quarterback, sports commentator and actor. He spent all nine seasons of his professional playing career with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League . He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his last three years as a player...
almost evenly. He started the first game of the 1963
1963 NFL season
The 1963 NFL season was the 44th regular season of the National Football League. On April 17, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle indefinitely suspended Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras for gambling on their own teams, as well as other NFL games;...
season, but was replaced permanently by Meredith for the rest of the season, with LeBaron becoming Meredith's backup.
Some experts say that LeBaron had his best seasons after joining the Cowboys, even though the team itself struggled to win games. (his record during those three seasons was 4-21-1). He was selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
in 1962
1962 NFL season
The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, CBS signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee....
.
LeBaron retired at the end of the 1963 campaign
1963 NFL season
The 1963 NFL season was the 44th regular season of the National Football League. On April 17, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle indefinitely suspended Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras for gambling on their own teams, as well as other NFL games;...
as the No. 11 passer in NFL history, after playing 12 seasons, throwing for 13,399 yards and 104 touchdowns. He was selected for the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
four times in 1955
1955 NFL season
The 1955 NFL season was the 36th regular season of the National Football League. NBC paid $100,000 to replace DuMont as the national television network for the NFL Championship Game...
, 1957
1957 NFL season
The 1957 NFL season was the 38th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Detroit Lions crushed the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game, 59–14.-Major rule changes:...
, 1958
1958 NFL season
The 1958 NFL season was the 39th regular season of the National Football League.The Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants, 23–17, in the first sudden-death overtime in an NFL Championship Game...
, and 1962
1962 NFL season
The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, CBS signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee....
. The shortest quarterback to ever be selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
, LeBaron was known primarily as a ball-handler and elusive scrambler.
After football
LeBaron became a football announcer for CBS Sports after his NFL career. He had obtained a law degree during his off-seasons from football, and practiced law after his football career. He was also the general manager of the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1977 to 1982 and executive vice president from 1983 through 1985. LeBaron is an avid 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....
er and continues to play golf in his retirement.
He 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 1980, into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame honors sports figures who have made a significant impact in the San Francisco Bay Area. The organization is a section 501 non-profit, that was created by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce in 1979.-Inductees:...
in 2004 and was a charter inductee into the Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in October 2010.
See also
- List of Korean War veterans who are recipients of the Bronze Star