Hal Erickson (American football)
Encyclopedia
Harold Ingvald Alexander Erickson (March 10, 1898 – January 27, 1963) was an American football
back who played for three teams over eight seasons in the National Football League
, four with the Chicago Cardinals
, including the 1925 NFL Champion team
.
. He was born on March 10, 1898 to the Norweigian immigrant, the Reverend Michael Benjamin Eriksen (1867-1950) and his wife, first generation Norweigian-American Emma Gustava Eriksen (1879-1940), whose maiden name was Anderson. Though he would be known as "Swede" during his football playing days, he was in fact a full-blooded Norwegian-American. A stocky man, he stood 5' 9", and weighed 193 pounds. He served as a CPHM, or Chief Pharmacist's Mate in the US Navy during WWI. He participated in the 1919 Rose Bowl
as a member of the winning team, Great Lakes
Navy from Great Lakes, Illinois. A team that also included future Pro Football Hall of Famers
George Halas
and Paddy Driscoll
, who are also members of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team
.
After completing his service in the US Navy, he attended St. Olaf College
, then Washington & Jefferson College
where he excelled at football. After college, though undrafted, Erickson went professional, playing eight seasons in the National Football League (1923-1930), with the Milwaukee Badgers
, the Chicago Cardinals
, and the Minneapolis Red Jackets. In 1924 he played for, and was the headcoach of the Milwaukee Badgers, a team that included Pro Football Hall of Famer, and a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team, Jimmy Conzelman. During the 1925 season Erickson scored 6 touchdowns (4 receiving and 2 rushing) for the NFL Champion Chicago Cardinals
who were 11-2-1 that year. At the conclusion of the 1925 NFL season, Erickson joined future Pro Football Hall of Famer Red Grange
, and the Chicago Bears on their post-season barnstorming tour
. He was a member of the 1928 Chicago Cardinals team that included American
sports legend, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Thorpe
, also a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team.
He was married to Vera Mattocks (1906-1998) until his death on January 27, 1963. He is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery
in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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...
back who played for three teams over eight seasons 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...
, four with the Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, including the 1925 NFL Champion team
1925 Chicago Cardinals season
The 1925 Chicago Cardinals season resulted in the Cardinals winning their first NFL Championship.The end of the Cardinals season was centered around two historic, but controversial, situations. The first was a team scandal with the Milwaukee Badgers...
.
Biography
Harold Erickson was born and raised in Maynard, MinnesotaMaynard, Minnesota
Maynard is a city in Chippewa County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 366 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. He was born on March 10, 1898 to the Norweigian immigrant, the Reverend Michael Benjamin Eriksen (1867-1950) and his wife, first generation Norweigian-American Emma Gustava Eriksen (1879-1940), whose maiden name was Anderson. Though he would be known as "Swede" during his football playing days, he was in fact a full-blooded Norwegian-American. A stocky man, he stood 5' 9", and weighed 193 pounds. He served as a CPHM, or Chief Pharmacist's Mate in the US Navy during WWI. He participated in the 1919 Rose Bowl
1919 Rose Bowl
The 1919 Rose Bowl, known at the time as the Tournament East-West Football Game, was a college football bowl game played on Jan 1, 1919. It was the 5th Rose Bowl Game...
as a member of the winning team, Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes is the home of the United States Navy's only boot camp, located near the city of North Chicago, Illinois, in Lake County. Important tenant commands include the Recruit Training Command, Training Support Center and Navy Recruiting District Chicago...
Navy from Great Lakes, Illinois. A team that also included future Pro Football Hall of Famers
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...
George Halas
George Halas
George Stanley Halas, Sr. , nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was a player, coach, owner and pioneer in professional American football. He was the iconic longtime leader of the NFL's Chicago Bears...
and Paddy Driscoll
Paddy Driscoll
John Leo "Paddy" Driscoll was a professional American football quarterback. Driscoll was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965 and is a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team...
, who are also members of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team
NFL 1920s All-Decade Team
This is a list of all NFL players who had outstanding performances throughout the 1920s and have been compiled onto this fantasy group. The team was selected by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.- External links :*...
.
After completing his service in the US Navy, he attended St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
, then Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
where he excelled at football. After college, though undrafted, Erickson went professional, playing eight seasons in the National Football League (1923-1930), with the Milwaukee Badgers
Milwaukee Badgers
The Milwaukee Badgers were a professional American football team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that played in the National Football League from 1922 to 1926. The team played its home games at Athletic Park, later known as Borchert Field, on Milwaukee's north side...
, the Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and the Minneapolis Red Jackets. In 1924 he played for, and was the headcoach of the Milwaukee Badgers, a team that included Pro Football Hall of Famer, and a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team, Jimmy Conzelman. During the 1925 season Erickson scored 6 touchdowns (4 receiving and 2 rushing) for the NFL Champion Chicago Cardinals
1925 Chicago Cardinals season
The 1925 Chicago Cardinals season resulted in the Cardinals winning their first NFL Championship.The end of the Cardinals season was centered around two historic, but controversial, situations. The first was a team scandal with the Milwaukee Badgers...
who were 11-2-1 that year. At the conclusion of the 1925 NFL season, Erickson joined future Pro Football Hall of Famer 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 the Chicago Bears on their post-season barnstorming tour
Barnstorm (sports)
Barnstorming in athletics refers to sports teams or individuals that travel to various locations, usually small towns, to stage exhibition matches....
. He was a member of the 1928 Chicago Cardinals team that included American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sports legend, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe
Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
, also a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team.
He was married to Vera Mattocks (1906-1998) until his death on January 27, 1963. He is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Fort Snelling National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It encompasses , and as of April 24, 2007 had 172,001 interments.- History :...
in Minneapolis, Minnesota.