Jim Brown, the previous Cleveland Browns fullback and civil rights activist, had an evening in Baltimore nonetheless vividly remembered by lacrosse followers lucky sufficient to have witnessed his good efficiency in 1957.
Brown, 87, died final month and was acclaimed as one of many best operating backs of all time, an NFL legend and a Most Valuable Player.
As a Syracuse University scholar, he additionally performed lacrosse and infrequently confessed his affection for the sport.
What introduced Brown to Baltimore was the North-South All-Star Game, a hybrid contest that was the lacrosse’s season finale showcase. Top school gamers from the 2 areas competed towards each other.
The North was represented by gamers from the U.S. Military Academy, Colgate University, the University of New Hampshire, Hofstra University, Rutgers University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Syracuse.
The South was composed of the University of Baltimore, the Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Virginia and Washington and Lee University.
Brown achieved All-America standing at Syracuse and was extensively considered because the participant to observe that evening. His picture appeared in The Evening Sun the day of the sport. He was the first-round draft selection of the Cleveland Browns that 12 months.
The recreation was held June 7, 1957, beneath the lights at Homewood Field on University Parkway.
His arrival in Baltimore for the competition was a lot anticipated amongst lacrosse followers. Bill Tanton, writing in The Evening Sun, known as the sport “the final order of business for the 1957 lacrosse season.” He predicted the sport could be a toss-up.
“The Homewood Field at Hopkins was the hallowed home ground of lacrosse, and Baltimore was then still a largely segregated city. Lacrosse, although it began with Indigenous people, was then an almost totally all-white sport,” stated Stan Heuisler, a former Baltimore Magazine editor.
“Having led his Syracuse staff to 2 nationwide titles, the All-American Jim Brown, who was Black, was not exceptional. But his efficiency that evening on the North’s staff shocked an virtually all-white attendance.
“He took an early faceoff at midfield and ran down to score. He almost effortlessly did this five times in a row, and then smoothly sat down and let others play. People who knew lacrosse said they’d never seen such singular dominance. He did joke afterwards he was happy to have done it ‘to the South.’ And he later said lacrosse was his favorite sport,” stated Heuisler, who was additionally director of the Columbus Center.
Sun sports activities author Edward Atwater wrote: “Brown, speedy, elusive and effortless, thrilled the crowd each time he got the ball. He controlled nearly all the faceoffs and was also a great threat with his passing.”
Washington Post author William Gildea stated in a 2003 recollection of that recreation, “He was stronger, faster, quicker, more skilled with the stick: He could cradle a ball and protect it from opponents’ thwacking sticks as if he were carrying delicate china.”
Russell T. “Tim” Baker, former U.S. legal professional for Maryland, who was then a Gilman School ninth grader and a varsity lacrosse participant, stated: “The guy was absolutely dominant. He almost scored at will.”
Lewis Noonberg, a Baltimore City College graduate, additionally was at that recreation.
“It was the greatest exhibition of lacrosse ever played,” he stated.
“I had been a sophomore at Dartmouth playing lacrosse, and Brown was a senior at Syracuse. We competed once,” Noonberg stated. “He was absolutely like no lacrosse player I’d ever seen or played with. He had acceleration, speed, power and strength.”
The Sun reported {that a} crowd of 6,500 followers stuffed Homewood Field. The recreation was known as a “star-studded contest limited to senior players.”
Al Cosgrove, a University of Baltimore attackman taking part in for the South, scored seven targets, then a report for the rivalry. However, the North took the sport 14-10.
Shortly thereafter, Jim Brown joined the Browns and went on to be named NFL Rookie of the Year.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com