American football player (1940–2004)
American football player
Gary John Ballman (July 6, 1940 – May 20, 2004) was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Ballman starred at Michigan State before playing halfback and wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1962 to 1966, making the Pro Bowl the final two seasons.
Biography
Early years
Gary Ballman was born July 6, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan .
He played football collegiately at Michigan State University , joining the Spartans' varsity squad as starting right halfback in 1959 as a sophomore.[ 1]
Ballaman remains among the Pittsburgh Steelers' career leaders in kickoffs (64 returns for 1,711 yards), with the second-best average of 26.7. His 93-yard return against Washington on November 17, 1963, is tied for seventh-longest in team history. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1967 to 1972, then split his final season between the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings .
He later worked for the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) until 1979 before moving to Colorado , where he worked as a building products salesman until his retirement in 2003.[ 2]
On May 20, 2004, Ballman was stricken while mowing his lawn at home in Aurora, Colorado , and died at the age of 63.[ 2]
NFL career statistics
Legend
Led the league
Bold
Career high
Regular season
Year
Team
Games
Receiving
GP
GS
Rec
Yds
Avg
Lng
TD
1962 PIT
3
2
0
0
0.0
0
0
1963 PIT
14 4
26
492
18.9
67
5
1964 PIT
13
13 47 935 19.9
47
7
1965 PIT
14 12
40
859
21.5 87 5
1966 PIT
13
13 41
663
16.2
79
5
1967 PHI
12
12
36
524
14.6
67
6
1968 PHI
12
12
30
341
11.4
55
4
1969 PHI
14 13 31
492
15.9
80
2
1970 PHI
14 13 47
601
12.8
26
3
1971 PHI
6
6
13
238
18.3
57
0
1972 PHI
8
4
9
183
20.3
43
0
1973 NYG
3
0
1
16
16.0
16
0
MIN
5
0
2
22
11.0
12
0
Career 131
104
323
5,366
16.6
87
37
References
External links
