Harry Beecher

Harry Beecher

Beecher, c. 1888
Yale Bulldogs
Position	Quarterback
Class	Graduate
Personal information
Born:	(1868-09-13)September 13, 1868 Peekskill, New York, U.S.
Died:	(1948-09-26)September 26, 1948 Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
Career history
College	Yale (1884–1887)
Career highlights and awards
National championship (1886, 1887)

Henry Ward "Harry" Beecher^[1] (September 13, 1868 – September 26, 1948) was an American college football player and sportswriter.^[2] He was the subject of the first American football card, printed in 1888.

Henry was son of Henry Barton and Harriet Jones Benedict Beecher. His paternal grandfather was Henry Ward Beecher and one of his paternal great-aunts was Harriet Beecher Stowe. He graduated from Yale University in 1888.

Yale

Beecher was a prominent quarterback for the Yale Bulldogs football team of Yale University, called by one writer the school's greatest ever at the position.^[3]

1886

He accounted for 33 touchdowns in 1886.^[4]

1887

He was captain in 1887.^[5] One source lists Beecher as the player of the year.^[6]

References

1. "Harry Beecher is Credited as the Subject of the First Football Card. But Who was He?". prewarcards.com. October 16, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
2. Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide. 1905. p. 67. ISBN 9780944786796.
3. Naismith, James; Gulick, Luther Halsey (1892). Physical Education. p. 56.
4. Bob Barton (August 2008). "Yale's Beecher: A Forgotten Mr Touchdown" (PDF). College Football Historical Society. 21 (4).
5. Sally Jenkins (2008). The Real All Americans. p. 106. ISBN 9780767926249.
6. Claire Walter (1982). Winners, the blue ribbon encyclopedia of awards. p. 685. ISBN 9780871963864.