A Chicle a day through the end of May

[jefferyepayne]

Card #29 in the Chicle set is Jim MacMurdo. It is the fifth of 12 short prints in the 1935 National Chicle set.

James Edward "Big Jim" MacMurdo was born in 1909 in Ellwood City, PA. He was a member of the acclaimed 1925 Ellwood City High School football team that went unscored upon during the regular season. Led by Jim's older brother, Tom "Big Train" MacMurdo, who was a 229lb Sr. Fullback, Ellwood City steamrolled its regular season opponents 313-0. Jim was a Sophomore on the team and the starting center. Their brother Bob was also a starting member of the line. Ellwood City played Freeport, IL in the National Championship game. Freeport had not lost in five years and defeated Ellwood 13-7. Tragically, Tom MacMurdo suffered a severe head injury during the season and was never the same player thereafter. He had scholarship offers to the U of Minnesota and U of Pittsburgh but it is unclear whether he went to college or played football beyond High School.

Jim MacMurdo went to the University of Pittsburgh where he was an All-American Tackle in 1931. He played guard and tackle in the NFL for the Boston Braves/Redskins from 1932 - 1933 and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1934 - 1937. He was a member of the inaugural 1932 Boston Braves team that later became the Washington Redskins. Jim was second team All-Pro in 1936.

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jeff

[jefferyepayne]

Card #30 in the Chicle set is Ernie Caddel. It is the sixth of 12 short prints in the 1935 National Chicle set.

Earnest Wiley "Ernie" Caddel was born in 1911 in Granite, OK but moved shortly thereafter to Fresno, CA. He enrolled in Stanford in 1929 on a baseball scholarship, having never played football before. Stanford football coach Glenn "Pop" Warner noticed Caddel's athletic ability and recruited him to play on the football team as well. Caddel was a halfback on the team from 1930 - 1932 and gained national attention when he ran for two long TD's against Dartmouth in 1931. Caddel was garnering All-American support his senior year until he injured his ribs and had to finish the year playing hurt. Because his injury prevented him from playing baseball in the Spring, he lost his baseball scholarship and turned his attention to professional football after graduation.

Ernie Caddel was recruited and signed to play for the Portsmouth Spartans in 1933 and played in the NFL for six seasons. He ran for an 82 yard touchdown on the first carry of his career. The Spartans were sold after his first year and became the Detroit Lions. Caddel's rushing and receiving helped the Lions to a 10-3 record in their inaugural season in Detroit. Called the "Blond Antelope" because of his curly blond hair, Caddel was first team All-Pro in 1935 and second team All-Pro in 1936 and 1936. In his best year in 1935, he led the league in rushing TD's, yards/attempt, yards from scrimmage, and yards per touch and led the Lions to their first NFL Championship.

Caddel worked for General Motors during the off-season, first building cars before moving into sales. After retiring from football, Caddel owned and operated a car dealership in Roseville, CA for 42 years. He was best known for starring in his own TV commercials. Caddel's granddaughter is actor, singer, and performer Connie Champagne http://www.conniechampagne.com/.

Caddel is in the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame.

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From the LA Times in January 1936. Caddel is carrying the ball.

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jeff

[finalscore]

As I mentioned a few days ago, here is the original artwork I own of the Caddel card.





Mike

[CobbvLajoie1910]

Outstanding thread, Jeff. Thank you!

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by CobbvLajoie1910

Outstanding thread, Jeff. Thank you!

Thank you. I've learned a lot about all of these players. So many fascinating stories. It's been a labor of love.

jeff

[jefferyepayne]

Card #31 in the Chicle set is "Nic" Niccolai. It is the seventh of 12 short prints in the 1935 National Chicle set.

Armand J. "Nic" Niccolai was born in Vesta, PA in 1911. Niccolai played college ball at nearby Duquesne University under coach Elmer Layden, one of the Four Horseman of Notre Dame. Duquesne went 9 - 1 in 1933 and played in the second Palm Bowl, defeating Miami University 33 - 7. This was Elmer Layden's last game as coach of the Panthers as he moved on to coach Notre Dame the next season. The next year the Palm Bowl was renamed the Orange Bowl and remains in existence today.

Nic Niccolai played nine seasons in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Pirates / Steelers. He played guard, tackle, and end for the team but his claim to fame was his place kicking abilities. Niccolai led the team in scoring in 1935, 1936, 1939, and 1940. He led the the NFL in scoring in 1935 and 1936, being selected as a 2nd team All-Pro in both of these seasons. In 1936, Niccolai kicked seven field goals, a Steeler record that lasted for 14 years. He was the captain of the Steelers 1936 - 1940 and was voted the National Football League's top kicker in 1936.

Upon retirement, he was president of the Pittsburgh Steelers Alumni Association. His football honors include the West Penn Sports Hall of Fame, the Duquesne Sports Hall of Fame, the Charleroi High School Football Hall of Fame and the Pittsburgh Dapper Dan Hall of Fame. He was selected to the Pittsburgh Steelers Legends Team, a team of the best Steeler players before 1970.

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jeff

[jefferyepayne]

Card #32 in the Chicle set is "Swede" Johnston. It is the eighth of 12 short prints in the 1935 National Chicle set.

Chester "Swede" Johnston was born in Appleton, WI in 1910. Blessed with a lot of speed, it is reported that he held the unofficial world record in the 40 yard dash while still in high school. Johnston played fullback in college, attending three different universities: Elmhurst, University of Miami, and Marquette.

After graduating from Marquette in 1931, Johnston had a tryout with the Green Bay Packers but did not make the team. He played most of the next three seasons with the St. Louis Gunners, a highly successful independent football team trying to gain admittance to the NFL. The Gunners were sponsored by the 126th Field Artillery of the Missouri National Guard, hence their name. The team went 7-4-1 in 1932 and 11-2-3 in 1933 playing games against both NFL and independent pro teams. The last game of the season the Gunners tied the Chicago Bears who the week before had won the NFL championship. Swede Johnston played fullback and scored 17 TDs for the Gunners that season.

Heading into the 1934 season, it appeared the Gunners would be admitted into the NFL as they purchased the Cincinnati Reds league franchise for $20,000. As soon as the other owners approved the sale, the Gunners would be in the NFL. Unfortunately the owners were not excited about this change and voted it down. The situation in Cincinnati continued to deteriorate during the 1934 season until the owners finally approved the sale and the Gunners were admitted to the NFL, expecting to complete Cincinnati's schedule. The Gunners went 1-2 in the NFL but unfortunately could not afford to pay the NFL for the franchise and the league revoked their license. It is thought that if they had been able to play a full NFL season schedule, the gate receipts would have provided enough funds for them to pay for the franchise fee. Faced with mounting debt, the Gunners folded.

Swede Johnston was picked up by the Green Bay Packers and played fullback for them for four seasons. He played two additional season for the Pittsburgh Pirates / Steelers (who change their name after the 1939 season) before retiring from football.

Not a lot is know about Swede Johnston's post football career. He is a member of the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame.

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I'm still trying to figure out what SGC doesn't like about this card. It's certainly not NM, but a G??? Someday maybe I'll get brave and crack it open.

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jeff

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by finalscore

As I mentioned a few days ago, here is the original artwork I own of the Caddel card.

...

WOW. How many of these have you seen?

jeff