Hank Soar
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No. 15 | |
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Position: | Running back/Defensive back |
Personal information | |
Born: | Alton, Rhode Island,U.S. | August 17, 1914
Died: | December 24, 2001 Pawtucket, Rhode Island,U.S. | (aged 87)
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Pawtucket (RI) |
College: | Providence |
Undrafted: | 1937 |
Career history | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
Player stats atPFR |
Albert Henry Soar(August 17, 1914 – December 24, 2001) was anAmerican footballrunning backanddefensive backin theNational Football League(NFL) who went on to have a long career as anumpireinMajor League Baseball(MLB). Soar played nine seasons for theNew York Giants(1937–1944, 1946), and caught the game-winningtouchdownpass in the1938 NFL Championship Gameagainst theGreen Bay Packersat thePolo Grounds.[1][2]
Early life and career
[edit]Born inAlton, Rhode Island,Soar later moved toPawtucket,attending Pawtucket Senior High School (currentlyWilliam E. Tolman High School) andProvidence College.After being named to theLittle All-Americanteam, he left college to play semi-pro baseball and pro football, playing for theBoston Shamrocksin 1936.[3]He served in theArmyduring World War II, and his officiating in a baseball game drew the attention ofPhiladelphia AthleticsmanagerConnie Mack,who recommended him for an umpiring career. After the war, Soar coached theProvidence Steamrollersin theBasketball Association of America(now the NBA) in1947,but the team achieved only a 2–17 record before he was replaced byNat Hickey.He then became backfield coach for the football team atRhode Island State College(also known as theUniversity of Rhode Island) from 1947 to 1949.[3]
Umpiring career
[edit]After working in theNew England Leaguefrom 1947 to 1949 and theAmerican Associationin 1949,[3]Soar became anAmerican Leagueumpire from 1950 to 1972, and as a league supervisor continued to work occasional games as a substitute through 1975 and in 1977–78. He worked in fiveWorld Series(1953,1956,1962,1964and1969), serving as crew chief for the '69 Series between theNew York Metsand theBaltimore Orioles,one of the most famous of all time.
Notable games
[edit]Soar was also the first base umpire whenDon Larsenof theNew York Yankeespitched aperfect gamein Game 5 of the 1956 Series, and was again at first base on June 1, 1975, whenNolan Ryanof theCalifornia Angelspitched his fourthno-hitterto tieSandy Koufax's major league record. Soar also officiated in fourAll-Star Games(1952, 1955, second1959game, 1963), calling balls and strikes for the last contest, as well as the1971 American League Championship Series,when he again served as crew chief.
In1941,Soar made a bit of history as one of the first two players ever to be fined by the NFL's league office when commissionerElmer Laydenin August assessed $25 fines on Soar andGreen Bay PackersquarterbackLarry Craigfor fighting.[4]
Death
[edit]Soar died at age 87 at a family home inPawtucket, Rhode Island,and was buried in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence. He has a memorial marker atSlater Parkin Pawtucket next to the tennis courts. The athletic complex on Prospect Street in Pawtucket is named after him.
Head coaching record
[edit]Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Providence | 1947–48 | 19 | 2 | 17 | .105 | (replaced) | — | — | — | — | — |
Source[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Hank Soar Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedMarch 20,2023.
- ^Goldstein, Richard (December 30, 2001)."Hank Soar, 87, Former Umpire and Football Back, Is Dead".The New York Times.RetrievedMarch 20,2023.
- ^abcThe Sporting News Baseball Register.1971. p. 533.
- ^"Layden Fines Two Pros for Fighting".Pittsburgh Press.United Press.August 26, 1941. p. 18.RetrievedMay 20,2011.
- ^"Albert Soar: Coaching Record, Awards".Basketball Reference.Sports Reference LLC.RetrievedJanuary 8,2024.
External links
[edit]- 1914 births
- 2001 deaths
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- American football defensive backs
- American football running backs
- American League umpires
- American men's basketball coaches
- Basketball coaches from Rhode Island
- Boston Shamrocks (AFL) players
- Burials in Rhode Island
- Major League Baseball umpires
- New York Giants players
- Providence Friars football players
- Providence Steamrollers coaches
- Sportspeople from Pawtucket, Rhode Island
- United States Army soldiers
- Burials at Swan Point Cemetery