Evening star., 1955-06-28
A TCHISON'S S
A NC
Death Writes Tragic FINS
BY LEWIS +. ATcHIsoN

DEATH HAS WRITTEN an untimely and tragic end to
the sports career of 25yearold Harry Agganis 1t was
ronc in way, for the Golden Greeks passngsn Massa-
chusets hospital yesterday followed the same uncertain
pattern Of his all brief sports career coming at time
when he appeared to be recovering from second attack of
pneumonia.
The left-handed leftfooted Aggans seemed marked for
bright baseball when he his lot with the Boston
Red sox and 1855 apparently to be the Of fulfill
ment Harry boasted healthy 3l3 batting average and was
fielding smart enough at first base when stricken the hrSt
time in mid May his get back into the duel
with Norm zauchn for the regular berth he may have
returned too
6-foot-1h 205- FOUNDER, Agganis George Sser
first baseman, Just as he neither Otto Graham
nor Sammy Baugh as passer with Boston University's
football team several years But he had than
average skill in both sports and the courage not the
finished polish Of champion He gave it all he had.
MARYLAND'S FOOTBALL POWERHOUSE dealt two
defeats Boston u led by Agganis, and made him
look pretty bad the second time But somehow the reputa
on Of the younger who wrote to Baugh for advice
how to be better passer didn't arnish He back
to be the hero of the Norhs 1918 victory the South
the 1858 Senior Bowl game and his performance good
enough to induce the powerful Cleveland Browns to make
him their choice in the annual pro football draft
But Aggans decided to pass up pro football for base
ball talk that his college education
had been sponsored by Tom Yawkey reepenng Of
the Red Sox employed Aggans triple threat abilities
in his oseason rivalry with Lou Perini of the Braves since
transported to Milwaukee for popular favor in Boston Pern
supported Boston Colleges football team which rented Braves
field, while Yawkey tried to build up Boston Unversys
ambitious eleven into at Fenway Park
To some degree Tom succeeded Agganis was good
box-oce draw and during his stay at Boston u established
school record of 1O2 yards with his southpaw passes in
1884, after hanging mark of is touchdowns in 1949
His leftfooted punting also crowdpleasing show
BOSTON IT, HAD BEATEN Syracuse Colgate, West vir-
gina, New York University Scranton and Temple in 1949
when Maryland squeaked by the Terriers 413 with last
period touchdown Aggan it noted in account Of
the game, "had good day but it not up to the per-
formances he turned in while sparkling Boston University
to its six triumphs."
The game ended sour note, with Coach Buff Donelh
Of Boston Complaining bitterly about the officiating and
Coach Jim Tatum of Maryland vowing again to
schedule another Done team Maryland supporters battled
Bosonans goaposts u band
ing trade blows ply the invaders with their horns
while the other half marched off downed, marshalng
much dignity possible under disconcertng circumstances
Three years later when Aggans was in his senior
following service in the Marine Corps the two teams
back at 1t again, but this time Marylands steamroler fat
tened both the Terriers and their Aggan
forced to retire just before the end of the first half with
injured rib after losing yards "eatng the ball. and
failing complete the only pass he able get away
against the Terrapins bristling defense.
The pubczed duel between Aggans and Maryands Jack
Scarbath for AAmercan honors labeled contest"
In some quarters.
TWO MONTHS LATER Agganis voted the outstand-
ing player in the game such opponents
Scarbath VINO later joined the REDSKINS and Ray Graves
and Harry completed nine of II passes for SO
yards at his best in the clutch throwing
down passes and setting up third
Coach Paul Brown of Cleveland who handled the North
squad in that game later traded the football rights
Agganis Baltimore Colts only because he realized
Greek youth determined to be baseball player Harry
never reported to the Colts, of course.
Agganis had played first base three years for the Amer
ican Legion team in his native Lynn Mass and had
berths the AAmercan High School baseball team and
the Hearst AStars in 1947 While playing for the Camp
Lejeune Marine team during his hitch of military service
Harry named the atournamen first baseman at the
wichita semi pro tournament. Baseball his game
\
IN 1858 AGGANIS, beginning his pro career, played
every inning of every game for Louisville Bosons American
Association club He led his teammates in hits doubles
(38 triples (9 total bases and batted in, and tied
Charlie Maxwell in home His batting 28
Brought up to the big time last Agganis played
In 132 games for the Red Sox got 09 hits for Ill bases
including II homers, and knocked in 81 with .251
average
This year he going better-seemed to have
arrived He had bright future and everything to live for
But yesterday his took its last unpredicabe twist
with his untimey death.