Evening star., 1955-10-06
ATCHISO S
"A N G L Z
An Honor Long Overdue
By LEWIS r. ATcHIsoN

THE BROOKLYN DODGERS aren't the only athletes who
had to wait and for honor long overdue Cliff
Battles viii be nduced into the Touchdown Clubs Hall Of
Fame tonight with appropriate ceremonies at the club
ters receiving award that too long in coming As
star Of the 1887 Redskins who brought Washington its first
pro championship Battles rated charter membership.
It slight oversight of course probably much like
Cliffs belated election to the College Football Hail Of Fame
which was preceded by argument At this years meeting
Of the committee charged with selecting members to this
lect group noted that small college stars had been
shamefuy overlooked halfback like Battles for example,
someone said. merited consideration Bill Cunningham, the
Boston Herald columnist and committee member promptly
recommended Battles He had Cliff play for the Boston
Redskins and knew he rated the honor
what good team did Battles and West Virginia Wesleyan
ever beat?" protested another member.
HE certainly murdered when at Duquesne quietly
replied Elmer Layden who coached the Dukes before going
to Notre Dame and later the commissioners job Of
the National Football League. Emers remark tipped the
THE STORY OF BATTLES signing by the Redskins may
be traced back George Marshas interest in West Virginia
Wesleyan The Redskins lived only so miles from
Buckhannon site Of the college, at Grafton Va where he
played high school football under Coach Ward Lanham
former Wesleyan captain Naturally the Bobcats Graf
tons heroes and Marshall avy devoued line Of
about the team
When Wesleyan and Battles Washington to play
Georgetown and Cliff OF with everything but the hot
dog stand Marshall there And 1t happened that he
headed syndicate there in the throes OF organizing the Red
skins in Boston His first act to hire Jerry Cochran
Of Columbus Ohio manager of the club His next to
issue an order to said manager.
Get to Buckhannon and sign Cliff Battles George
commanded, "and keep going to Columbus you don't"
Cochran dismayed to discover upon his arrival in
Buchannon that the New York Giants had gotten wind Of
Battles talents and had offered him the magnanmous salary
of $50 game Jerry guped couple Of times upped the
ante to $7 and got Of the best pro football
has
HARRY COSTELLO THE OLD Georgetown star credits
Battles with making the play that put the Redskins the
oense against the Chicago Bears In the 1887 championship
payo and brought Washington Its first world cham
pionship.
when Sammy Baugh tossed pass to Cliff Three
four Bears had shot at the West vgan before he
got to the line Of scrimmage Harry recalls but danced
away and roared downeld moving his team out of trouble
Sammy Baugh eventually threw two touchdown passes to
Wayne Mlner for the winning 282l Margin but Costello
certain Battles gave the team the confidence it needed
to win
Marshall contends that the Redskins would have beaten
Green Bay in the 1886 playo in New York Battles hadn't
been hurt early in the first quarter Over feet tall weigh
ing 100 pounds and faster than Davidson Cliff was
offensive STAR and the only department in which he was
not outstanding was passing.
CLIFFS DEPARTURE FROM the Redskins in 1888 to
accept backhed coaching position under Lou Little at
Columbia caused rift between Lou, onete Georgetown
COACH and Marshall that has been healed Columbia
refused Battles permission to play in the 1888 Aar game
IN Chicago and the books shows the Redskins subsequently
lost 28-16 Marshall bames Little for and hasn't spoken
to him since.
They'll raise the cup and toast Cliff tonight admitting
him to company Of football mmortals should ever be
an inspiration to young America. All Washington joins in
the Cheers"