Evening star., 1961-12-10
Redskins Sign First Negro
Ron-Hatcher> No. 8 Draftee
Trade Talk
About Davis
Is Revived
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON
Star Staff Writer

Ron Hatcher, broad-shoul-
dered Michigan State fullback,
beat Ernie Davis of Syracuse to
the punch yesterday when he
broke the Redskins traditional
color line by signing a one-year
contract with the previously
all-white pro football team.
The 6-foot, 2l5-pounder, who
will be on the bench at today's
Redskins-Steelers game at D. C.
Stadium, had no trouble get
ting together with Head Coach
Bill McPeak on salary. Hatcher
arrived around noon and Nc
Peak flew in two hours later
from a Midwestern trip. 1t took
them less than an hour to agree
on terms.
Hatcher, a 22-year-old ma
tive of Carnegie, Pa, received a
$1,000 bonus, which is more or
less standard procedure with
most pro clubs. He was the
clubs eighth draft choice.
Other Signings Expected
Flanker Joe Hernandez.
speed merchant from Arizona,
the teams No. 2 choice. End
Dave VIII of Boston u, No. 9.
and Tackle Jim Costen, Of
South Carolina, No. IA, also
are scheduled to sit on the
bench at today's game. Nc
Peak talked with all three last
night and is expected to an
nounce at least one more sign
ing today.
Hatcher said coming to the
Redskins was "just like sign
ing with any other football
team" He had no feelings one
way or the other about being
the first member of his race
to surmount the color barrier.
I'm here to play football"
he said quietly.
1 George Marshall, president
of the club, refused to pose for
pictures with Hatcher on the
ground that it would be "ex-
ploitation."
This boy was signed as a
player" Marshall said. His
name was put on our draft list
by Bill McPeak last August
as one of the top football play
ers available. He was signed
on his football ability and not
for racial exploitation. 1 don't
want him to be handicapped
on the Redskins because OF his
race"
Davis RumOrs Revived
! Hatcher's signing revived ru-
mors that Davis. Syracuse ALL
American who was the Red
skins first draft choice, will be
traded for a couple of estab-
lished pros.
Davis, who makes his final
appearance for Syracuse in the
Liberty Bowl at Philadelphia
Saturday, is being pursued by
Buffalo Bills of the American
League and by all eight Cana
dian teams. He has played it
cozy about his future plans,
putting off ali queries until
after the Syracuse season.
Hatcher said he had seen
only film clips on Davis and
thought he looked good. Hatch
er was drafted by the New York
Titans of the AFL, but said he
had not heard from them. No
Canadian teams approached
him. He didn't have an out
standing year for the Spartans,
but McPeak explained that
Coach Duffy Daugherty used
him chiefly as decoy to spring
speedy George Saimes loose.
: Not Injury Prone
He has all the equipment"
McPeak said. Hes big enough
and fast enough. He doesn't
seem to be prone to injury"
/ Hatcher said his only injury
in college was a sprained ankle
in his junior year.
/ Quiet-mannered but articu-
late, Hatcher refused to COM
pare himself with Bob Fergu-
son, Ohio States All-American
fullback who signed with the
Steelers two days ago, or with
Davis.
Il believe I'm a good football
player" he said.
The Spartan back is married
to the former Sylvia Grenidge
Of Toronto, Canada. and is the
father of 4-month-old Craig
Allen Hatcher.
| He had one of his best DAYS
against Northwestern last year.
Ireeling off touchdown runs of
81 and 80 yards to clinch close
victory.
Hatcher is a "B" student in
secondary education, and ex-
poets to spend the off-season
teaching.
| Hatcher was high school
baseball catcher and good
enough to get a look from the
Pirates and feelers from a
Cleveland scout. but it was a
case of good hit, no field"
Football is my game" he
said with a grin.
Good Game in Prospect
Hatcher's father is a steel
worker. Ron is the youngest
Iof four children, having a
brother and two sisters.
Hatcher, and mis- fellow draft
eeS, may see one of the best
Redskin performances of the
season today, starting at 2 pm.
Some of the boys still are burn
ing over the exhibition game
pay issue that broke on the eve
Of last weeks Cardinals game,
and a good performance would