Byron Bailey Byron " By " Ladare Bailey ( October 12 , 1930 – January 18 , 1998 ) born to Rollin Edward and Cora Helen ( Bruner ) . Bailey , was a professional American and Canadian football player , primarily as a fullback and defensive back with the Canadian Football League BC Lions . Born in Omaha , Nebraska , Bailey is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame , the BC Sports Hall of Fame , the B . C . Lions Wall of Fame , and the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame . Bailey ' s # 38 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the B . C . Lions . In 2006 , Bailey was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL ' s top 50 players of the league ' s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN . Bailey is perhaps best remembered for scoring the first touchdown in the history of the B . C . Lions ' franchise in an August 28 , 1954 game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers . College career . Bailey ' s family moved from Omaha , Nebraska in the early 1940s to Seattle , Washington , where Bailey played high school football at West Seattle High School . Following his high school graduation , Bailey played collegiately as a halfback at Washington State University , where he is 5th place all - time for the longest run from scrimmage , 84 yards , against UCLA in a 1949 contest . Bailey was inducted into the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986 . Professional career . National Football League . Bailey was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 25th Round of the 1952 NFL Draft . He played sparingly , but was with the team when they won the 1952 NFL Championship game , 17 - 7 , over the Cleveland Browns . The following year , Bailey was traded to the then last place Green Bay Packers , where he finished the 1953 season with 29 yards on 13 rushing attempts , and 8 pass receptions for 119 yards . CFL BC Lions . Unhappy with his playing time in Green Bay , Bailey , recruited by CFL legend and the first head coach of the B . C . Lions Annis Stukus , joined the Lions for their inaugural , 1954 season . Bailey scored the first touchdown in B . C . Lions ' history on August 28 , 1954 , during an 8 - 6 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers . Bailey also scored the first , winning touchdown in B . C . Lions ' history on September 18 , 1954 , during a 9 - 4 victory over the Calgary Stampeders . Bailey was the Lions ’ leading rusher and offensive captain from 1955 to 1960 , and twice led the CFL Western Division in kick - off returns . In 1957 , Bailey was named to the CFL Western Division All - Star Team as a running back . That same year , Bailey won the Bobby Bourne Memorial Trophy as the Lions ' " Most Popular Player . " Bailey was also honored with a " By Bailey Night " by the Lions during the 1960 season , the first player to receive such an honor . Bailey began his career as a fullback in the Lions ' double fullback offensive backfield . In 1962 , when the Lions dropped the double fullback position , Bailey played outside linebacker and cornerback . He wore # 88 as an offensive player and # 38 when on defense . Bailey retired following the B . C . Lions first Grey Cup Championship in 1964 . Over his 11 year career with the Lions , which covered 158 games , Bailey rushed for 3 , 643 yards on 783 attempts , and caught 101 passes for 1 , 161 yards . He was the first B . C . Lion player inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1975 , and was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame the same year . In November , 2006 , Bailey was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL ' s top 50 players of the league ' s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN . Post football life and death . Following his retirement from the B . C . Lions in 1964 , Bailey worked as an executive with the Crown Zellerbach paper company . His wife of 36 years , Diana , died in 1986 . After remarring in 1989 , By moved north of Kelowna , British Columbia near where the Lions would hold their spring training camps . Bailey died of cancer at age 67 on January 18 , 1998 , at his home in Winfield , British Columbia . His funeral was held in Vancouver .