Clarence Parker Clarence " Ace " Parker , ( born May 17 , 1912 ) is a former quarterback who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers ( 1937 – 1941 ) , Boston Yanks ( 1945 ) , and the New York Yankees . He was an All - American tailback at Duke University in 1936 . Parker also played Major League Baseball during 1936 and 1937 with the Philadelphia Athletics . Early years . Ace Parker was the son of Ernest and Mabel Parker and grew up near Norfolk , Virginia . He attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth , graduating with the class of 1933 and starring in five sports . He enrolled at Duke University as a freshman in 1933 . Duke career . At Duke , Parker competed in three sports : football , basketball , and baseball . From 1934 - 1936 , he starred at tailback , doing most of the running and passing for Duke . He was second team All - American in 1935 and consensus All - American first team in 1936 . He placed sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1936 . Parker was a great open - field runner and probably the best punter in college football at the time . His 105 yard kickoff return against North Carolina is still a Duke school record . Parker also stood out as a baseball player at Duke , playing in 1935 - 1936 . He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955 . He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1963 , the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1972 , and was an inaugural member of the Duke University Sports Hall of Fame , inducted in 1975 . Early pro career . Parker was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers as the third pick of the second round in the 1937 NFL draft . Sammy Baugh was the only passer drafted ahead of Parker . Parker , who played for the Philadelphia Athletics of Major League Baseball beginning in 1937 , originally had no intention of playing in the NFL . Baseball was the glamour pro sport at the time and the NFL had a rough , vulgar reputation . But perhaps because of his . 117 batting average that year , he asked for and received permission from the A ' s to play football . Parker thus became a true two - sport phenomenon , playing both Major League Baseball and NFL football in both 1937 and 1938 . Parker , playing various infield positions , batted . 179 over two seasons with the A ' s , scoring 20 runs with 25 RBI over 94 games . NFL stardom . When Parker joined the Dodgers in 1937 , Brooklyn had been a perennial NFL cellar - dweller in the East Conference since 1930 . With his running , passing , and punting ability , he brought them instant credibility . He led the team in passing in 1937 and every year he played . In 1938 , he led Brooklyn to a 0 . 500 record and led the NFL in passing yards with 865 . When legendary coach Jock Sutherland joined the Dodgers in 1940 , Parker ' s career took off . In 1940 , he threw for 817 yards and 10 TDs , rushed for 306 yards , caught 3 passes , including 2 for TDs , and led the league in points after touchdowns . The Dodgers finished only one game out of first , with an 8 - 3 record , and Parker was named the NFL MVP . In 1941 , Parker continued to shine , but the Dodgers again finished second to the New York Giants , despite beating their New York rivals twice during the season . Parker ' s NFL career went on hold in 1942 , as he , like many NFL players , left football to enlist in the Armed Services . After serving for over two years , Parker returned to the NFL , this time with the short - lived Boston Yanks , but at age 33 , he took on a minor role . He rejoined the former owner of the Dodgers , Dan Topping , in 1946 as part of the New York Yankees of the new All - America Football Conference ( AAFC ) . Coached by former Washington Redskins coach Ray Flaherty and led by Parker , the Yankees won the AAFC East , giving Parker his only division title in pro football . The Yankees met the powerful Cleveland Browns in the championship game . The Yankees played well , but eventually succumbed to the Browns . Parker was 8 of 18 passing , for only 81 yards and an interception . Parker retired after the game , completing a fine career at age 34 . He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972 . Later years . After his playing days , Parker became the head baseball coach and assistant football coach at Duke University . He was manager of the Durham Bulls from 1949 – 52 , serving as player - manager for the first three seasons and finishing with a record of 303 - 266 ( . 533 ) . He was Piedmont League manager of the year in 1949 and 1951 . He was also a founding member of the Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club in Portsmouth , Virginia . On August 13 , 2008 , Parker was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame , honoring athletes , coaches and administrators who made contributions to sports in Southeastern Virginia . As of 2011 , Parker is the oldest living member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame . As of October 2011 , Parker is the oldest living former professional football player .