Sam Felton Samuel M . Felton was an American football and baseball player . He was an All - American end for Harvard University in 1912 . After graduating from Harvard , Felton declined a record offer to play Major League Baseball for Connie Mack ' s Philadelphia Athletics . Biography . Felton attended Harvard University where he played American football at the end position in 1911 and 1912 . He also handled punting and kicking duties for Harvard ' s football team . As a junior in 1911 , Felton was one of the laaders of a football team that opened the season 5 – 0 while outscoring opponents 72 – 6 . However , Felton was seriously injured in the first period of the fifth game of the season — a win over Brown University . Felton was kicked in the side . " The New York Times " reported that , because Felton was not wearing any protective pads over his hips , the kick broke several blood vessels and formed a clot . Following the injury to Felton , the previously - undefeated Harvard team went 1 – 2 – 1 in its final four games . Felton returned to the Harvard football team as a senior and helped lead the 1912 team to a perfect 9 – 0 record . Felton was regarded as the best punter in the country during the 1912 season , with punts averaging from 60 to 70 yards . Four decades later , sports writer Grantland Rice included Felton on his list of the finest college kickers he had ever seen . Felton and Charley Brickley were " credited with having won the intercollegiate championship for the [ Harvard ] Crimson " in 1912 . At the end of the 1912 season , Felton was selected as a first - team All - American in 1912 by Walter Camp ( for Collier ' s Weekly ) , Robert Edgren , W . J . MacBeth , Alfred S . Harvey of the " Milwaukee Free Press " , Parke H . Davis , and the " Trenton Evening Times " . Felton was also a star pitcher for the Harvard baseball team for three years from 1911 – 1913 . In May 1913 , Felton pitched a one - hit shutout against Amherst College . " The New York Times " reported on the game as follows : " Harvard shut out Amherst , 5 to 0 , this afternoon because of the masterful pitching of Sam Felton , the former football end rush and punter . Felton held the visitors to one single , this being made in the first inning by Kimball , Amherst ' s first batter to face Felton . Kimball ' s hit was a scratch , being nearly smothered by Capt . Wingate . . . " Felton ' s pitching also helped lead Harvard to win the series against Yale in 1913 , and the team presented Felton . Upon his graduation from Harvard in 1913 , Connie Mack offered Felton a three - year contract to pitch for the Philadelphia Athletics for $ 15 , 000 per year . The offer was a record for a collegiate player and was turned down by Felton . Felton declined the offer to return to his home in Haverford , Pennsylvania and pursue a career in business . " The Washington Post " reported on the offer as follows : " Manager Mack , of the Athletics , usually regarded as one of the most conservative bidders for ball players , recently made a record offer for a college player , and , after striving as he has never before done , failed to gain the coveted contract . This much sought collegian , whom Mack thinks would have made one of the greatest pitchers In the history of the game , is Samuel Felton , football and baseball star at Harvard for three years . Within the past month Mack offered Felton a flat contract of $ 15 , 000 for three years , agreeing to permit him to make his own terms and giving him the option of an unconditional release should he tire of professional ball , but the persuasion of the Athletics ' manager failed . Felton , who lives at Haverford , Pa . , comes of a wealthy family , and does not have to play ball for a living , besides being actively engaged in business here . " In October 1914 , the Harvard baseball team presented Felton with a silver loving cup for his contributions to Harvard ' s success . On the day before his wedding in October 1913 , " The New York Times " reported that Harvard ' s undergraduates " jammed the Union " to give Felton " a rousing send - off . " In 1921 , he was selected to serve on the Harvard baseball team ' s advisory staff .