caption databasefootball years draftedround birth_place teams article_title position birth_date nfl image college name draftedyear
triplett on a 1950 bowman football card triplwal01 1949-1950 1952-1953 19 / pick 182 usa la mott , pennsylvania -lrb- cheltenham township -rrb- detroit lions chicago cardinals wallace triplett
 hb 18 april 1926 tri377535 wallace triplett - 1950 bowman.jpg penn state wallace triplett 1949
wallace triplett

wallace -lrb- `` wally '' -rrb- triplett -lrb- born april 18 , 1926 -rrb- is a former professional american football player , the first african-american to be drafted by and play for a national football league team .
for that reason , his portrait hangs in the pro football hall of fame in canton , ohio .
