Clifford William "Kip" Baldwin (September 22, 1899 – January 25, 1979) was an American footballback who played two seasons in the American Professional Football Association (AFPA), now known as the National Football League (NFL), with the Muncie Flyers.
Baldwin was born in Muncie, Indiana.[1] His football career began no later than 1915 when he played for the Congerville Eagles. In October 1915, he was shot in the leg or heel by a police officer after jumping from a freight train while returning from a football game in Union City, Indiana.[2] Baldwin subsquently sued the officer, claiming that he had sustained permanent injury as a result of the shooting.[3][4]
NFL career
Baldwin continued to play football despite his injury. When the National Football League (NFL) was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA), Muncie was one of the charter members. On October 3, 1920, Baldwin played halfback for Muncie in what may have been the first game in NFL history. (Lack of records as to start times leaves ambiguity as to which of two games played on October 3, 1920, was the first NFL game.)[5]
Baldwin played for the Muncie and Congerville Flyers during the 1920 and 1921 seasons.[1][6][7] Baldwin, who played halfback, later recalled:
We lined up in the backfield side by side and received the ball directly from the center. . . . We didn't have separate defensive and offensive teams and most of us had to play both ways since we carried only 19 or 20 men. You had to be good at both defense and offense or you didn't make the team.[8]
Baldwin broke his nose three times during his football career and recalled that the Flyers "were known as a rough and tough team", so much so that "some of the teams hesitated playing us."[8]
Later years
Baldwin attended Muncie Business College. He later worked at Ball Stores in Muncie. He was married to Frieda Kalk Baldwin. He died in 1978 at a Muncie hospital at age 79.[7] He was buried at the Elm Ridge Memorial Park in Muncie.
References
^ ab"Cliff Baldwin". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
^"Policeman's Bullet Hits Football Player: Clifford Baldwin Failed to Stop When Ordered to Halt After Jumping From Train". The Muncie Morning Star. October 18, 1915. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Baldwin Sues Capt. Lafferty". The Muncie Press. May 20, 1916. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Captain of Police Is Made Defendant Damage Suit: Clifford Baldwin Claims He Was Shot by Captain Lafferty Last October". The Muncie Morning Star. May 20, 1916. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
^Bob Braunwart, Bob Carroll (1981). "The First NFL Game(s)" (PDF). The Coffin Corner (Vol. 3, No. 2).
^"Cliff Baldwin". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
^ ab"Clifford Baldwin: Football 'Flyer'". The Muncie Star. January 26, 1979. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abJerry Fennell (July 25, 1975). "untitled column". Muncie Evening Press. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
Just Sports Stats
April 12, 2023
cliff, baldwin, clifford, william, baldwin, september, 1899, january, 1979, american, football, back, played, seasons, american, professional, football, association, afpa, known, national, football, league, with, muncie, flyers, baldwin, 1967no, 5position, bac. Clifford William Kip Baldwin September 22 1899 January 25 1979 was an American football back who played two seasons in the American Professional Football Association AFPA now known as the National Football League NFL with the Muncie Flyers Cliff BaldwinBaldwin c 1967No 5Position BackPersonal informationBorn 1899 09 22 September 22 1899Muncie Indiana U S Died January 25 1979 1979 01 25 aged 79 Muncie Indiana U S Height 5 ft 9 in 1 75 m Weight 170 lb 77 kg Career historyMuncie Flyers 1920 1921 Career NFL statisticsPlayer stats at NFL com PFR Contents 1 Early years 2 NFL career 3 Later years 4 References 5 External linksEarly years EditBaldwin was born in Muncie Indiana 1 His football career began no later than 1915 when he played for the Congerville Eagles In October 1915 he was shot in the leg or heel by a police officer after jumping from a freight train while returning from a football game in Union City Indiana 2 Baldwin subsquently sued the officer claiming that he had sustained permanent injury as a result of the shooting 3 4 NFL career EditBaldwin continued to play football despite his injury When the National Football League NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association APFA Muncie was one of the charter members On October 3 1920 Baldwin played halfback for Muncie in what may have been the first game in NFL history Lack of records as to start times leaves ambiguity as to which of two games played on October 3 1920 was the first NFL game 5 Baldwin played for the Muncie and Congerville Flyers during the 1920 and 1921 seasons 1 6 7 Baldwin who played halfback later recalled We lined up in the backfield side by side and received the ball directly from the center We didn t have separate defensive and offensive teams and most of us had to play both ways since we carried only 19 or 20 men You had to be good at both defense and offense or you didn t make the team 8 Baldwin broke his nose three times during his football career and recalled that the Flyers were known as a rough and tough team so much so that some of the teams hesitated playing us 8 Later years EditBaldwin attended Muncie Business College He later worked at Ball Stores in Muncie He was married to Frieda Kalk Baldwin He died in 1978 at a Muncie hospital at age 79 7 He was buried at the Elm Ridge Memorial Park in Muncie References Edit a b Cliff Baldwin profootballarchives com Retrieved October 31 2015 Policeman s Bullet Hits Football Player Clifford Baldwin Failed to Stop When Ordered to Halt After Jumping From Train The Muncie Morning Star October 18 1915 p 10 via Newspapers com Baldwin Sues Capt Lafferty The Muncie Press May 20 1916 p 5 via Newspapers com Captain of Police Is Made Defendant Damage Suit Clifford Baldwin Claims He Was Shot by Captain Lafferty Last October The Muncie Morning Star May 20 1916 p 14 via Newspapers com Bob Braunwart Bob Carroll 1981 The First NFL Game s PDF The Coffin Corner Vol 3 No 2 Cliff Baldwin Pro Football Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved February 27 2023 a b Clifford Baldwin Football Flyer The Muncie Star January 26 1979 p 9 via Newspapers com a b Jerry Fennell July 25 1975 untitled column Muncie Evening Press p 13 via Newspapers com External links EditJust Sports Stats Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cliff Baldwin amp oldid 1143188423, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
