Spirida began his professional football career in 1937 playing for the Wilmington Clippers alongside teammate Vince Lombardi.[4] In 1938, Spirida played for the Hazelton Redskins, a farm team of the Washington Redskins that was led by player-coach Ed Kahn.[1] Spirida was called up to the Washington club for the 1939 season, and joined Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh under Hall of Fame head coach Ray Flaherty. Spirida saw action in nine games, and the team finished the season with an 8–2–1 record.[5] After his lone NFL campaign, Spirida played for the Paterson Panthers of the American Association in 1940.[1]
Spirida was also a star baseball player. A burly slugger who was "always a dangerous batter,"[6] he played several summers in the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was a member of two league championship clubs. From 1935 to 1937, he played for Barnstable, the league champion in 1937.[7][8][9] The following season, Spirida played for league champ Falmouth,[6][10] and returned in 1939 to Barnstable.[11][12] In 1938, he also played professionally for the Thomasville Orioles in the Georgia–Florida League, batting .280 over 30 games.
Spirida died in 1966 at age 51.
ReferencesEdit
^ abc"Johnny Spirida". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
^"All-Opponent Team". The Cowl. Providence, RI. December 6, 1935. pp. 1, 5, 6.
^"Stubborn Saints Crushed by Powerful Eagle Eleven: Bob Curran Scintillates for Boston with Triple Touchdown Achievements; Spirida St. Anselm's Hero". The Heights. Chestnut Hill, MA. October 3, 1934. p. 4.
^"1937 Wilmington Clippers". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
^"Johnny Spirida". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
^ ab"Cape Circuit Chatter". Hyannis Patriot. Hyannis, MA. July 14, 1938. p. 11.
^"Batteries For Barnstable". Hyannis Patriot. Hyannis, MA. July 11, 1935. p. 12.
^"Breaks Bat But Wins Ball Game". Falmouth Enterprise. Falmouth, MA. July 23, 1936. p. 9.
^"Falmouth Splits Two Weekend Games". Falmouth Enterprise. Falmouth, MA. August 3, 1937. p. 2.
^"Rain Cancels Sunday Game". Falmouth Enterprise. Falmouth, MA. July 26, 1938. p. 6.
^"Weekend Baseball". Falmouth Enterprise. Falmouth, MA. July 18, 1939. p. 7.
^"Harold Crocker Hurls Night Game". Falmouth Enterprise. Falmouth, MA. July 18, 1939. p. 17.
External linksEdit
Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
October 18, 2023
john, spirida, john, martin, spirida, november, 1914, april, 1966, american, football, national, football, league, washington, redskins, personal, informationborn, 1914, november, 1914bridgewater, massachusettsdied, april, 1966, 1966, aged, height, weight, car. John Martin Spirida Jr November 4 1914 April 16 1966 was an American football end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins John SpiridaPersonal informationBorn 1914 11 04 November 4 1914Bridgewater MassachusettsDied April 16 1966 1966 04 16 aged 51 Height 6 ft 0 in 1 83 m Weight 195 lb 88 kg Career informationHigh school Bridgewater MA College St AnselmPosition EndCareer historyWilmington Clippers 1937 Baltimore Blue Birds 1937 Hazleton Redskins 1938 Washington Redskins 1939 Paterson Panthers 1940 1946 Biography EditA native of Bridgewater Massachusetts Spirida attended Bridgewater High School and played college football for Saint Anselm College from 1933 to 1936 1 A fullback and kicker Spirida was described as a player s player who can do everything and do it well 2 3 Spirida began his professional football career in 1937 playing for the Wilmington Clippers alongside teammate Vince Lombardi 4 In 1938 Spirida played for the Hazelton Redskins a farm team of the Washington Redskins that was led by player coach Ed Kahn 1 Spirida was called up to the Washington club for the 1939 season and joined Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh under Hall of Fame head coach Ray Flaherty Spirida saw action in nine games and the team finished the season with an 8 2 1 record 5 After his lone NFL campaign Spirida played for the Paterson Panthers of the American Association in 1940 1 Spirida was also a star baseball player A burly slugger who was always a dangerous batter 6 he played several summers in the Cape Cod Baseball League and was a member of two league championship clubs From 1935 to 1937 he played for Barnstable the league champion in 1937 7 8 9 The following season Spirida played for league champ Falmouth 6 10 and returned in 1939 to Barnstable 11 12 In 1938 he also played professionally for the Thomasville Orioles in the Georgia Florida League batting 280 over 30 games Spirida died in 1966 at age 51 References Edit a b c Johnny Spirida profootballarchives com Retrieved May 6 2020 All Opponent Team The Cowl Providence RI December 6 1935 pp 1 5 6 Stubborn Saints Crushed by Powerful Eagle Eleven Bob Curran Scintillates for Boston with Triple Touchdown Achievements Spirida St Anselm s Hero The Heights Chestnut Hill MA October 3 1934 p 4 1937 Wilmington Clippers profootballarchives com Retrieved May 6 2020 Johnny Spirida pro football reference com Retrieved May 6 2020 a b Cape Circuit Chatter Hyannis Patriot Hyannis MA July 14 1938 p 11 Batteries For Barnstable Hyannis Patriot Hyannis MA July 11 1935 p 12 Breaks Bat But Wins Ball Game Falmouth Enterprise Falmouth MA July 23 1936 p 9 Falmouth Splits Two Weekend Games Falmouth Enterprise Falmouth MA August 3 1937 p 2 Rain Cancels Sunday Game Falmouth Enterprise Falmouth MA July 26 1938 p 6 Weekend Baseball Falmouth Enterprise Falmouth MA July 18 1939 p 7 Harold Crocker Hurls Night Game Falmouth Enterprise Falmouth MA July 18 1939 p 17 External links EditCareer statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference Minors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Spirida amp oldid 1163156403, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
