Robert Wells Marshall (March 12, 1880 – August 27, 1958) was an American sportsman. He was best known for playing football; however, Marshall also competed in baseball,[2]track, boxing, ice hockey and wrestling.
When Marshall played baseball for Minneapolis Central High School, he played first base for three years. Central was the champion of the Twin Cities High Schools for Marshall's junior and senior years, of 1900 and 1901.[4]
When he played baseball for the University of Minnesota, he also played first base for two years, 1904 and 1905, helping the university to win the Western Conference Championship in 1905.[4]
Marshall was the son of Richard Marshall and Symanthia Gillespie Marshall. His maternal grandfather was Ezekiel Gillespie, a former slave and civil rights pioneer. His aunt was Jessie Gillespie Herndon, the second wife of Alonzo Herndon, founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful black-owned insurance businesses in the nation. While in high school, Marshall's mother died, and he began working as a janitor to support his three siblings.[5]
In 1918, Marshall married Irene Knott of Great Falls, Montana. The couple had four children.[6]
Baseball career
Shortly after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in law, Marshall played third base for the Minneapolis "Lund-Lands" for one season, in 1906. He played third base for one season for Lamoure, North Dakota[1] helping the team win third place in a league of eight teams.
Outside of athletics, Marshall practiced law as an attorney in the law office of Mr. William H. H. Franklin, and later at the well known firm of Nash and Armstrong.[1]
1910 St. Paul Gophers
Marshall left the law offices, spending many years back on the diamonds, playing semi-pro baseball for pre-Negro National Leagues. In 1908, he played utility for the Minneapolis Keystones, then moved to first base later in the season. In 1909, he joined the St. Paul Colored Gophers.[4] In 1910, he split the season between the Chicago Giants[7] and the Colored Gophers, appearing for and managing the Colored Gophers team occasionally until at least 1916.[8]
Marshall bought the Colored Gophers team in 1911.[3]
At the end of the 1911 season, Marshall received an appointment in the Minnesota state grain department, where he worked for the next 39 years.[1][9]
For years, Marshall coached youngsters in football and boxing in Minneapolis. At his retirement from his government job in 1950, he was honored with a testimonial dinner, whose attendees included Minnesota Governor Luther Youngdahl and legendary Gophers football coach Bernie Bierman.[6]
^ abHoffbeck, Steven R. "Bobby Marshall, Pioneering African American Athlete" (PDF). Minnesota History Magazine. Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
^"Chicago Giants Will Raise Flag Sunday" Chicago Broad Ax, May 14, 1910, Page 2, Columns 4 and 5
^ ab"Colored Gophers to Play Carrs in South St. Paul" The Appeal, St. Paul, Minnesota, August 5, 1916, Page 3, Column 3
^"Mr. 'Bobby' Marshall has received an appointment..." St. Paul Appeal, St. Paul, Minnesota, Saturday, September 2, 1911, Page 3, Column 6
Baseball statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference Black Baseball Stats and Seamheads
"A century ago, Bobby Marshall made history in NFL's first game, Bobby Marshall, a 40-year-old Black lawyer from Minneapolis, played in the NFL's first game," by Mark Craig, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Oct. 4, 2020
bobby, marshall, other, people, named, disambiguation, robert, wells, marshall, march, 1880, august, 1958, american, sportsman, best, known, playing, football, however, marshall, also, competed, baseball, track, boxing, hockey, wrestling, 1905no, 14position, e. For other people named Bobby Marshall see Bobby Marshall disambiguation Robert Wells Marshall March 12 1880 August 27 1958 was an American sportsman He was best known for playing football however Marshall also competed in baseball 2 track boxing ice hockey and wrestling Bobby MarshallBobby Marshall in 1905No 14Position EndPersonal informationBorn 1880 03 12 March 12 1880Milwaukee WisconsinDied August 27 1958 1958 08 27 aged 78 Minneapolis MinnesotaHeight 6 ft 2 in 1 88 m Weight 195 lb 88 kg Career informationHigh school Minneapolis MN CentralCollege Minnesota 1904 1906 Career historyRock Island Independents 1920 Minneapolis Marines 1921 1924 Duluth Kelleys 1925 Baseball careerFirst baseman ManagerBatted RightThrew Rightdebut1907 for the Minneapolis Lund LandsLast appearance1923 for the All NationsTeamsMinneapolis Lund Lands 1907 LaMoure North Dakota 1907 1 Minneapolis Keystones 1908 2 St Paul Colored Gophers 1909 1910 Chicago Giants 1910 Twin City Gophers 1911 1916 3 All Nations 1923 Career NFL statisticsPlayer stats at NFL com PFRCollege Football Hall of FameWhen Marshall played baseball for Minneapolis Central High School he played first base for three years Central was the champion of the Twin Cities High Schools for Marshall s junior and senior years of 1900 and 1901 4 When he played baseball for the University of Minnesota he also played first base for two years 1904 and 1905 helping the university to win the Western Conference Championship in 1905 4 Marshall played end for the football team of the University of Minnesota from 1904 to 1906 In 1906 Marshall kicked a 48 yard field goal to beat the University of Chicago 4 2 field goals counted as four points He was the first African American to play football in the Western Conference later the Big Ten He graduated in 1907 and played with Minneapolis pro teams the Deans and the Marines From 1920 through 1924 he played in the National Football League with the Rock Island Independents the Minneapolis Marines and the Duluth Kelleys Along with Fritz Pollard he was one of the two first African Americans to play in the NFL Contents 1 Personal life 2 Baseball career 3 Later life and death 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksPersonal life EditMarshall was the son of Richard Marshall and Symanthia Gillespie Marshall His maternal grandfather was Ezekiel Gillespie a former slave and civil rights pioneer His aunt was Jessie Gillespie Herndon the second wife of Alonzo Herndon founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company one of the most successful black owned insurance businesses in the nation While in high school Marshall s mother died and he began working as a janitor to support his three siblings 5 In 1918 Marshall married Irene Knott of Great Falls Montana The couple had four children 6 Baseball career EditShortly after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in law Marshall played third base for the Minneapolis Lund Lands for one season in 1906 He played third base for one season for Lamoure North Dakota 1 helping the team win third place in a league of eight teams Outside of athletics Marshall practiced law as an attorney in the law office of Mr William H H Franklin and later at the well known firm of Nash and Armstrong 1 1910 St Paul Gophers Marshall left the law offices spending many years back on the diamonds playing semi pro baseball for pre Negro National Leagues In 1908 he played utility for the Minneapolis Keystones then moved to first base later in the season In 1909 he joined the St Paul Colored Gophers 4 In 1910 he split the season between the Chicago Giants 7 and the Colored Gophers appearing for and managing the Colored Gophers team occasionally until at least 1916 8 Marshall bought the Colored Gophers team in 1911 3 In a 1916 game Marshall brought in Cannonball Jackson a pitcher acquired from J L Wilkinson s All Nations team 8 Marshall would later appear in games with John Donaldson and the All Nations team in 1923 Later life and death EditAt the end of the 1911 season Marshall received an appointment in the Minnesota state grain department where he worked for the next 39 years 1 9 For years Marshall coached youngsters in football and boxing in Minneapolis At his retirement from his government job in 1950 he was honored with a testimonial dinner whose attendees included Minnesota Governor Luther Youngdahl and legendary Gophers football coach Bernie Bierman 6 Marshall died of Alzheimer s disease in 1958 He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971 See also Edit Biography portalList of African American firstsReferences Edit a b c d Robert W Marshall St Paul Appeal St Paul Minnesota Saturday October 25 1913 Page 10 Column 7 a b Keystones Trimmed Oelwein Saturday Oelwein Daily Register Oelwein IA Page 4 Column 3 a b Bobby Marshall one time football player St Paul Appeal St Paul Minnesota Saturday April 15 1911 Page 3 Column 5 a b c Frank Lelands Chicago Giants Base Ball Club Fraternal Printing Company 1910 http collections mnhs org mnhistorymagazine articles 59 v59i04p158 174 pdf bare URL PDF a b Hoffbeck Steven R Bobby Marshall Pioneering African American Athlete PDF Minnesota History Magazine Minnesota Historical Society Retrieved 24 June 2014 Chicago Giants Will Raise Flag Sunday Chicago Broad Ax May 14 1910 Page 2 Columns 4 and 5 a b Colored Gophers to Play Carrs in South St Paul The Appeal St Paul Minnesota August 5 1916 Page 3 Column 3 Mr Bobby Marshall has received an appointment St Paul Appeal St Paul Minnesota Saturday September 2 1911 Page 3 Column 6External links EditBobby Marshall at the College Football Hall of Fame Baseball statistics and player information from Baseball Reference Black Baseball Stats and Seamheads A century ago Bobby Marshall made history in NFL s first game Bobby Marshall a 40 year old Black lawyer from Minneapolis played in the NFL s first game by Mark Craig Minneapolis Star Tribune Oct 4 2020 Bobby Marshall at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bobby Marshall amp oldid 1123982692, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
