Eddie Moegle

Eddie Moegle
Personal information
Born:(1896-07-11)July 11, 1896
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Died:June 4, 1983(1983-06-04) (aged 86)
Bruce, Michigan
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:186 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Detroit (MI) Central
College:Detroit
Position:Halfback
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:5
Games started:2
Touchdowns:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Edgar Louis Moegle (July 11, 1896 – June 4, 1983) was an American football player. After serving in World War I, he played halfback for the University of Detroit in 1919 and for the Detroit Heralds and Detroit Tigers during the first and second regular seasons of the National Football League (NFL). He scored the first touchdown in the Heralds' first game of the first NFL season.

Early years

Moegle was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1896.[2] During World War I, he served two years in the U.S. Army, enlisting in April 1917 and serving until May 1919.[3]

Moegle played college football at halfback position for the University of Detroit during the 1919 college football season.[4][5] He scored the game-winning touchdown in Detroit's 16–13 victory over Georgetown on October 26, 1919.[6]

Professional football

In 1920, he played professional football for the Detroit Heralds during the first NFL regular season. The Heralds opened their season with a game against the Cleveland Panthers, played at Navin Field on October 10, 1920. The Heralds won by a 40–14 score, and Moegle, the Heralds' starting right halfback, scored the team's first touchdown.[7]

Later in the 1920 season, Moegle became the head coach, and left halfback, of the Detroit Maroons, a competing professional football team in Detroit.[8] On December 5, 1920, the Maroons and Heralds played for the city championship. With Moegle playing at the left halfback position, the teams played to a 7–7 tie.[9]

During the 1921 NFL season, Moegle played for the Detroit Tigers.[2]

Family and later years

At the time of the 1920 U.S. Census in January 1920, Moegle was living in Detroit with his mother, Elizabeth, and was employed as a clerk in the post office.[10]

After retiring from football, Moegle worked as a bank clerk and lived in Royal Oak, Michigan.[11][12] In his later years, he lived in Armada, Michigan,[13] though he died at Bruce, Michigan, in 1983.[2] He was buried at the Romeo Cemetery in Romeo, Michigan.

References

  1. ^ "Armadas Defeat Royal Oak Eleven". Detroit Free Press. October 2, 1922. p. 13.
  2. ^ a b c "Eddie Moegle NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  3. ^ U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 about Edgar Moegle, born July 11, 1896, died June 4, 1983. Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line].
  4. ^ "Bisons Meet Strong Team: U. of D. Will Present as Formidable a Team as That Which Beat Dakota; Moegle Only Tiger Injured in Last Week's Game; Subs Make Good Showing". Detroit Free Press. November 17, 1919. p. 14. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  5. ^ "Detroit Outplays Holy Cross Team". The Sun (New York). November 28, 1919. p. 14.
  6. ^ "Georgetown Fumbling Gives Detroit Victory". The Washington Times. October 26, 1919. p. Sports.
  7. ^ "Heralds Trim Panthers 40-14: Vogel, Cleveland Star Right Halfback, in Hospital From Injuries". Detroit Free Press. October 11, 1920. p. 13. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  8. ^ "Maroons to Bay City". Detroit Free Press. November 25, 1920. p. 18. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2017.("Coach Eddie Moegle is anxious that every Maroon report for practice Friday night.")
  9. ^ "EACH ELEVEN SCORES ONCE: Heralds and Maroons Go to 7-7 Tie on Muddy Grid Sunday Afternoon". Detroit Free Press. December 6, 1920. p. 11.
  10. ^ 1920 U.S. Census entry for Edgar L. Moegle, age 23, born in Michigan. Census Place: Detroit Ward 6, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: T625_806; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 205; Image: 537. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line].
  11. ^ Polk's Royal Oak, Clawson, Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge Directory, 1922, p. 192.
  12. ^ 1926 Royal Oak Directory, p. 613.
  13. ^ Death record for Edgar Louis Moegle, born 11 July 1896, died 4 June 1983. Michigan Department of Vital and Health Records. Michigan, Deaths, 1971-1996 [database on-line].