Hall of Fame Professional Football Player, Major League Baseball Player. Regarded by many as being one of the most versatile athletes during the first half of the 20th century, he will be best remembered for setting the single game record of most points scored by an individual in an NFL game, when he accomplished this feat with 40 points in a contest in 1929. Born Ernest Alonzo Nevers, in Willow River, Minnesota, he attended Superior Central High School in Wisconsin and later Santa Rosa High School in California. During the latter, he played football as a senior. During his collegiate years at Stanford University, he became an All-American and one of the most durable athletes of his era. He led Stanford to the Rose Bowl Game in 1925 against Notre Dame. Although Stanford lost to the "Fighting Irish" by the score of 27 to 10, Nevers produced a memorable game, as he played all 60 minutes of the contest and netted 114 rushing yards. His total was more than all of the famed Notre Dame "Four Horsemen" combined. He shared MVP honors with Elmer Layden. Nevers began his career of professional football in the National Football League with the Duluth Eskimos (1926 to 1927) and after missing the entire 1928 season due to an injury. He played three more years with the Chicago Cardinals (1929 to 1931). He earned All-League honors each year he played and served as a player-coach for the majority of his career. From 1926 to 1928, he was a pitcher with the St. Louis Browns. In 44 games, he compiled a 6-win 12-loss record in 178 innings pitched. Additionally, he played on a "Barn Storming" professional basketball team in St. Louis in 1927. He is the only athlete to play for a professional football, baseball, and basketball team during the same year (1927). On November 28th, 1929, Nevers (with the Chicago Cardinals) scored six touchdowns and recorded 4 extra points in a game against the Chicago Bears. He was responsible for all 40 points of his team's scoring. To date, that feat still stands in the NFL record books. After retiring as a player, he remained in football to coach. Following the United States' entry into World War II, Nevers (who was too old for the draft) enlisted with the Marine Corps. Assigned to the Pacific, he was stranded along with his battalion on a deserted island for several months before they were rescued. The experience left Nevers with beriberi (a disease caused by a deficiency of thiamine) and severe weight loss. Upon his return home, he helped form the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference in 1946. He went onto work for a Bay-area liquor distributor. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. He was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.
Hall of Fame Professional Football Player, Major League Baseball Player. Regarded by many as being one of the most versatile athletes during the first half of the 20th century, he will be best remembered for setting the single game record of most points scored by an individual in an NFL game, when he accomplished this feat with 40 points in a contest in 1929. Born Ernest Alonzo Nevers, in Willow River, Minnesota, he attended Superior Central High School in Wisconsin and later Santa Rosa High School in California. During the latter, he played football as a senior. During his collegiate years at Stanford University, he became an All-American and one of the most durable athletes of his era. He led Stanford to the Rose Bowl Game in 1925 against Notre Dame. Although Stanford lost to the "Fighting Irish" by the score of 27 to 10, Nevers produced a memorable game, as he played all 60 minutes of the contest and netted 114 rushing yards. His total was more than all of the famed Notre Dame "Four Horsemen" combined. He shared MVP honors with Elmer Layden. Nevers began his career of professional football in the National Football League with the Duluth Eskimos (1926 to 1927) and after missing the entire 1928 season due to an injury. He played three more years with the Chicago Cardinals (1929 to 1931). He earned All-League honors each year he played and served as a player-coach for the majority of his career. From 1926 to 1928, he was a pitcher with the St. Louis Browns. In 44 games, he compiled a 6-win 12-loss record in 178 innings pitched. Additionally, he played on a "Barn Storming" professional basketball team in St. Louis in 1927. He is the only athlete to play for a professional football, baseball, and basketball team during the same year (1927). On November 28th, 1929, Nevers (with the Chicago Cardinals) scored six touchdowns and recorded 4 extra points in a game against the Chicago Bears. He was responsible for all 40 points of his team's scoring. To date, that feat still stands in the NFL record books. After retiring as a player, he remained in football to coach. Following the United States' entry into World War II, Nevers (who was too old for the draft) enlisted with the Marine Corps. Assigned to the Pacific, he was stranded along with his battalion on a deserted island for several months before they were rescued. The experience left Nevers with beriberi (a disease caused by a deficiency of thiamine) and severe weight loss. Upon his return home, he helped form the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference in 1946. He went onto work for a Bay-area liquor distributor. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. He was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.
Bio by: C.S.
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