Nostalgia Tidbit: Since I was 9 years old, I had always wanted to play little league football, but each year, prior to the pre-season draft I could never get my weight up to the minimum weight requirement which was 85 lbs. The weight range was from 85-115lbs.
Chapter 13
Touch of the Toe
Finally in 1959 at 12 years old my weight came within
range to qualify to play little league football. This was
the last year I would be eligible to play. I barely hit the
85 lb mark but felt I was close enough. I was a little
shrimp, wasn’t I?
Anyway, the day finally came when all would try to
qualify. We had two teams in Auburndale. One was
sponsored by Publix Supermarkets and the other was
sponsored by a local business called Killebrews.
Publix wore green and white and Killebrew’s wore red
and white.
We had to do some basic workout events such as speed
running and catching the ball on the run.
All the coaches were observing with the demeanor of
what I thought to be professional coaches. As you
might suspect with me being so small, I was fast! I did
catch their attention and did get drafted by the
Killebrew Killers! A couple of former Auburndale
High School players would be our coaches. They were
great high school players only the year before. This
would be a treat to learn from a couple of guys I really
looked up to.
Over the next couple of weeks, practice went well. I
was primarily at a running back position on offense
and defensive back on the defensive side of the ball.
Overall, I felt pretty good about the way things were
developing.
Finally, came the night of our first game. I was filled
with butterflies and excitement …until…in the locker
room, one of the officials told us to step up to the
weigh in “one by one”.
My heart was in my throat as I stepped onto the
scales. 79 pounds registered! How could I only
weigh 79 pounds? After all, I was 12 years old!
Anyway, I spent the whole night sitting on the
sidelines ineligible to play that night. How
disappointing.
The following week I practiced harder than ever
determined to impress the coaches to the point of
making them forget about the weight issue.
After all, I could have better understood if I was in
excess of the maximum weight…I might hurt
someone…but as small as I was, they didn’t have to
worry about me really hurting anyone. Of course, I was
not worried about getting hurt. After all, I had two
older brothers who had broken me in when it came
to toughness.
During that week of practice, I was impressive. I ran
through defender after defender dodging and darting
and utilizing all that quickness and speed I was blessed
with. Speed was as critical in those days as now,
perhaps even more so, because there were a lot of
single and double reverses run in the backfield and
even on most kickoff returns. I was quick! As small as
I was I had better be quick or get smashed!
Game day was here again. From here on out, the
coaches had to conduct the weigh ins and record such.
When I stepped on the scales this time it was amazing
that in one week I had gained enough to qualify!
I never did know whose toe was pressing on that
scale but it was pressing hard enough to add about 5
pounds to my weight. All teammates and coaches were
gathered so closely I couldn’t tell.
All I know is there was a cheer once I stepped off the
scale. It appeared that “Rules are made to be
Broken”…not a very good testimony to my grand kids
one day but at the time it seemed like justice.
That night, we won the game by a big margin. I was
tackling people on all points of the field. It was so
invigorating to be a part of the team.
By the way, on the first ball handed off to me in the
backfield, I ran untouched for a 60 yard Touchdown.
It was the highlight of my football career. I never
played another season after that. I was always so small
throughout high school; I had to stick with basketball,
baseball and track.
I never had to weigh- in the remainder of that season.
Were rules made to be broken?
As perfect as memory tries to make the 50s era, I guess
we weren’t so perfect after all! I still wonder whose toe
rescued me and gave me the chance for that great
memory of being able to play the game. Whoever you
were…if by some chance you read this story, please let
me know. My football career was saved by
“The Touch of the Toe”.
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