Today’s card of the day is Harry Gilmer’s 1948 Leaf football card. Gilmer was the first overall pick in the 1948 NFL Draft, chosen by the Washington Redskins. (See the Gallery’s First Overall Draft picks page.) Gilmer played quarterback and halfback for the Redskins for seven years, then finished his playing career with two years with the Detroit Lions.
Gilmer’s best pro season was 1952, when he gained 508 yards from scrimmage (rushing and receiving) and also passed for 555 yards. He never played in an NFL Championship game.
Before his NFL career, Gilmer starred at the University of Alabama. In 1945, he led the Crimson Tide to a 10-0 record and a win in the Rose Bowl. He finished fifth in voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1945, and again in 1947. (See the Gallery’s Football Cards of Heisman Trophy candidates page.) He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
After retiring as a player, Gilmer coached for ten years in the NFL. In 1965 and 1966, he served as head coach of the Detroit Lions. His picture appears on the 1965 Philadelphia “Lions’ Play of the Year” card, but the card is a bit misleading: it shows Gilmer under the diagram of a 1964 Lions play, but he was still an assistant coach with the Minnesota Vikings in 1964.
Today’s card, Gilmer’s 1948 Leaf card, contains a more obvious mistake: It says Gilmer’s nickname was “Hurryin,” but I couldn’t find any reference to back that up. I did find an article on the Boston College site, though, that refers to Gilmer as “Hurling Harry.” I’m guessing that “Hurling” is the correct nickname.
You can see all of Harry Gilmer’s cards in the Gallery.
