A Chicle a day through the end of May

[jefferyepayne]

Card #30 in the Chicle set is Ernie Caddel. It is the sixth of 12 short prints in the 1935 National Chicle set.

Earnest Wiley "Ernie" Caddel was born in 1911 in Granite, OK but moved shortly thereafter to Fresno, CA. He enrolled in Stanford in 1929 on a baseball scholarship, having never played football before. Stanford football coach Glenn "Pop" Warner noticed Caddel's athletic ability and recruited him to play on the football team as well. Caddel was a halfback on the team from 1930 - 1932 and gained national attention when he ran for two long TD's against Dartmouth in 1931. Caddel was garnering All-American support his senior year until he injured his ribs and had to finish the year playing hurt. Because his injury prevented him from playing baseball in the Spring, he lost his baseball scholarship and turned his attention to professional football after graduation.

Ernie Caddel was recruited and signed to play for the Portsmouth Spartans in 1933 and played in the NFL for six seasons. He ran for an 82 yard touchdown on the first carry of his career. The Spartans were sold after his first year and became the Detroit Lions. Caddel's rushing and receiving helped the Lions to a 10-3 record in their inaugural season in Detroit. Called the "Blond Antelope" because of his curly blond hair, Caddel was first team All-Pro in 1935 and second team All-Pro in 1936 and 1936. In his best year in 1935, he led the league in rushing TD's, yards/attempt, yards from scrimmage, and yards per touch and led the Lions to their first NFL Championship.

Caddel worked for General Motors during the off-season, first building cars before moving into sales. After retiring from football, Caddel owned and operated a car dealership in Roseville, CA for 42 years. He was best known for starring in his own TV commercials. Caddel's granddaughter is actor, singer, and performer Connie Champagne http://www.conniechampagne.com/.

Caddel is in the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame.

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From the LA Times in January 1936. Caddel is carrying the ball.

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jeff