October 16, 1893 – New York City – Harold Ballin was born and raised in the Big Apple. After a successful education at the prestigious Lawrenceville School, he was not able to make it on the team because, in his own words, his athleticism was “underdeveloped.” Later, Harold Ballin would go on to make his mark with Princeton football.
According to the National Football Foundation’s biography page on Harold Ballin, he attended Princeton University and somehow progressed enough to make the Tigers’ fourth and final unit of the Freshman football team.
His sophomore season was average at best, but as a junior playing tackle for the Tigers in 1913, he was an All-American as he developed into an 180-pound blocking machine. Princeton Hall of Fame running back Hobey Baker had a tremendous season running behind Ballin’s blocking. Harold’s senior season saw him bulk up another 14 pounds, become the team’s captain, and win his second consensus All-America recognition honor.
Bain News Service, publisher via Wikimedia Commons
The National Football Foundation voted in 1973 to select Harold Ballin to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.
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