October 31 Football History: From Heisman Shocker to the Only Man in Two Halls
Forget ghosts and goblins—Halloween is actually one of the most action-packed dates in football history, anchored by legends who shattered records and defined eras! Did you know a single offensive lineman, Bill Fralic, was so dominant he became the first at his position to place in the Top 10 of Heisman voting twice, or that Cal Hubbard remains the only person ever inducted into both the Pro Football and Baseball Halls of Fame? This date also marks the birth of college gridiron greats like “Pete” Henry (the largest lineman of his era who once punted 94 yards!) and the night the Indianapolis Colts finally made their national TV debut on Monday Night Football, winning a historic, high-scoring blowout.
October 31 American Football History Timeline
- October 31, 1936 – Polo Grounds, New York – The infamous Seven Blocks of Granite defended their NYC turf against the powerful Pitt Panthers in an instant classic.
- October 31, 1959 – Miraculous Cannon Run in the Ole Miss vs LSU game. Billy Cannon’s legacy was set in stone with this amazing run against a rival Southeastern Conference game.
- October 31, 1988 – Indianapolis, Indiana – The 1st nationally televised NFL game in Indianapolis took place. ABC’s Monday Night Football, with its broadcast team of Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf, and Al Michaels, brought the Colts and their guests, the Denver Broncos, into living rooms across the country. The Colts franchise had moved from Baltimore in March of 1984. The Colts defeated the Denver Broncos that historic evening 55-23.
October 31 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
- Charlie Daly [1880] – A legendary quarterback and Hall of Fame field general for both Harvard and Army, Daly was an elite tactician, a decorated artillery officer, and the visionary founder of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
- Wilbur Henry [1897] – Nicknamed “Pete,” Henry was a 250-pound pioneer tackle for Washington & Jefferson and the Canton Bulldogs, renowned for his rare combination of size, open-field mobility, and drop-kicking prowess. He was a charter member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Cal Hubbard [1900] – A towering tackle for Centenary and Geneva before winning four NFL championships with the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers, Hubbard was one of the game’s earliest dominant two-way linemen. He holds the unique distinction of being enshrined in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame (as an umpire).
- Bill Fralic [1962] – A dominant offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Panthers whose crushing downfield blocks inspired Pitt publicists to popularize the term “pancake block,” Fralic was a two-time unanimous All-American, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft, and a four-time Pro Bowl guard for the Atlanta Falcons.
Conclusion
From the monumental achievements of three-time All-American James Hogan, who embodied Yale spirit, to the two-Hall-of-Fame legacy of Cal Hubbard, and the record-breaking punts of Canton Bulldog Pete Henry, October 31st stands as a heavyweight date in football lore. These men didn’t just play the game; they defined the positions, set the benchmarks for athletic excellence, and delivered moments of history—like the Colts’ spectacular MNF debut—that span from the 19th-century Ivy League fields to the modern NFL. As the veil lifts on Halloween, we celebrate this unparalleled convergence of gridiron greatness.
