By Darin Born February 20, 1912, in Chicago, Illinois, Francis Michael “Whitey” Wistert was the patriarch of one of the most remarkable dynasties in the history of American sports. Despite having no football experience before arriving at the University of Michigan, he would go on to become a cornerstone of the Wolverines’ dominance in the early 1930s and the first of three brothers to earn All-American honors while wearing the iconic number 11.
College Career
Wistert enrolled at Michigan in 1930 and joined the football team under Coach Harry Kipke. Standing 6’2″ and weighing 210 pounds, he quickly mastered the tackle position. Between 1931 and 1933, Wistert was a vital component of a Michigan squad that was nearly “impregnable.” He helped lead the Wolverines to three consecutive Big Ten championships and back-to-back national championships in 1932 and 1933. His defensive prowess was legendary; famed sportswriter Grantland Rice noted that Wistert was “next to impossible to fool on trick maneuvers” due to his keen ability to diagnose plays.+4
Road to the Pro Game
Unlike his younger brother Albert, who became an NFL star with the Philadelphia Eagles, Francis Wistert’s professional path took a detour through the diamond. A gifted multi-sport athlete, he was named the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player in baseball in 1934. Upon graduation, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds, making his Major League Baseball debut as a pitcher on September 11, 1934. While he played five years of professional baseball (primarily in the minors), he did not pursue a career in professional football, instead choosing to serve as a Navy lieutenant during World War II before becoming a successful attorney and industrial relations executive.+2
Football Legacy
The legacy of “Whitey” Wistert is inextricably linked to the University of Michigan’s number 11 jersey. He was the first of three Wistert brothers—followed by Albert and Alvin—to play tackle for Michigan, all of whom were named Consensus All-Americans and all of whom were eventually inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. This “unprecedented” feat led the University to retire the number 11 in their honor, making them one of only seven legends to receive such a distinction in the program’s storied history.+1
Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats
- National Champion: 1932, 1933 (University of Michigan)
- Consensus All-American: 1933
- All-Big Ten Selection: 1932 (Second-team), 1933 (First-team)
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1967
- Big Ten Baseball MVP: 1934
- Jersey Retirement: Michigan Wolverines No. 11 (Retired in honor of the Wistert brothers)
- University of Michigan Hall of Honor: Inducted in 1981
