Marshall Goldberg at Pitt in 1938
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Nickname(s) | Biggie |
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Date of birth | October 25, 1917 |
Place of birth | Elkins, West Virginia |
Date of death | April 3, 2006 | (aged 88)
Place of death | Chicago, Illinois |
Career information | |
Position(s) | Halfback |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
Weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
College | Pittsburgh |
High school | Elkins High School |
NFL draft | 1939 / Round: 2 / Pick: 12 |
Drafted by | Chicago Cardinals |
Career history | |
As player | |
1939–1943, 1946–1948 | Chicago Cardinals |
Awards |
Pittsburgh Panthers #42 Arizona Cardinals #99 |
Honors |
All American (1937, 1938) All-Pro (1941) |
Career stats | |
Rushing | 1,957 yards (college) 1,644 yards, 11 TD (NFL) |
Receiving | 775 yards, 5 TD (NFL) |
Interceptions | 19 (NFL) |
Kickoff returns | 844 yards, 1 TD (NFL) |
Punt returns | 259 yards (NFL) |
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Military career | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | Navy |
Years of service | 1943–45 |
Rank | Lieutenant |
Unit | SEAL |
Marshall Goldberg (October 25, 1917 – April 3, 2006) was an American football player. He played college football as a halfback and fullback at the University of Pittsburgh. At Pittsburgh Goldberg was twice recognized as a consensus All-American and played on two national championship teams under head coach Jock Sutherland. Goldberg played for the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League for eight seasons between 1939 and 1948 with an interruption during World War II. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1958.
Goldberg's father emigrated from Romania to Cumberland, Maryland, where he met and married Rebecca (Becky) Fram, daughter of a Cumberland shoemaker. Family lore indicated that Sol Goldberg and Becky's brother, Benjamin, were friends, who later become Marshall's mother. The couple settled in the small mountain community of Elkins, West Virginia, some 170 miles (270 km) from Pittsburgh, where they set up a ladies clothing store. Goldberg was born in Elkins. He attended Elkins High School, where he was captain of the basketball, football, and track teams. He was named All-State in all three sports.
At the University of Pittsburgh, under coach Jock Sutherland, he led the Pitt Panthers to back-to-back national championships in 1936 and 1937. Goldberg's 1936 team won the 1937 Rose Bowl. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1937 and was runner-up for the Heisman in 1938. He was also an All-American in both 1937 and 1938, first as a halfback and then as a fullback. During his Pitt career he amassed 1,957 rushing yards, a school record that stood until 1974 when Tony Dorsett surpassed it. Goldberg was part of Pitt's legendary Dream Backfield along with Dick Cassiano, John 'Chick' Chickerneo, & Curly Stebbins. Some experts consider Pitt's Dream Backfield superior to the more famous Four Horsemen of Notre Dame.