Bobby Gage

Robert Gage II (January 15, 1927 – April 19, 2005) was an American football player who played two seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bobby Gage
Gage on a 1950 Bowman football card
No. 77
Position:Halfback/ QB/ DB
Personal information
Born:(1927-01-15)January 15, 1927
Chester, South Carolina
Died:April 19, 2005(2005-04-19) (aged 78)
Greenville, South Carolina
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school:Boys High School (Anderson, South Carolina)
College:Clemson
NFL Draft:1949 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • 1949 Gator Bowl MVP[1]
  • Clemson Hall of Fame member (1976)[2]
  • South Carolina Hall of Fame member (1978)[2]
  • Gator Bowl Hall of Fame member (1990)[3]
  • Longest run from scrimmage in Pittsburgh Steelers history (97 yards)[4]
Career NFL statistics as of Week 12, 1950
Games Played/ Started:22/ 19
Rushing Atts/ Yds/ TDs:85/ 334/ 6
Completions/ Atts:38/ 94
Passing Yds/ TDs:623/ 3
Receptions/ Yds/ TDs:7/ 135/ 2
Fumbles Caused/ Recovered:12/ 7
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early life

Gage was born in Chester, South Carolina. He attended Boys High School in Anderson, South Carolina.[5]

He matriculated at Clemson University.[5]

Football career

Gage was selected sixth overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1949 NFL Draft.[5] He was also selected by the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference.[6]

He played two seasons for the Steelers at tailback, quarterback and defensive back. In the penultimate game of the 1949 season, Gage set a franchise record which still stands with a 97-yard run on a fake punt.[7] This run also tied the league record at the time which was held by the Green Bay Packers' Andy Uram. The record stood until 1982, when Tony Dorsett scored from 99 yards out.[8]

Gage retired from football after two season to devote more time to his family and his off-season job as an executive at a South Carolina textile firm.[9]

Personal

Gage married Patricia "Patsy" McGarahan in 1947.[10] The couple had six children, four girls and two boys.[11]

After finishing his football career, Gage had a forty-year career at Chemurgy Products in Greenville, South Carolina.[11]

Gage died of an apparent heart attack at his home in Greenville on April 19, 2005.[12]

References
  1. "Most Valuable Players - Winning Team". Gator Bowl Association. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  2. "Bobby Gage bio". Clemson University. Archived from the original on 7 December 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  3. "Hall of Fame Inductees". Gator Bowl Association. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  4. Bendel, Joe (December 25, 2005). "Notebook: Harrison takes out unruly fan". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  5. "Bobby Gage bio". databaseFootball. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  6. "Colts Select Bobby Gage". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. January 4, 1949. p. 7. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  7. Sell, Jack (December 5, 1949). "Gage Stars; Bears Top Steelers 30–21". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 8. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  8. "NFL Single-Season Longest Rush Leaders". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  9. Abrams, Al (February 9, 1951). "Gage May Quit Steelers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 20. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  10. "Gage family tree". Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  11. "Robert 'Bobby' Gage II obit". The Greenville News. April 21, 2005. Archived from the original on May 9, 2006. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  12. "Clemson Legend Bobby Gage Passes". Scout.com. April 20, 2005. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
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