Age: 23 (Oct.
18)
1st
season in pro football
College: Lafayette
Height: 6’0” Weight: 185
Prelude:
A college
star in baseball as well as football, where he was particularly noted for his
pass receiving ability, Berry was named to Walter Camp’s 1924 All-American
team. He signed a baseball contract with the Philadelphia Athletics after
graduation and played in 10 major league games and, in the Fall, joined the
Maroons. He was an effective receiver and also placekicked.
1925 Season Summary
Appeared in 10
of 12 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions –
31 (unofficial)
Yards – 349 (unofficial)
Average gain
– 11.3 (unofficial)
TDs – 4 [1,
tied with Hal Erickson & Marty Norton]
Scoring
Rushing TDs –
0
Receiving TDs
– 4 [1, tied with Hal Erickson & Marty Norton]
Other TDs – 2
[1]
Total TDs – 6
[5, tied with four others]
Field Goals –
3 [4, tied with eight others]
Extra Points
– 29 [1]
Points – 74 [1]
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: Collyers Eye, Green Bay Press-Gazette
Maroons went 10-2
to finish second in the NFL while leading the league in scoring (270 points),
touchdowns (38), and rushing TDs (23). There was controversy as the league
penalized the club for playing a prohibited game against a team of former Notre
Dame players, thus forfeiting a chance for the league title.
Aftermath:
Berry played
one more season of pro football, scoring three touchdowns, and was again a
first-team All-NFL selection of Collyers Eye and the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
After two years of minor league baseball, he returned to the major leagues in
1928 with the Boston Red Sox and became the club’s starting catcher for the
next four seasons. He moved on to the White Sox in 1932 and later returned to
the A’s, making his last two plate appearances in 1938 and becoming a coach
under owner/manager Connie Mack after his retirement. In addition, he coached
football at Grove City College and went on to become both a major league umpire
for many years and a NFL official.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
