Willie Thrower
AKA
MITTS
Willie Thrower Statement:
“I felt like the Jackie Robinson of football” at a
time “there were no black quarterbacks … it just didn’t happen.”
Wille Thrower, Michigan State University quarterback became the first black quarterback in the NFL. Coming off the bench for the Chicago Bears, he threw only eight passes – connecting on three – and became an immediate trailblazer for African American athletes. Thrower was inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame in 2011. He was known also for his explosive arm throw of 70 yards. Thrower was born March 22, 1930 in Kensington, Pennsylvania. There is no mention of his ancestry line at all.
He retired after separating his shoulder at age 27 and became a social worker in New Kensington and New York City before returning to his hometown for good in 1969. He eventually owned two taverns. It would be 15 years until another black quarterback took was allowed and chosen to play in a pro game , which became again another history in 1968, when Marlin Briscoe started at quarterback for the Denver Broncos becoming the second black (African American ) person to play
Actual verbiages from sports writer
In the Oct. 19, 1952, Chicago Tribune, sportswriter George Strickland recounted the Chicago Bears’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers the day before, including these paragraphs:
“In the 10th minute of the period, (Joe) Perry fumbled and (Dick) Hensley recovered on the 49ers’ 16. Willie Thrower, former Michigan State Negro quarterback star making his major league debut, passed 12 to (Jim) Dooley, putting the ball on the 4.
(George) Blanda and (Fred) Morrison came into the game with a resounding razzberry. They wanted Willie to put it over. But Morrison did it on a blast off tackle. The boos changed to cheers.”
In 1979, he was elected to the Westmoreland County Sports Hall of Fame. In 1981, he was inducted into AK Valley Hall of Fame. In 2003, an official state marker was dedicated to him in his high school
Wille Thrower who suffered racisms pain and career disappointments where his gift given by God was put into a choke hold due to the fact that he was black. With his passion and gift he broke the colour lines and bridge the gap for future generations. His active time in the NFL was short but the plays he did made history for generations past, present and to come. Twenty-five years after he broke the quarterback color barrier, he was recognized in an exhibit about black players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Sadly Wille died of a heart attack in New Kensington on Wednesday February 20, 2002 at the age of 71. His funeral was held at the Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in New Kensington. Many mourners showed their respects but many black NFL players did not attend nor mention what he has done as not just an African American but a black icon in the field of Pro Football. He is survived by his wife Mary and three sons .
In 2006, a statue of Thrower was erected near Valley High School in New Kensington to honor his accomplishments as a prior student and world leader in sports. The statue was unveiled during a Valley High School football game