Jim Castiglia
Encyclopedia
James Vincent Castiglia (September 30, 1918 – December 26, 2007) was an American football
fullback
in the National Football League
for the Washington Redskins
and the Philadelphia Eagles
. He also played for the Baltimore Colts
of the All America Football Conference. In 1941 he played his first season with the Eagles, carrying the ball 60 times for 183 yards.
In 1942 Castiglia left the NFL to play professional baseball in the major leagues
. Castiglia played for the Philadelphia Athletics
, and is recorded as a catcher
, but was mostly used as a pinch-hitter, catching in just three games. He is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II
. Though he only played 16 games, he hit extremely well, going 7-for-18, a .389 batting average
. He had two runs batted in and scored two runs
. During his season, the 23-year-old rookie
, a graduate of Georgetown University
, stood 5'11" and weighed 200 lbs.
Following World War II, Castiglia returned to the NFL to play the 1945 and 1946 seasons with the Eagles. In 1947 he played two games with the Colts before moving to the Redskins. Castiglia retired from the NFL following the 1948 season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He also played for the Baltimore Colts
Baltimore Colts (1947-50)
The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The first team to bear the name Baltimore Colts, they were members of the All-America Football Conference from 1947–1949, and then joined the National Football League for one season before folding...
of the All America Football Conference. In 1941 he played his first season with the Eagles, carrying the ball 60 times for 183 yards.
In 1942 Castiglia left the NFL to play professional baseball in the major leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Castiglia played for the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, and is recorded as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, but was mostly used as a pinch-hitter, catching in just three games. He is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Though he only played 16 games, he hit extremely well, going 7-for-18, a .389 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
. He had two runs batted in and scored two runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. During his season, the 23-year-old rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
, a graduate of Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, stood 5'11" and weighed 200 lbs.
Following World War II, Castiglia returned to the NFL to play the 1945 and 1946 seasons with the Eagles. In 1947 he played two games with the Colts before moving to the Redskins. Castiglia retired from the NFL following the 1948 season.