Vic Hanson
Encyclopedia
This article refers to the college athlete. For the historian, please see Victor Davis Hanson
Victor A. Hanson (July 30, 1903 – April 10, 1982) was a well-known multi-sport college athlete in the 1920s. At Syracuse University
(1923-27) he played basketball
, football
and baseball
, and captained all three sports.
The Watertown, New York native is one of Syracuse's greatest all-around athletes (see Jim Brown
for another all-around great). He was named an All-American in both basketball and football three consecutive times (1925-27). Following his college career, he shortly played with the Cleveland Rosenblums
in the American Basketball League (1925-1955)
, but then formed a basketball team by himself, the All-Americans of Syracuse. He was also signed by the New York Yankees
and played two years in their farm system. .
While at Syracuse, Hanson was admitted to the Zeta Psi
fraternity.
Hanson is the only player in history to be enshrined in both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1960) and the College Football Hall of Fame
(1973). Syracuse University retired his Number 8 basketball journey in a ceremony at the Carrier Dome.
Victor Davis Hanson
Victor Davis Hanson is an American military historian, columnist, political essayist and former classics professor, notable as a scholar of ancient warfare. He has been a commentator on modern warfare and contemporary politics for National Review and other media outlets...
Victor A. Hanson (July 30, 1903 – April 10, 1982) was a well-known multi-sport college athlete in the 1920s. At Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
(1923-27) he played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, football
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...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and captained all three sports.
The Watertown, New York native is one of Syracuse's greatest all-around athletes (see Jim Brown
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
for another all-around great). He was named an All-American in both basketball and football three consecutive times (1925-27). Following his college career, he shortly played with the Cleveland Rosenblums
Cleveland Rosenblums
The Cleveland Rosenblums was an American basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio that was one of the original members of the American Basketball League...
in the American Basketball League (1925-1955)
American Basketball League (1925-1955)
The American Basketball League was an early professional basketball league. During six seasons from 1925-26 to 1930-31, the ABL was the first attempt to create a major professional basketball league in the United States...
, but then formed a basketball team by himself, the All-Americans of Syracuse. He was also signed by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and played two years in their farm system. .
While at Syracuse, Hanson was admitted to the Zeta Psi
Zeta Psi
The Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America was founded June 1, 1847 as a social college fraternity. The organization now comprises about fifty active chapters and twenty-five inactive chapters, encompassing roughly fifty thousand brothers, and is a founding member of the North-American...
fraternity.
Hanson is the only player in history to be enshrined in both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1960) and the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
(1973). Syracuse University retired his Number 8 basketball journey in a ceremony at the Carrier Dome.