Q. In no particular order here are a few questions sent to Sports Lore in recent months. The first from Sean in New Jersey who asked why is a quarterback called a quarterback?
A. As with most sports much of the play, and players’ positions, harkens back to their earlier days. In early American football the backfield was made up of four players behind the linemen. Members who could run quicker then the average linemen generally filled these positions. The person furthest back was called the fullback as he was fully behind the linemen. Between the fullback and linemen were two players on each side. Since they were not fully back they became known as halfbacks. The one man left was positioned one quarter of the way between the fullbacks and the lineman making him the closest backfield player to the linemen. His position became known as the quarterback.

Q. Mike from Massachusetts asked how many Major League Baseball teams do not have players’ names on their back?
A. Thanks to interleague play we know get to see them all, but only at home games. They do wear their names on their backs at away games. They are some of the oldest teams out there. There are three teams and they are Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and San Francisco Giants.

Q. Liam from Pennsylvania asked what the name is of the pre introduction luncheon given by the football Hall Of Fame (HOF).
A. The name would be Ray Nitschke. Some say from 1958 to 1972 he was the greatest, and maybe meanest, linebacker of all times. Quite an accomplishment as Dick Butkus was one of his contemporaries. After entering the HOF Ray became a featured annual speaker at the luncheon. Urging ingoing candidates to live up to the honor of being in the Hall. When Mr. Nitschke died March 8, 1998 the luncheon was named in his memory.

Thank-you for the questions. If Sports Lore can ever assist you please contact us through this webpage. We will try.

Mike Toone
Editor