43
We salute a few guys that worn the 43 jersey. Wayne Shaw, Mr. MC Hammer himself. I’ll bet he still has a few moves on the dance floor and Sammy Hood the pride of Ider Al.
Our honoree is Fred Sington
... #43 Frederic William Sington from Birmingham, Alabama Phillip's high school played Professional baseball for the Washington Senators(1934–1937) & Brooklyn Dodgers (1938–1939). As a tackle, Fred Sington was a two-time All-American for Alabama, the star of the Crimson Tide's 1930 national championship team. He became so well-known nationally that a hit song was inspired by him. Rudy Vallée wrote a song about Sington, entitled"Football Freddie", that would go on to become a nationwide hit. Here's a version of the song:
https://youtu.be/lXzgEfqky0g
Songwriters took at least one liberty regarding their subject with the line "he's not so good at school." In fact, Sington was noted for his academic excellence, and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honorary.
He is the only person named to the University of Alabama's All-Century team in both football and baseball, and is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Sington served in the Navy as a lieutenant during World War II, and spent more than 20 years as an SEC football official.
Very few athletes can say that they transcended their sport and became well-known outside the context of the game that made them famous. In order to keep Sington from following going to Hollywood, Alabama president George Denny threatened to expunge his records if he didn't return to Tuscaloosa to finish his degree. Sington was elected student body president for his senior year.
Mr. Sington was also an accomplished saxophonist.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot... The best to wear 43 was call "Pick 6!" We ate at the same table growing up. If you don't know who I'm referring to, check out ESPN's The game the Changed College Football.