Eddie Saenz
Eddie Saenz, born Edwin Matthew Saenz on September 21, 1922, was a prominent Mexican American football player who made significant contributions to the NFL during the 1940s. Raised in a family with boxing roots, he attended high school in Venice, California, and later transferred to the University of Southern California (USC) after initially enrolling at Loyola Marymount University. Saenz excelled as a fullback and receiver, playing a vital role in USC's 1944 Rose Bowl victory against the Washington Huskies. He enlisted in the Navy after World War II and joined the Great Lakes Naval Team, showcasing his athleticism.
Drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1945, Saenz became notable for his versatility, playing as a halfback, defensive back, and return specialist. He achieved remarkable success in the 1947 season, leading the league in eight statistical categories, making him the first Hispanic American to accomplish this feat. Despite facing injuries later in his career, he finished with impressive all-purpose yards and numerous touchdowns. Following his football tenure, Saenz pursued a career in television and film, appearing in various productions until his untimely death in 1971. His legacy is marked by his groundbreaking achievements in sports and representation for Mexican Americans in football.
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Subject Terms
Eddie Saenz
American football player and actor
- Born: September 21, 1922
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Died: April 28, 1971
- Place of death: Los Angeles, California
Saenz was the first Hispanic American to win an individual statistical championship in the National Football League (NFL), leading in kickoff return yardage, while playing for the Washington Redskins in 1947 and repeating that in 1949. Following his football career, he became involved in the television and film industry, playing a variety of secondary roles in noted films and television series.
Early Life
Eddie Saenz (sinz) was born Edwin Matthew Saenz, the fifth and youngest child of Manuel and Rosa Saenz, on September 21, 1922. His father was a boxing promoter, and his grandfather emigrated from Mexico in 1852; both of Eddie Saenz’s parents were born in the United States. He attended high school in Venice, California, and distinguished himself as an outstanding athlete, eventually attending Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. During World War II, male enrollments of colleges and universities across the country were decimated, and Saenz transferred across town to the University of Southern California (USC) for the completion of his college years. He competed as a fullback and receiver and often played defense. His five-foot, eleven-inch frame carried about 170 pounds.
As was the burden of most Mexican Americans, Saenz endured being called “Tortilla,” but he soon earned the attention and respect of players and fans. He played a supporting role in USC’s 1944 Rose Bowl upset of the previously undefeated Washington Huskies, 29-0. This was the first Rose Bowl broadcast to servicemen. Saenz enlisted in the Navy as World War II ended and competed for the famed Great Lakes Naval Team in 1944, coached by the legendary Paul Brown. In a schedule against primarily Big Nine (forerunner of the Big Ten Conference) and service teams, Saenz was a starter; against Wisconsin he ran for 112 yards on 11 carries, including a 40-yard score. That team finished 9-2-1, losing only to Ohio State and Notre Dame while tying Illinois. Saenz married Helen Haneman in 1943.
Life’s Work
Saenz was drafted by the National Football League’s Washington Redskins in 1945, the 150th player chosen in the 13th round. The Redskins had experienced successful teams in the preceding years, winning five of the previous nine NFL championships. However, they were beginning a period of competitive drought, and Saenz played for four coaches in his six-year career with the team. As a twenty-four-year-old rookie, Saenz started three of the team’s eleven games in the 1946 season, finishing as the second leading receiver (232 yards and 1 touchdown on 12 catches ), third leading rusher (213 yards and 3 touchdowns on 55 attempts), and tied for third in points scored (24). His three touchdown catches placed him tenth in the league in that category, but he began to be used on kickoff and punt returns, which would become his expertise. However, the 1947 season was his best. Though the team slipped to 4-8, Saenz started six games and was responsible for gaining 741 yards rushing and receiving. However, his proficiency in returning kicks and punts kept the Redskins from suffering more losses as he became the first Hispanic and Mexican American to lead the NFL in an individual statistical category, which he did in eight categories that season. Saenz led the league in nonoffensive touchdowns (2), all-purpose yards (1,846), yards per touch (13.4), kick returns (29), kick return yards (797), kick returns for touchdown (2), kick and punt returns (53), and kick and punt return yards (1,105). An injury-shortened 1948 season gave way to more success in 1949 as Saenz again led the NFL in kick returns (240), second in kick and punt returns (41), and finished sixth in all-purpose yards (1,105) in twelve games. Saenz would still contribute in the Redskins’ 1950 season, though he retired because of injury after a shortened 1951 season, finishing with 4,780 all-purpose yards, 12 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions in his 50-game career as halfback, defensive back, and return specialist.
Following his professional football career, Saenz became involved in television and films. Building on a film debut in 1949’s House of Strangers with Edward G. Robinson and Susan Hayward, he performed in The Buccaneer (1958), directed by Anthony Quinn, and various television episodes of Mike Hammer, Peter Gunn, and Batman, among others. He died in Los Angeles on April 28, 1971.
Significance
As the third player of Mexican heritage to be drafted by the National Football League, Saenz became the first Hispanic American to lead the NFL in an individual statistical category when, playing for the Washington Redskins in 1947, he led the league in eight statistical categories: nonoffensive touchdowns, all-purpose yards, yards per touch, kick returns, kick return yardage, kick returns for touchdowns, kick and punt returns, and kick and punt return yardage. Saenz was a Navy veteran; following his football career, he played support roles as a stuntman and an extra in a variety of television series and films from 1949 to 1967, including several episodes of the 1960’s series Batman.
Bibliography
Longoria, Mario. Athletes Remembered: Mexicano/Latino Professional Football Players, 1929-1970. Tempe, Ariz.: Bilingual Press, 1997. Comprehensive compilation of many players’ lives and careers, which provides an overview of Saenz’s impact on the game of professional football.
Richman, Michael. The Redskins Encyclopedia. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2008. This work includes a history of the team during the era Saenz played and summarizes his records and accomplishments.