Harry Joseph "Irish" Ebding (September 12, 1906 – September 11, 1980) was an American professional football player who was an end for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). A collegiate All-American for Saint Mary's College in California, Ebding played in the NFL for the Portsmouth Spartans (1931–1933) and their successor organization, the Detroit Lions (1934–1937).

In 1932, Ebding finished third in the NFL in total yards receiving, with 171.Pete Palmer, et al. (eds.), The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia. First Edition. New York: Sterling Publishing, 2006; p. 1040. He was named All-Pro in 1933.

Biography Early life

Harry Ebding was born September 12, 1906, in Walla Walla, Washington. Both of Harry's parents died during his boyhood years. His mother died when Harry was 15, apparently from botulism resulting from the consumption of improperly home-canned asparagus."To Test Suspicious Asparagus," Spokane Spokesman-Review, Oct. 29, 1921, p. 7.

He attended Walla Walla High School in that city, playing football and basketball."Summaries of Thursday Play in High Tourney," Tacoma Daily Ledger, March 12, 1926, p. 7.

Collegiate career

Ebding attended Saint Mary's College, a private Catholic school located in Moraga, California, known for having one of the top college football programs on the Pacific coast. During 1927, his first year at the school, Ebding played halfback for the freshman team."Grid Material at St. Mary's Plentiful for '28," Oakland Post Enquirer, Dec. 12, 1927, p. 27.

He did not stay long in the backfield, however, at the first scrimmage of the 1928 St. Mary's team, head coach Ed "Slip" Madigan moved Ebding to end.Frank Lowery, "Madigan Gives Saints First Scrimmage," Oakland Tribune, Sept. 24, 1928, p. 13. He was regarded as a promising prospect playing on both sides of the ball under the one-platoon system of the day, said by one news reporter to be both "extremely good on defense" and "equally adept to snagging passes and getting down under punts."

Ebding also played basketball for the Gaels, starring as a forward on the 1927 rookie team before being promoted to the varsity squad the following year."'Dutch' Conlan in Search of Man to Play Center for Gael Cagers," San Francisco Bulletin, Dec. 13, 1928, p. 20. He continued to play basketball throughout his college career, quickly winning a starting and emerging as a key player on the team."Caged Football Stars," Oakland Post Enquirer, Jan. 14, 1931, p. 11. He was also a boxer for the Gaels for their inaugural team in 1931, fighting in the heavyweight classification."Gael Boxers and Winged O Meet February 19," Richmond [CA] Independent, Feb. 18, 1931, p. 3.

Ebding saw expanded playing time during his 1929 junior year, starting at right end and helping to lead St. Mary's to an undefeated record of 8–0–1. He emerged as the team star for the Gaels, winning a position as left end of the second team for the 1929 All-Pacific Coast squad selected by the West coast sportswriters of the United Press.Richard G. Baldwin, "Duffield, Barrager, and Tappan Placed," Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, Dec. 2, 1929, p. 14. Ebding was regarded by one observer as "one of the fastest and roughest ends on the coast" of the 1929 season."Billy Coyle Gets Fine Boost," Petaluma Argus-Courier, Sept. 19, 1930, p. 12.

He was elected by his teammates as a co-captain of the Galloping Gaels team ahead of his 1930 senior season."St. Mary's Has Two Captains," Detroit Free Press, Oct. 19, 1930, sports section p. 3. The job of kicking off the football and placekicking was added to his tasks in his last collegiate season."St. Mary's Meets Army Tomorrow: Madigan Men Ready for Opening Game," Oakland Post Enquirer, Sept. 27, 1930, p. 9. Ebding's reputation had grown throughout his time at St. Mary's, to the point where he was regarded as one of the best ends on the West coast as he entered his senior year."Slip Madigan Hopes for Powerful Team: St. Mary's Coach Will Concentrate on Offense This Year," San Francisco Examiner, Sept. 17, 1930, p. 20.

St. Mary's was a major football power of the day and college and professional scouts kept their eyes on Ebding and the team. The 1930 season opener for the Galloping Gaels against West Coast Army was attended by an estimated two dozen scouts.William Leiser, "St. Mary's Eleven Downs Army, 32-0: Gael Gridders Go Into Early Lead in Kezar Stadium Game," San Francisco Examiner, Sept. 29, 1930, p. 21. The Gaels won in front of a crowd of 12,000 fans at Kezar Stadium by the resounding score of 32–0, doing nothing to dampen enthusiasm for the player and the team.

This marked the start of an outstanding 8–1 season for the San Francisco Bay Area school, marked by five shutouts, a 21–6 win over UCLA, and a cross-country 20–12 victory over Fordham.E.K. Hall (ed.), Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide, 1931. New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1931; pp. 173, 233.

Professional career: Portsmouth

Prior to 1936, there was no NFL draft and players were signed on the basis of talent scouting. As a star of the prominent St. Mary's team, Ebding was noticed and in August 1931 he signed a contract to play with the Portsmouth Spartans of the National Football League (NFL).Milt Phinney, "Under the Goal Posts," Oakland Tribune, Aug. 13, 1931, p. 33. Joining him at camp with the Portsmouth squad was his former teammate and co-captain at St. Mary's, halfback Fred "Stud" Stennett. Terms of Ebding's deal were not published.

Ebding won a place on the Portsmouth squad and was soon starting at right end."One Point Cards' Winning Edge: Portsmouth Spartans Fall by 20–19 Score at Chicago," Cincinnati Enquirer, Nov. 23, 1931, p. 13. The team started the 1931 season like a house on fire, holding their opponents scoreless in five of the season's first eight games — all of which were won by the Spartans. A season highlight came in the penultimate week, when in Chicago Ebding blocked a punt by the Cardinals and recovered the ball on Chicago's 34 yard line. The team was unable to convert the possession to points, however, and wound up losing the game by a single point, 20–19, en route to a record of 11 wins and 3 losses — losing the league championship to the Green Bay Packers by a single game.

Ebding started 13 of the Spartans' 14 games in 1931, although no statistical records beyond wins and losses were kept by the National Football League prior to 1932, so his precise offensive accomplishments are lost to history.Jerry Roberts, Pass Receiving in Early Pro Football: A History to the 1960s. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2016; p. 45. He did not score a touchdown during the year, however."Harry Ebding," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com/

The 1932 NFL season marked the beginning of systematic league statistical record-keeping and Harry Ebding was the receiving leader out the gate, topping the entire league with 11 catches for 119 yards for the first five games of the season."Dutch Clark is Sensational in Pro Football," Salt Lake Telegram, Oct. 21, 1932, p. 18. He was also the hero of Week 6, snagging a 32-yard pass against the New York Giants and setting up Portsmouth for the only touchdown in a 6–0 victory."Pass Enables Spartans to Win from Giants, 6–0," Muskogee Daily Phoenix, Oct. 31, 1932, p. 8. This would prove to be virtually all of Ebding's offensive output for the year, however, as he would finish the season with 14 catches for 171 yards (an average of 14.3 yards per catch) and 1 touchdown.

Portsmouth would finish the season with a record of 6–1-4, tied with the Chicago Bears and their record of 6–1–6. League champions had historically been declared based upon won-loss percentage, as ratified by vote of the owners, but bad feelings still remained from the 1925 NFL season, in which the 9–0 Chicago Bears had been declared the champion over the 9-0 Pottsville Maroons.Joseph S. Page, Pro Football Championships Before the Super Bowl: A Year-by-Year History, 1926–1965. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2011; pp. 13-14. Nor did the head-to-head match-up of the two teams provide illumination, since the Bears and Spartans had battled to two ties, 13–13 and 7–7.Page, Pro Football Championships Before the Super Bowl, p. 15. As a solution, it was determined that the Spartans and Bears should meet in Chicago for a one game "Championship Play-off" to determine the 1932 NFL championship.

Due to blizzard conditions, this first NFL Championship game was moved indoors to Chicago Stadium, home of the Chicago Black Hawks hockey team.Page, Pro Football Championships Before the Super Bowl, p. 17. The arena was too small for a proper football field, measuring 60 yards from goal line to goal line, and the two parties agreed that each time a team crossed midfield, they would automatically be backed up 20 yards, resulting in a field with a virtual size of 80 yards.Page, Pro Football Championships Before the Super Bowl, p. 18. Harry Edbing started at right end for Portsmouth but the Spartans would be scoreless that day, with Chicago winning 9–0 on a 4th quarter pass from Bronco Nagurski to Red Grange and a Portsmouth safety.Page, Pro Football Championships Before the Super Bowl, p. 20. Portsmouth finished the game with just two passes completed, for 29 yards.Page, Pro Football Championships Before the Super Bowl, p. 22.

Professional career: Detroit

Death and legacy

Harry Ebding died September 11, 1980, in Santa Clara County, California. He was 73 years old at the time of his death.

References