Wally Triplett, 1949

THF714894 / Wally Triplett, 1949
01

Artifact Overview

Wally Triplett played for Penn State before joining the NFL in 1949. When he took the field with the Detroit Lions that season, he did so as the first Black NFL draftee to play for a league team. Service in the Korean War interrupted Triplett's career, but he returned to play two seasons with the Chicago Cardinals before retiring in 1953.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Digital print

Subject Date

1949

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2004.40.2

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Wally Triplett.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 11 in
Width: 8.5 in

Inscriptions

written, obverse, lower left: Wally Triplett Det '49 Thanks Cynthia
Wally Triplett, 1949