One Old Bird

We caught up with Herman Bassman, the Eagles' 1936 "publicity stunt."

by J.F. Pirro

At 94, Herman "Reds" Bassman of Petersburg, Va., is the oldest living former Philadelphia Eagle. A member of Central High's first city championship football team, Bassman delivered a first-quarter, 55-yard interception return in 1934 at Franklin Field that sparked Ursinus College's 7-6 upset over the University of Pennsylvania, then a national power. The touchdown earned him a tryout with the then three-year-old Eagles. He played one season (1936) as a cornerback and wingback. This season, the Eagles are celebrating their 75th anniversary.

City Paper: In 1934, Ursinus was supposed to be a tune-up for Penn, right?

Herman Bassman: Yeah, but "Lochie" Rhinehart delivered a block that sprung me. Then, when "Bounce" Bonkoski kicked our winning point, I was the holder. Penn scored first, but [Ursinus senior captain] Sammy Levin blocked the extra point.

CP: The victory led to national headlines, but what was it like back on campus in Collegeville?

HB: There were bonfires, and the administrators ordered a school holiday [Monday]. It was a great night, a once-in-a-century type thing. It's something you never forget — even after all these years.

CP: Didn't you have a hard time getting back to campus?

HB: Sammy and I were post-game radio guests, and we missed the [team] bus. It was the Depression, so we didn't have a cent between us. We had to hitchhike, but we went our separate ways [to visit local relatives]. I was picked up by classmates driving home, but I wish I'd never missed that bus. I never knew what went on during that ride, so I think about it all the time.

CP: After the Penn game, the Eagles sent you a tryout letter?

HB: They wanted to have somebody local to attract fans. I was a publicity stunt.

CP: But the Bert Bell-owned and -coached Eagles [one of just nine franchises then] struggled during your years, right?

HB: In 1936, we won the opener over the Giants, then dropped 11 straight [and 14 straight over two seasons]. We only scored 51 points all season. In 1937, we finished 2-8-1 [though the Birds stunned the eventual NFL champion Redskins 14-0 in Washington]. Temple alum Dave Smukler was the quarterback, but at 240 pounds he should have been the fullback.

CP: What was your best game as a Bird?

HB: My last game I had some great runs, including one to the 2-yard line to set up a touchdown against the then-Brooklyn Dodgers.

CP: What else do you remember?

HB: We traveled to an exhibition game in Los Angeles against the team that would become the Rams. The announcer was introducing the players. He was saying, "So-and-so from Temple, and so-and-so from Penn State." Then, he says, "Reds Bassman," and I'm running onto the field, but he's saying, "How the hell do you say the name of his school?"

CP: When you retired and joined the U.S. Army, didn't you coach a football team of GIs in India in late 1945 as World War II was ending?

HB: A colonel there asked if I knew something about football. Everyone was just waiting around to go home. It's still the furthest place in the world that American football has ever been played.

CP: Do you still watch Eagles' games?

HB: Yes, but when they played at the old place (Veterans Stadium), they sent me season tickets every year. Now, they don't.

CP: Any desire to still play?

HB: Not with all those elephants running around. It's a much different game. I like it the same, but we were the generation that started it.

(j_pirro@citypaper.net)