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Associated Press
KENTFIELD, Calif. - Sam Chapman, the two-sport star who led the University of California to its last Rose Bowl victory in 1938 and went to play the outfield for the Philadelphia Athletics, has died. He was 90.
Chapman, who had Alzheimer's, died Dec. 22 at an assisted-living facility in Kentfield, granddaughter Anna Chapman said.
Born Samuel Blake Chapman, he earned the nickname "Tiburon Terror" playing high school football in Marin County. He worked as a welder on the nearly completed Golden Gate Bridge the summer before starting with the Bears his sophomore year.
As a senior in 1937, Chapman was an All-America halfback and spearheaded Cal's march to a 9-0-1 regular-season record. The so-called "Thunder Team," under coach Stub Allison, capped off its season with a New Year's Day victory over Alabama, with Chapman churning up yards on both scoring drives in the 13-0 win.
The Washington Redskins drafted Chapman, but the versatile athlete signed with the Athletics. Chapman played 11 seasons in the major leagues, including 10 for the A's, batting .322 with 25 home runs in 1941, his best year at the plate.
The next year, he joined the U.S. Navy and became a pilot, serving as a flight instructor during World War II. He then returned to baseball, was elected an All-Star in 1946 and retired from the majors with the Cleveland Indians in 1951.
After baseball, Chapman worked as an inspector for the San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
Chapman is survived by a daughter, three sons, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.