Today's Tidbit... Anything But A Zero

Jack Baer was a blocking quarterback who protected an injured nose with a bird-cage face mask. (1938 Oklahoma yearbook)

The NCAA cleared football players to wear the single zero jersey during the 2021 season and Wisconsin’s freshman sensation, Braelon Allen, had the best season among last year’s zeroes. Another Wisconsin high school product, Jim Otto, gained fame for his play when wearing the double zero during his time with the Oakland Raiders. He wore the double zed from his second year with the team (1961) until his final season in 1974.

But Jimmy was not the first double zero. At least one who preceded him was Jack Baer, the Oklahoma Sooner quarterback in the mid-1930s. Offered a contract by the Yankees coming out of high school, he played centerfield for Oklahoma before becoming head baseball coach there from 1942 to 1967.

Let us know if you know of other old school double zeroes.

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