Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #56: Cliff Battles

Cliff Battles

Teams

Boston/Washington Braves/Redskins (1932-1937)

Playoffs

Appearances - 2 (1936,1937)

Conf Champ Games - 2 (1936,1937)

Champ Games - 2 (1936,1937)

Championships - 1 (1937)

Awards and Honors

All-Pro First Team - 3 (1933,1934,1936)

Hall of Fame - 1968

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Yards per Game - #98

League Leads

Pass Completions (#9-1936)

Rushing Yards (#1-1932,1937, #2-1933, #4-1936, #10-1934)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1937, #2-1932, #3-1936, #6-1933,1934)

Yards per Rush (#1-1933, #3-1932, #6-1934, #8-1937)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-1932,1937, #2-1933, #4-1936, #8-1935, #9-1934)

Receptions (#10-1933)

Receiving Touchdowns (#10-1932)

Total Touchdowns (#1-1937, #2-1936, #4-1934, #5-1932, #8-1933)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1932,1933,1937, #4-1936, #8-1934)

Yards per Touch (#1-1933, #4-1932,1934)

After scoring 15 touchdowns as a senior at West Virginia Wesleyan, Cliff Battles receiving offers from several NFL teams, but decided to join the Boston Braves because their offer of $175 per game was the highest.

As a rookie, Battles led the league in rushing, gaining 576 yards in an 8-game season. He also had the most scrimmage yards of any player that year as well. The team changed their name to the Redskins in 1933, and that year he became the first player ever to gain 200 rushing yards in a single game, and also led the league in yards per carry and scrimmage yards, earning a spot on the All-Pro First Team.

He was voted onto the All-Pro First team twice more while playing in Boston, in 1934 and 1936. The team reached the championship game in 1936 for the first time, but Battles gained only 8 yards in a 21-6 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The Redskins moved to Washington for the 1937 season, and Battles had a great season in his new surroundings. He led the league with 874 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns, and gained 955 scrimmage yards, making him the leader in that category for the third time in his career.

The team reached the title game again that year, with Battles scoring the first touchdown of the game and finishing with 53 rush yards and 80 receiving yards as the Redskins defeated the Bears 28-21. After winning the championship, he requested a raise, but the owner refused, and he chose to retire rather than play at the same pay he had received since he was a rookie.

Battles played only 6 seasons, but was among the leaders in every rushing category in every season he played. He led the league in scrimmage yards 3 times, rushing yards twice, and touchdowns once, and led his team to a championship, and though he played a very long time ago, he still belongs on the list of the best to ever play the game.