Ben Crosby

Ben Crosby

File:Ben Crosby 1892.png Crosby in the 1892 Navy football portrait
Sport(s)	Football
Biographical details
Born	(1868-03-22)March 22, 1868 Halcott Centre, New York
Died	New York City, New York
Playing career
1890	Yale
Position(s)	Right end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1892	Navy
Head coaching record
Overall	5–2
Statistics College Football Data Warehouse

Benjamin Lewis "Ben" Crosby, Jr. (March 22, 1868 – December 29, 1892) was an American law student and football coach. Born in Halcott Centre, New York, Crosby began attending Yale University in 1889. In his sophomore year, Crosby was a starting member of the football team and in his senior year, Crosby received a class award. Upon graduation in 1892, he entered classes at New York Law School. In October, he left and coached the Navy Midshipmen football team that year, amassing a record of 5–2 before returning to law school and a part-time job. Crosby contracted typhoid fever in New York City, and after spending time in the hospital, died in late December 1892.

Career

Crosby was born on March 22, 1868 in Halcott Centre, Greene County, New York, son of David J. Crosby. In 1889, he entered Yale University, where he became a member of the secret undergraduate society Skull and Bones. In his sophomore year, Crosby was the starting right end of the Bulldogs football team, making him very popular among his male classmates. In his following year, he joined the university's crew team as a substitute, and was described by classmates as being "quite prominent in athletics". Crosby remained popular through his senior year at the university, and was one of three graduates to receive the Class of '92 Elocution Prize in Declamation. Upon graduation from the school, Crosby enrolled in New York Law School and joined a law office in New York City.

In October 1892, shortly after he began attending New York Law School, Crosby was invited to live in Annapolis, Maryland and serve as the coach for the United States Naval Academy football team. He accepted the position. On the twelfth of the same month, he coached his first game and became the second head football coach of the program. The game was played in Annapolis on Worden Field, and Crosby's team fell to the Penn Quakers in a 16–0 shutout. The loss continued a losing streak from the previous season. The streak was further extended when Navy was defeated three days later by Princeton in a 28–0 shutout. Crosby received his first win as a coach the next week, when Navy defeated Lafayette at home, 22–4. The win was followed by a 24–0 shutout of Franklin & Marshall and 48–12 blowout of Rutgers. Two weeks later, his team shutout Georgetown, 40–0, in their last home game. The following week, the Navy team traveled to West Point and defeated Army in the annual Army–Navy Game. In commemoration of the 12–4 win, the team presented Crosby an eight-inch high sterling silver loving cup, inscribed with the message "Benjamin L. Crosby. Jr. From the officers and cadets of the United States Naval Academy, Nev. -1892." The award was made by Gorham Manufacturing Company, and presented to him on December 22.

Crosby quit coaching Navy after the 1892 season. His team finished 5–2 and outscored their opponents 146–64. Crosby's .714 win percentage is tied for the tenth highest of any Navy coach. Crosby returned to New York City in November to continue working and attending law school. However, while he was coaching Navy, Crosby contracted a "severe cold" and on December 19, while attending one of his law classes, he "succumbed to an attack of typhoid fever". Crosby was taken to St. Luke's Hospital, where after ten days of his condition continually worsening, Crosby died at the age of 24.

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Navy Midshipmen (Independent) (1892)
1892	Navy	5–2
Navy:		5–2
Total:		5–2

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

External links

• Ben Crosby at the College Football Data Warehouse