Holy Cross Historical Trivia

<p>What follows are some fascinating tidbits of history about College of the Holy Cross</p>

<p>HC is the oldest Catholic college in New England and the third oldest in the US being founded in 1843. Can you name the 2 schools that are older?</p>

<p>Notre Dame is 1 year older founded in 1842. Georgetown is the oldest founded in 1789.</p>

<p>What Holy Cross graduate was a celebrated trial lawyer and influential Washington insider whose clients ranged from the teamsters' leader James R. Hoffa to Senator Joseph McCarthy? HINT:This person was the owner of the Baltimore Orioles professional baseball team and had also been president of the Washington Redskins professional football team for 20 years.</p>

<p>Edward Bennett Williams</p>

<p>Edward</a> Bennett Williams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>

<p>Can you name the Holy Cross graduate that received the prestigious Lasker award this year? (Albert Lasker Medical Research Awards have been awarded annually since 1946 to living persons who have made major contributions to medical science)</p>

<p>Anthony S. Fauci won the award. Dr. Fauci is an immunologist who has made substantial contributions to research in the areas of AIDS and other immunodeficiencies, both as a scientist and as the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).</p>

<p>On March 24, 2006, the Holy Cross men's hockey team made history by defeating which Division 1 Hockey Powerhouse in the first round of the NCAA Division I Tournament by the score of 4-3, in overtime. This game was one of the biggest upsets in NCAA ice hockey history. This was the first and only time since the NCAA tourney expanded to sixteen teams that a fifteen or sixteen seed beat a number one or two seed.</p>

<p>The Golden Gophers of the University of Minnesota.</p>

<p>Holy Cross is the oldest Catholic College in New England and was founded by the second Catholic bishop of Boston. However the school is located on a steep hill in Worcester, MA a good 40 miles west of Boston an especially long distance back in 1843. Why is that? Wouldn't it make sense that it be in Boston?</p>

<p>Boston's Protestant leaders thwarted the Jesuits attempts to open a Catholic College in Boston so the Jesuits looked elsewhere. They were finally able to purchase land which the Protestants thought would be impossible to build on on a steep hillside in Worcester. Anti-Catholicism was in full force throughout New England at this time. Petitions to secure a charter for the college from the state Legislature were denied in 1847 for a variety of causes, including anti-Catholicism on the part of some legislators. Initially, Holy Cross diplomas were signed by the president of Georgetown University. After repeated denials, a charter was finally granted on March 24, 1865.</p>

<p>What is the name of a famous Holy Cross graduate that went on to become a well known president of Georgetown University? (HINT: There is a famous hall at Georgetown named after him as well as a residence hall at HC named after him)</p>

<p>Patrick Healy was the first black president of a predominantly white university. He built Healy Hall at Georgetown Hall which is perhaps the most famous building there.</p>

<p>The</a> Hoya | Father Healy's Imprint: Past, Present and Future</p>

<p>What Holy Cross graduate is often identified as the first person of Native American ancestry to play major league baseball? He spent his career with the Cleveland Spiders. The team was renamed to the "Indians" in 1915 to memorialize this famous MLB player.</p>

<p>Quotes About Louis Sockalexis:</p>

<p>"I don't remember ever seeing a quicker bat or a stronger arm. Among the moderns, possibly one player worthy of comparison is that young man Joe DiMaggio. He has a trace of Sockalexis's stuff, but I don't believe he can run or throw with the Indian." - Red Sox Manager Bill Carrigan</p>

<p>"If Sock had stayed up for five years he could well have been better than (Ty) Cobb, (Honus) Wagner, or (Babe) Ruth." - Hall of Famer John McGraw</p>

<p>"Louis Sockalexis had the most brilliant career of any man who ever played the game. At no time has a player crowded so many remarkable accomplishments into such a short period of time as Sockalexis. He should have been the greatest player of times — greater than (Ty) Cobb, (Honus) Wagner, (Nap) Lajoie, (Roger) Hornsby or any of the other men who made history for the game." - Hall of Famer Hughie Jennings</p>

<p>"Sockalexis was the greatest outfielder in history, the best hitter, the best thrower, the best fielder, and also the best drinker." - New York Yankees General Manager Ed Barrow</p>

<p>"Sockalexis was the greatest player I ever saw, had a gorgeous left hand swing, hit the ball as far as Babe Ruth, was faster than Ty Cobb and as good a baserunner. He had the outfielding skill of Tris Speaker and threw like Bob Meusel, which means that no one could throw a ball farther or more accurately." - Philadelphia A's Pitcher Andy Coakley</p>

<p>Which Holy Cross graduate was the first NBA player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated?</p>

<p>Bob Cousy scored 16,955 points (18.5 points per game), 6,945 assists (7.6 assists per game), and an .803 free-throw percentage in 917 games. In 109 playoff games he averaged 18.5 points and 8.6 assists. In thirteen All-Star Games the two-time game MVP averaged 11.3 points and 6.6 assists. He has since been named to the NBA's 25th, 35th, and 50th Anniversary teams. In 1970 he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Bob Cousy would be the first NBA player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In 1999, ESPN selected Cousy as #94 on the Sports Century top 100 athletes list.</p>

<p>from: sports.jrank.org/pages/1051/Cousy-Bob-Cousy-Legacy.html</p>

<p>Can you specify the year that Holy Cross ruined Boston College's perfect football season? What year was it that BC had a perfect season going into their final game with Holy Cross where BC lost 55-12 before 40,000 fans at Fenway Park. Because BC lost they did not attend a planned party at the Cocoanut Grove night club that evening which burned to the ground that night killing 500 people.</p>

<ol>
<li>Some consider this the biggest upset in college football history.
Sports</a> of The Times; The Upset, the Party, the Fire - New York Times</li>
</ol>

<p>Who was the Heisman Trophy candidate Holy Cross Football star in 1987 who was famous for being a starter on offense and defense and special teams and who finished 3rd in the Heisman Trophy voting and was named the Football News Division I-AA Player of the Year. He was a two-time First Team All-America selection, receiving recognition on offense, defense, and special teams.
Hint: He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001</p>