Hall of Fame
Steve Hatfield competed for Shippensburg in football and track in the late 1940s. Nicknamed the “big train”, Hatfield was an overpowering 6-0, 225 pound fullback in Shippensburg’s single wing offense. He also was a rugged tackler on defense. He enrolled at Shippensburg in the fall of 1946 after a brilliant high school career at Bellwood-Antis in Blair Country.
His freshman year Hatfield scored six touchdowns as the Red Raiders went 2-4-2. From that point onwards, defense constantly keyed on him because of his explosive power. In 1947 Shippensburg was 5-2-1and the following year the Red Raiders went 5-3. The 1948 team was just a few points shy of an undefeated season. Shippensburg lost two games by one touchdown and a third by 12 points.
In 1949 Shippensburg had one of the most unusual seasons in school history. It went 1-6-1 for the year yet outscored its opposition for the season. The Raiders never lost a game by more than a touchdown and in one case by one point. Late in the year Shippensburg exploded to a 40-6 win over Indiana (Pa). At the time of the game , Indiana nearly had a post season bowl bid wrapped up but the loss at the hands of the Raiders knocked them out of the running. Hatfield again scored three touchdowns against a defense that was constantly keyed on him.
In track and field, Hatfield was one of the top stars in the Pennsylvania conference. He competed in three conference championship meets and won four individual titles, finished second in two events and third in another. He won the long jump with a leap of 22-21/4 and the pole vault with a leap of 11-6. In 1950 he won those same events again while leading the Red Raiders to a second place finish in the team standings. He won the long jump with a leap of 21-11 1/8 and the pole vault with a jump of 12-51/2. Earlier in the season he set a school record in the pole vault with a leap of 12-8.
Hatfield was drafted by the New York Giants in 1950. He played in an exhibition game against the Ottawa rough riders of the Canadian football league and scored three touchdowns. He was with the Giants until the final cut.
Because of his performance against them in the exhibition game, the Ottawa Rough Riders signed Hatfield to a contract and he became a star. He led the Rough Riders to the Grey Cup championship and was named Mr. Football of Canada.
The following year Hatfield signed with the Chicago Cardinals (now the Phoenix Cardinals) and made the team. Unfortunately he injured his back during the filming of the squad showing their versatility in other sports. He landed on his heel after jumping a hurdle. He was unable to play after the injury.
