Charles Gelbert: The Scranton region's first All-American
Gelbert, of Hawley, made three consecutive All-America teams while playing at Penn.
Charles Gelbert may have played football more than 125 years ago. But, he achieved the type of greatness that transcends generations.
A native of Hawley (Wayne County, Pennsylvania), Gelbert attended Scranton public schools before matriculating to the University of Pennsylvania.
At Penn, Gelbert was a three-time All-American end. Keep in mind, All-America teams of this era featured just 11 selections; no offense and defense, no second teams or honorable mentions.
During Gelbert’s three All-America seasons of 1894, ’95 and ’96, Penn posted records of 12-0, 14-0 and 14-1, respectively. Penn was a national champion in 1894 and ’95. He was a teammate of Wilkes-Barre’s Al Bull, profiled earlier at CFB Incubator.
Gelbert was inducted in 1960 into the College Football Hall of Fame, whose website describes his play as such: “He played guard in the ‘guards back’ play devised by his coach, George Woodruff. The guards would drop into the backfield and lead interference for the ball carrier. He was recognized for his sharp blocking and tackling.”
Football was never more brutal nor physical than in Gelbert’s playing days, so his hard-nosed and harder-charging style of play is especially noteworthy. Throw in the fact that he was only 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, and it’s clear he earned his moniker, “The Miracle Man.”
When Gelbert, 64, died in 1936, he was remembered fondly in Scranton and Philadelphia area publications. The Scranton Republican sports editor Joe Polakoff opined, “The hard coal fields have produced scores of football stars of the first magnitude but none ever approached the brilliancy of the illustrious Dr. Charles Saladin Gelbert, who passed on Thursday in a Philadelphia hospital. Dr. Gelbert was the greatest of them all in the anthracite belt and ranks with the immortal (Frank) Hinkey of Yale (a four-time All-American) as the best end in the history of college football. … He was a halfback while attending the old School of Lackawanna, which once stood where the YMCA tennis courts are now located on Jefferson Avenue, opposite Elm Park M.E. Church. When he arrived at Penn, however, the Red and Blue needed ends and he became a wingman.”
Gelbert’s son, Charlie, enjoyed a long MLB career despite accidentally shooting himself in the leg during a hunting trip.
Gelbert is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Dunmore.
Read more about Gelbert in this Tri-County Independent article from 2017.