Pete Overfield: Wyoming County man made All-America three times
Overfield was a dominant center at Penn.
Pete Overfield’s football acumen and accolades are beyond reproach. His residential credentials, however, are questionable … more on that in a moment …
Overfield was arguably the University of Pennsylvania’s greatest center in the 19th century. He was a third-team Walter Camp All-American in 1897, when Penn went 15-0. He was a first-team Walter Camp All-American in 1898, when Penn went 12-1.
Following the 1898 season, Overfield was hospitalized for an illness.
“Overfield … has been sick all summer at his home in Meshoppen,” The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. “(He) has returned to Philadelphia, but is so out of condition that it is feared he will be unable to play at all this season.”
Nonetheless, Overfield returned to the gridiron and was Camp’s first-team All-American again in 1899. Penn went 8-3-2.
Perhaps the team’s — and Overfield’s — top highlight of 1899 came on Nov. 11 at home against Michigan. Overfield matched against Michigan’s William Cunningham, who Walter Camp selected as his second-team center.
“The duel between Cunningham and Overfield, the center rushes, was interesting,” The New York Times said. “Both are high-class players and they played with a dash that was inspiring. Cunningham had much the better of it during the first half, but in the second period, Overfield, through better staying qualities, made big holes through Michigan’s bulky center.”
Overfield went on to kick the winning goal after touchdown, lifting Penn to an 11-10 victory.
Now, about those residential credentials. Overfield is an interesting case study in who qualifies as hailing from the Greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, which is the geographical territory covered by CFB Incubator.
Overfield was born April 12, 1874, in South Auburn, Susquehanna County. Dexter Very, a two-time All-American (1911, ’12) who played end at Penn State, grew up in Harford, Susquehanna County. Both municipalities have a 570 area code.
At some point in childhood, Overfield moved to Meshoppen, Wyoming County. Meshoppen is a few miles northwest of Tunkhannock. I was unable to pinpoint where Overfield attended school prior to Penn, but his family remained in Meshoppen through Overfield’s college years.
After Penn, Overfield moved about the U.S. and notably served as a federal judge in Alaska.
Overfield’s wife, Virginia, died in 1946 in Arizona. Overfield died in 1959 in San Diego. While Overfield’s eternal resting place is unclear, records state Virginia’s ashes were placed at rest in Overfield Cemetery in Meshoppen. The cemetery is about a 50- to 55-minute drive from Scranton or Wilkes-Barre.
Greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area All-American roll call
1894: Charles Gelbert, University of Pennsylvania (Hawley native, Scranton public schools)
1895: Alfred E. Bull, University of Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre native, Wyoming Seminary); Charles Gelbert, University of Pennsylvania (Hawley native, Scranton public schools)
1896: Charles Gelbert, University of Pennsylvania (Hawley native, Scranton public schools)
1897: Pete Overfield, University of Pennsylvania (Meshoppen resident)
1898: Pete Overfield, University of Pennsylvania (Meshoppen resident)
1899: Pete Overfield, University of Pennsylvania (Meshoppen resident)
1903: Frank Piekarski, University of Pennsylvania (Nanticoke native, Wyoming Seminary)
1904: Tom Butkiewicz, University of Pennsylvania (Nanticoke native); James Cooney, University of Pennsylvania (Scranton native, School of Lackawanna); Frank Piekarski, University of Pennsylvania (Nanticoke native, Wyoming Seminary); Marshall Reynolds, University of Pennsylvania (Tunkhannock native)
1906: James Cooney, University of Pennsylvania (Scranton native, School of Lackawanna)
1909: Harry Vaughan, Yale University (Scranton native); George McCaa, Lafayette College (Wilkes-Barre native)
1910: George McCaa, Lafayette College (Wilkes-Barre native)
1912: Rudy Probst, Syracuse University (Archbald native, Wyoming Seminary graduate)