Cal Hubbard was born on October 31, 1900, in Keytesville, Missouri. He grew up in a small town. His parents were Robert and Sarah Hubbard. The family lived on a farm. Cal attended Keytesville High School. The school had no football team. He spent one year at Glasgow High School to play football. Cal was a large teenager, weighing nearly 200 pounds at age 14.
He played college football at Centenary College and Geneva College. In 1927, he joined the New York Giants. He played tackle for the Giants. Cal helped the team win the NFL championship that year. He later played for the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Pirates. He won four NFL championships during his career. He was known for his size and strength. He was a key player on the field.
After retiring from football, Cal became a baseball umpire. He worked in the American League from 1936 to 1951. He also served as umpire supervisor until 1969. He was the only person inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also named to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Cal Hubbard died on October 17, 1977, in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is buried in Milan, Missouri. His legacy lives on in Keytesville. The local football field is named in his honor.
Robert (Cal) Hubbard was selected for All-NFL teams six times over his nine-season career as a Hall of Fame tackle.
Hubbard was known for his immense size and speed, innovating the role of the modern linebacker and becoming a pivotal figure in the evolution of football strategy.
