Born November 21, 1916, Sid Luckman, the greatest Jewish quarterback of all time, graduated from the Brooklyn playgrounds, Erasmus Hall High School, and Columbia.
With Sid at the helm, the Chicago Bears, "monsters of the midway," won the NFL championship four years out of eight.
He threw 25 touchdown passes in one year.
He threw 2,000 yards in a season.
In one game he threw for 453 yards and seven TD passes.
His pop, Meyer Luckman, was what is known in informed Russian Jewish immigrants as a shtarker. He worked with Lansky and Luciano.
Sid was wooed by Michigan and West Point but chose Columbia.
He was to Columbia football what Lou Gehrig was to Columbia baseball.
His father was charged with murder in 1935 and was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder, serving twenty years.
In 1940 Sid led the Chicago Bears to a 73-0 romp in the championship game against the Redskins.
Sid Luckman had what Chicago Bears' coach George Halas called the old zipperroo.
-- David Lehman
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