Al Valdes
{{Short description|Canadian football halfback (1935–2025)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL player
|name=Al Valdes
|image=
|caption=
|birth_date={{birth date|1935|3|14}}
|birth_place=Calgary, Alberta, Canada
|death_date={{death date and age|2025|2|12|1935|3|14}}
|death_place=Calgary, Alberta, Canada
|nickname=
|import=no
|Height_ft=5
|Height_in=9
|Weight_lbs=195
|CIS=
|high_school=Crescent Heights High School
|position1=Halfback
|playing_years1={{CFL Year|1954}}–{{CFL Year|1955}}
|playing_team1=Calgary Bronks Junior
|playing_years2={{CFL Year|1956}}–{{CFL Year|1958}}
|playing_team2=Calgary Stampeders
}}
Alan E. Valdes (March 14, 1935 – February 12, 2025) was a Canadian football player who played for the Calgary Stampeders.{{cite web|url=http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=valdeal001|title=Al Valdes|work=justsportsstats.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/v/vald00040.html|title=Al Valdes|website=profootballarchives.com|access-date=February 18, 2025}}
Biography
Valdes attended Crescent Heights High School in Calgary where he won the league scoring title. He then played junior football for the Calgary Bronks in 1954 and 1955 and was the league's scoring champion and most valuable player in 1954.{{cite news|title=Valdes Takes Title|newspaper=The Albertan|date=September 30, 1954|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-calgary-albertan-valdes/159952904/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=He Didn't Make It|newspaper=The Albertan|date=October 18, 1954|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-calgary-albertan-valdes/159952945/|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Alan Valdes|newspaper=The Calgary Albertan|date=August 17, 1957|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-calgary-albertan-alan-valdes/159947356/|via=Newspapers.com}} He was rated one of the fastest men in the junior league and averaged six yards per carry during the 1955 season, tallying 350 rushing yards and 71 receiving yards.{{cite news|title=Junior Star With Stamps|newspaper=The Calgary Herald|date=May 25, 1956|page=35|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-valdes/159952718/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Valdes joined the Calgary Stampeders in 1956 and was the team's leading rusher in 1957, tallying 553 yards on 111 carries.{{cite web|title=Al Valdes|publisher=Pro Football Archives|accessdate=November 29, 2024|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/v/vald00040.html}} He played in only one game during the 1958 season, sitting out the balance of the season due to business pressures.{{cite news|title=Calgary signs two Canadians|newspaper=The Leader-Post|date=May 27, 1959|page=36|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post-al-valdes/159946713/}} He announced in July 1959 that he had quit football to devote his efforts to a career in business.{{cite news|title=Chop Seaholm; Al Valdes Quits|newspaper=The Edmonton Journal|date=July 25, 1959|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-valdes/159947032/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Valdes died in Calgary on February 12, 2025, at the age of 89.[https://www.stampeders.com/2025/02/15/stamps-mourn-death-of-al-valdes/ Stamps Mourn Death Of Al Valdes][https://www.mhfh.com/obituaries/Alan-E-Valdes?obId=37296254 Alan E Valdes : March 14, 1935-February 12, 2025]
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Valdes, Al}}
Category:Canadian football running backs
Category:Calgary Stampeders players
Category:Sportspeople from Calgary
{{Canadianfootball-runningback-stub}}