Ed Earle

{{short description|American basketball player (1927–2009)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Ed Earle

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 190

| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|4|28}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois

| death_date = {{death date and age|2009|3|26|1927|4|28}}

| death_place =

| nationality = American

| high_school = Schurz (Chicago, Illinois)

| college = Loyola Chicago (1946–1950)

| draft_year = 1950

| career_start =

| career_end =

| career_number = 6

| career_position = Power forward

| years1 = 1952–1953

| team1 = Elmira Colonels

| years2 = {{nbay|1953|start}}

| team2 = Syracuse Nationals

| years3 = 1954–1955

| team3 = Wilkes-Barre Barons

| highlights =

}}

Edwin Graffan Earle (April 28, 1927 – March 26, 2009) was an American professional basketball player. A power forward, Earle attended Loyola University of Chicago, where he scored 1,018 points in 119 games.{{cite web |title=Loyola Mourns The Passing Of Ed Earle |url=http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040209aaa.html |work=loyolaramblers.com |publisher=Loyola University of Chicago |accessdate=January 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613192519/http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040209aaa.html |archive-date=June 13, 2017 |url-status=dead}} He was Loyola's second 1,000-point scorer, following Jack Kerris.{{cite news|title=Loyola Sees Last Tonight of 6, Coach|work=Chicago Tribune|date=6 March 1950 |id={{ProQuest| }}}} During his junior season, he contributed 9.4 points per game and helped the Ramblers to a 25–6 overall record and a runner-up finish at the National Invitation Tournament. As a senior in 1949–1950, he averaged 10.0 points per game. He was later inducted into the school's hall of fame.{{cite web |title=Ed Earle - Hall of Fame - Loyola University Chicago Athletics |url=https://loyolaramblers.com/honors/hall-of-fame/ed-earle/43 |website=loyolaramblers.com |access-date=4 April 2022}}

In July 1950, he signed with the Sheboygan Redskins of the National Professional Basketball League.{{cite news |title=Sheboygan Signs Earle |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/07/06/archives/sheboygan-signs-earle.html |access-date=12 April 2022 |work=New York Times |date=6 July 1950}}{{cite news |title='Skins sign Ed Earle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99051365/democrat-and-chronicle/ |access-date=4 April 2022 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |date=6 July 1950 |page=30 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} He was waived on October 31, 1950.{{cite news|title=Sheboygan Redskins Ask Waivers on 3 Rookies|work=Chicago Tribune|date=1 November 1950|page=C3 |id={{ProQuest| }}}} In 1952–1953, he played for the Elmira Colonels in the American Basketball League,{{cite news |author1=Al Mallette |title=Denning, Earle star for Elmira |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99052275/ |access-date=4 April 2022 |work=Elmira Advertiser |date=21 November 1952 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} averaging 12.6 pints in 28 games.{{cite web |title=Edwin Earle basketball statistics on StatsCrew.com |url=https://www.statscrew.com/basketball/stats/p-earleed01 |website=StatsCrew.com |access-date=4 April 2022}} In August 1953, Earle signed with the Syracuse Nationals of the National Basketball Association (NBA){{cite news |author1=Jack Andrews |title=Noble Jorgenson retires; Nats sign a new player |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99052636/ |access-date=4 April 2022 |work=The Post-Standard |date=2 August 1953 |page=32 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news |author1=Alan Gould Jr. |title=Basketball comes early |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99052897/ |access-date=4 April 2022 |work=Star-Gazette |date=11 October 1953 |page=3D |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} where he went on to appear in two games during the 1953–54 season. In 1954, he joined the Wilkes-Barre Barons in the Eastern Professional Basketball League{{cite news |author1=Alan Gould Jr. |title=Still no manager |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/276908970/ |access-date=4 April 2022 |work=Star-Gazette |date=5 December 1954 |page=3D |quote=Ed Earle, the onetime captain of the Emlira Colonels has turned up with old rival Ed White's Wilke's Barre entry in the Eastern Basketball League. |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} where he averaged 11.6 points in 8 games.{{cite web |title=Edwin Earle minor league basketball statistics on StatsCrew.com |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbasketball/stats/p-earleed001 |website=StatsCrew.com |access-date=4 April 2022}} Earle also played on teams of former college players in exhibition games against the Harlem Globetrotters.{{cite news|title=Globe Trotters Head Stadium Card Tonight|work=Chicago Tribune|date=4 January 1954|page=C2 |id={{ProQuest| }}}}{{cite news|title=Trotters Open Play Tonight: Meet College Stars in Loyola Gym|work=Chicago Tribune|date=15 October 1954|page=C3 |id={{ProQuest| }}}}

Earle also distinguished himself in 16-inch softball, and is a member of the Chicago 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://16inchsoftballhof.com/inductee/ed-earle/|title=Ed Earle|publisher=Chicago 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame|accessdate=26 August 2022}} He spent 26 years with the Yellow Freight Corporation.{{cite web|url=https://legacy.suntimes.com/us/obituaries/chicagosuntimes/name/edwin-earle-obituary?id=28745006|title=Edwin Earle Obituary (2009)|work=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=26 August 2022}}