Lou Baldacci
{{Short description|American football player (born 1934)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Lou Baldacci
| image = Lou Baldacci.png
| position = Halfback
| number = 27
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1934|12|17}}
| birth_place = Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 200
| draftyear = 1956
| draftround = 10
| draftpick = 111
| high_school = St. Vincent–St. Mary {{avoid wrap|(Akron, Ohio)}}
| college = Michigan
| pastteams =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 10
| statlabel2 = Rushing Att. / Yds.
| statvalue2 = 31 / 140
| statlabel3 = Receptions / Yds.
| statvalue3 = 5 / 62
| statlabel4 = Punts / Yds.
| statvalue4 = 26 / 1010
| pfr = BaldLo00
}}
Louis Granville Baldacci (born December 17, 1934) is an American former professional football player who was a halfback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1953 to 1955 and was the starting quarterback for their 1953 and 1954 teams. He was selected by the Steelers in the 1956 NFL draft and played 10 games in the 1956 season.
Early years
Baldacci was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1934. He attended St. Vincent High School in Akron, Ohio.{{cite web|title=Lou Baldacci |publisher=databasefootball.com |url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BALDALOU01 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807143341/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BALDALOU01 |archive-date=2011-08-07 }}
University of Michigan
Baldacci enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1952 and played for the Wolverines from 1953 to 1955.
=1953 season=
As a sophomore in 1953, Baldacci was the starting quarterback for all nine games played by Michigan.{{cite web|title=1953 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1953fbt.htm}} The 1953 team finished with a record of 6-3 and was ranked No. 19 in the final UPI poll and No. 20 in the final AP poll. Baldacci had his best game as a forward passer in a 14-13 victory over Iowa on October 10, 1953. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 100 yards, including a 31-yard completion to Ed Hickey.{{cite web|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page |publisher=University of Michigan |url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524051040/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |archive-date=2013-05-24 }} Baldacci also kicked a 38-yard field goal against Illinois in 1953, breaking the prior record set by Tom Harmon in 1940; Baldacci's record was broken in 1961 by Doug Bickle.Michigan: Champions of the West, by Bruce Madej, Rob Toonkel, Mike Pearson, p. 186.
=1954 season=
As a junior in 1954, Baldacci split his time between the quarterback and fullback positions, playing in 309 of 540 minutes over the course of the nine-game season.{{cite news|title=Baldacci May Split Signal-Calling Duty|newspaper=Ludington Daily News|date=September 6, 1955|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wRMJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sDwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7116,211034&dq=baldacci&hl=en}} He started five games at quarterback and one game at fullback for a Michigan team that again finished with a 6-3 record. The 1954 team was ranked No. 15 in both the final UPI and AP polls.{{cite web|title=1954 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1954fbt.htm}} In the 1954 season opener, Baldacci scored both of Michigan's touchdowns in a 14-0 win over Washington.{{cite news|title=Michigan Gains Victory Over Washington, 14-0|newspaper=The Hartford Courant|date=September 26, 1954|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/894105142.html?dids=894105142:894105142&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+26,+1954&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Michigan+Gains+Victory+Over+Washington,+14-0&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103153306/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/894105142.html?dids=894105142:894105142&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+26,+1954&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Michigan+Gains+Victory+Over+Washington,+14-0&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2012}} In November 1954, Baldacci led Michigan to a 33-7 win over the defending 1954 Rose Bowl champions from Michigan State. Baldacci scored Michigan's first touchdown on a four-yard run and later caught a 63-yard pass from Dan Cline to set up another touchdown.{{cite news|author=Charles Bartlett|title=Baldacci Paces Wolverines; Kramer, Shannon Also Star; Michigan Wins, 33 to 7, Over Michigan State|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=November 14, 1954|page=A1|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/515562222.html?dids=515562222:515562222&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+14,+1954&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=BALDACCI+PACES+WOLVERINES;+KRAMER,+SHANNON+ALSO+STAR&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103153213/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/515562222.html?dids=515562222:515562222&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+14,+1954&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=BALDACCI+PACES+WOLVERINES;+KRAMER,+SHANNON+ALSO+STAR&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2012}}
=1955 season=
As a senior in 1955, Baldacci moved to the fullback position, starting seven of nine games for the Wolverines. The 1955 team improved to 7-2 and were ranked No. 12 in the final AP poll and No. 13 in the final UPI poll.{{cite web|title=1955 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1955fbt.htm}} In a 42-7 win over Missouri in September 1955, Baldacci had one of the best games of his career. He had two rushing touchdowns and also threw two passes, both of them completed for touchdowns. His best rushing total was 65 yards on 13 carries against Indiana in November 1955.
After the 1955 season, Baldacci was invited to play in two post-season all-star games. He played in the 1955 Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic and the 1956 Senior Bowl.{{cite web|title=University of Michigan Football All-Star Game Participants|publisher=University of Michigan|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072005aac.html|access-date=2010-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901180009/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072005aac.html|archive-date=2010-09-01|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Sign Baldacci For Blue Team|newspaper=The Owosso Argus-Press|date=November 25, 1955|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oVglAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v6sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5639,4905734&dq=baldacci&hl=en}} He scored the first touchdown for the Blue team in a 20-19 loss to the Gray team.{{cite news|title=Grays Whip Blues, 20-19, on Late Touchdown|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=January 1, 1956|page=A1|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/514525142.html?dids=514525142:514525142&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+01,+1956&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Grays+Whip+Blues,+20-19,+on+Late+Touchdown&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103153335/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/514525142.html?dids=514525142:514525142&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+01,+1956&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Grays+Whip+Blues,+20-19,+on+Late+Touchdown&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2012}}
=Career statistics=
Pittsburgh Steelers
Baldacci was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1956 NFL draft and signed with the Steelers in July 1956.{{cite news|title=Varrichione, Balducci Sign With Pittsburgh|newspaper=The Hartford Courant|date=July 22, 1956|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/905298592.html?dids=905298592:905298592&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+22,+1956&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Varrichione,+Balducci+Sign+With+Pittsburgh&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103153320/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/905298592.html?dids=905298592:905298592&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+22,+1956&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Varrichione,+Balducci+Sign+With+Pittsburgh&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2012}} Baldacci played in ten games as a halfback for the Steelers during the 1956 NFL season.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/loubaldacci/profile?id=BAL061524|title=Lou Baldacci player bio|work=NFL.com|access-date=2009-04-13}} He was part of an all-Michigan backfield for Pittsburgh, joining former Michigan teammate Lowell Perry, University of Detroit star Ted Marchibroda and Michigan State star Lynn Chandnois.{{cite news|title=Ex-Michigan Stars Appear With Steelers: Perry, Baldacci In Lineup; Davis May Be Sidelines|newspaper=Toledo Blade|date=August 16, 1956|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BSkoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tgAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2747,108054&dq=baldacci&hl=en}} In November 1956, Baldacci's "hard-hitting" play was credited with powering the Steelers to a 14-7 upset victory over the Chicago Cardinals.{{cite news|title=Steelers Clip Cardinals Behind Baldacci, Rogel|newspaper=Hartford Courant (AP story)|date=November 19, 1956|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/900739902.html?dids=900739902:900739902&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+19,+1956&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Steelers+Clip+Cardinals+Behind+Baldacci,+Rogel&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103153254/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/900739902.html?dids=900739902:900739902&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+19,+1956&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Steelers+Clip+Cardinals+Behind+Baldacci,+Rogel&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2012}}{{cite news|title=Steelers Topple Cardinals, 14 to 7; Baldacci and Rogel Big Guns in Victory as Chicagoans Drop Third Straight|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 19, 1956|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB091FF83F5F147B93CBA8178AD95F428585F9}}
Later years and family
Baldacci was married in December 1956 to Linda Anne Landsnaes at St. Hugo's Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.{{cite news|title=Mr. Baldacci, Birmingham Girl Wed|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=December 30, 1956|page=17|url=https://freep.newspapers.com/clip/3681073/mr_baldacci_birmingham_girl_wed/}}
Baldacci entered the United States Air Force in 1957.The Michigan alumnus: Volume 65 (1959), p. 173 He played with an Air Force football team at Hamilton Air Force Base and was selected to the 1958 All-Air Force Football Team.
Baldacci is a grandfather to 5 children and the great-grandfather to 7 children.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Michigan Wolverines quarterback navbox}}
{{Steelers1956DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baldacci, Lou}}
Category:American football halfbacks
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Michigan Wolverines football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Players of American football from Richmond, Virginia