On This Date in Sports May 18, 1963: The Tragedy of Ernie Davis
Ernie Davis, the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, dies at the age of 23 in Cleveland. Davis won the Heisman with Syracuse in 1961 ...
Ernie Davis, the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, dies at the age of 23 in Cleveland. Davis won the Heisman with Syracuse in 1961 and was the first pick in the NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. After refusing to sign, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns. Before playing a game, Ernie Davis was diagnosed with Leukemia. Despite never playing, the Browns retired his number 45. Ernie Davis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania, on December 14, 1939. Davis was heavily recruited after becoming a star athlete in baseball, basketball, and football in Elmira, New York.