Byron Ledare "By" Bailey was an American professional football player, primarily as a fullback and defensive back for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.
16 Facts About Byron Bailey
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In 2006, Byron Bailey was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.
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Byron Bailey scored the first touchdown in the history of the BC Lions' franchise, on August 28,1954, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
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Byron Bailey's family moved from Omaha, Nebraska in the early 1940s to Seattle, Washington, where Byron Bailey played high school football at West Seattle High School.
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Byron Bailey was inducted into the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.
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Byron Bailey was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 25th Round of the 1952 NFL Draft.
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Unhappy with his playing time in Green Bay, Byron Bailey, recruited by CFL legend and the first head coach of the BC Lions Annis Stukus, joined the Lions for their inaugural, 1954 season.
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Byron Bailey was the Lions' leading rusher and offensive captain from 1955 to 1960, and twice led the CFL Western Division in kick-off returns.
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In 1957, Byron Bailey was named to the CFL Western Division All-Star Team as a running back.
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Byron Bailey began his career as a fullback in the Lions' double fullback offensive backfield.
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In 1962, when the Lions dropped the double fullback position, Byron Bailey played outside linebacker and cornerback.
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Byron Bailey retired following the BC Lions first Grey Cup Championship in 1964.
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Over his 11-year career with the Lions, which covered 158 games, Byron Bailey rushed for 3,643 yards on 783 attempts, and caught 101 passes for 1,161 yards.
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Byron Bailey was the first BC Lion player inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1975, and was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame the same year.
15.
In November, 2006, Byron Bailey was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.
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Byron Bailey died of cancer at age 67 on January 18,1998, at his home in Winfield, British Columbia.