Luke Urban

Louis John "Luke" Urban (March 22, 1898 – December 7, 1980) was an American multi-sport athlete and coach. He played four seasons of professional American football in the National Football League and two years of Major League Baseball with the Boston Braves. Urban was also a college football coach, a college and high school basketball coach, and a minor league baseball manager.

Luke Urban
Urban pictured in Sub Turri 1921, Boston College yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1898-03-22)March 22, 1898
Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedDecember 7, 1980(1980-12-07) (aged 82)
Somerset, Massachusetts, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1916–1917Boston College
1919–1920Boston College
1921–1923Buffalo All-Americans/Bisons
Basketball
c. 1920Boston College
Baseball
c. 1920Boston College
1922–1923Buffalo Bisons
1924–1925Columbus Senators
1926–1927Toledo Mud Hens
1927–1928Boston Braves
1928–1929Buffalo Bisons
1931Springfield Ponies
Ice hockey
c. 1920Boston College
Position(s)End (football)
Catcher (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1921–1930Canisius
Basketball
1918–1921Boston College
1921–1924Canisius
1925–1931Canisius
1940–1960Durfee HS (MA)
Baseball
1948–1950Fall River Indians
Head coaching record
Overall46–27–7 (college football)
84–57 (college basketball)
247–91 (high school basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Basketball
4 Eastern Massachusetts Basketball (1947, 1948, 1952, 1956)
2 New England Basketball (1948, 1956)
Awards
Football
All-American, 1920
All-APFA (1920)
2× All-NFL (1922–1923)
Boston College Eagles Jersey retired
Luke Urban
Catcher
Born: (1898-03-22)March 22, 1898
Fall River, Massachusetts
Died: December 7, 1980(1980-12-07) (aged 82)
Somerset, Massachusetts
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 19, 1927, for the Boston Braves
Last MLB appearance
June 21, 1928, for the Boston Braves
MLB statistics
Batting average.273
Hits35
RBIs12
Teams

Playing career

College

Urban played football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey for the Boston College Eagles. He was a captain for the football, basketball and baseball teams. He was a member of the 1920 College Football All-America Team.[1]

Football

Urban played end for the Buffalo All-Americans from 1921 to 1924. He was named to the Buffalo Evening News All-APFA Team in 1921, George Halas' All-NFL Team in 1922, and the Collyers Eye Magazine and Canton Daily News All-NFL Team in 1923.[2]

Baseball

Urban signed with the New York Yankees and played for their minor league teams in Buffalo and Columbus. He made the Major Leagues in 1927 with the Boston Braves. He appeared in 35 games for the Braves that season.[3] Urban refused to report to spring training in 1928 as part of a contract holdout. He eventually reported to camp late.[4] On June 22, 1928, he was traded with Jimmy Cooney and Johnny Werts for Bonnie Hollingsworth.[3] He played for Buffalo from 1928 to 1930 and the Springfield Ponies in 1931, and the Hartford Senators from 1931 to 1932.

Basketball

Urban played basketball for Worcester Five of the Inter-State Basketball League in 1921.[5]

Coaching career

Urban served as Boston College's head basketball coach during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

Following his graduation, Urban was offered the position of head football coach at Creighton University, but turned down the offer in order to play professional football.[6] From 1921 to 1930, he was the head basketball and football coach at Canisius College. His football teams had a record of 46–27–7 record, with of his eight clubs having a record of .500 or better. He was the school's winningest football coach until he was passed by Tom Hersey in 1990.

Urban was the head basketball coach at Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts from 1940 to 1960. He had a 247–91 record with the Hilltoppers and won two New England championships.[7]

Urban was the manager of the Fall River Indians of the New England League from 1948 to 1950.

Honors

Urban was inducted into the MBCA Hall of Fame in 1965, the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Canisius College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1976.[1][8] Durfee High's gymnasium was named the Luke Urban Field House in honor of Urban.

Head coaching record

College football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Canisius Golden Griffins (Independent) (1921–1925)
1921 Canisius 4–3–2
1922 Canisius 5–2–1
1923 Canisius 8–1
1924 Canisius 4–3
1925 Canisius 4–4
Canisius Golden Griffins (Western New York Little Three Conference) (1926–1930)
1926 Canisius 2–5–1
1927 Canisius 7–1
1928 Canisius 5–1–1
1929 Canisius 3–4–1
1930 Canisius 4–3–1
Canisius: 46–27–7
Total:46–27–7

College basketball
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Boston College Eagles () (1918–1921)
1918–19 Boston College 4–1
1919–20 Boston College 5–3
1920–21 Boston College 7–6
Boston College: 16–10
Canisius Golden Griffins () (1921–1924)
1921–22 Canisius 6–4
1922–23 Canisius 10–4
1923–24 Canisius 8–1
Canisius Golden Griffins () (1925–1931)
1925–26 Canisius 5–8
1926–27 Canisius 9–5
1927–28 Canisius 8–5
1928–29 Canisius 7–5
1929–30 Canisius 5–12
1930–31 Canisius 10–5
Canisius: 68–47
Total:84–57

References
  1. "Louis Urban". Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  2. "Louis Urban". Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  3. "Luke Urban Player Page". Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  4. "Practice Games To Keep Yankees". The Evening Independent. March 5, 1928. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  5. "Well-Known Stars Of Court Here Saturday". The Hartford Courant. November 29, 1921. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  6. "Urban Asked to Coach". The New York Times. December 7, 1920. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  7. Doug Chapman (April 10, 1988). "The doors to the Hall of Fame to be opened early for Karam". Providence Journal. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  8. "Canisius College Athletics Hall of Fame". Retrieved December 11, 2009.
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