Sam Chapman, Tam 1934 - Sports Legend - the "Tiburon Terror"
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A native of Tiburon, California, Sam Chapman not only lettered in football at Tamalpais Union High School, but in baseball, basketball, and soccer as well. At the University of California at Berkeley, the 6-0, 188-pound "Tiburon...
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A native of Tiburon, California, Sam Chapman not only lettered in football at Tamalpais Union High School, but in baseball, basketball, and soccer as well. At the University of California at Berkeley, the 6-0, 188-pound "Tiburon Terror" was one of the players responsible for the great "Thunder" teams. His running, kicking, and defensive work often carried the Golden Bears to victory, and in the eyes of Coach Stub Allison, he was a better all purpose back than the legendary Red Grange. Against Southern California, as a sophomore, Chapman caught Bill Archer's 20-yard pass on the Trojan 25- yard line and, in a stumbling run, went all the way for a touchdown. His junior year he again caused a stir in the Trojan game when he snagged Vic Bottari's 25- yard pass on the USC nine-yard line and ran for the touchdown that won the game, 13-7. Chapman was a consensus All-America selection in 1937 and sparked the Golden Bears to a 13-0 victory over Alabama in the 1938 Rose Bowl Game. Also an All-America baseball player, he signed with the Philadelphia Athletics. During World War II, Chapman earned his wings in the Navy, and was assigned fleet duty.
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Local sports legend honored with statue at Tiburon ferry
Article Launched: 08/03/2006 01:07:00 AM PDT
Jim Staats, Marin Independent Journal
Local sports legend Sam Chapman will forever be linked to his native Tiburon in bronze.
The Tiburon Town Council voted 2-1 Wednesday to install a statue of Chapman at Ferry Plaza. Councilwoman Alice Fredericks was the lone dissenter. Absent from the meeting were councilmen Tom Gram and Jeff Slavitz.
"I can't think of a better person to honor with this kind of a statue than Sam Chapman," Mayor Paul Smith said.
Considered by some as the greatest athlete to come from Marin County, Chapman starred in football and baseball at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley and at the University of California at Berkeley in the 1930s prior to 11 years of major league baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Indians. He negotiated his release from the Indians in 1951 to return to the Bay Area, joining the Pacific Coast League's Oakland Oaks for three seasons to finish out his baseball career.
The "Tiburon Terror" was halfback on Cal's "Thunder Teams," which led the Golden Bears to victory in the 1938 Rose Bowl. He has been inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, Marin County Athletic League Hall of Fame, National Collegiate Football Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Athletics All-Time All-Star Team.
"This is just a nice tribute," said proponent Jay MacMahon, a San Rafael attorney who has known Chapman for 50 years. "It's a recognition of Tiburon and probably Marin's greatest athlete."
MacMahon said the idea of the bronze representation of Chapman sitting on a bench close to the Paradise Drive and Main Street intersection was twofold: It would face the old baseball field where Chapman once played (now Point Tiburon) and allow for photo opportunities with Chapman's likeness with the San Francisco skyline in the background. An informational plaque detailing Chapman's achievements also would be included near the statue.
Proponents have raised about $8,000 of the $40,500 cost estimated by Sebastopol artist Daniel Oberti for the privately funded project, according to MacMahon.
He said the Tiburon Peninsula Foundation has committed to a maximum of $2,000 in future maintenance of the finished product.
Born in Tiburon in 1916, Chapman's family ties to the area extend to a longtime Main Street general store run by his father, who also served as the Tiburon postmaster.
Chapman's major league tenure was interrupted by a stint training Navy pilots in World War II.
"By the time he came out of the war, it was hard to make it in the big leagues," Tiburon Mayor Paul Smith said prior to the meeting. "He in essence gave up his big chance in the big leagues to fight in World War II. A pretty impressive guy.
"It's hard to find people that want to object to this."
Fredericks said her reservations were about the location and about memorializing too many people in town.
"I don't think this particular statue in this particular location would serve the community best," she said.
Chapman, 90, had been living in Tiburon until this week, when he moved to a care facility in Kentfield. Sons Blake Chapman of Woodacre, Chris Chapman and Mark Chapman of Larkspur, and daughter Calen Chapman of Tiburon attended the meeting.
"We're just greatly honored," his daughter said. "My dad is very touched. It's just a testament to the person that he is.
"Since I know him as my father, it's cool to hear from so many people how much they like him as a person - not just a great athlete," she said before the meeting.
Smith said installation would depend on how fast funds can be raised.
Contact Jim Staats via e-mail at jstaats@marinij.com
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Highlights:
Local sports legend honored with statue at Tiburon ferry
Article Launched: 08/03/2006 01:07:00 AM PDT
Jim Staats, Marin Independent Journal
Local sports legend Sam Chapman will forever be linked to his native Tiburon in...
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