The Ted Yeager Collection, 1968-1972
Collection
Identifier: 21-02-007-01
Scope and Content:
The Ted Yeager collection contains a wide variety of items that span over the outstanding athletic career Ted Yeager had at Wilkes University. The collection contains hundreds of newspaper articles covering each of the three sports Yeager played at Wilkes (Football, Baseball and Wrestling), photographs from those sports, all ECAC awards from his football career, statistics from his teams and years on the gridiron as well as the diamond. Also a part of the collection are physical realia suchs as jerseys, signs, and DVDs of Wilkes Football games in which Ted Yeager played. The collection contains information about the great athletic career Ted had as well as many articles and photos of his teams and teammates. Yeager played a key role in one of the most successful football periods at Wilkes and the items within the collection demonstrate Yeager’s impact on Wilkes University Athletics history.
Dates
- 1968 - 1972
Access:
Open for research.
Biographical Sketch:
Known for his small body stature, lighting quick speed and superb athletic ability, Ted Yeager is one of the greatest athletes to attend Wilkes College (now Wilkes University). A graduate from Southern Columbia High School in Catawissa, Pennsylvania, Yeager came to Wilkes in 1968 and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in History/ Social Studies and Secondary Education in 1972. Yeager is a member of both the Wilkes Hall of Fame (1993) and the Middle Athletic Conference Hall of Fame (2014) and one of four athletes to have their jersey number (21) retired by the University. Over his athletic tenure at Wilkes, Ted was an eight-time letter winner in Football and Baseball while also being a member of the Wrestling team for a season in 1968-69. Over his career Yeager set many records in both football and baseball and still remains on the top 10 list for multiple career and season records list in those sports respectively.
On the football field, Ted was a key member of the most successful team Wilkes has ever had, helping extend a winning streak to 32 consecutive games spanning from 1965-1969 (Yeager was a part of the team for 2 of those seasons). An impressive note about Yeager is that in 1968 and 1971 on his first career carry and his last career carry both went for touchdowns. So he started and ended his career scoring. On the football field, Yeager ranks amongst the top 10 in 3 categories. He ranks 4th all time in career rushing yards with 2,869, 5th all time in points scored with 158 and is 10th with 952 rushing yards in a single season. Not to mention that he was named an Honorable Mention All American in 1969. While in 1972 he was named Wilkes Athlete of the Year. A historic career did not go unnoticed, Yeager’s number 21 jersey is just one of four numbers retired here at Wilkes for his outstanding play of the gridiron. An accomplishment less than a handful of people can say has happened to them. Yeager’s athletic impact had not gone unnoticed by the members of the campus community when he was tagged with the nickname the “Catawissa Flash” for his lightning quick speed.
On the baseball diamond Yeager was the spark that led the Colonels to a record of 48 wins and 12 losses. The “Catawissa Flash” nickname transfer definitely applied to Yeager’s baseball career. A three year starter and Co-captain his senior year in 1972, Yeager was the leadoff hitter and top base stealer for the squad in 1970,’71 and ‘72. In 1970, Yeager recorded 22 stolen bases in a single season which ranks 6th all time in that category. While for a career Yeager now ranks 7th all time in stolen bases with 50 for his career. In 1971, Yeager was named to the First Team All MAC for his outstanding Junior season. Yeager was also nationally ranked for average steals per game in 1970 with an average of 1.4 steals per game. Ted’s tenure on the baseball field was the kick start and beginning to a very successful run under head coach Gene Domzalski who in the later half of the 1970’s had three 20 plus win teams.
After Ted Yeager graduated from Wilkes in 1972, he went on to become an assistant football coach at Wellsboro High School in Wellsboro, PA where he then became the head coach in 1973. From 1973-1977, he coached at Wellsboro, finishing his coaching career with a record of 29-17-1. In 1974 and 1977 Yeager led his high school team to 2 NTL titles being the first in high school history to win 2 as head coach until Coach Matt Hildebrand won his second NTL title in 2016. Yeager ranks 3rd all time in coaching victories at the high school with his 29 wins. In 2017, the 1977 team coached by Yeager was honored at halftime by the school as a 40th reunion of the 2nd NTL title in school history. After his coaching tenure came to a close at Wellsboro, Yeager spent the next 27 years as a teacher in the Wellsboro and Danville school districts before obtaining his real estate license in 1985. In 1993, he became a certified appraiser. As a real estate agent Yeager received recognition for “top listing agent” as well as “Agent of the Quarter” in 2013. In 2014, Yeager was a recipient of the Colonel Blazer, which is given to someone who has made major contributions to the progress of Wilkes University. Not only has Ted contributed athletically to the school but he has made significant efforts to help improve the quality of the University for future students.
In conclusion, the Catawissa Flash Ted Yeager was one of the most dominant and spark plugged athletes in Wilkes History in multiple sports. Known predominantly for his days on the gridiron, Yeager is amongst the top 10 in 3 categories in the records. With the diamond he ranks top 10 in 2 categories. His athletic accomplishments have led him to become a member of both the Wilkes Hall of Fame and the Middle Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. Furthermore, he is just one of four athletes to have their jersey number retired by the school and nobody on the gridiron has worn his number 21 since. His athletic impact has been everlasting at Wilkes as many athletes have tried to catch his records with only a few being successful in doing so.
On the football field, Ted was a key member of the most successful team Wilkes has ever had, helping extend a winning streak to 32 consecutive games spanning from 1965-1969 (Yeager was a part of the team for 2 of those seasons). An impressive note about Yeager is that in 1968 and 1971 on his first career carry and his last career carry both went for touchdowns. So he started and ended his career scoring. On the football field, Yeager ranks amongst the top 10 in 3 categories. He ranks 4th all time in career rushing yards with 2,869, 5th all time in points scored with 158 and is 10th with 952 rushing yards in a single season. Not to mention that he was named an Honorable Mention All American in 1969. While in 1972 he was named Wilkes Athlete of the Year. A historic career did not go unnoticed, Yeager’s number 21 jersey is just one of four numbers retired here at Wilkes for his outstanding play of the gridiron. An accomplishment less than a handful of people can say has happened to them. Yeager’s athletic impact had not gone unnoticed by the members of the campus community when he was tagged with the nickname the “Catawissa Flash” for his lightning quick speed.
On the baseball diamond Yeager was the spark that led the Colonels to a record of 48 wins and 12 losses. The “Catawissa Flash” nickname transfer definitely applied to Yeager’s baseball career. A three year starter and Co-captain his senior year in 1972, Yeager was the leadoff hitter and top base stealer for the squad in 1970,’71 and ‘72. In 1970, Yeager recorded 22 stolen bases in a single season which ranks 6th all time in that category. While for a career Yeager now ranks 7th all time in stolen bases with 50 for his career. In 1971, Yeager was named to the First Team All MAC for his outstanding Junior season. Yeager was also nationally ranked for average steals per game in 1970 with an average of 1.4 steals per game. Ted’s tenure on the baseball field was the kick start and beginning to a very successful run under head coach Gene Domzalski who in the later half of the 1970’s had three 20 plus win teams.
After Ted Yeager graduated from Wilkes in 1972, he went on to become an assistant football coach at Wellsboro High School in Wellsboro, PA where he then became the head coach in 1973. From 1973-1977, he coached at Wellsboro, finishing his coaching career with a record of 29-17-1. In 1974 and 1977 Yeager led his high school team to 2 NTL titles being the first in high school history to win 2 as head coach until Coach Matt Hildebrand won his second NTL title in 2016. Yeager ranks 3rd all time in coaching victories at the high school with his 29 wins. In 2017, the 1977 team coached by Yeager was honored at halftime by the school as a 40th reunion of the 2nd NTL title in school history. After his coaching tenure came to a close at Wellsboro, Yeager spent the next 27 years as a teacher in the Wellsboro and Danville school districts before obtaining his real estate license in 1985. In 1993, he became a certified appraiser. As a real estate agent Yeager received recognition for “top listing agent” as well as “Agent of the Quarter” in 2013. In 2014, Yeager was a recipient of the Colonel Blazer, which is given to someone who has made major contributions to the progress of Wilkes University. Not only has Ted contributed athletically to the school but he has made significant efforts to help improve the quality of the University for future students.
In conclusion, the Catawissa Flash Ted Yeager was one of the most dominant and spark plugged athletes in Wilkes History in multiple sports. Known predominantly for his days on the gridiron, Yeager is amongst the top 10 in 3 categories in the records. With the diamond he ranks top 10 in 2 categories. His athletic accomplishments have led him to become a member of both the Wilkes Hall of Fame and the Middle Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. Furthermore, he is just one of four athletes to have their jersey number retired by the school and nobody on the gridiron has worn his number 21 since. His athletic impact has been everlasting at Wilkes as many athletes have tried to catch his records with only a few being successful in doing so.
References:
https://gowilkesu.com/honors/hall-of-fame/ted-yeager/12
http://www.wellsborofootball.com/history/head-coaches/ted-yeager/
https://www.villagerrealty.com/agents/30
https://gomacsports.com/hof.aspx?hof=76
https://community.wilkes.edu/s/344/index.aspx?pgid=1686&gid=1&cid=3506
http://www.wellsborofootball.com/history/head-coaches/ted-yeager/
https://www.villagerrealty.com/agents/30
https://gomacsports.com/hof.aspx?hof=76
https://community.wilkes.edu/s/344/index.aspx?pgid=1686&gid=1&cid=3506
Extent
8 boxes (2 document boxes, 1 dvd box, 4 small object boxes and one large white textile box. ) : 8.04 linear feet
Language of Materials
English
Provenance:
Ted Yeager donated these materials to Wilkes University ca. 2009-2010. The materials transferred buildings when Alumni Relations moved their offices from UCOM to the Alumni House. Some of the materials were transferred to Wilkes University Archives in Spring-Summer of 2019. George Pawlush took possession of some of the newspaper clippings and documents for research on his book and donated them back to Wilkes University Archives in Fall 2019.
Acquisition:
Ted Yeager donated these materials to Wilkes University’s Alumni House circa 2009-2010. These materials were stored in the attic of the Alumni House until the Wilkes University Archives transferred these materials permanently in Summer 2019. George Pawlush donated the remaining newspaper clippings and documents that he was researching for his book in Fall 2019.
Condition Note:
The textile, DVDs, photographs, and collectible memorabilia are in good condition. The newspaper clippings are showing signs of staining other paper materials so they have been removed into their own folders and have been digitized for long-term preservation.
Copyright Status:
Wilkes University retains copyright of the photographs and materials. However, anyone can use the digital collections for research purposes. Please cite the Wilkes University Archives.
Processed By:
Michael Patrizio, Archives Work-Study, Digitized by Michael Patrizio and John Jenkins, Spring-Summer 2021, supervised by Suzanna Calev, Archivist in Spring-Summer 2021.
Series I: Newspaper Articles 1968-1972
The Newspaper Articles 1968-1972, Box 1, is arranged alphabetically by Sport and contains all the newspaper clippings pertaining to Yeager individually and his sports teams from 1968 to 1972. The articles are separated by each sport Yeager participated in as well a set of articles that were a part of a personal scrapbook maintained by Yeager. The articles have been removed from the scrapbook and digitized for long-term preservation. Folders of articles include his football clippings, baseball and his brief tenure with the wrestling team.
Series II: Photographs 1968-1972
Series II: Photographs, 1968-1972, (Boxes 2-3) is divided into two subseries: Subseries I: Unframed Photographs and Statistics, 1970-1972 and Subseries II: Framed Photographs, 1968-1972. Subseries I: Unframed Photographs and Statistics is arranged alphabetically by Sport and contains photos of Ted that were never framed or from newspaper clippings as well as statistics that were recorded either of just Ted or Ted’s teams. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by sport. Subseries II: Framed photographs, 1970-1972, contains framed photographs of Ted in action during his athletic contests. A majority of the photographs are of Ted during his football career at Wilkes College with the exception of one framed photograph in his baseball uniform.
Subseries II: Framed photographs, 1970-1972
Subseries II: Framed photographs, 1970-1972, contains framed photographs of Ted in action during his athletic contests. A majority of the photographs are of Ted during his football career at Wilkes College with the exception of one framed photograph in his baseball uniform.
Series III:Physical Items 1968-1972
Series III: Physical Items, 1968-1972, is the biggest series of the collection and contains four boxes. The series is arranged into three subseries. Subseries I: Jerseys, 1968-1972 contains Yeager's personal jerseys that he wore during his seasons and other Wilkes jerseys. The first box of the subseries contains only Ted’s jerseys from his playing days on the gridiron as well as the diamond. The other box in the subseries contains other teammates jerseys from their time playing together on the football field. Subseries II: next box contains four hats: two from Ted’s days on the baseball diamond and the other two being Wilkes club hats. Subseries III: DVDs, 1965-1971, is arranged chronologically and contains game footage from a few different seasons of Wilkes football games against other colleges and universities such as Delaware Valley University, Lycoming College, Moravian College, East Stroudsburg University, Dickinson College, and Vermont College.
Subseries I: Jerseys, 1968-1972
Subseries I: Jerseys, 1968-1972 is arranged alphabetically by sport and contains Yeager's personal jerseys that he wore during his seasons and other Wilkes jerseys.
Subseries II: Hats, 1968-1972
Subseries II: Hats, 1968-1972 is arranged alphabetically and contains Yeager's hats from his baseball team as well as Wilkes club hats.
Subseries III: DVDs, 1965-1971
Subseries III: DVDs, 1965-1971 is arranged chronologically and contains game footage from a few different seasons of Wilkes football games against other colleges and universities such as Delaware Valley University, Lycoming College, Moravian College, East Stroudsburg University, Dickinson College, and Vermont College.
Series IV: Collectible Memorabilia, 1968-1972
Series IV: Collectible Memorabilia, 1968-1972 is arranged alphabetically by type of memorabilia and contains signs, pins, and banners that were made for Ted, as well as realia from Ted’s Wilkes tenure. Realia includes his mouthpiece from his football days, a commemorative baseball from a Wilkes game against Kutztown, his Wilkes ID from 1969, and some hand drawn pictures of Ted. The collection contains many signs that were made for Yeager and banners celebrating the Wilkes College 1968 Lambert Bowl championship.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu