Tom Yewcic, a former Michigan State All-American in both football and baseball, died at age 88, the university announced on Thursday.
Yewcic, who was inducted in the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003, was a member of the 1953 Rose Bowl-winning team and named the College World Series Most Valuable Player in 1954.
A native of Conemaugh, Pa., Yewcic was Michigan State’s starting quarterback from 1952-53. The Spartans finished 9-0 in 1952 and won a national championship while Yewcic was named an All-American by NBC-TV. The Spartans posted a 27-1 record in his three seasons and Yewcic threw for 1,480 yards and 18 touchdowns and was also the starting punter.
Yewcic was named a first team All-American catcher for the Michigan State baseball team in 1954 and helped lead the team to its first Big Ten championship while earning a spot in the College World Series for the first time, where they finished third.
After spending time in the minor leagues, Yewcic played one game for the Detroit Tigers in 1957. He also had a professional football career with the Boston Patriots while lining up at punter, quarterback, receiver and running back. Yewcic threw for 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns, had 72 carries for 424 yards and four touchdowns and seven catches for 69 yards. He also had 377 punts for 14,533 yards.