Sam Ball

Games played:	61
Games started:	42
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Sam Ball
	Sam Ball, 1970
No. 73
Position:	Tackle
Personal information
Born:	June 1, 1944; Henderson, Kentucky, U.S.
Died:	October 30, 2023 (aged 79); Henderson, Kentucky, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:	Henderson County (KY)
College:	Kentucky
NFL draft:	1966 / round: 1 / pick: 15
AFL draft:	1966 / round: 2 / pick: 14
Career history
	Baltimore Colts (1966–1970);
Career highlights and awards
	Super Bowl champion (V); NFL champion (1968); Consensus All-American (1965); First-team All-SEC (1965);
Career NFL statistics
Games played:
Games played:	61
Games started:	42
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Samuel Davis Ball (June 1, 1944 – October 30, 2023) was an American professional football player who was an offensive lineman for the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL) from 1966 through 1970. During that span, he appeared in Super Bowl III and Super Bowl V for the Colts. He played college football at Kentucky.

Early life

Sam Ball was born on June 1, 1944, in Henderson, Kentucky. He was a four-year starter at Henderson County High School where the Colonels posted a 32-2-2 record during his tenure.^[1]

College career

Ball enrolled at University of Kentucky in 1962, played on the freshman team his first year because then NCAA rules that didn't allow freshmen to play on the varsity teams. He was a three-year letterman under Coach Charlie Bradshaw. As a senior, he earned All-SEC First-Team and All-America First-Team honors.^[2]

Professional career

In the 1966 NFL draft, Ball was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the first round with the 15th overall pick. Ball was also drafted in the 1966 AFL draft by the New York Jets in the 2nd round, 14th overall. Ball chose to play with the Colts.

Ball saw limited playing time as a rookie in 1966, making appearances in seven games. He earned a starting role the next year, which he maintained for most of his career.^[3]

In the 1968 season, the Colts won the NFL Championship before losing to the Jets in Super Bowl III. In 1970, Ball was a member of the Colts' Super Bowl V winning team, which was his last professional football game.^[1]

Post-football life

Ball returned to Henderson, Kentucky after retiring from professional football. He was a seed salesman, ran a cattle ranch, and was served as a motivational speaker.^[1]

Death and legacy

Ball died in Henderson, Kentucky, on October 30, 2023, at the age of 79.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Stinnett, Chuck (October 30, 2023). "Sam Ball, the Henderson native who played for the Baltimore Colts, has died". Courier & Press. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
^ "Sam Ball - In Memoriam". UKAthletics. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
^ "Sam Ball". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2024.

This biographical article relating to an American football offensive lineman born in the 1940s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[death-1] Stinnett, Chuck (October 30, 2023). "Sam Ball, the Henderson native who played for the Baltimore Colts, has died". Courier & Press. Retrieved October 30, 2023.

[UKA_memoriam-2] "Sam Ball - In Memoriam". UKAthletics. Retrieved November 5, 2023.

[pfr-3] "Sam Ball". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2024.

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v t e 1965 College Football All-America Team consensus selections
Offense	B Donny Anderson B Mike Garrett B Jim Grabowski B Bob Griese E Howard Twilley E Freeman White OT Sam Ball OT Glen Ray Hines G Dick Arrington G Stas Maliszewski C Paul Crane
Defense	DL Walt Barnes DL Aaron Brown DL Loyd Phillips DL Bubba Smith DL Bill Yearby LB Frank Emanuel LB Carl McAdams LB Tommy Nobis DB Nick Rassas DB Johnny Roland DB George Webster

v t e Baltimore Colts 1968 NFL champions
2 Timmy Brown 15 Earl Morrall 16 Jim Ward 19 Johnny Unitas 20 Jerry Logan 21 Rick Volk 25 Alex Hawkins 26 Preston Pearson 27 Ray Perkins 28 Jimmy Orr 32 Mike Curtis 34 Terry Cole 37 Ocie Austin 40 Bobby Boyd 41 Tom Matte 43 Lenny Lyles 45 Jerry Hill 47 Charlie Stukes 49 David Lee 50 Bill Curry 51 Bob Grant 52 Dick Szymanski 53 Dennis Gaubatz 55 Ron Porter 61 Cornelius Johnson 62 Glenn Ressler 64 Sid Williams 66 Don Shinnick 71 Dan Sullivan 72 Bob Vogel 73 Sam Ball 74 Billy Ray Smith Sr. 75 John Williams 76 Fred Miller 78 Bubba Smith 79 Lou Michaels 80 Gail Cogdill 81 Ordell Braase 84 Tom Mitchell 85 Roy Hilton 87 Willie Richardson 88 John Mackey
Head coach: Don Shula
Coaches: Bill Arnsparger Dick Bielski Don McCafferty Chuck Noll John Sandusky

v t e Baltimore Colts Super Bowl V champions
15 Earl Morrall 17 Sam Havrilak 19 Johnny Unitas 20 Jerry Logan 21 Rick Volk 25 Tom Curtis 27 Ray Perkins 28 Jimmy Orr 30 Ron Gardin 32 Mike Curtis 33 Eddie Hinton 34 Tom Nowatzke 35 Jim Duncan 36 Norm Bulaich 40 Jack Maitland 41 Tom Matte 42 Tom Maxwell 45 Jerry Hill 47 Charles Stukes 49 David Lee 50 Bill Curry 51 Bob Grant 52 Robbie Nichols 54 Tom Goode 56 Ray May 60 George Wright 61 Cornelius Johnson 62 Glenn Ressler 68 Dennis Nelson 71 Dan Sullivan 72 Bob Vogel 73 Sam Ball 74 Billy Ray Smith 75 John Williams 76 Fred Miller 78 Bubba Smith 79 Jim Bailey 80 Jim O'Brien 81 Billy Newsome 83 Ted Hendricks 84 Tom Mitchell 85 Roy Hilton 87 Roy Jefferson 88 John Mackey
Head coach: Don McCafferty
Coaches: Dick Bielski Bobby Boyd Hank Bullough John Idzik Lou Rymkus John Sandusky