Cliff Aberson
From BR Bullpen
Clifford Alexander Aberson (Kif)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 200 lb.
- Debut July 18, 1947
- Final Game May 9, 1949
- Born August 28, 1921 in Chicago, IL USA
- Died June 23, 1973 in Vallejo, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Primarily wore number 11.
Cliff Aberson graduated from Senn High School in Chicago, where her played football and baseball, and then tried out for the Moline Plowboys in the class B Three-I League but was rejected. He then enrolled in the Phillip K. Wrigley baseball school. He was signed to the Janesville Cubs in the Class D Wisconsin State League in 1941 and played there through the 1942 season, when he went in the Army. While stationed at Kessler Field, MS in 1943 and 1944, he played football for the team coached by Herman Rohrig, an ex-Green Bay Packer who recommended Aberson to Green Bay when he was discharged from the Army in the Spring of 1946. He was sent to Europe in 1945 with Company L 314th Infantry 97th Division and participated it the Central Europe Campaign winning the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star Medal and 1 battle star. He was discharged March 22, 1946 at Camp McCoy, WI, as a Sergeant. He played for the Packers in 1946 without having any college football experience. In 1947 he played baseball for the Des Moines Bruins in the Class A Western League and the Tulsa Oilers in the Class AA Texas League. When it came time to report to the Packers for football season, the Chicago Cubs offered him a trial in the majors if the left football. He agreed, made his major league debut with the Cubs on July 18, 1947, and spent the remainder of the season with the Cubs. In 1948 and 1949 he played for the Cubs and the Los Angeles Angels of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. In 1950, Aberson played for the PCL's Hollywood Stars, the Mobile Bears of the Class AA Southern Association, and St. Paul Saints of the AAA American Association. At the end of this season, he retired from baseball to try out for the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL. Over the course of his career, hee played in 63 major league games for the Cubs.
