I graduated from Senn High School in 1980. Located on Chicago’s North Side, Senn is a fairly typical inner-city public high school, except for the fact that a lot of famous and semi-famous people graduated from there. Today let’s meet one who’s twice the athlete you are: Major League Baseball and National Football League player Cliff Aberson, Class of 1940.

Clifford Alexander Aberson was born in Chicago in 1921. Cliff was a three sport star athlete at Senn, and upon graduation he continued his education at Chicago Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley’s baseball school. A couple of years in the low minor leagues followed.

In 1943 Cliff enlisted in the Army Air Forces. Subsequently transferred to the US Army, Cliff fought in Europe and came home in 1946 with a sergeant’s stripes on his shoulder and a Bronze Star on his chest.

Later that same year, Cliff temporarily transferred his affections from the old horsehide to the old pigskin and played a season for the Green Bay Packers as a halfback. In 1947 he returned to the minor leagues and was then promoted to the Chicago Cubs. Over parts of three major league seasons, the righthanded hitting outfielder walloped the ball to the tune of a .251 batting average, accompanied by 5 homers and 26 RBI.

Following his major league days, Cliff played in the Pacific Coast League for a few years and then remained in California and worked in real estate. Cliff passed away in 1973, at the sadly early age of 51.