Mike Sebastian
A fleet-footed halfback from the NFL's rough-and-tumble early days, known for a golden arm and a journey through seven different professional teams.
1910–1989 (age 79)·American football player·Birthday: June 7·The Greatest Generation
Biography
In the chaotic, hardscrabble world of 1930s professional football, Mike 'Lefty' Sebastian was a prized commodity: a man who could throw. Coming out of the University of Pittsburgh, where he was hailed by the formidable coach Jock Sutherland as an exceptional passer, Sebastian brought a rare aerial threat to a ground-dominated game. His professional journey reads like a tour of the league's infancy, playing for seven teams including the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Redskins, and the Cleveland Rams across both the NFL and a rival AFL. Nicknamed 'The Rose of Sharon,' a poetic contrast to his gritty profession, his left-handed spirals provided moments of brilliance for franchises that often struggled. His career spanned a period of consolidation and survival for the sport, and while he never landed on a perennial winner, his longevity and adaptability as a skilled halfback made him a recognizable figure in an era when players often had to fight just to keep their teams, and the league itself, afloat.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Mike was born in 1910, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mike Was Born
The biggest hits of 1910
Mike's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1910Born
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1915Started school
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Became a teenager
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Could drive
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1928Could vote
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Turned 21
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1940Turned 30
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 40
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 50
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 60
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 70
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1989Died at 79
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
Key Achievements
- Played professional football for seven different teams across the NFL and the American Football League during the 1930s.
- Recognized by his college coach, Jock Sutherland, as one of the best passers he had seen in years.
- Played for the Cleveland Rams franchise both before and after it joined the National Football League.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'The Rose of Sharon' is a biblical reference from the Song of Solomon.
He played under the legendary coach Jock Sutherland at the University of Pittsburgh.
He was part of the Boston Redskins team that relocated to become the Washington Commanders.
“A good spiral on the ball makes it talk to the receiver's hands.”
