'Who wore it best' at Michigan State: No. 46

Cody Tucker
Lansing State Journal

Ever see a number on a Michigan State football jersey and think of all the great players to wear it? Me, too. In this daily series, I’ll give you my take on which Spartan football player was the best ever to wear each number. The criteria are simple: How did he perform at MSU? And what kind of impact did he have on the program? 

No. 46 – Ron Hatcher

Fullback, 1959-61, Carnegie, Pennsylvania

 

Résumé

1959: 23 carries, 75 yards, 3.3 yards per carry, touchdown; 1 reception, 14 yards, 14.0 yards per catch

1960: 59 carries, 361 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns; 6 receptions, 82 yards, 13.7 yards per catch

1961: 42 carries, 149 yards, 3.5 yards per carry 2 touchdowns

Total: 124 carries, 585 yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 5 touchdowns; 7 receptions, 96 yards, 13.7 yards per catch

 

Ron Hatcher played fullback for Michigan State University from 1959 to 1961. He was also the first black player signed to the Washington Redskins.

Why Hatcher?

The No. 46 has not been worn by a Michigan State football player since 1961.

There’s a good reason for that.

That number is retired and sits on the façade of Spartan Stadium. It belongs to former President John Hannah, who not only served the school for 46 years, but championed MSU’s acceptance into the Big Ten in 1949. He was also the first chairman for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

That number obviously belongs to him. 

But we still need a player who actually wore it. There are only five to choose from. All were solid players, but I am going with fullback, Ron Hatcher.

He was a trailblazer in his own right.

Sure, Richard Barker and Orlando Mazza played on national title teams in 1957 and 1951, respectively, but Hatcher put up the numbers and did it over a longer period. And he did it in the shadow of some pretty impressive teammates in Herb Adderley, Dean Look and Sherman Lewis.

Hatcher’s teams went 18-8-1 in his three years in East Lansing. Six of those wins came against rivals Notre Dame and Michigan. He never lost to either during his career.

His most productive season came in 1960 when Hatcher amassed career highs in carries (59) and rushing yards (361). The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Pennsylvania product also hauled in six passes for 82 yards for the 6-2-1 Spartans.

Hatcher was the first African-American to sign a contract with the Washington Redskins, the last NFL team to integrate its roster. Selected in the eighth round of the draft in 1961, Hatcher inked his name five days before Bobby Mitchell.

Hatcher's only game action came during the preseason. He was one of the team's final cuts, though he did rejoin the team later in the '62 season.

For good measure, Hatcher was also drafted by the AFL’s New York Titans.

 

Who else wore No. 46?

Richard Barker (FB/E, 1957-58), FB/E; Orlando Mazza (E, 1951), James McCrary (HB, 1933-34), Russell Reader (HB, 1945-46)

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.

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