Eddie Sheldrake Explained

Eddie Sheldrake
Height Ft:5
Height In:9
Nationality:American
Birth Date:25 October 1926
Highschool:Washington (Los Angeles, California)
College:
Draft Year:1951
Career Position:Guard
Team1:Los Angeles Kirby's Shoes
Years1:1951–1957
Highlights:

Harvey Edward Sheldrake Jr.[1] (born October 25, 1926[2]) is an American restaurateur and former basketball player. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. Standing 5feet, Sheldrake earned honorable mention as an All-American as a senior in 1951. After graduating from college, he played in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). He later opened restaurants with his brother, including KFC locations and over a dozen branches of Polly's Pies.

Early life

Sheldrake grew up in southwest Los Angeles and attended George Washington High School.[3] [4] He played on their "B" basketball team until his senior year, as he only weighed a modest .[1] He became an aviation mechanic in the Navy before enrolling at the University of California, Los Angeles,[1] in 1947.[5]

Basketball career

At UCLA, Sheldrake was the captain of the Bruins' freshman team, breaking their season scoring record with 262 points; Dick Ridgway surpassed him with 284 in 1950.[6] Sheldrake was a reserve for most of his second year in 1948–49,[6] playing in 24 games and averaging 3.0 points per contest in John Wooden's first season as UCLA's head coach.[5] [7] The Long Beach Press-Telegram wrote that "perhaps it's a good break for" the 5inchesft9inchesin (ftin) Sheldrake to play for Wooden, who was a 5inchesft10inchesin (ftin), three-time All-American playing for Purdue.[8] The Bruins needed wins in their final two games, both against their crosstown rivals, USC, to win the Southern Division of the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC). However, they lost starters Chuck Clustka and Ron Pearson to viral infections, and Alan Sawyer underwent an emergency appendectomy. Sheldrake scored a game-high 17 points in the first game, and had 10 points in the second, as UCLA won both meetings for the title.[6] Joining the Bruins that season was his best friend from high school, Jerry Norman,[9] [10] who received multiple NCAA Division I offers and was persuaded by Sheldrake to choose UCLA.[11] [12]

Sheldrake became a regular at guard in 1949–50,[13] when UCLA won the PCC championship over Washington State. The Bruins were selected for the 1950 NCAA tournament, the first NCAA tournament appearance of Wooden's coaching career, but lost their opener to Bradley, who was ranked  1 by the Associated Press (AP).[14] Sheldrake was voted a second-team All-PCC Southern Division selection,[15] and United Press (UP) named him a first-team Little All-American, its team of top players standing 5 feet 10 inches and under.[1] [16]

Sheldrake was voted the Bruins' captain for 1950–51,[17] when they lost nine lettermen, and he was the only regular to return.[18] He was converted to forward that season before moving back to guard after the 6inchesft4inchesin (ftin) sophomore Ridgway established himself with some 20-point games.[1] In January 1951, Wooden kicked Norman off the team for two weeks for talking to a teammate during practice and not paying attention.[19] [20] Sheldrake, who was also friendly with the coach, facilitated their reconciliation.[19] On February 17, Sheldrake scored 38 points, making 15 of 23 field goal attempts and 8 of 11 on free throws, in a 90–67 win over Stanford, breaking the Southern Division record of 36 set by Ralph Vaughn against UCLA in 1939.[21] The previous UCLA record was 30, held by Don Barksdale and Bill O'Brien. The Bruins also surpassed the Southern Division team record of 88 points, set in 1947 by California.[22] Wooden had told Sheldrake to score more as Ridgway, their leading scorer, was ill. The coach said that Sheldrake was "taking his captaincy pretty seriously" and had been passing up shots to give others the opportunity to score.[23] After winning their third consecutive Southern Division title,[24] UCLA lost two straight games to Washington, who won the conference championship. Sheldrake missed the first game with the flu before playing most of the second.[25]

Sheldrake received honorable mention from AP and UP for their 1951 All-America team.[26] [27] He was a first-team All-Southern Division selection and was again named to the Little All-American first team.[28] [29] He won the Caddy Works award as UCLA's most inspirational player and received the Glendale Bruin club award as the team's outstanding senior.[30] He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.[31]

After college, Sheldrake played AAU basketball for Los Angeles Kirby's Shoes.[32] He was team captain in 1951–52, leading them to a 12–0 record in Far West AAU.[33] The Hollywood Citizen-News named him to the All-Far West AAU first team.[34] Kirby's played in the National Industrial Basketball League (NIBL) for one season in 1952–53,[35] [36] when he was named an NIBL All-Star.[37] By 1958, Sheldrake was no longer playing with the club, with The Daily Report writing that "age had taken its toll".[38]

Later years

After graduating from UCLA, Sheldrake became a furniture salesman and president of a furniture manufacturing company.[3] [39] He opened KFC shops with his brother Don, starting in Belmont Shore, California, in 1965. By 1971, they owned 10 in Los Angeles County and Orange County.[40] Wanting to expand from KFC to an original restaurant,[41] the brothers began their Polly's Pies chain in Fullerton in 1968. It was a former Pie Pantry location, with two P serving as the front door handles. Not wanting to spend money to change the doors, they named the restaurant in honor of their manager's newborn daughter, Polly. The restaurant expanded to over a dozen locations in Los Angeles and Orange counties.[42] [43] They serve pies and other comfort food.[41]

Personal life

Sheldrake has eight children.[2] As a college freshman in 1948,[44] he married his first wife,[45] Lois, who was a student at Pepperdine University.[46] She died of cancer in 1959.[47] [48] They had two sons and two daughters.[48]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Jack. Geyer. Little Eddie Sheldrake One of Biggest on Bruin Five. January 10, 1951. Part IV, p. 3. Los Angeles Times. Newspapers.com. September 26, 2024.
  2. Web site: About Us. Polly's Pies Marketplace. September 27, 2024.
  3. News: Nancy. Luna. Polly's Pies founder fights to stay in landmark Fullerton eatery. August 10, 2016. Orange County Register. September 28, 2024.
  4. News: Jack. Tobin. Bruin Eddie Sheldrake Figures All the Angles. January 26, 1950. Los Angeles Mirror. 57. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  5. News: Ned. Cronin. Tale of the tiny Bruin. January 13, 1950. Daily News. 31. Newspapers.com. September 26, 2024.
  6. News: Rube. Samulelsen. Draw Up A Chair. January 11, 1951. Hollywood Citizen-News. 11. Newspapers.com. September 26, 2024.
  7. Book: Bisheff, Steve. John Wooden : An American treasure. 2004. Cumberland House. 48. registration. September 28, 2024. Internet Archive. 9781581826654. bisheff2004.
  8. News: Fred. Delano. Bruin Court Hopes at High Level. November 29, 1949. Long Beach Press-Telegram. A-16. Newspapers.com. September 27, 2024.
  9. Book: John. Wooden. Jack. Tobin. They Call Me Coach. 1988. Contemporary Books. 115. registration. Internet Archive. September 28, 2024. 0809245914.
  10. News: UCLA Cagers Place Emphasis on Speed. December 15, 1948. Riverside Daily Press. 26. Newspapers.com. September 28, 2024.
  11. News: Soderburg . Wendy . We Will Always Call Him Coach . October 1, 2010 . UCLA Magazine . September 25, 2024.
  12. News: Chortkoff . Mitch . What Might Have Been For UCLA Basketball . March 13, 2014 . Culver City Observer . https://web.archive.org/web/20150723041054/http://www.culvercityobserver.com/story/2014/03/13/sports/what-might-have-been-for-ucla-basketball/3522.html . July 23, 2015 . live .
  13. News: Rube. Samulelsen. Draw Up A Chair. January 12, 1951. Hollywood Citizen-News. 5. Newspapers.com. September 26, 2024.
  14. Book: Davis, Seth. Wooden: A Coach's Life. 2014. St. Martin's Press. 124. 9781250060853. davis2014.
  15. News: Cougars, UCLA Place Two Players on All-Star Team. March 9, 1950. Alameda Times Star. 13. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  16. News: Little All-America Quint Based on Lack of Height. March 3, 1950. Great Fallas Tribune. UP. 14. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  17. News: Sheldrake Named '51 Cage Captain. April 21, 1950. Los Angeles Mirror. 68. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  18. News: Bob. Myers. Hot Scrap Expected Among Pacific Coast School Fives. December 19, 1950. The Morning News. AP. 36. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  19. [#davis2014|Davis 2014]
  20. News: Wolff . Alexander . Birth Of A Dynasty . March 19, 2007 . Sports Illustrated . https://web.archive.org/web/20210618020234/https://vault.si.com/vault/2007/03/19/birth-of-a-dynasty. June 18, 2021.
  21. News: Jack. Geyer. Sheldrake Sinks 38 to Break Record. February 18, 1951. Los Angeles Times. Part II, p. 7. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  22. News: UCLA Remains One Off Pace. February 19, 1951. Hollywood Citizen-News. 14. Newspapers.com. September 26, 2024.
  23. News: Ben. Cook. Sheldrake Heat Hot UCLA Five. February 27, 1951. The Independent. 14. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  24. News: Huskies Vie With Uclans. March 9, 1951. The Statesman Journal. 8. Newspapers.com. September 28, 2024.
  25. News: Huskies Headed For NCAA Meet. March 12, 1951. The Progress Bulletin. Sec. 3, p. 2. Newspapers.com. September 28, 2024.
  26. News: Sam Ranzino Named To 1951 All-America; Groat Second. March 9, 1951. The Robesonian. 7. AP. Newspapers.com. September 28, 2024.
  27. News: Spivey Named To UP All-America Quintet. March 7, 1951. Daily News. UP. 6. Newspapers.com. September 28, 2024.
  28. News: 2 Bruins, 1 SC cager win honors. March 8, 1951. Daily News. 30. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  29. News: Sheldrake's Again 'Little' All-American. February 27, 1951. The Independent. 14. UP. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  30. News: Sheldrake and Ridgway Gain UCLA Laurels. April 10, 1951. Los Angeles Times. Part IV, p. 3. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  31. Web site: Eddie Sheldrake. UCLA Athletics. September 27, 2024.
  32. News: Ridgway Joins AAU Basketball Quintet. November 8, 1951. Los Angeles Mirror. 78. Newspapers.com. September 29, 2024.
  33. News: Meet Kirby's. January 5, 1953. Santa Maria Times. 2. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  34. News: John. Hall. Ridgway, Yardley Pace Far West All-Star Five. February 16, 1952. Hollywood Citizen-News. 7. Newspaper.com. September 29, 2024.
  35. News: Bob. Panella. Kirby's Host the Best. December 12, 1952. Hollywood Citizen-News. 8. Newspapers.com. September 29, 2024.
  36. News: Kirby's drop out of cage league. March 22, 1953. Daily News. 55. Newspapers.com. September 29, 2024.
  37. News: Sheldrake Makes All-Star Squad. March 22, 1953. Los Angeles Times. Part II, p. 12. Newspapers.com. September 29, 2024.
  38. News: Ex-Chaffey Pair Will Join Forces Against Kirby's. February 21, 1958. The Daily Report. Sec. 3, p. 4. Newspapers.com. September 29, 2024.
  39. News: John. Hall. Sons of the Blue. February 3, 1971. Los Angeles Times. Part III, p. 3. Newspapers.com. October 22, 2024.
  40. News: A guide to the best restaurants. Independent. Stepping Out, p. 15. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  41. News: Richard. Guzman. Polly's Pies in Long Beach celebrates 50th anniversary with a price rollback. February 21, 2022. Press-Telegram. September 27, 2024.
  42. News: Pam. Kragen. Polly's cafe opens first North County location. July 2, 1996. North County Times. D-1. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  43. News: Mary. Furr. Poly's offers annual Hawaiian menu. September 21, 1995. Seal Beach Leisure World Golden Rain News. 18, 21. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  44. News: Jimmy. Powers. The Powerhouse. December 20, 1950. Daily News. 86. Newspapers.com. September 25, 2024.
  45. [#bisheff2004|Bisheff 2004]
  46. News: Southside Basketballers Among 'Best On Coast'. November 19, 1950. Southwest Wave. 32. Newspapers.com. September 26, 2024.
  47. Joe. Jares. The Two Faces of the Rubber Man. January 6, 1969. Sports Illustrated. September 26, 2024.
  48. Web site: Mrs. Lois Sheldrake. February 20, 1959. Los Angeles Times. Part III, p. 1. Newspapers.com. September 26, 2024.

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