University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Dr. Claire G. Cayward 1925 - Baseball, Basketball, Football, Track and Field
Dr. Claire Cayward, a 1970 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, was the first University of Vermont athlete to receive varsity letters in four different sports and is considered one of the first great basketball players at Vermont. He was awarded his "V" in football, basketball, baseball and track, and the popular athlete was outstanding in all four. During his athletic span at Vermont, he won a total of nine varsity letters and captained and coached the Vermont basketball team. He was named to the All-New-England basketball team in 1925.
Although Dr. Cayward played only one year of football, what a year it was. In 1924, against Marquette he was associated with what has been called by several experts, "The most remarkable play of the year." Playing defensive back, he was taken out of the play by two Marquette blockers and knocked to the ground. He recovered and took off after the ball carrier, breaking through a bevy of blockers and caught the back from behind on the 10-yard line, saving a TD. Although Vermont lost, that play was indicative of the way Dr. Cayward performed. Officiating the game was John J. Hallahan, one of the top officials in the midwest in the '20's. "Time and again one is able to talk of plays that are contributed by men on winning teams, but the play that stood out as the most remarkable in the games in which I officiated was made by a man(Cayward) on a team (Vermont) that had a disastrous season (2-7-0)." In a game the weekend before against Boston College (lost 33-7), the lone TD was scored by Dr. Cayward, when he intercepted an Eagle pass and raced 76 yards for the score.
We have mentioned his prowess in basketball and football, but what about baseball? He was such a fine baseball player, he was offered a contract with the Washington Senators, but turned it down to go to Medical School at Vermont.
