Cal Hubbard -- A Towering Presence In Two Sports; Strive For Excellence: His innovations revolutionized defense in football; his evenhandedness dignified umping in baseball.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(BEST OF LEADERS & SUCCESS)

Byline: MICHAEL RICHMAN

When the National Football League was in its infancy, few big players ran fast. But Cal Hubbard didn't believe in stereotypes.

In fact, the 6-foot-4-inch, 270- pounder figured that with his size, he should work hard to polish all his skills to better his chances on the gridiron.

Hubbard (1900-77) played nine seasons in the NFL, two with the New York Giants (1927-28) and six with the Green Bay Packers (1929-33, 1935). A tackle on defense and end on offense in the era of single-platoon football, he showed the speed of a running back.

In the process, Hubbard revolutionized the game on defense. He lined up on six- and seven-man lines, the standard formation of the time. But aware of his quickness and agility, he sometimes found the tackle position too confining and refused to stay glued to one spot on the line. He decided to innovate.

Playing to his strengths, he'd retreat from the line a few yards before the ball was snapped, thus becoming one of the first players to roam as a linebacker. On running plays, he'd charge to the hole he vacated and almost single-handedly outmaneuver blockers.

On forward passes, he blitzed and tackled quarterbacks on the other side of the line, making eye-opening plays most linemen couldn't. He also used his great height to reach high above the line to block passes.