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For a glorious decade, from 1945-55, Harry Agganis ruled sports headlines across New England, and the United States. He was the most celebrated school boy athlete in the nation, a three sports high school star at Lynn Classical High School. Agganis dubbed by the media “The Golden Greek” would lead Classical to the 1946 mythical National High School Football Championship over Granby High School of Virginia 21-20, in front of 25,000 fans in Miami’s Orange Bowl. Harry turned down offers from more than seventy-five colleges to attend Boston University to be near his widowed mother. 

He was a quadruple threat All-American football star and one of the most sought-after baseball players in America. Agganis was the first draft choice of the World Champion Cleveland Browns, chosen to succeed legendary quarterback Otto Graham. 

But the essence of Harry Agganis's story is his clean cut All-American life and love for his immigrant parents George and Georgia Agganis, family, friends, church, and his hometown of Lynn, Massachusetts. Agganis odyssey would take him from the sandlots to college to the Marines and then to his beloved Boston Red Sox. Agganis would turn down professional football and was batting (.313) cleanup behind his mentor and baseball’s greatest hitter Ted Williams. Agganis was a starring slugging left-hander at first base for the Red Sox when tragedy struck suddenly on June 27, 1955.

“He was phenomenal.” Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno.

“All-American, on the football and baseball field and in every way.” Ted Williams, Hall of Famer.

“One of the finest competitive athletes in the history of all sports.” Hall of Fame Broadcaster Curt Gowdy.

“The finest prospect I’ve ever seen." Notre Dame Football Coach Frank Leahy, 1947.

“New England’s greatest all-around athlete.” Dick Johnson, Curator Sports Museum of New England.

Harry Agganis was born on April 20, 1929, in a second floor flat at 118 Waterhill Street in Lynn,

Massachusetts the seventh and last child of George and Georgia (Pappalimberis) Agganis, immigrants from the village of Logganiko in Sparta, Greece. Harry’s parents were introduced and a marriage was arranged for them which was customary at the time. They were married on October 14, 1906 in Ipswich, Massachusetts. George was dressed in a traditional foustanella on his wedding day. They would then have their first daughter Constantina (Dina) in 1907, Demetrios (Jimmy) in 1909 and Demosthenes (Demo) in 1911. George Agganis would leave his family to fight in the Balkan War with Turkey. It was not long before the fearless Georgia Agganis packed up her three young children and took a boat to Greece. She pleaded with Greek authorities for his release and explained that her husband had two bullets in his right arm from being shot in combat against the Turks; and that he was an American citizen with three young children. She was an insistent woman and kept badgering authorities until he was released. They would then have three more children Phil in 1919, Paul in 1920, Mary in 1923, then in 1929 Aristotle George Agganis. His mother shortened his name to Aristo, or, sometimes Ari, which sounded like Harry.

When they came back to the United States to Lynn, George Agganis worked in a leather factory. He earned enough money to buy a home on 118 Waterhill Street near other Greek Immigrants. The family had to all work to survive. Jimmy the oldest brother was a very good baseball player and played for a semi-pro team as a center fielder and pitcher.The New York Yankees wanted to sign Jimmy and offered him a contract. His father told him "To bolo then vgazi psomee."The ball won't make bread." Jimmy went to shine shoes at Joe Milo's, a shoe shine parlor. All the boys were good athletes in school but all had to go to work. When it was Harry's turn to go to work , Jimmy  intervened and told their mother let Harry play ball. The family was very close had great love, mutual respect for one another, and all sacrificed for the family.  

During High School, Harry was well known for starring as a baseball player and football player on the sandlots and organized teams. He had previously attracted attention as a 14-year-old playing for the Lynn Frasers Baseball team in a semi pro league hitting .342 against major league veteran pitchers playing on weekends while in the military. The coaches at Lynn Classical High School were waiting with open arms in the Fall of 1945 for the young Agganis. Here are some of the astonishing highlights of America’s Greatest athlete of that era, The Golden Greek.

Why Agganis was not only Massachusetts greatest athlete and New England’s:

• Harry would lead Football Coach Bill Joyce Lynn Classical teams to a 30-4-1 record in three grid iron seasons, the southpaw Agganis would complete 326 of 502 passes for 4,149 yards and 48 touchdowns, running for 24 TD’S and kicking 39 extra points.
• Harry wearing number 33 would never come off the field playing 60 minutes in high school as quarterback on offense, safety on defense, a booming punter, and place kicker. Manning Bowl in Lynn was packed with over 20,000 fans week after week to get a glimpse of The Golden Greek.
• In 1946 Harry would throw 29 touchdown passes and lead Classical to a 11-0-1 season which would earn them an invitation to play for the Mythical National Championship against Granby High of Norfolk, Virginia. Granby had won 33 straight games led by quarterback Chuck Stobbs. The stage was set in Miami’s Orange Bowl with 25,000 rabid fans late in the fourth period with the score tied 14-14 and Classical on the 20-yard line. Then came the biggest play: center Chippy Chipouras snapped the ball to Harry. He faded back and spotted Jimmy Varzakis all alone and hit him with a hard pass for the winning touchdown 21-14. Lynn Classical Rams win The National Championship!
• The University of Tennessee Coach General Bob Neyland was in Miami to play in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day watched the game and said:
• “That young man could step into any college backfield right now.”

• After a poll taken by 100 sports writers Harry was named to the 1947 Wigwam Wisemen All-American High School Football Team as the number one quarterback in the country and named captain of the 1947 All-American HS Football Team. Harry Agganis would also be named National Player of the Year in 1947. Agganis was a quadruple threat as a quarterback, defensive back,kicker, and punter. There is no doubt that Harry Agganis was the greatest football player  in New England history and all around athlete. 
• Harry was a true all All-American conducting  himself with high morals and ethics..He did not smoke,, drink, or cuss.
• Harry would be named captain of his basketball team finishing as a league All-Star and being named an All-Scholastic, often scoring 20 points and was known as a great defender. His basketball coach Jim Twohig would say: “Harry learned to dribble with either hand in five minutes.”
• Harry represented New England as a first baseman in All-Star Baseball games throughout the USA including New York’s Polo Grounds, Chicago’s Wrigley Field, and Boston’s Fenway Park.
• Lynn Classical would win the 1947 Massachusetts State Baseball Title and Harry would be named Captain of the United States All-Star Baseball Team.
• Lynn Classical was invited to defend their 1946 National Football Championship in Mississippi in 1947, but Classical could not bring their two black players Paul Pittman and Tom Smith. Coach Bill Joyce approached Harry and informed him Pittman and Smith could not come. Harry told Coach Joyce that he would not go unless Pittman and Smith accompanied the team and he had the backing of his teammates. This shows Harry’s remarkably inclusive character as an 18 year old teenager.
• UMass Athletic Director Warren McGuirk said Harry was too good for college play. “This boy is ready for the National Football League right now.”
• Why Boston University? Harry was close to his widow mother and family. He wanted to play for BU Coach Aldo (Buff) Donelli and help him to bring a small football program into the national football spotlight.

• Freshmen could not play varsity in 1948, but Harry in a freshman BU-Holy Cross game drew 18,000 fans.
• His sophomore year 1949, Harry put BU Football on the map leading the Terriers to sixstraight victories over nationally ranked teams starting with a stunning upset of Syracuse 33-21, Colgate 40-21, crushing Sun Bowl Champion West Virginia 52-20, pummeled NYU 38-0, routing Scranton 46-6, beating Temple 28-7 for six straight wins. BU would lose a controversial heartbreaker at Fenway Park with 35,000 fans to powerhouse Maryland 14-13.
• Harry would set 4 BU and New England records in the 1949 season; most TD passes in a season 15, most in TD passes in a game 4, most interceptions as a defensive player, 15, and punting average 46.5.
• In 1949, Coach Donelli wanted Harry to throw more passes. Harry was unwilling to carve his name into the record books…..Agganis had 14 TD passes and was within 8 touchdown passes to break the college record and had 4 games left…Coach Donelli disclosed to him: “You can break the record!” Agganis responded, “Who wants records? Let’s win the ball games.”….Coach Donelli responded: “Sometimes I wonder who’s the coach and who’s the player. He calms my nerves.”

• Harry was activated in the Marine Corps reserve in 1950, although he could have avoided service on a dependency clause. After going through rigorous training at Camp Le Jeune he was asked to play football and baseball. Harry led Camp Le Jeune to the National Baseball Congress being named MVP and was All-Marine and All-Navy in football.

• In 1951 Harry was released from the Marines for his junior year and lead BU football to a 6-4 season with a great win over nationally rated College of the Pacific one of the top teams in the country at packed Fenway Park. Although Pacific was favored by 26 points, BU would win 27-12. Harry, number 33, threw 2TD’S, had 2interceptions on defense, and 7 open field tackles.

• The World Champion Cleveland Browns would make Harry their No. 1 draft choice Cleveland Coach the legendary Paul Brown would state: “Harry was the man who will succeed Otto Graham.”

• In 1952, Harry’s senior year, there was the thrill of victory in front of a sellout crowd with a 14-point favorite University of Miami coming to Fenway Park. The Boston Globe Headline: “BU UPSETS MIAMI, 9-7 AGGANIS PASSES, KICKS” Agganis intercepted 2 passes and had 14 tackles on defense, completed 4 straight passes for a TD, and had thunderous punts of 57,65, and 67 yards the final kick setting up the winning safety. Prompting Miami Coach Andy Gustafson to come into the BU locker room shake Harry’s hand and say: “You’re the greatest all-around football player I’ve ever seen.”

• BU and Harry would suffer the agony of defeat in 1952 against number two Maryland 34-7. Maryland had a huge line led by the brothers Dick and Ed Modzelewski.  They crushed Harry for the first time in his career he was badly hurt. Maryland would win 34-7 sending Harry to the hospital with a serious rib injury. Maryland had targeted Harry every play.

• After recovering he would play his final college football game in the North-South Senior Bowl on January 3,1953 in Birmingham, Alabama. The opposing  South quarterback would be rival Jack Scarbath of Maryland and both rosters will be filled with All-Americans. To open the game Harry would kick the ball almost out of the end zone. Harry would lead the North to a 28-13 victory. The Golden Greek dominated the game throwing 2 TD passes, intercepting 2 passes on defense, making 14 tackles, having a 68 -yard punt, and kicking the extra points. Harry was named MVP.

• BU, after his last football game, retired jersey number 33-Lynn Classical had retired it as well. Harry finished at BU setting sixteen records.

• Agganis would receive much publicity including being on the front pages of SportsSection of newspapers, the front cover of national magazines like Sport, and Saturday Evening Post. Harry would win numerous awards while at BU including several All-American football teams on offense and defense, The Bulger Lowe Award, and selected New England Hall of Fame by the Boston Post. In Baseball he was named All -New England selection in 1949 and 1952. There were many other prestigious awards that Agganis was honored as the recipient.

• The Greek Community honored Agganis including the national American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association ,Greek American Veterans, Saint George, Logganiko Society, BU Varsity Greek Organization, and more organizations. Harry received a crown, an olive wreath dipped in silver, a special highest honor gift from Queen Frederika of Greece. The crown was placed on Harry’s brow by Greek Consul Basil Calevras. Harry had achieved the Greek Ideal of Arete which meant excellence, virtue, pride, skill, prowess, valor, and nobility.

• Harry would walk away from a 100,000-dollar bonus offer from The Browns instead signing for between 35,000 to 50,000 with the Red Sox.

• After one great season with Triple-A Louisville he made it to the Red Sox.

• The Red Sox Rookie Agganis in 1954 would hit a solid 11 homeruns and 8 were at Fenway Park. He stole 6 bases, led the American League in assists, but was disappointed with his.251 batting average. “I'm a .300 hitter and I know I’ll do it.

• Harry was off to great season in 1955. In June Harry was batting clean up behind baseball’s greatest hitter Ted Williams. Agganis was slugging the ball and raised his batting average to.313 and in June was completely fatigued after a game in Chicago.

• The Red Sox sent him to Sancta Maria Hospital in late June and Agganis had a severe infection which was which was complicated by phlebitis.  He seemed to be getting better then on June 27,1955 he died suddenly of a massive pulmonary embolism. As he struggled Harry pulled his nurse close to his ear and uttered his last, gasping words. “Take Care of my mother….be sure she is alright.”

• Flags were at half-staff, newspapers across the country were emblazoned with headlines that didn’t seem real , stating that Harry had died at 26 years old. HARRY AGGANIS DEAD! Newspapers printed editorials, and many congressmen had tributes.

• Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Lynn had over 25,000 mourners from all walks of life including consuls, governors, educators, and some of the biggest names in sports. The church priests Father Christopher Argyrides and Father Charles Mihos had Harry dressed in the traditional dress of a bridegroom, with a garland wreath of apple blossoms placed on his head, and apple blossom in his lapel as Agganis was laid in state.

• At his emotional funeral 1,000 filled the church, in the church hall another 3,000 mourners, 6,000 lamenters were outside on the street and on the commons. Another 20,000 lined the streets to watch the Hearse go by, a cortege of silence to Pine Grove Cemetery, on a hillside overlooking Manning Bowl.

• There were 400 churches in North and South America that held memorial services. A tradition usually conducted for Greek royalty.

Harry was devoted to his mother and family.

He was loyal to his friends, classmates, teammates, and coaches.

He was a devout Greek Orthodox Christian.

His Greek School Teacher Penelope Mazis said, “He was a good student and a good boy."

He gave a good amount of his signing bonus to the church building fund.

He would visit sick children in hospitals; he visited war veterans in hospitals.

He started a scholarship with money that he was awarded with and declined the award

and gifts and instead decided to start a scholarship for Greek Orthodox students at BU.

Harry was the epitome of Philotimo throughout his life.