Amos Alonzo Stagg was born August 16, 1862 in West Orange, New Jersey.
Stagg was born into a poor family. His father was Amos Lindsley and his mother was
Eunice (Pierson) Stagg. His father was a poor shoemaker and he also cut hay for
neighbors to earn enough money to provide for his family. When Stagg was old
enough he also worked in the hay fields with his father.
Amos attended West Orange High School where he graduated in 1883. While
attended West Orange High School, he managed to save enough money to help him
enter Phillips Exeter Academy to earn the extra credits he needed to attend Yale
University. The following year Stagg entered Yale with 32 dollars in his pocket. Yale
had a Divinity School which was important to Stagg, for he wanted to become a minister
of the Presbyterian religion. While attending the University, Stagg had to cut back on
the cost of things; he only allowed himself so much money for food a week. Due to his
"diet" Stagg was diagnosed with malnutrition. His classmates then got him a job as
Also in college, he played many sports. He was the star pitcher for the Yale
baseball team. As the pitcher Stagg pitched his team to five successful championship
seasons. He struck out 20 batters. The New York Nationals, offered Stagg $4,200 for
one season of play. Five other big league baseball teams offered him contracts. He
refused all contracts to play professional baseball. Not only did he excel in baseball but
also football, and other sports. In track he ran the 100 yard dash in 10.8 seconds. As a
golfer he shot in the 80's and often the 70's, and also was very good as a tennis player.
Stagg played on the 1889 Yale championship football team. It was a 15-1 season; they
scored 655 points and only allowed their opponents 31. He was a very successful
football player. When he graduated from Yale, he graduated with a B.A. degree i...