Early years Charles R. Goodwin, known to family and friends as "Tod," was born December 5, 1911, in
Wheeling, West Virginia. He grew up in Bellaire, Ohio, attending
Bellaire High School in that city. He had over 309 receiving yards and scored 66 points in his high school career.
College career Goodwin played football collegiately at
West Virginia University (WVU), where the
end gained a reputation both for superlative pass-catching skills and for an exuberant confidence that offended the sensibilities of some traditionalists.
Professional career Goodwin signed to play with the
New York Football Giants of the
National Football League in 1935, the last year before institution of the
NFL draft. The jocular and gregarious Goodwin was popular among his teammates, earning the nicknames "Dingbat," "Baby Face," and "Mouth" from his Giants comrades. Goodwin's reception total was a new league record, albeit short-lived, as in 1936 it was surpassed by future
Hall of Famer Don Hutson of the
Green Bay Packers. The effort was good enough for Goodwin to be named as a second-team member of the
1935 All-Pro Team. ==See also==