Former UCLA Basketball Player Eddie Sheldrake Passes Away
May 20, 2025 | Men's Basketball, Bruin Varsity Club
Former UCLA basketball player Harvey Edward "Eddie" Sheldrake passed away on Thursday, May 8, at the age of 98.
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Sheldrake played on the Bruins' varsity team for his final three seasons (1948-49 through 1950-51) and was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. Best known during his time in Westwood as a fiery guard on head coach John Wooden's early teams, Sheldrake served as UCLA's team captain during his senior year (1950-51) and was captain of the Bruins' freshman team in 1947-48.
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He joined the varsity team as a sophomore in 1948-49 in what was Coach Wooden's first year at helm of UCLA's program. Those first three teams under Coach Wooden totaled a record of 65-24 and won three Southern Division championships, including UCLA's first full conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 1950. Sheldrake secured all-conference honors as a senior in 1951 and was twice named to the "Little All-American" team. He led UCLA in shooting percentage in 1950 and 1951, in addition to setting a then-school record with his 38-point game against Stanford in 1951. At the conclusion of the year, he was honored with the program's Coach Caddy Works Award for competitive spirit and contribution to the team.
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Through 83 career varsity games at UCLA, Sheldrake averaged 7.8 points per game and shot 39.7 percent from the field. He registered 646 points as a varsity basketball player.
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Raised in Los Angeles, Sheldrake served in the U.S. Navy before enrolling at UCLA. Following his collegiate career, he played for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and in the National Industrial Basketball League (NIBL) for one season in 1952-53.
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In Southern California, Sheldrake was best known as a co-founder of the popular Polly's Pies chain. He co-founded Polly's Pies with his brother, Donald, in 1968, with the first store opening in Fullerton, Calif. Two years prior, the two brothers opened California's first free-standing Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach. Today the Polly's Pies restaurant chain has 13 stores located through Los Angeles County, Orange County and Riverside County.
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Polly's Pies served as a major sponsor for UCLA's annual Dribble for Victory Over Cancer event.
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Sheldrake is survived by eight children, 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
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