Ralph Jones

Ralph Carroll Jones


Born:
February 14, 1922
Florence, AL

Died:
February 18, 1995
Wilmington, NC


Career
Union College - Tennessee (College)
University of Alabama (College)
1947-48 Birmingham Vulcans (SPBL)
1948-49 Birmingham Steelers (SPBL)
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL)
1948-49 Laurel Oilers (SPBL)

Jones played football at Alabama and would play professionally with the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Colts.

As a basketball player, Ralph signed with the Birmingham Vulcans in February of 1948 and average 11.6 points in the remaining 11 regular season games. Next season, he joined the Birmingham Steelers on December 14, 1948. He was released and signed with New Orleans on January 15, 1949, and after a two-game set against Laurel in February, he was let go but signed with the same Laurel club to finish out the season.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneRa21.htm

Source:


Stats:

Steve Bagarus

Stephen Michael Bagarus


Born:
September 19, 1919
South Bend, IN

Died:
October 17, 1981
Gaithersburg, MD


Career
Michael Washington High School - South Bend, IN (High School)
Notre Dame (College)
1946-47 Baltimore Bullets (ABL)

Bagaras played in the NFL for four seasons, and it was during his time with the Redskins that he joined up to play with the Bullets.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BagaSt20.htm

Source:
Obituary, Washington Post, October 19, 1981

Stats:

Johnny Jett

John Wiley Jett


Born:
February 9, 1918
Canton, WV

Died:
August 3, 1975
Danville, VA


Career
1940-41 Wake Forest (College) ??
1945-46 Wilmington Bombers (ABL)

Born to Joseph and Lucy Jett in Canton, West Virginia, Jett was a football player at Wake Forest who was drafted by the Detroit Lions after graduating in 1941. He played five games as an end for the Lions before entering the military for World War 2.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JettJo20.htm

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/johnny-jett/

Doug Turley

Douglas Pershing Turley


Born:
November 25, 1918
Nanticoke, PA

Died:
November 1, 1992
Oak Hill, DE


Career
1935-36 John S. Fine High School - Nanticoke, PA (High School)
1936-37 St. Thomas College - Scranton (College) 
1937-38 St. Thomas College - Scranton (College)
1944-45 Wilmington Bombers (ABL)
1945-46 Nanticoke (PSL)

The Nanticoke graduated from the University of Scranton (then known as St. Thomas College) and went on to a 5-year career with the Washington Redskins in the NFL. He was also a fixture with the semi-pro football club, the Wilmington Clippers. His size and athleticism also got him to play a little bit of basketball, with the Wilmington Bombers of the ABL and then with his hometown team in the Penn State League.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TurlDo20.htm

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/doug-turley/

Jim Whatley

James William Whatley


Born:
March 11, 1913
Tuscaloosa, AL

Died:
May 31, 2001
Athens, GA


Career
1933-34 University of Alabama (College)
1934-35 University of Alabama (College)
1935-36 University of Alabama (College)
1938-39 New York Jewels (ABL)

Born in Tuscaloosa to Versho and Pearle Whatley, Big Jim grew up in Alexander City, Alabama. Whatley played football, baseball and basketball at Alabama before three seasons with the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers and one season with the ABL's New York Jewels. He also played two seasons in the low minors in baseball.


NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhatJi20.htm

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=whatle001jam



Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/jim-whatley/

Swede Hagberg

Rudolph Emil "Swede" Hagberg


Born:
June 18, 1907
Charleroi, PA

Died:
November 25, 1960
Steubenville, OH


Career
1926-27 West Virginia University (College)
1927-28 West Virginia University (College) 
1928-29 West Virginia University (College)
1930-31 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)

A imposing figure at WVU, Hagberg played two seasons in the NFL as well as a brief stint with basketball's Brooklyn Visitations. He would go on to be a football coach at the Naval Academy.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HagbSw20.htm

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/swede-hagberg/

Gotch Carr

Harlan Bradley "Gotch" Carr


Born:
April 30, 1903
Springport, NY

Died:
November 24, 1970
Auburn, NY


Career
Auburn High School - New York (High School)
1924-25 Syracuse University (College)
1925-26 Syracuse University (College)
1926-27 Syracuse University (College)
1929-30 Syracuse All-Americans (ABL)

Born in Springport, New York, Harlan "Gotch" Carr grew up in Auburn, New York, and was a well-known football player who played and coached at Syracuse University. He played one year in the NFL, with Buffalo and Pottsville in 1925. He also played semi-pro baseball and played pro basketball with the All-Americans in 1929-30. After many years as an assistant football coach at SU, he moved to Miami, Florida, where he worked for the city as a recreation director. He retired in 1967 and returned to New York, where he died in 1970. He also owned a restaurant in Syracuse and also Carr-Ney Beverage. The restaurant was destroyed by fire in 1977.

Married Dorothy Kelley (1906-1982) in 1932 and they had one son and two daughters.

NFL Stats
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CarrHa20.htm

Source:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=carr--000got
News Journal (Mansfield, OH), October 26, 1970
Orange Hoops

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/gotch-carr/

Dick Sturtridge

Richard Nelson Sturtridge


Born:
March 8, 1904
Vandergrift, PA

Died:
December 4, 1978
Los Angeles, CA


Career

1926-27 DePauw University - Indiana (College)
1928-29 Chicago Bruins (ABL)

Sturtridge played football and basketball at DePauw, and played for parts of two seasons with the Chicago Bears in the NFL. On February 11, 1929, Dick was pressed into duty with the Chicago Bruins of the ABL. The Bruins were owned by Bears' owner George Halas.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SturDi20.htm

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/dick-sturtridge/

Rody Lamb

Roy Elmer "Rody" Lamb


Born:
August 19, 1899
Garrison, NE

Died:
December 21, 1995
Corvallis, OR


Career
1923-24 Lomard College - Galesburg, Illinois (College)
1924-25 Lomard College - Galesburg, Illinois (College)
1926-27 Chicago Bruins (ABL)

Prior to this blog entry, he was known simply as "Lamb." I am fairly certain he is Rody Lamb, All-Western and All-State quarterback and basketball player from Lombard College (now known as Knox College) in Galesburg, Illinois. Lamb would play four seasons in the NFL, with Rock Island and the Chicago Cardinals, as well as playing one game with the Chicago Bruins. Around 1930, he moved to Oregon to coach football.

He and his wife, Rowena, had one son and one daughter.

NFL Stats
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LambRo20.htm

Source:
Knox College Athletics

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/lamb/

Jimmy Conzelman

James Gleason Conzelman


Born:
March 6, 1898
St. Louis, MO

Died:
July 31, 1970
St. Louis, MO


Career
1918-19 Washington University - Missouri (College)
1926-27 Detroit Pulaski Post (ABL)

Conzelman was a long time football player in the NFL who would later become a coach. He played minor league baseball for a bit as well as playing basketball for the Detroit entry in the ABL.

After graduating from Washington University in St Louis, he entered the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Great Lakes. One of his teammates at Great Lakes was George Halas, who got Jimmy to play on his football team in Decatur. This team, in the inaugural season of the NFL, would become the Chicago Bears. He left the Beras to join Rock Island, and in 1925 he was offered an NFL franchise in Detroit for $100. It was during the 1926 NFL season that Conzelman played basketball with the Detroit Pulaski Post Lion, which only last six games before leaving the ABL. He would play football for a few more years before a knee injury hastened his retirement, but stayed on as a coach before getting a job in the front office of baseball's St. Louis Browns. He returned to the NFL in 1946 to coach the Chicago Cardinals a second time, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964.

NFL Stats
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ConzJi20.htm

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=conzel001jim

Source:
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/jimmy-conzelman/

Laurie Walquist

Lawrence Wilfred "Laurie" Walquist


Born:
March 9, 1898
Rockford, IL

Died:
September 28, 1985
Deerfield Lake, IL


Career

1919-20 University of Illinois (College)
1920-21 University of Illinois (College)
1921-22 University of Illinois (College)
1921-22 Harvard Marvels (Independent)
1922-23 Rockford Thomas Cats (Independent)
1924-25 Chicago Bruins (Independent)
1925-26 Chicago Bruins (ABL) Head coach / player
1926-27 Chicago Bruins (ABL) Head coach / player

The Rockford native was a football and basketball star at Illinois until January of 1922, when it was discovered he played a semi-pro football game and was declared ineligible for college athletics. He quickly joined the Harvard Marvels professional basketball team, and later played for the Chicago Bruins, serving double duty as player and coach for the team in 1925-26.

Walquist played nine seasons as a halfback in the NFL with the Chicago Bears. He would go on to become the backfield coach at the University of Oregon. 

Laurie was 87 when he died from complications of Alzheimer's disease in 1985.

Walquist was married to Margaret and they had two daughters and one son.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WalqLa20.htm

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Laurie-Walquist/

Tillie Voss

Walter Clarence "Tillie" Voss


Born:
March 28, 1897
Detroit, MI

Died:
December 14, 1975
Stuart, FL


Career
1917-18 University of Detroit (College)
1918-19 University of Detroit (College)
1919-20 University of Detroit (College)
1920-21 University of Detroit (College)
1921-22 Detroit Kelly Greens (Independent)
1922-23 Knights of Columbus - Fort Wayne (Independent)
1923-24 Detroit McCarthys (Independent)
1924-25 Detroit Pulaski Post (Independent)
1925-26 Detroit Pulaski Post (ABL) Head coach / player
1925-26 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1925-26 Brooklyn Arcadians (ABL)
1926-27 Washington Palace Five (ABL)
1927-28 Detroit Cardinals (ABL)
1927-28 Fort Wayne Hoosiers (ABL)
1927-28 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1928-29 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1929-30 Chicago Bruins (ABL)

A football and basketball player at the University of Detroit, Voss left school in June of 1918 to serve in the Army during World War One. He would return to the school shortly later when the war ended. Throughout the 1920's, he played a lot of pro basketball all while playing 9 seasons in the NFL. As a playing coach with the Pulaski Post in 1925-26, he was released by the team in February. He caught on with Brooklyn and would go on to play for various teams over a five-season stay in the ABL.

Voss was married to Margaret Hyatt and they had one daughter.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/VossTi20.htm

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Tillie-Voss/

Lenny Sachs

Leonard David Sachs


Born:
August 7, 1897
Chicago, IL

Died:
October 27, 1942
Chicago, IL



Career
1911-12 Carl Schurz High School - Chicago (High School)
1912-13 Carl Schurz High School - Chicago (High School)
1913-14 Carl Schurz High School - Chicago (High School)
1919-20 Chicago's American College of Physical Education (College)
1919-20 Wendell Phillips High School - Chicago (High School) Head coach
1920-21 Chicago's American College of Physical Education (College)
1920-21 Wendell Phillips High School - Chicago (High School) Head coach
1921-22 Chicago's American College of Physical Education (College)
1921-22 Marshall High School - Chicago (High School) Head coach
1922-23 Chicago's American College of Physical Education (College)
1922-23 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1923-24 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1924-25 Waukegan (Independent)
1924-25 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1925-26 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1925-26 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1926-27 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1927-28 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1928-29 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1929-30 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach 
1930-31 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1931-32 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1932-33 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach 
1933-34 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach 
1934-35 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1935-36 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1936-37 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1937-38 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1938-39 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1939-40 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1940-41 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach
1941-42 Loyola University (Independent) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1961

Sachs, a football and basketball player in high school, entered the U.S. Navy after graduating, and when World War 1 finally dragged the U.S. in, Sachs served in the war as well. After the war, he attended Chicago's PE College. He would then go on to sign with the Chicago Cardinals in the NFL, playing for seven seasons. He could play one season of basketball with the Chicago Bruins in the ABL, but he was to remain focused on coaching. As head coach for the basketball team for Loyola University, Sachs was at the helm for some of the country's better basketball teams with Loyola. He would go 224-129 in his time at Loyola. He would also coach high school football during this stretch, including Wendell Phillips High School.
On October 25, 1942, Sachs was officiating a game when he felt a pain in his chest. He shrugged it off and returned to school on Monday to continue working with his basketball team. On the morning of the 27th, he complained again of chest pains, and the chairman of the Phys Ed department, Bernard Liby, insisted on taking him to the hospital. They would never make it. Sachs collapsed while they were leaving the school, and died with minutes. He was only 45.

Sachs was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961. He was an early proponent on allowing black athletes to compete in college athletics.

Lenny and his wife, Vera, had one daughter.

Source:
Chicago Tribune, October 28, 1942

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Lenny-Sachs/

Ike Mahoney

Frank John "Ike" Mahoney, Jr.


Born:
October 25, 1902
Omaha, NE

Died:
November 21, 1961
Omaha, NE


Career
1918-19 Commerce Tech - Omaha (High School)
1921-22 Creighton University (College)
1922-23 Creighton University (College)
1923-24 Creighton University (College)
1924-25 Creighton University (College)
1925-26 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1926-27 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1927-28 Chicago Bruins (ABL)

Ike played baseball, football and basketball at Creighton, and after graduating, he played five seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Cardinals, as well as playing with the ABL's Chicago Bruins for three years. As a shortstop, he also signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates but did not want to be farmed out. In 1933, Mahoney was seriously injured in a car accident but recovered.

In 1947, back in his hometown of Omaha, he took a job at Boys Town there, working as a coach and a mentor. In November of 1961, Ike suffered a fatal heart attack in his sleep. He was 59 years old.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MahoIk20.htm

Source:
Lincoln Evening Journal, February 10, 1933
Daily Sentinel, Woodstock, IL, November 22, 1961

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Ike-Mahoney/

Eddie Lynch

Edward James "Ace" Lynch


Born:
October 4, 1896
Northampton, MA

Died:
August 24, 1967
Dearborn, MI


Career
1919-20 Easthampton Easters (IL)
1920-21 Easthampton Easters (IL)
1920-21 Northampton All-Collegians (Independent)
1923-24 Catholic University (College)
1924-25 Washington Palace-Five (Independent)   
1925-26 Detroit Pulaski Post (ABL)
1926-27 Detroit Pulaski Post (ABL)
1927-29 Detroit (Independent)                                   
1929-30 Pontiac Chiefs /Detroit Tool Shops (NPBL)

Played four seasons in the NFL.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyncEd20.htm

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Eddie-Lynch/

Bruce Gregory

Bruce Robert Gregory


Born:
May 13, 1903
Battle Creek, MI

Died:
December 28, 1960
Frederick, MD


Career
1925-26 University of Michigan (College)
1925-26 Detroit Pulaski Post (ABL)

Born to Eugene and Della Gregory in Battle Creek, Michigan, the Grgeory family moved to Ann Arbor prior to Bruce going to high school. Gregory played basketball and football at the University of Michigan, and he played pro basketball with Detroit Pulaski Post in the ABL. Grgeory played one season in the NFL, with the Detroit Panthers in 1926. He later moved to Flint, and then to Akron to work for Goodyear. He moved to Frederick and worked as a tire salesman before buying his own tire shop.

Shortly after Christmas in 1960, Gregory was driving home late one night when he dozed off behind the wheel. His car swerved into a concrete bridge pillar, killing him. He was 57.

Bruce married Ruth Watkins and they had one son and one daughter. His brother, Donald, was an avid pilot an aviation pioneer who died while performing an exhibition for the U.S. military.

NFL Stats:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GregBr20.htm

Source:
Battle Creek Enquirer, October 20, 1925
The News (Frederick, MD), December 29, 1960

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Bruce-Gregory/

Bud Grant

Harry Peter "Bud" Grant, Jr.


Born:
May 20, 1927
Superior, WI

Died:
March 11, 2023



Career
1943-44 Central High School - Superior, WI (High School)
1944-45 Central High School - Superior, WI (High School)
1946-47 University of Minnesota (College)
1947-48 University of Minnesota (College)
1948-49 University of Minnesota (College)
1949-50 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1950-51 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1954-55 Tony Jaros - Minneapolis (Independent) 

Overcoming polio as a kid, Grant became a three-sport star in high school. He entered the U.S. Navy after graduating from Central HS, but with World War 2 ending weeks after his enlistment, he was able to use his college acceptance to get discharged. He attended the University of Minnesota, playing on the baseball, basketball and football teams. He graduated in 1949 and was drafted by the Lakers as well as the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. He chose to play basketball, for the Lakers were close to home. After two seasons with the Lakers, he decided to pursue football, and signed with the Eagles. After two years with the Eagles, he moved north of the border, signing with Winnipeg in the CFL. He played four season with Winnipeg and in 1957 was named the team's head coach. He then coached Blue Bombers for ten seasons and won four Grey Cups. This lead to the head coaching offer from the Minnesota Vikings in 1967 where he stayed for 17 seasons before retiring after the 1983 season. He came out of retirement in 1985 to lead the Vikings one last time. He lead the Vikings to the playoffs 12 times in 18 seasons, winning 158 games with a .622 winning percentage. The Vikings won one NFL Championship under Grant, but lost four Super Bowls. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

He married Patricia Bellew (1927-2009) in 1950 and they had six children.

NFL Stats:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GranBu00.htm

Source:


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/grantbu01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=grantbu01

Joe Stydahar

Joseph Lee Stydahar


Born:
March 17, 1912
Kaylor, PA

Died:
March 23, 1977
Beckley, WV


Career
1933-34 West Virginia University (College)
1934-35 West Virginia University (College)
1935-36 West Virginia University (College)
1935-36 Pittsburgh Y.M.H.A. (MBC)
1936-37 Pittsburgh Y.M.H.A. (MBC)
1938-39 Clarksburg Oilers (Independent)
1939-40 Clarksburg Oilers (Independent)

Born to Peter and Lucille Stydaher, Joe is better known for his football exploits. He was recruited to play at Pitt, but WVU football coach Greasy Neale managed to sneak in and convince him to go to his school instead.  He played both football and basketball at West Virginia, and was drafted by the Chicago Bears where he played from 1936 to 1946, with a break to serve in World War 2. He also played some pro basketball but football was his main focus. He would ending being the head coach for the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Cardinals. He was eventually inducted into both the Pro Football (in 1967) and College Football (in 1972) Halls of Fame.

After coaching, he took a job with Southwest Forest Industries. While on a business trip to West Virginia in 1977, Stydahar suffered a fatal heart attack. He was just a week past his 65th birthday.

NFL Stats
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StydJo20.htm

Source:
Pro Football Hall of Fame Biography
Grave and Bio


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/joe-stydahar/

Max Padlow

Max Padlow
born Mordko Podlosker


Born:
August 15, 1912
Barishpole (?), Russia

Died:
August 17, 1971
Dayton, OH


Career
1925-29 Stivers High School - Dayton (High School)
1929-30 Stivers High School - Dayton (High School)
1933-34 Ohio State University (College)
1934-35 Ohio State University (College)
1935-36 Dayton Metropolitans (MBC)
1936-37 Dayton London Bobbies (MBC)
1936-37 Columbus Athletic Supplies (MBC)
1936-37 Coshocton Buckeye Clothiers (Independent)

Born in Russia to Isaac and Clara Podlosker, Max' family came to the US when Max was an infant. He attended Stivers HS and OSU, playing basketball and football. Out of college, he played two seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, and also played some pro basketball around Ohio. He served in the military during World War 2, and after the war, operated a surplus store in Xenia, Ohio.

Padlow, who never married, died in an automobile accident two days past his 59th birthday in 1971.

NFL Stats:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PadlMa20.htm

Source:
Obituary, Xenia Daily Press, August 19, 1971


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/max-padlow/

Otto Schnellbacher

Otto Ole Schnellbacher


Born:
April 15, 1923
Sublette, KS

Died:
March 10, 2008
Topeka, KS


Career
1938-39 Sublette High School - Kansas (High School)
1939-40 Sublette High School - Kansas (High School)
1940-41 Sublette High School - Kansas (High School)
1941-42 Kansas University (College) Freshmen
1942-43 Kansas University (College)
1946-47 Kansas University (College)
1947-48 Kansas University (College)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1948-49 St. Louis Bombers (BAA)

Born to John and Elfie Schnellbacher in Sublette, Otto had to overcome the death of his family when Otto was 12. He was a football star at Sublette HS, and headed to Kansas to play football and basketball. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War 2, and returned to Kansas after the war. After graduating from Kansas, Otto went to play four seasons in the AAFC and the NFL as a defensive back (leading the league in interceptions in his rookie season) as well as playing a season in the BAA. After this athletic career, he worked as an insurance agent for American United Life for 25 years.

He married Theresa Renner (1923-1990) and they at least one daughter, Mary, and two sons, Otto and Brad. He remarried to Jane Jung in 1991 and died of cancer in 2008.

Pro Football Stats:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SchnOt00.htm

Source:
Otto's Obit and Grave
Theresa's Obit and Grave


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/schneot01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=schneot01