A true “iron man” pitcher who worked his way up through the Cleveland sandlots, playing in all classes from E to A. Started pitching in Class E at the age of 15, winning 13 of 15 games, averaging 13 strikeouts per contest and hurling two double headers. In 1923-24-25, he was the only pitcher on the Suchan Café roster in Class B. Starting all of their games he pitched the team to the championship finals one season. Later, playing with McAllister Tires, he pitched and won both games of a double header to clinch the Class a championship for his team. While with the Favorite Knits in Class A he pitched three full innings against the Boston Braves of the National League in an Amateur Day game at league Park.
One of the great early major league baseball players, he got his start with a semi-pro team called the Young Clevelanders. In 1886 he joined the Detroit team of the old National League, and helped pitch that team to a pennant in 1887 with an 11-1 mark. His lone loss came in a 14-inning game in which he allowed just one hit. Traded to Cleveland in 1889, he set a record of 16 total bases in a game (single, double, three triples and a home run) which stood until 1954. Major league career ended in 1891, but he played, and later managed, in the minors until 1898.
Coach of Case Tech and Case Western Reserve University athletic teams from 1927 through 1967. Tutored track, football, basketball, tennis, swimming and wrestling teams at various times. Won greatest fame as wrestling coach, a sport he started at Case in 1927. Was president of the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 1952.
Aquatics chairman of the Lake Erie AAU from 1969 through 1978, he has been responsible for bringing numerous major aquatics programs to Cleveland, among them at least five national diving championships, two national synchronized swimming championships, and a national swimming championship.
An outstanding football player at West tech from 1921-23 and later an amateur basketball league star in Muny competition, he later became a highly successful coach of girls’ amateur basketball teams, winning 18 championships between 1927 and 1938.
Professional hockey star for 14 years, eight of which were spent with the Cleveland Barons. Was one of mainstays of 1947-48 Cleveland team which set a professional hockey record by going undefeated though 31 straight games. Named to American League All-Star team three times. Was the first league player to score 300 goals and ended his career as the league’s all-time scoring champion with 319 goals and 425 assists.
Charter member of Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame (1974) and inducted into American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, 1977. Ten-time PBA champion, winner of the BPAA All-Star championship in 1960, the ABC masters title in 1963 and the ABC Doubles in 1967. Twice Cleveland City Match-Game champion. Bowled 12 sanctioned 300 games and an 843 series. Had 199 average for 25 ABC tournament appearances.
Between 1950 and 1958 he won the Ohio Championship in foil three times and in sabre twice and Northeastern Ohio division championships in foil six times and in sabre twice. Became first fencer to win two gold medals in the All-Ohio Championships in 1953. Turned professional in 1960 to become coach of the Cleveland State University (then Fenn College) fencing team, a position he still holds.
National collegiate 220-yard low hurdles champion at Massachusetts Institute of technology in 1927 and collegiate All-American in 1926 and 1927. Set NCAA record in winning low hurdles event. Earlier in career he won National Junior AAU 220-yard low hurdles and title and New England AAU high and low hurdles titles. Captained the 1927 MIT team.
Ranked among the best women tennis players ever produced in Cleveland. Member of 1961 Wightman Cup Team. Won U.S. Womens’s Hard Court Doubles Championship (with Sally Moore) in 1958. Was U.S. Junior Champion in 1954. Ranked among top 15 women in U.S. amateur tennis five times, reaching high of sixth in 1961.