423:. That version of the National Football League lasted only one year and was not related to the modern NFL. He missed two games during the Stars season with a broken hand, vowing to play with a cage on it, if necessary. He played one game for Pittsburgh in coal miner boots because his huge cleats were on special order. The Pittsburgh team was managed by
469:" champions. Canton won the first game 10–5; but the second game and the championship was won by Massillon (13–6). It was alleged the players "fixed" the games to necessitate a third “big money” winner-take-all game to be held in Cleveland. The events surrounding the series resulted in accusations of a
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football team. His skills earned him mentions as "the most feared lineman in the west" at that time. The "guards back" play enabled the extremely fleet footed wonder boy milkman from
Lafayette to score touchdowns and become a Denver hero. The 1899 squad finished 7–0, claiming the athletic association
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Herman, who was also called Bumper, Kerky, Kerk, and Hermie, married Mary Lynch
February 14, 1900. The couple had three children (Marie born 10–7–1901, Katherine born 5–6–04, Herman Joseph born 9–4–1908). Middle child Katherine died from illness on December 28, 1911, at the age of seven on the large
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Kerkhoff and his "Cherry Circle" teammates claimed the mythical athletic association championship in 1897 after finishing the season 7–1. the CAA played two practice games versus
Northwestern University that were somewhat controlled and scripted by the respective coaches; and thus, should not be
438:. Herman scored both touchdowns in the 12–0 title clinching win versus Watertown Red and Black from New York. In a practice that was common at that time, Kerkhoff, his teammates, and residents of Franklin wagered large sums of money on the games, and returned to Franklin as wealthy heroes.
355:. He registered at Purdue as a "Special Student" in October 1895 before the Boilermakers played any games. He started all six games at left guard for the Boilermakers scoring a touchdown in an 18–4 win versus Minnesota. Purdue finished 4–3, one win was a forfeit victory Purdue claims versus
294:, most of his life, working on the Kerkhoff family dairy farm and later his own farm. He was one of ten children born to John and Elizabeth Kerkhoff. His great size and exceptional speed allowed him to travel the country playing football for the highest bidder of his services.
372:
Herman
Kerkhoff was added to the Purdue University Football Media Guide as an 1895 football letter winner in 2019 after documentation was submitted on his behalf by his great-great-grandson William A. Fusiek and his triple great-granddaughter Claire Fusiek.
400:. The IAA "Gunners" "Athletics" "Cannoneers" played in Chicago several times in 1896, including twice versus the CAA. In 1896, the IAA unveiled its all-yellow football uniforms in a football game versus the Chicago Cycling Club in Chicago.
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counted as legitimate competitive games. The
Athletics only loss was 16–6 at highly acclaimed Yale late in the season. Kerkhoff played one game for the IAA Athletics and the remainder of the 1897 season and the 1898 campaign for the CAA.
362:
It is believed he also suited up for Purdue in 1892–1894 under an assumed name which was a common practice at the time for quality footballers and midwest collegiate football programs. No proof of participation has been documented.
449:, and a 63–0 victory over the Sharon Buhl Club, the self-proclaimed champions of the western Pennsylvania football circuit. The 1904 and 1905 Tigers were unbeaten and claimed the Ohio League championships both years.
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In 1906, Herman semi-retired from football to pursue a life in politics. Kerkhoff ran for public office as
Sheriff of Tippecanoe County Indiana in 1906 as a Democrat. After losing in the election, Canton's coach,
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Canton and
Massillon matched money offers until Canton finally offered more, so Herman joined the Bulldogs before the scheduled two-game home and home series against Massillon, which would determine the 1906
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champions of the west crown. The
Athletics allowed only six points all season. Kerkhoff was named to the “All Colorado Team” by several sources in the 1899 “Silver and Gold” football season summary edition.
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The
Kerkhoff family of four moved to southeast Missouri in 1911, and attempted to continue farming on a great parcel of land. The family fortune was lost, and the family returned to Lafayette in late 1915.
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434:, which won the 1903 "World Championship" or American Championship Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York. Historians later renamed this event the
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It is believed he also played for the orange-and-black-clad Pine
Village Villagers on occasion, but no proof of participation has been documented.
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In 1904, Kerkhoff joined the Massillon, Ohio, team and in his first game for the squad, he helped Massillon record a key 44–0 win over the
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He also played football games for local Indiana teams including the Oakland Hill Bumpers (in Lafayette), Delphi, Frankfort, and Attica.
332:, in 1906 on the Democratic ticket, losing narrowly. The Republican ticket was victorious in all Tippecanoe County elections in 1906.
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and played home games in Pittsburgh at The Colosseum. The Stars also practiced and played “home” games in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
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Herman was sworn in as a Lafayette policeman August 18, 1920. He passed at his home in Lafayette on December 3, 1935.
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After stints with the Oakland Hill Bumpers of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Indianapolis Athletic Association,
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In 1902, he helped the Pittsburgh Stars win the first and only "inaugural" NFL championship over the
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He was signed at the conclusion of the Pittsburgh season by Dave Printz and became a member of the
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557:(Annual). Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–30. Archived from
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530:(Annual). Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–9. Archived from
503:(Annual). Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–9. Archived from
583:. Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–16. 1984. Archived from
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Prior to his professional career, Herman played one documented season at
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by CAA football manager and former player, and future Chicago mayor,
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From 1899 to 1901 Kerkhoff suited up for the "Cherry and Black" DAC
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family farm in Monitor Springs, Indiana, just east of Lafayette.
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in 1904 and 1905, and the Canton Athletic Club (renamed the
570:"Blondy Wallace and the Biggest Football Scandal Ever"
283:(May 10, 1870 – December 3, 1935) was a professional
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381:Kerchoff began his professional career with the
321:) in 1906. He was regarded as one of the best
385:football team, which changed its name to the
138:1895 (1892–1894 allegedly under assumed name)
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542:Riffenburgh, Beau & Bob Carroll (1989).
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222:Career highlights and awards
232:Silver and Gold December 25, 1899, edition
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630:19th-century players of American football
517:"Franklin's World Champion Football team"
598:Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football
490:"Dave Berry and the Philadelphia Story"
311:first National Football League in 1902
287:player from the mid 1890s until 1906.
635:Canton Bulldogs (Ohio League) players
7:
660:Purdue Boilermakers football players
640:Chicago Athletic Association players
16:American football player (1870–1935)
14:
392:He was recruited to play for the
389:before the opening game in 1896.
387:Indianapolis Athletic Association
152:Indianapolis Athletic Association
103:6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
645:Franklin Athletic Club players
142:Purdue University Boilermakers
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436:1903 World Series of Football
595:Peterson, Robert W. (1997).
394:Chicago Athletic Association
299:Chicago Athletic Association
162:Chicago Athletic Association
544:"The Birth of Pro Football"
305:, Bumper was signed by the
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515:Smith, William R. (1980).
330:Tippecanoe County, Indiana
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111:235 lb (107 kg)
655:Pittsburgh Stars players
650:Massillon Tigers players
254:World Series of Football
237:National Football League
603:Oxford University Press
281:Herman Charles Kerkhoff
230:1899 All Colorado Team
22:Herman Charles Kerkhoff
432:Franklin Athletic Club
417:Philadelphia Athletics
383:Indianapolis Artillery
328:He ran for sheriff of
192:Franklin Athletic Club
564:on November 27, 2010.
537:on November 27, 2010.
510:on December 18, 2010.
488:Carroll, Bob (1980).
421:Philadelphia Phillies
398:William Hale Thompson
357:Iowa State University
590:on December 4, 2013.
409:Denver Athletic Club
303:Denver Athletic Club
172:Denver Athletic Club
377:Professional career
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292:Lafayette, Indiana
246:"World Champion" (
83:Career information
78:Lafayette, Indiana
60:Lafayette, Indiana
443:Pittsburgh Lyceum
353:Purdue University
323:offensive linemen
285:American football
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148:1896–1897(one gm)
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202:Massillon Tigers
182:Pittsburgh Stars
76:December 3, 1935
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57:May 10, 1870
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670:1935 deaths
665:1870 births
577:PFRA Annual
467:Ohio League
261:Ohio League
89:Position(s)
27:Nickname(s)
624:Categories
482:References
425:Dave Berry
263:champion (
239:champion (
94:Left guard
72:1935-12-03
53:1870-05-10
198:1904–1905
168:1899–1901
158:1897–1898
133:As player
419:and the
309:of the
117:College
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301:, and
122:Purdue
108:Weight
100:Height
39:Hermie
33:Bumper
588:(PDF)
573:(PDF)
562:(PDF)
547:(PDF)
535:(PDF)
520:(PDF)
508:(PDF)
493:(PDF)
477:Notes
66:Died:
47:Born:
36:Kerky
607:ISBN
269:1905
265:1904
248:1903
241:1902
208:1906
188:1903
178:1902
461:.)
259:2x
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