Otto Schnellbacher
Schnellbacher on a 1951 Bowman football card | |
Born: |
Sublette, Kansas | April 15, 1923
---|---|
Died: |
March 10, 2008 84) Topeka, Kansas | (aged
Career information | |
Position(s) | Defensive back |
College | Kansas |
NFL draft |
1947 / Round: 25 / Pick: 231 (by the Chicago Cardinals) |
Career history | |
As player | |
1948–1949 | New York Yankees (AAFC) |
1950–1951 | New York Giants |
Career highlights and awards | |
Pro Bowls | (1950, 1951) |
Career stats | |
|
Otto Ole Schnellbacher (April 15, 1923 – March 10, 2008) was an American football defensive back in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He was a 2-time Pro Bowler. Also a professional basketball player, Schnellbacher played for the Basketball Association of America's Providence Steamrollers and St. Louis Bombers in 1948–49. In college, Schnellbacher was a two-sport star at the University of Kansas, earning him the nickname "the double threat from Sublette". On the gridiron, Schnellbacher, along with teammate Ray Evans, was KU's first football All-American in 1947. That same season, Schnellbacher led the Jayhawks to a Big 6 conference title and an Orange Bowl berth. Schnellbacher also excelled in basketball, where he was a four-time first-team all-conference selection (one of only three Jayhawks to do so). He was a member of the 1943 Big Six conference championship team (which also featured All-American teammates Charles B. Black and the aforementioned Ray Evans) that is regarded as one of the program's greatest teams.
Schnellbacher died aged 84, from cancer, according to University of Kansas basketball coach Bill Self.[1]
BAA career statistics
Legend | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Games played | FG% | Field-goal percentage | ||
FT% | Free-throw percentage | APG | Assists per game | ||
PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high | ||
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | FG% | FT% | APG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948–49 | Providence | 23 | .288 | .630 | .8 | 4.4 |
1948–49 | St. Louis | 20 | .364 | .696 | 2.3 | 8.7 |
Career | 43 | .332 | .669 | 1.5 | 6.4 | |
Playoffs
Year | Team | GP | FG% | FT% | APG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1949 | St. Louis | 2 | .300 | .500 | 3.0 | 9.0 |
Career | 2 | .300 | .500 | 3.0 | 9.0 | |
References
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Basketball-Reference.com
- Obituary at the Kansas City Star
- Otto Schnellbacher at Find a Grave