Ralph Isselhardt

Ralph Isselhardt
refer to caption
Isselhardt in 1936
No. 15
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born:(1910-01-13)January 13, 1910
Hillsboro, Illinois, U.S.
Died:October 24, 1972(1972-10-24) (aged 62)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Marion (IN)
College:Franklin (IN)
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:9
Starts:0
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ralph L. "Izzy" Isselhardt (January 13, 1910 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Rams.[1] He played college football at Franklin College and was inducted into that school's Hall of Fame in 1975.

Early life

He first enrolled at Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, Illinois before transferring to Marion High School in Marion, Indiana.[2]

College career

Isselhardt played for the Franklin Grizzlies. He was a co-captain of the team during his 1935 senior season.[3]

He graduated with a degree from Franklin College in June 1936.[3]

Professional career

Isselhardt signed a contract to play with the Lions for the 1936 season early in March of that year.[4] Training camp was expected to open during the first half of August.[4]

Known as "Izzy" to his teammates,[5] Isselhardt played in one game for the Detroit Lions in 1936, before being assigned to a minor league farm club for additional experience.[6]

Isselhardt signed with the Cleveland Rams for the 1937 season[6] and saw action in eight games for the team.[7]

Death and legacy

Isselhardt died October 24, 1972, at Grand Rapids, Michigan.

He was inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1975.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Detroit Lions All-Time Roster". detroitlions.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  2. ^ "RALPH ISSELHARDT". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Franklin Star May Play Pro Football with Detroit Team," Franklin Evening Star, Feb. 19, 1936, p. 1.
  4. ^ a b "Isselhardt to Join Detroit Lions Camp at Cranbrook School," Franklin Evening Star, March 6, 1936, pp. 1–2.
  5. ^ Harold "Speed" Johnson (ed.), Who's Who in Major League Football 1936. Chicago: B.E. Callahan, 1936; p. 13.
  6. ^ a b "Isselhardt Signs Up with Cleveland Club," Franklin Evening Star, Aug. 27, 1937, p. 2. Note that all modern encyclopedic records, probably flowing from one initial information source, have Isselhardt playing his one game for the Lions in 1937, not 1936. This seems to be an error of fact, assuming the accuracy of this contemporary news story, which clearly indicates he signed with the Rams on Aug. 24, 1937 — that is, before the start of the season, making it impossible to have played for the Lions in 1937. The same story indicates he was sent down to the minors by the Lions the previous year, 1936.
  7. ^ "Ralph Isselhardt Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  8. ^ "Athletic Hall of Fame". franklingrizzlies.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.