Ray Apolskis was born in Cicero, Illinois, and grew up in Chicago. He graduated from Fenger High School, where he earned eleven varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and swimming.
Apolskis entered his senior season in 1940 heralded as one of the top centers in the nation.[2] His coach, Paddy Driscoll, said of the solid son of Lithuanian immigrants: "Tell me everything that a center should do well and I'll tell you just what Apolskis can do. He's best on defense, roaming around against running plays and intercepting passes, but he is as good as they come in other departments, too."[2]
Apolskis was selected in the fifth round of the 1941 NFL draft by the Cardinals, who made him the 32nd overall pick of the draft.[3]
Professional career
Apolskis began his NFL career in the 1941 NFL season, when the league used the one-platoon system, with players playing on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. He was a starter as a rookie for the 1941 Cardinals.[4]
On June 15, 1950, Apolskis suffered acute appendicitis and underwent an emergency appendectomy in Chicago, which was successful.[6] This surgery proved to be only a temporary setback, however, and in September Apolskis signed a contract with the Cardinals for what would be an eighth season in the NFL.[5]