John Oehler

John "Cap" Oehler
No. 26
Position: Center
Personal information
Date of birth: August 5, 1910
Place of birth: Queens, New York, U.S.
Date of death: 12 May 1983 (aged 72)
Place of death: Pinehurst, North Carolina
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 204 lb (93 kg)
Career information
College: Purdue
Career history
Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1934)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1935–1936)
Career highlights and awards
Scored first points (a safety) of Pirates (Steelers) franchise history
Career NFL statistics as of 1936
Games played: 40
Rushes / yds: 2 / 14
Safeties: 1
Stats at NFL.com
Stats at pro-football-reference.com

John Walter "Cap" Oehler (born August 5, 1910 - May 12, 1983)[1] was an American football center in the National Football League (NFL). He was a charter member of the Pittsburgh Pirates (which would later be renamed the Steelers). Oehler was born in Queens, New York.[2] He played college football at Purdue University where he was named a captain.[3]

In 1933 Oehler joined the newly formed Pittsburgh Pirates of the NFL. In the team's first game, he blocked a punt which went out the back of the end zone resulting in a safety. Those were the first points recorded in franchise history and the lone points in that first 23–2 loss.[4] He would play two years for the Pirates before moving on to the Brooklyn Dodgers where he played two more seasons.

After leaving football, he built a career in sales with shipbuilder Dravo Corporation.[5]

References

  1. ↑ North Carolina, Deaths, 1931-1994
  2. ↑ "Cap Oehler bio". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Big Ten Grid Notes". Milwaukee Sentinel. September 17, 1932. p. 18. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  4. ↑ Sell, Jack (September 21, 1933). "25,000 See Pro Pirates Lose Grid Opener". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. 14–15. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Dravo Appoints Sales Manager of Division". Pittsburgh Press. February 2, 1951. p. 30. Retrieved May 12, 2011.