Herman Kerchoff
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s) | Tackle, Guard |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| College | Purdue |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1897-1899 | Denver Athletic Club |
| 1900-1901 | Chicago Athletic Club |
| 1902 | Pittsburgh Stars |
| 1903 | Franklin Athletic Club |
| 1904-1905 | Massillon Tigers |
| 1906 | Canton Bulldogs |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Herman Kerchoffe (sometimes spelled Herman Kirkoff) was a professional American football player for the Pittsburgh Stars of the first National Football League in 1902, the Massillon Tigers in 1904, and the Canton Athletic Club (renamed the Canton Bulldogs) in 1906. He was regarded as one of the best offensive linemen from his era.
Kerchoff began his professional career with the Denver Athletic Club and the Chicago Athletic Association. In 1902, he helped the Pittsburgh Stars win their first and only NFL championship over the Philadelphia Athletics and the Philadelphia Phillies. He then became a member of the Franklin Athletic Club, which won the 1903 "World Championship" and the 1903 World Series of Football.
In 1904, Kerchoff helped Massillon with a key 44-0 win over the Pittsburgh Lyceum, a 28-0 victory over the Shelby Blues, and a 63-0 victory over the Sharon Buhl Club, the self-proclaimed champions of the western Pennsylvania football circuit. In 1906, Canton's coach, Blondy Wallace, signed Kerchoff and several other Massillon players to his team. (To replace Kerchoff, Massillon signed Tiny Maxwell.) Kerchoff played for Canton during a two-game home series against Massillon, which would determine the 1906 "Ohio League" champions. Canton won the first game; but the second game and the championship was won by Massillon. The events that followed the series resulted in accusations of a betting scandal.
Prior to his professional career, Herman played one season at Purdue University.
References
- Carroll, Bob (1980). "Dave Berry and the Philadelphia Story" (PDF). Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 2 (Annual): 1–9.
- Smith, William R. (1980). "Franklin's World Champion Football team" (PDF). Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 2 (Annual): 1–9.
- Riffenburgh, Beau and Bob Carroll (1989). "The Birth of Pro Football" (PDF). Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 11 (Annual): 1–30.
- "Blondy Wallace and the Biggest Football Scandal Ever" (PDF). PFRA Annual (Professional Football Researchers Association) 5: 1–16. 1984.
- Peterson, Robert W. (1997). Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-511913-4.