The University of Akron Athletics
Hall of Fame
Waldsmith, Ralph "Fats"
Ralph "Fats" Waldsmith
- Induction:
- 1978
- Class:
- 2015
1911-13
Born in Akron on August 7, 1892, Ralph Waldsmith came to Buchtel College in 1911 after excelling at Central High School in football. The 1910 Central team had gone undefeated with Waldsmith as its center.
He continued his sterling play at center for Coach Frank Haggerty in 1911, 1912, and 1913. He captained the 1913 squad and earned All-Ohio honors.
Somewhere along the way, he picked up the nickname “Fats”, which surely didn’t fit his muscular physique.
Waldsmith became one of the first Buchtel College gridders to play in the professional ranks. During the 1916-18 seasons, he played with the famed Jim Thorpe, as well as, with UA head coach Fred Sefton for the Canton Bulldogs. In 1919, he helped form Akron Indians professional team which later that year became the Akron Pros.
However, the next two seasons found him playing for the Cleveland Indians, no, not the baseball team, and he closed out his playing career in 1922 with the Bulldogs.
In 1925, traveling as a factory representative for the Falls Rubber Co., Waldsmith contacted pneumonia and died in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., at the age of 33.
Born in Akron on August 7, 1892, Ralph Waldsmith came to Buchtel College in 1911 after excelling at Central High School in football. The 1910 Central team had gone undefeated with Waldsmith as its center.
He continued his sterling play at center for Coach Frank Haggerty in 1911, 1912, and 1913. He captained the 1913 squad and earned All-Ohio honors.
Somewhere along the way, he picked up the nickname “Fats”, which surely didn’t fit his muscular physique.
Waldsmith became one of the first Buchtel College gridders to play in the professional ranks. During the 1916-18 seasons, he played with the famed Jim Thorpe, as well as, with UA head coach Fred Sefton for the Canton Bulldogs. In 1919, he helped form Akron Indians professional team which later that year became the Akron Pros.
However, the next two seasons found him playing for the Cleveland Indians, no, not the baseball team, and he closed out his playing career in 1922 with the Bulldogs.
In 1925, traveling as a factory representative for the Falls Rubber Co., Waldsmith contacted pneumonia and died in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., at the age of 33.
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