Gaylord Stinchcomb
Encyclopedia
Gaylord Roscoe "Pete" Stinchcomb (June 24, 1895 – August 24, 1973) was an American football
player. He played quarterback
and halfback
at Ohio State University
where he was selected as an All-American in 1920. He later played professional football for the Chicago Bears
(1921–1922), Columbus Tigers (1923), Cleveland Indians
(1923), and Louisville Colonels (1926). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1973.
. He played high school football for Fostoria High School
in Fostoria, Ohio
, and was named an All-Ohio halfback
while playing on an undefeated football team.
Stinchcomb enrolled at Ohio State University
in 1916. He played for the Buckeyes as a quarterback and halfback in 1917, 1919 and 1920. Stinchcomb's biography at the College Football Hall of Fame
describes him as follows: "Although a lightweight at 165 pounds, Stinchcomb was a halfback blitz, quick and shifty as he made his way through enemy defenses."
As a sophomore in 1917, Stinchcomb was selected as an All-Big Ten Conference
player at the quarterback position. Though All-American Chic Harley
was the veteran star of the 1917 Buckeyes team, Stinchcomb's play won him praise as a co-star of the Ohio State backfield. One newspaper wrote as follows about Stinchcomb's performance in 1917:
At the end of the 1917 season, one newspaper wrote: "Harley and his teammate, Stinchcomb, of Ohio State, outstepped their rivals and made the greatest pair of backs ever seen in the Western Conference."
In April 1918, following the entry of the United States
into World War I
, Stinchcomb enlisted in the U.S. Navy and missed the 1918 football season. He played for a Cleveland Naval football team during the 1918 season. In an 83–0 win over Cornell
, he ran 100 yards for a touchdown. In a 14–6 win over Camp Grant, Stinchcomb was the Navy's star, kicking two extra points and returning a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. And at the end of the 1918 season, Stinchcomb scored seven points (a touchdown and an extra point) as the Cleveland Naval Reserve team defeated the University of Pittsburgh
football team, 10–9. In a profile of Stinchcomb published in November 1918, one writer observed:
In late December 1918, Stinchcomb, described as "the star line-plunger on the Cleveland Naval Reserve eleven," announced his plan to return to Ohio State in 1919. After the war, Stinchcomb returned to Ohio State and played for the Buckeyes football team in 1919 and 1920. He also founded the Student Bookstore at Ohio State in 1920.
In 1919, he played for the first Ohio State football team to defeat the University of Michigan. Stinchcomb and fellow backfield star Chic Harley were the stars in the Buckeyes' first victory over the Wolverines. At the end of the 1919 season, Stinchcomb was selected as a first-team All-Western quarterback.
With Harley's graduation, Stinchcomb was the star of Ohio State's 1920 football team
. The 1920 group led by Stinchcomb became Ohio State's first undefeated football team, and at the end of the season Stinchcomb was selected as a first-team All-American. Ohio State coach John Wilce
later recalled the efficiency of the two stars of his 1920 team: "'Workmen to Stinchcomb' was a phrase almost as common in the west as the famous 'Tinker to Evers to Chance.' Hoge Workman at quarter and Pete Stinchcomb at right half played every phase of footpall expertly but they had developed the aerial game to the last degree of efficiency. ... Stinchcomb was perhaps the outstanding star of the squad. The critics unanimously picked him for all-American halfback."
While traveling to Pasadena, California
in December 1920 to play in the 1921 Rose Bowl
, Stinchcomb announced that he would marry Anne Jane Summers of Columbus, Ohio
. The two remained married for more than 50 years until Stinchcomb's death in 1973.
Stinchcomb also competed for Ohio State in baseball and track and field. As a senior, he won the 1921 NCAA championship in the broad jump.
Stinchcomb played several years of professional football. He played two years for George Halas
's Chicago Bears
(1921–1922) and also played some for the Columbus Tigers (1923), the Cleveland Indians
(1923), and the Louisville Colonels (1926). He was selected as a first-team All-Pro in 1921 and 1922 and a second-team All-Pro in 1923.
Stinchcomb returned to Ohio State as a backfield coach in 1935.
After retiring from football, Stinchcomb served as president of Linworth Homes Inc. of Findlay, Ohio
and Urichsville, Ohio, and as president of Eagle Creek Utility Co. of Findlay. Stinchcomb and his wife, Anne Jane, lived in Upper Arlington, Ohio
for many years, but moved to Findlay, Ohio
in 1968 when he became president of Linworth Homes.
In 1973, Stinchcomb was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
, but he died at age 78 before the induction ceremony was conducted. There is a street named after him nearby the Ohio State campus.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
where he was selected as an All-American in 1920. He later played professional football for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1921–1922), Columbus Tigers (1923), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Bulldogs
The Cleveland Bulldogs was a team that played in Cleveland, Ohio in the National Football League. They were originally called the Indians in 1923, not to be confused with the Cleveland Indians NFL franchise in 1922...
(1923), and Louisville Colonels (1926). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1973.
Biography
Stinchcomb was a native of Sycamore, OhioSycamore, Ohio
Sycamore is a village in Wyandot County, Ohio, United States. The population was 914 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sycamore is located at ....
. He played high school football for Fostoria High School
Fostoria High School
Fostoria High School is a public high school in Fostoria, Ohio. It is the largest high school in the Fostoria Community Schools district. Their nickname is the Redmen. They are currently members of the Northern Buckeye Conference....
in Fostoria, Ohio
Fostoria, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,931 people, 5,565 households, and 3,628 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,917.6 people per square mile . There were 6,024 housing units at an average density of 829.2 per square mile...
, and was named an All-Ohio halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
while playing on an undefeated football team.
Stinchcomb enrolled at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in 1916. He played for the Buckeyes as a quarterback and halfback in 1917, 1919 and 1920. Stinchcomb's biography at the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
describes him as follows: "Although a lightweight at 165 pounds, Stinchcomb was a halfback blitz, quick and shifty as he made his way through enemy defenses."
As a sophomore in 1917, Stinchcomb was selected as an All-Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
player at the quarterback position. Though All-American Chic Harley
Chic Harley
Charles William "Chic" Harley was one of the outstanding American football players of the first half of the 20th century and the player who first brought the Ohio State University football program to national attention. Harley was Ohio State's first consensus first-team All-America selection and...
was the veteran star of the 1917 Buckeyes team, Stinchcomb's play won him praise as a co-star of the Ohio State backfield. One newspaper wrote as follows about Stinchcomb's performance in 1917:
"Stinchcomb a Star. On the campus at Ohio State they call him 'Pete,' and although the stellar performance against Northwestern was his
'curtain' affair they have learned to mention him in the same breath with 'Chic' Harley. Last season when Stinchcomb was running through the varsity as a member of the freshman eleven Ohio fans looked a year ahead and longed to see Harley and Stinchcomb paired off as halves on the same team. Today, that situation has come pass, and with what effect the season's record shows."
At the end of the 1917 season, one newspaper wrote: "Harley and his teammate, Stinchcomb, of Ohio State, outstepped their rivals and made the greatest pair of backs ever seen in the Western Conference."
In April 1918, following the entry of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Stinchcomb enlisted in the U.S. Navy and missed the 1918 football season. He played for a Cleveland Naval football team during the 1918 season. In an 83–0 win over Cornell
Cornell Big Red football
The Cornell Big Red football team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League. It is one of the oldest and most storied football programs in the nation...
, he ran 100 yards for a touchdown. In a 14–6 win over Camp Grant, Stinchcomb was the Navy's star, kicking two extra points and returning a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. And at the end of the 1918 season, Stinchcomb scored seven points (a touchdown and an extra point) as the Cleveland Naval Reserve team defeated the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
football team, 10–9. In a profile of Stinchcomb published in November 1918, one writer observed:
The reason for such optimistic predictions is the showing Stlnchcomb has made this season in the 'unofficial' football season all grid fans have enjoyed. As backfleld man for the Cleveland Naval Reserve team -- in which branch of the service Stinchcomb has been servirig -- 'Pete' has romped around opposing ends -- plunged ithrough their lines and carried his team to the fore ranks of military and naval football ratings."
In late December 1918, Stinchcomb, described as "the star line-plunger on the Cleveland Naval Reserve eleven," announced his plan to return to Ohio State in 1919. After the war, Stinchcomb returned to Ohio State and played for the Buckeyes football team in 1919 and 1920. He also founded the Student Bookstore at Ohio State in 1920.
In 1919, he played for the first Ohio State football team to defeat the University of Michigan. Stinchcomb and fellow backfield star Chic Harley were the stars in the Buckeyes' first victory over the Wolverines. At the end of the 1919 season, Stinchcomb was selected as a first-team All-Western quarterback.
With Harley's graduation, Stinchcomb was the star of Ohio State's 1920 football team
1920 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1920 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1920-1921.They outscored opponents 150-20 in the regular season and beat Michigan, 14-7...
. The 1920 group led by Stinchcomb became Ohio State's first undefeated football team, and at the end of the season Stinchcomb was selected as a first-team All-American. Ohio State coach John Wilce
John Wilce
John Woodworth "Jack" Wilce was an American football player and coach, physician, and university professor. He served as the head football coach at Ohio State University from 1913 to 1928, compiling a record of 78–33–9...
later recalled the efficiency of the two stars of his 1920 team: "'Workmen to Stinchcomb' was a phrase almost as common in the west as the famous 'Tinker to Evers to Chance.' Hoge Workman at quarter and Pete Stinchcomb at right half played every phase of footpall expertly but they had developed the aerial game to the last degree of efficiency. ... Stinchcomb was perhaps the outstanding star of the squad. The critics unanimously picked him for all-American halfback."
While traveling to Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
in December 1920 to play in the 1921 Rose Bowl
1921 Rose Bowl
The 1921 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1921. In the game, the 7th Rose Bowl, the California Golden Bears defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 28-0. It was only the second time a Big Ten team had met a Pacific Coast Conference team. The first was the...
, Stinchcomb announced that he would marry Anne Jane Summers of Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. The two remained married for more than 50 years until Stinchcomb's death in 1973.
Stinchcomb also competed for Ohio State in baseball and track and field. As a senior, he won the 1921 NCAA championship in the broad jump.
Stinchcomb played several years of professional football. He played two years for George Halas
George Halas
George Stanley Halas, Sr. , nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was a player, coach, owner and pioneer in professional American football. He was the iconic longtime leader of the NFL's Chicago Bears...
's Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1921–1922) and also played some for the Columbus Tigers (1923), the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Bulldogs
The Cleveland Bulldogs was a team that played in Cleveland, Ohio in the National Football League. They were originally called the Indians in 1923, not to be confused with the Cleveland Indians NFL franchise in 1922...
(1923), and the Louisville Colonels (1926). He was selected as a first-team All-Pro in 1921 and 1922 and a second-team All-Pro in 1923.
Stinchcomb returned to Ohio State as a backfield coach in 1935.
After retiring from football, Stinchcomb served as president of Linworth Homes Inc. of Findlay, Ohio
Findlay, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile . There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6 per square mile...
and Urichsville, Ohio, and as president of Eagle Creek Utility Co. of Findlay. Stinchcomb and his wife, Anne Jane, lived in Upper Arlington, Ohio
Upper Arlington, Ohio
Upper Arlington is a suburban city in Franklin County, Ohio, United States, on the northwest side of the Columbus metropolitan area. The population was 33,686 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
for many years, but moved to Findlay, Ohio
Findlay, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile . There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6 per square mile...
in 1968 when he became president of Linworth Homes.
In 1973, Stinchcomb was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
, but he died at age 78 before the induction ceremony was conducted. There is a street named after him nearby the Ohio State campus.