Ben Pucci
Tackle | |||
Personal information | |||
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Born: | St. Louis, Missouri | January 26, 1925||
Died: | July 7, 2013 San Antonio, Texas | (aged 88)||
Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||
Weight: | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
High school: | Southwest (St. Louis) | ||
College: | None | ||
Career history | |||
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Career highlights and awards | |||
Career NFL statistics | |||
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Player stats at PFR |
Benito Modesto "Ben" Pucci (January 26, 1925 – July 7, 2013) was a professional
Pucci Grew up in
Early life and high school
Pucci grew up in
Professional career
Pucci was given a chance to play for the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League in 1945, but decided not to take the offer.[4] The Rams went on to win the 1945 NFL championship.[2] Pucci joined the Buffalo Bisons of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946, the league's first year of play, and played as a tackle in 11 games.[3] The Bisons won just three games that year.[1] Pucci moved in 1947 to the Chicago Rockets, another AAFC team, and played in 13 of the team's 14 games that season.[3] The Rockets lost all but one of their games and ended with a 1–13 win–loss record.[1]
Pucci was traded in early 1948 to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for tackle Roman Piskor and the rights to draft Notre Dame's Pete Ashbaugh.[5] He played 12 games for the Browns, who had an undefeated season and won their third straight AAFC championship.[6]
The
Later life and death
Pucci left football after quitting the Colts and started a career in the transportation industry.[1] His career took him to California, Missouri, South Bend, Indiana and finally to San Antonio, Texas in 1980.[1] He was a color commentator for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1960s.[1] He died in 2013 in San Antonio.[8] He had two sons and a daughter with his wife Shirley.[9] Pucci is a member of the walk of fame in The Hill in St. Louis.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Pils, Douglas (February 1, 2009). "Why a Brown roots for the Cardinals" (PDF). San Antonio Express-News. p. 2C. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ a b Crippen 2009, p. 270.
- ^ a b c "Benny Pucci Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards". Database Football. Archived from the original on May 30, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ Crippen 2009, pp. 270–271.
- ^ "Center Goes To Rockets Sans Contract". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Chicago. Associated Press. February 7, 1948. p. 14. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
- ^ Piascik 2007, p. 121.
- ^ "Browns Sell Three Pro Gridders to Baltimore". Youngstown Vindicator. Baltimore. Associated Press. January 28, 1949. p. 17. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
- ^ a b "Ben Pucci, Member Of Hill Walk Of Fame, Dies". The Hill St. Louis. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
- ^ "Ben Modesto Pucci Obituary". MeadowLawn Funeral Home and Crematory. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
Bibliography
- Crippen, Kenneth R. (2009). The Original Buffalo Bills: A History of the All-America Football Conference Team, 1946-1949. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-78644-619-3.
- Piascik, Andy (2007). The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58979-571-6.