Joe Kraker

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Joe Kraker
refer to caption
Kraker at his wedding
No. 3
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born:(1896-06-14)June 14, 1896
Virginia, Minnesota, U.S.
Died:May 14, 1958(1958-05-14) (aged 61)
St. Louis County, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school:Roosevelt (MN)
College:Saskatchewan
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:5
Games started:4
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Joseph Joannas Kraker (June 14, 1896 – May 14, 1958) was an American

shoulder pads
.

Early life and education

Kraker was born on June 14, 1896, in Virginia, Minnesota. He attended Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis and played college football for Saskatchewan.[1]

Professional career

In

Saskatoon Daily Star wrote that "One of the best treats of the day was watching Joe Kraker step into [Brian] Timmis, the Regina terrier. The hard-working middlewinger astounded the opposing outfit and after the game they stated that Kraker was one of the finest linemen they had ever seen in action."[3]

A 1923 article from the

Saskatoon Daily Star said

without a doubt Kraker is the toughest linesman that ever lined up with a local senior grid squad. His work, especially in the provincial championship game against Regina last fall was nothing short of sensational. Brian Timmis, demon line plunger for the Capital City club, and now a star with the Ottawa gridders, stated that Kraker was the hardest linesman he ever bumped up against.[4]

In 1923, Kraker moved to the United States and played

tackle for the Hibbing team of Hibbing, Minnesota.[4] Mid-season, Kraker sent a letter to Hub Bishop that said the following: "Playing American [football] provides one with plenty of excitement but I want Saskatoon fans to know that Im [sic] keen on the Canadian style of football and wish I were up north battling in the line with the [Saskatoon] Quakers."[4]

Near the start of the

right guard, blocking for the Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Thorpe.[6] He returned as starter for their next game, a 26–0 win over the Hammond Pros where Kraker played through the entire game.[7] In the Independents' week four win over the Dayton Triangles, he appeared as a substitute for Walt Buland.[8]

Kraker started at right guard in their week five loss to the

The Rock Island Argus reported that he "was a strong man on the barrier and played an important part in the Islanders' opening games."[5]

In September 1925, Kraker was re-signed by the Independents.[11] He did not appear in any regular season games for the 1925 Independents.[1]

Kraker appears to have later played professional football with several other teams, with the

Star-Phoenix writing in 1930: "The Rooney boys and Kraker have been playing professional football in the United States. They are rated among the best in the game."[12]

A 1942 article in the Saskatoon

StarPhoenix reported that Kraker is "said to be the only lineman in history to play without shoulder pads."[13]

Later life and death

Kraker died on May 14, 1958, in St. Louis County, Minnesota.[1] He was 61.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Joe Kraker Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^
    Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^
  4. ^
  5. ^