Johnny Roepke

Johnny Roepke

Roepke pictured in The Mansfield News, 1927
No. 6
Position:	Halfback
Personal information
Born:	(1905-12-28)December 28, 1905 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Died:	February 26, 1962(1962-02-26) (aged 56) Passaic, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school:	William L. Dickinson (Jersey City, New Jersey)
College:	Penn State
Career history
Frankford Yellow Jackets (1928) Atlantic City Tornadoes (1929) Clifton Heights Orange & Black (1929) Upper Darby Greenbacks (1930–1931) Paterson Night Hawks (1932)
Career highlights and awards
Third-team All-American (1927)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 10 Games started: 3 Touchdowns: 1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

John Peter Roepke (December 28, 1905 – February 26, 1962) was an

Roepke was born on December 28, 1905, in Jersey City, New Jersey.^[1] He attended William L. Dickinson High School there,^[1] playing football, baseball, and basketball.^[2] Following his third season of high school, where he was named all state as a halfback, Roepke was elected team captain for his senior year of 1923.^[3]

Shortly before his last sports game with the high school, the state championship baseball game against

Following the season finale, a loss against Pittsburgh, Roepke was mentioned on several all-Eastern teams for his performance, as well as earned the team captain position for his senior season of 1927.[12]

By the end of week two in 1927, Roepke had already scored 36 points and was the leader in the eastern United States.^[13] He scored eight against Lebanon Valley in week one, and "ran wild" versus Gettysburg the following week, scoring 28 out of his team's 34 points.^[13] Against Syracuse during week five, Roepke kicked the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter to win 9–6.^[14][15] It was Penn State's first ever win in their rivalry with Syracuse.^[14] By mid-November, Roepke was "considered by many as an outstanding candidate for the all-America team," according to the Ohio News Journal.^[16]

By November 21, Roepke was third in the eastern United States in scoring with 89 points, only behind Bob Nork of Georgetown and Myles Lane of Dartmouth.^[17] He finished the season ranked fourth in the eastern U.S., after dropping one spot to Jack Conner.^[18] He made a total of 12 touchdowns, one field goal, and 14 extra points,^[18] earning a third-team All-America selection by Walter Eckersall at the end of the season.^[19]

Professional career

Baseball

Following his graduation from Penn State, Roepke began a professional baseball career in the New York–Pennsylvania League with the Scranton Miners as a pitcher.^[20][21][22] He played his first game on June 13, 1928, allowing nine hits in two innings pitched before being benched.^[23] The Miners lost the game, 4–10, against the York White Roses.^[24] It was his only appearance with the team.^[25] The Miners finished the season with a record of 55–78, placing seventh in the league.

Football

After the baseball season ended, Roepke tried out professional football, playing for the

Roepke left Frankford after the season to join the Atlantic City Tornadoes, the first 1929 opponents of his former team.^[30] After the first game, a 0–6 loss for Atlantic City, Roepke left the team and joined the Clifton Heights Orange & Black.^[31] He finished the season with Clifton before joining the Upper Darby Greenbacks the following year.^[32] He returned with the Greenbacks for the 1931 season.^[33] In October 1932, Roepke was signed by the Paterson Night Hawks prior to their game against the New York Giants.^[34] He made two appearances for the Night Hawks before retiring.^[35]

Later life and death

Roepke was married on December 22, 1928, to Anne Kost of Tyrone, Pennsylvania.^[36]

Roepke later worked for the Manhattan Rubber Division of Raybestos, Inc.^[37] He died on February 26, 1962, at the age of 56, following a short illness.^[37]

References