Steve Lach
No. 37 | |
Chicago Cardinals | |
1946–1947 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Stephen John Lach (August 6, 1920 – July 12, 1961) was an American football player. Lach was among a list of sixty-one nominees to the College Football Hall of Fame in March 1960.[1] He was elected in 1980.
Track and field athlete
Lach competed in the 5th annual National
Duke halfback (1939–1942)
He played running back as a member of the varsity football team at Duke University.[6] As a senior, he was a wingback, which allowed his team to take advantage of his fine blocking ability. His playing weight was 190 pounds.[7]
Lach scored from a half yard out in a 37-0 Duke pasting of
Lach caught two passes from Moffat Storer for touchdowns at Pitt Stadium on October 25, 1941. Duke triumphed over Pittsburgh Panthers 27–7.[13] Lach caught a high pass from Tom Davis at the three yard line, which he converted for a touchdown against Georgia Tech in November. This reception, together with a number of fine kicks, helped Duke beat the Engineers in Atlanta.[14]
He ran just eight times versus the University of North Carolina, but escaped for 23 and 17 yard runs in the third quarter. He punted the Tar Heels into a hole at their own 5 yard line late in the 3rd quarter. In all he accounted for 61 of Duke's 194 rushing yards. Lach returned in the fourth quarter after leaving the field near the end of the third period. He appeared still shaken after slipping and being hit while off-balance as he attempted a cutback play. As he walked slowly to the sidelines the Duke fans began to chant a touchdown for Lach. Only moments later a Blue Devil teammate got into the end zone.[7]
By the end of 1950 Wallace Wade had included only five sophomores as varsity starters in twenty-five years as a coach at the University of Alabama and Duke. Pooley Hubert and Johnny Mack Brown were the exceptions who played first team at Alabama. The Duke sophomores who played regularly for the varsity were Ace Parker, Lach, and Billy Cox.[15]
Chicago Cardinals (1942)
Lach was selected as the #4 pick in the 1st Round of the 1942 N.F.L. Draft by the
On September 14, 1942, Lach caught a pass from Bud Schwenk to account for the game's only touchdown, in the Cardinals' 7–0 victory over the
In July 1943 Lach was scheduled to play with the College All-Star team against the N.F.L. champion
Great Lakes Blue Jackets (1943)
Lach ran for touchdowns of 13 and 65 yards as a member of the Great Lakes Blue Jackets on October 2, 1943. The 40–0 defeat of the Pittsburgh Panthers was the third win in four tries for the team of sailors.
Lach played a key role in a last minute comeback upset of
Pittsburgh Steelers (1946–1947)
He played with the Pearl Harbor All-Stars in 1944–1945. Lach signed to play with the New York Yankees (AAFC) on January 21, 1946.[27]
In the fall of 1946 Lach was a
Lach, playing
Lach's nine touchdowns in 1947 set a Steelers' club record. He was Pittsburgh's second leading ground gainer with 372 yards in 129 carries. Lach tied for 9th in the National Football League in points scored, with 54.[28]
Lach was one of eight members of the 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers team chosen as a pallbearer for the funeral of Coach Dr. John B. (Jock) Sutherland on April 13, 1948. Sutherland died following a brain operation in West Penn Hospital.[33]
Lach was released without explanation by new Steelers' coach, John Michclosen, on September 21, 1948.
References
- ^ "6 From Princeton To Be Considered", New York Times, March 23, 1960, Page 43
- ^ "School Track Aces Smash 8 Records", New York Times, February 27, 1938, Page 63
- ^ "N.Y.U.-Indiana Clash Marks Penn Relays Today", New York Times, April 25, 1941, Page 25
- ^ "Summaries of Penn Relay Carnival", New York Times, April 26, 1941, Page 11
- ^ "Summaries of Penn Relay Carnival", New York Times, April 25, 1942, Page 17
- ^ "Syracuse Picks 34 Men", New York Times, October 19, 1939, Page 28
- ^ a b "Lach Leads Duke To 20-0 Triumph!, New York Times, November 16, 1941, Page S6.
- ^ "Versatile and Deceptive Attack by Duke Crushes Colgate Eleven at Durham", October 8, 1939, Page 89
- ^ "Duke Tallies Five Touchdowns in Decisive Victory Over Syracuse in Durham", New York Times, October 22, 1939, Page 79
- ^ "Duke Overpowers Wake Forest, 23-0", New York Times, October 27, 1940, Page 80
- ^ "Duke Overwhelms Georgia Tech, 41-7", New York Times, November 3, 1940, Page 95
- ^ "Four From Duke On All-Star Team", New York Times, December 3, 1940, Page 39
- ^ "Duke Power Trips Pittsburgh, 27-7", New York Times, October 26, 1941, Page S4
- ^ "Duke Checks Georgia Tech, 14-0, To Continue Unbeaten and Untied", New York University, November 2, 1941, Page S8.
- ^ "This Morning With Shirley Povich", Washington Post, November 10, 1950, Page B5.
- ^ Duke University, http://www.drafthistory.com/colleges, Steve Lach.
- ^ "Enlist As Royal Cadets", August 22, 1942, Page 9.
- ^ "Gridiron Cardinals Defeat Rams With Pass in First Quarter, 7-0", New York Times, September 14, 1942, Page 21
- ^ "Cardinal Passes Defeat Lions, 13-0", New York Times, September 21, 1942, Page 21
- ^ "Green Bay Rallies For 17-13 Triumph", New York Times, October 5, 1942, Page 24
- ^ "Bears Routs Cards For 16th Straight", New York Times, October 12, 1942, Page 22
- ^ "17 All-Stars Set To Face Redskins", New York Times, July 8, 1943, Page 26
- ^ "First All Star Group Reports At Evanston", New York Times, August 8, 1943, Page S2
- ^ "Great Lakes Routs Pittsburgh by 40-0", New York Times, October 3, 1943, Page S1
- ^ Great Lakes Trips Ohio State By 13-6, New York Times, October 10, 1943, Page S4.
- ^ "First Irish Defeat", New York Times, November 28, 1943, Page S1
- ^ "Burrus And Lach Signed", New York Times, January 22, 1946, Page 35
- ^ Washington Post, September 22, 1948, Page 15.
- ^ "Steelers Conquer Boston Yanks, 16-7", New York Times, October 14, 1946, Page 35
- ^ "Steelers Conquer Redskins, 14-7, By Intercepting 2 Baugh Passes", New York Times, November 4, 1946, Page 44
- ^ "Redskins Conquer Steelers, 27-26, Baugh Passes Highlighting Rally", New York Times, October 6, 1947, Page 30
- ^ "Steelers Subdue Boston By 30-14", New York Times, October 13, 1947, Page 33
- ^ "8 Steelers Pallbearers", New York Times, April 13, 1948, Page 37
- ^ "Redskins Release Two More, Reducing Roster To 36 Players", Washington Post, September 23, 1948, Page 21