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Bernie Kaplan

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American football player (1913–1992)

Bernie Kaplan
No. 55, 77
Kaplan in 1936
Born:(1913-05-07)May 7, 1913
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:June 14, 1992(1992-06-14) (aged 79)
Career information
Position(s)Guard
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
CollegeMcDaniel College
High schoolSimon Gratz (PA)
Career history
As player
1935–1936New York Giants
1942Philadelphia Eagles
Career stats
Games played22
Starts8

Bernard "Champ" Kaplan (May 7, 1913 – June 14, 1992) was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles.

A two-time national collegiate boxing champion in the light heavyweight class, Kaplan signed with Philadelphia fight manager Joe Jacobs in 1935 and was touted as "The Jewish Jack Dempsey" and a potential contender for the heavyweight boxing title, fighting at 189 pounds.

Biography

Early years

Bernie Kaplan was born May 7, 1913, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Simon Gratz High School in that city. Playing football for the Simon Gratz team, Kaplan won recognition as an All-Public High School lineman as a senior in 1929-30.

College career

Kaplan attended Western Maryland College (now known as McDaniel College), located in Westminster, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. A powerful athlete, Kaplan was runner up in the light heavyweight classification in the 1930–31 Middle Atlantic Wrestling Championships.

He also played college football for the Green Terror, starting at the guard position — playing both offense and defense as was done in this single-platoon era.

As a junior in 1933, Western Maryland finished with a record of 5–3. The 1934 team of Kaplan's senior season was something of a juggernaut, however, racking up a record of 8–0–1, pitching an astounding 8 shutouts while allowing just 12 points all year.

Kaplan was best known during his college years as a skilled amateur boxer, winning the Eastern Intercollegiate Boxing Association and national collegiate championships as a light heavyweight (175-pound) as a sophomore in 1933 and again as a junior in 1934.

Kaplan turned his attention back to wrestling only in the spring of 1935, winning a tournament to earn a place on the American team for the 1935 Maccabiah Games, also known as the "Jewish Olympics", held in Tel Aviv during the first week of April.

Kaplan was expected to arrive in Mandatory Palestine on April 3, one day after the starting ceremony but in time to participate in the boxing and wrestling competitions. Unfortunately, Kaplan's ship was delayed off the English coast due to weather and he only arrived in Tel Aviv one day after completion of the games.

Professional career

Upon his return from the Middle East, Kaplan announced that he planned to play professional football for Tim Mara and the New York Giants for 1935. With training camp due to start on September 2, Kaplan continued to train as a boxer at the Olympic Gym in Philadelphia, signed to the stable of manager Joe Jacobs, who also handled Max Schmeling. As a two-time collegiate champion, now fighting at 189 pounds, Kaplan was touted as "The Jewish Jack Dempsey" and seen by some as a potential future contender for the heavyweight boxing crown. Plans were made for a professional boxing debut in the winter of 1935-36, following the conclusion of football season.

Kaplan signed his contract with the Giants in August 1935 and reported to the team's training camp in upstate New York on Labor Day. Kaplan was able to make the team, landing a spot on the 24-man regular season roster of the 1934 NFL champions. Due to his successful boxing background — and noteworthy consumption of food at the training table — Kaplan quickly earned the nickname "Champ" from his Giants teammates.

References

  1. ^ Vackner, "Joe Jacobs Likely to Enjoy Last Laugh in Heavyweight Ring Comedy: Manager Has Ace-In-Hole Boxer Ready," Brooklyn Times-Union, July 24, 1935, p. 13.
  2. "Bernie Kaplan Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. "Western Maryland Football Stars Play Finale at Bucknell University," Sunbury Daily Item, Nov. 13, 1934, p. 8.
  4. W.R. Okeson (ed.), Official Intercollegiate Football Guide, 1934. New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1934; p. 181.
  5. W.R. Okeson (ed.), Spalding's 1935 Official Intercollegiate Foot Ball Guide. New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1934; p. 206.
  6. "Capt. Thibodeau Looms Ace of C.U. Boxing Team," Washington Times-Herald, Dec. 13, 1934, p. 36.
  7. Harold "Speed" Johnson (ed.), Who's Who in Major League Football: 1936 Edition. Chicago: B.E. Callahan, 1936; p. 18.
  8. Albert W. Keane, "Calling 'Em Right," Hartford Courant, March 7, 1935, p. 17.
  9. "The USA has successful history in wrestling, heading into the 20th Maccabiah Games in Israel in July". July 20, 2020. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  10. ^ "Bernie Kaplan Goes to Palestine for Jewish Olympics," Wilkes-Barre Evening News, March 22, 1935, p. 14.
  11. ^ Joe Sephus, "Joe Sephus' Cullings," Cumberland Evening Times, Sept. 7, 1935, p. 4.
  12. Charles Heckelmann, "Jewish Heavy May Prove Big Title Factor: Bernie Kaplan, Managed by Joe Jacobs, is a Very Versatile Athlete," Brooklyn Eagle, July 29, 1935, p. 9.
  13. "Kaplan, Western Maryland, Signs With Giants," Washington Herald, Aug. 14, 1935, p. 15.
  14. ^ "Giants Present Strong Lineup: Grid Champs Ready for Home Debut Sunday," Hackensack Record, Oct. 10, 1935, p. 27.
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