George Trafton

George Trafton
No. 13
Position: Center
Personal information
Date of birth: (1896-12-06)December 6, 1896
Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois
Date of death: September 5, 1971(1971-09-05) (aged 74)
Career information
College: Notre Dame
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 149
Games started: 100
Player stats at NFL.com

George Edward Trafton (December 6, 1896 – September 5, 1971), was an American football player. He played as a center for the Decatur Staleys (now known as the Chicago Bears) of the National Football League (NFL) from 1920 to 1921 and 1923 to 1932. He is credited as being the first center to snap the ball with one hand. Trafton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964.[1]

Trafton's football skills first came to notice when he played at Oak Park River Forest High School, then named Oak Park High, in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park. Afterwards, he attended the University of Notre Dame for one year.

On December 18, 1929, Trafton took part in a boxing match against Chicago White Sox player Art Shires. Trafton won by decision after five rounds.[2] He fought three more bouts in early 1930 before meeting future world champion Primo Carnera in Kansas City on March 26, 1930.[3] Trafton was knocked out by Carnera in the first round of their fight.[4] In the aftermath of the fight, Trafton was suspended indefinitely by the Missouri Boxing Commission for failing to provide more resistance in the 54 second bout.[5]

Trafton later became the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Western Interprovincial Football Union from 1951 to 1953.

References

  1. ↑ "George Trafton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame". profootballhof.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  2. ↑ "Art Shires Loses Some Cockiness In Trafton Bout". The Miami News. Associated Press. 18 December 1929. p. 15. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  3. ↑ "George Trafton career boxing record". boxrec.com. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  4. ↑ "Carnera Floors Trafton In Single Round". Eugene Register Guard. Associated Press. 27 March 1930. p. 10. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  5. ↑ "Trafton Suspended". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Associated Press. 28 March 1930. p. 19. Retrieved 28 February 2011.


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