Bruce Gehrke
Encyclopedia
Bruce Gehrke was a three sport star Ivy League
Hall of Famer,former professional football player for New York Giants
in the National football League
(NFL) and a winning coach. He won national championship (NCAA) titles in Baseball, Basketball and Football with Columbia Lions
where he was the most valuable and popular player.
in Floral Park, Long Island before joining Columbia University
in September 1942. In his first year, he starred on the varsity football, basketball and baseball teams.
The following year, Gehrke played shortstop for Columbia’s 1944 championship baseball team, while training for the Navy. Hugely popular among his teammates and fellow students, Gehrke had that intangible flair for color that made him a crowd pleaser. His play, in every sport, was daring and spectacular, yet he was as crafty a competitor as anyone could have been. Gehrke was also the Coach of his fratenity basketball team in intermural play. He took a break from college when he spent a year with the Navy overseas in Okinawa during World War II
. He returned to Columbia for his junior year in September 1946.
In his senior year, Gehrke played a major role in Columbia’s 21-20 victory over Army, regarded as one of the greatest Columbia Football games ever played. One of Columbia’s most versatile athletes ever, Gehrke is the last Lion athlete to have lettered all four years in three different varsity sports, other than track and cross country athletes. He graduated from Columbia in 1948, finishing a phenomenal career that included a league title in baseball, two in basketball as well as some of the Lions’ most successful football seasons.
On October 2, 2008 Gehrke was Inducted into hall of fame as a three sport star for the Columbia Lions.
.
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
Hall of Famer,former professional football player for New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the National football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) and a winning coach. He won national championship (NCAA) titles in Baseball, Basketball and Football with Columbia Lions
Columbia Lions
The Columbia University Lions are the collective athletic teams and their members from Columbia University, an Ivy League institution in New York City, United States. The current director of athletics is M...
where he was the most valuable and popular player.
Early Life
Gehrke was born in Long Island, New York and attended Sewanhaka High SchoolSewanhaka High School
Sewanhaka High School is a six-year public high school located in Floral Park, New York, United States, as part of the Sewanhaka Central High School District. The school's sports teams are known as "The Indians" and the team colors are purple, gold, and white. The school's name translates to...
in Floral Park, Long Island before joining Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in September 1942. In his first year, he starred on the varsity football, basketball and baseball teams.
The following year, Gehrke played shortstop for Columbia’s 1944 championship baseball team, while training for the Navy. Hugely popular among his teammates and fellow students, Gehrke had that intangible flair for color that made him a crowd pleaser. His play, in every sport, was daring and spectacular, yet he was as crafty a competitor as anyone could have been. Gehrke was also the Coach of his fratenity basketball team in intermural play. He took a break from college when he spent a year with the Navy overseas in Okinawa during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He returned to Columbia for his junior year in September 1946.
Twelve Varsity Letters and Hall of Fame
Gehrke is believed to be the only Columbia University student to earn 12 varsity letters and start for a team i.e. football, basketball, baseball each season.In his senior year, Gehrke played a major role in Columbia’s 21-20 victory over Army, regarded as one of the greatest Columbia Football games ever played. One of Columbia’s most versatile athletes ever, Gehrke is the last Lion athlete to have lettered all four years in three different varsity sports, other than track and cross country athletes. He graduated from Columbia in 1948, finishing a phenomenal career that included a league title in baseball, two in basketball as well as some of the Lions’ most successful football seasons.
On October 2, 2008 Gehrke was Inducted into hall of fame as a three sport star for the Columbia Lions.
National Football League
Gehrke eventually went on to play for his hometown New York Giants in National Football League and later became a winning coach when spent several years coaching high school football and basketball on his native Long Island. Gehrke was drafted by New York Giants in the 4th round (24th overall) of the 1948 NFL Draft1948 NFL Draft
The 1948 National Football League Draft was held on December 19, 1947 at the Fort Pitt Hotel in Pittsburgh.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:...
.