At the time, 1920 census, Rochester (NY) was the 23rd biggest city in the US. Not a "major league" city perhaps but not Hammond or Evansville, IN (the latter was less than a third of Rochester and much larger than Hammond).
Incredible story--thank you for bringing it to us... I agree with Ron H--I initially thought it was a random time for a Duke Snider story--but like so many subscribers I'll follow Joe wherever his story takes me... And, this was even better than all of the Duke Snider stories I've heard... Thanks, Joe!
So when I first saw the title, my mind read Duke Snider. Then it wondered- wait, Duke Snider is in the baseball 100? Surely not. I read the entire series in The Athletic and also his previous 2 aborted versions. Then my mind suddenly asked - Wait, what is Joe doing reposting a Baseball 100 story? I was feeling pretty confused. Then I started reading, saw it was about football, not baseball. It was Slater, not Snider.
What a fantastic story. I had never heard of Slater. I was pretty sure joe would have very few old timers on his football 101. And here he gets a really early player most of us have never heard of.
BTW anyone for seconding my nomination for Joe to be the screenwriter for the upcoming movie?
An amendment to my post. Turns out “The Duke” was number 70 on his first attempt at the Baseball 100. The second attempt only went to number 65 and Duke did not make version2, in addition to not making the cut for his final version. I did not remember this.
I’d like to ask Joe to put up his stories from version 1 and 2 in special folders here on this site. I believe version 2 is already on here, but finding the stories is probably not easy. Not sure where, or if, version 1, is on the net. I have an excel spreadsheet listing of the three versions, comparing each. But do not have the actual stories for each one. 20 players made either one or both (e.g.Ron Santo) of the earlier versions but did not make the final cut.
We just inducted Duke into the inaugural class of Clinton County Walk of Fame. A touching tribute was made by his cousin who remembers Duke coming back mentoring local youth. Then there is an effort starting to get a statue for him at the high school football stadium.
I attended the 2005 Hall of Fame induction ceremony to watch Steve Young and Dan Marino get inducted, but I learned about another player inducted that day, Fritz Pollard. I had never heard of Fritz until that day, and I have never heard of Duke Slater until today. Both Fritz and Duke played in the same time period, and it's a shame neither were recognized sooner by the Hall of Fame. They were pioneers in the sport, and decades later they were mostly forgotten. I could not imagine the prejudice they both encountered, but both continued to be such honorable men. I'm grateful they have been recognized, and I do hope they find other ways to honor their memories and legacy for their families.
I hadn't heard of Slater either. That is a great story, not just in football but his life in general.
Up to this point, all of Joe's Top 101 players were solidly in the Super Bowl era. Willie Lanier was the earliest player included so far, and his NFL career started in 1967. Slater's 1922-1931 NFL career predates the Athletic's earliest entry in their list, Bronco Nagurski, who started in 1930.
Joe often noted in the Baseball 100 that he was reversing the traditional bias towards older players and ranking more recent players higher. Although the bias in football works in reverse, the same general principle may be applied, recognizing that it was easier to dominate the game in the earlier days.
You're right--the movie should be made. Instead, we got "Leatherheads", which says something, although I'd rather not know exactly what.
The 1922 Rochester Jeffersons were in Rochester, NY not Rochester, IN https://www.rochesterjeffersons.org/
At the time, 1920 census, Rochester (NY) was the 23rd biggest city in the US. Not a "major league" city perhaps but not Hammond or Evansville, IN (the latter was less than a third of Rochester and much larger than Hammond).
This is the first entry in this list that predates the Super Bowl era, correct? Here's hoping that there's many more of those older players to come!
Cool story. Paul Robeson also made a big name in college football at this time, but may have preceded the NFL. He had other skills, too...
Sounds like you've got a screenplay to write, Joe.
Joe left us an open question. Means we’ll hear a bit more about Duke a little higher up in this column.
Any relation to Jackie Slater? Maybe blocking is genetic. 😊
Incredible story--thank you for bringing it to us... I agree with Ron H--I initially thought it was a random time for a Duke Snider story--but like so many subscribers I'll follow Joe wherever his story takes me... And, this was even better than all of the Duke Snider stories I've heard... Thanks, Joe!
Very happy to learn about him. Thanks, Joe.
So when I first saw the title, my mind read Duke Snider. Then it wondered- wait, Duke Snider is in the baseball 100? Surely not. I read the entire series in The Athletic and also his previous 2 aborted versions. Then my mind suddenly asked - Wait, what is Joe doing reposting a Baseball 100 story? I was feeling pretty confused. Then I started reading, saw it was about football, not baseball. It was Slater, not Snider.
What a fantastic story. I had never heard of Slater. I was pretty sure joe would have very few old timers on his football 101. And here he gets a really early player most of us have never heard of.
BTW anyone for seconding my nomination for Joe to be the screenwriter for the upcoming movie?
An amendment to my post. Turns out “The Duke” was number 70 on his first attempt at the Baseball 100. The second attempt only went to number 65 and Duke did not make version2, in addition to not making the cut for his final version. I did not remember this.
I’d like to ask Joe to put up his stories from version 1 and 2 in special folders here on this site. I believe version 2 is already on here, but finding the stories is probably not easy. Not sure where, or if, version 1, is on the net. I have an excel spreadsheet listing of the three versions, comparing each. But do not have the actual stories for each one. 20 players made either one or both (e.g.Ron Santo) of the earlier versions but did not make the final cut.
We just inducted Duke into the inaugural class of Clinton County Walk of Fame. A touching tribute was made by his cousin who remembers Duke coming back mentoring local youth. Then there is an effort starting to get a statue for him at the high school football stadium.
I attended the 2005 Hall of Fame induction ceremony to watch Steve Young and Dan Marino get inducted, but I learned about another player inducted that day, Fritz Pollard. I had never heard of Fritz until that day, and I have never heard of Duke Slater until today. Both Fritz and Duke played in the same time period, and it's a shame neither were recognized sooner by the Hall of Fame. They were pioneers in the sport, and decades later they were mostly forgotten. I could not imagine the prejudice they both encountered, but both continued to be such honorable men. I'm grateful they have been recognized, and I do hope they find other ways to honor their memories and legacy for their families.
Again, home run from Joe. Thank you!
I hadn't heard of Slater either. That is a great story, not just in football but his life in general.
Up to this point, all of Joe's Top 101 players were solidly in the Super Bowl era. Willie Lanier was the earliest player included so far, and his NFL career started in 1967. Slater's 1922-1931 NFL career predates the Athletic's earliest entry in their list, Bronco Nagurski, who started in 1930.
I have not heard of Duke Slater before today but now I need the movie commemorating his life.
These are a far cry from feature length films, but https://magazine.foriowa.org/story.php?ed=true&storyid=1880 and https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2021/07/28/iowa-names-duke-slater-field-at-kinnick-stadium/ have some interesting stories and videos commemorating his career at Iowa, including a sculpture of an iconic picture of a block he made on a key TD in their 1921 championship season.
I'm having difficulty rectifying the story you just told with a ranking of 83. That's phenomenal.
Joe often noted in the Baseball 100 that he was reversing the traditional bias towards older players and ranking more recent players higher. Although the bias in football works in reverse, the same general principle may be applied, recognizing that it was easier to dominate the game in the earlier days.
Right! Based on that story I wonder how he’s not top ten!