abstract
| - Herman Kerchoffe (sometimes spell as Herman Kirkoff) was professional American football player for the Pittsburgh Stars of the first National Football League in 1902, the Massillon Tigers in 1904 and the Canton Athletic Club (renamed the Canton Bulldogs in 1906). He was regarded as one of the best offensive linemen from his era. Kerchoff began his professional career with the Denver Athletic Club and the Chicago Athletic Association. In 1902, he helped the Pittsburgh Stars win the first, and only, NFL championship over the Philadelphia Athletics and the Philadelphia Phillies. He then became a member of the Franklin Athletic Club, which won the 1903 "World Championship" and the 1903 World Series of Football. In 1904, Kerchoff helped Massillon with a key 44-0 win over the Pittsburgh Lyceum, a 28-0 victory over the Shelby Blues and a 63-0 victory over the Sharon Buhl Club, the self-proclaimed champions of the western Pennsylvania football circuit. In 1906, Canton's coach, Blondy Wallace, signed Kerchoff a several other Massillon players to his team. To replace Kerchoff, Massillon signed Tiny Maxwell. He played for Canton during a two game home and home series against Massillon, which would determine the 1906 "Ohio League" champions. While Canton won the first game, the second game and the championship was won by Massillon. The events that followed the series resulted in accusations of a betting scandal. Prior to his professional career, Herman played in one season while at Purdue University.
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