Mose Kelsch Explained

Birth Date:31 January 1897
Birth Place:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death Place:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Number:37
Position: / /
College:none
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lbs:235
Pastteams:
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:16
Statlabel2:FG made
Statvalue2:4
Statlabel3:PAT made
Statvalue3:4
Pfr:KelsMo20

Christian "Mose" Kelsch (January 31, 1897 – July 13, 1935) was an American football placekicker and running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was a charter member of the Pittsburgh Pirates (which would later be renamed the Steelers).

Kelsch grew up as an orphan in Pittsburgh's Troy Hill neighborhood. He earned the nickname "Mose" while playing sandlot baseball, though no one was able to recall the circumstances that brought the name about.[1] He played semi-professional football for several teams in the area, including the Hope-Harveys, James P. Rooneys and Majestic Radio teams managed by Art Rooney which would form the basis of the NFL's Pirates.[1]

At the time he joined the newly formed Pirates in Kelsch, at 36 years old, was the oldest player in the NFL. Even the Pirates' owner, Rooney, was four years his junior.[2] He was used almost exclusively for his kicking ability, coming into the game to convert field goals and extra points.[3] He may have been the first such "specialist" in the still-nascent NFL.[4] He was also one of the few players in the league at the time who never played college football and listed the "School of Hard Knocks" as his alma mater whenever asked.[1]

Kelsch never married. He died in an automobile accident on July 13, 1935. Art Rooney served as a pall-bearer at his funeral.[1]

Notes and References

  1. News: Sell. Jack. Funeral Rites Wednesday for Mose Kelsch. May 12, 2011. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 15, 1935.
  2. Book: Fulks, Matt . The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Pittsburgh Steelers heart-pounding, jaw-dropping and gut-wrenching moments from Pittsburgh Steelers history . 2008 . . 978-1-57243-922-1 . 137–139.
  3. News: Smith. Chester L.. North Side Pals, Racketeers and the Rest, Ready to Pay Final Honors to Mose Kelsch . May 12, 2011. Pittsburgh Press. July 14, 1935.
  4. Braunwart . Bob . Bob Carroll . 1980 . Now Kicking, Kelsch! . The Coffin Corner . . 2 . 8 . 1–3 . PDF . May 12, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101218231435/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/02-08-039.pdf . December 18, 2010 . dead .