George Lambert Kraemer (June 2, 1894 – September 22, 1974), sometimes listed as George Kramer,[1] was an American football player. He played professional football as a guard for the Minneapolis Marines from 1916 to 1924. He also served for many years with the Minneapolis Fire and Police Departments.

George Kraemer
Personal information
Born:(1894-06-02)June 2, 1894
Joliet, Illinois
Died:September 22, 1974(1974-09-22) (aged 80)
Chicago, IL
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Position:Guard, tackle
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games:19
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early years

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Kraemer was born in 1894 in either Joliet, Illinois,[1] or Minnesota.[2]

Professional football

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Kraemer played professional football for the Minneapolis Marines in 1916 prior to the formation of the National Football League (NFL).[3] When the NFL was formed, the Marines were included, and Kraemer continued with the club in its NFL years from 1921 to 1924. He played primarily as a guard, but also as a tackle and back. He appeared in 19 NFL games, 10 as a starter.[2][1] He also played in 1926 for the Twin City All-Stars, at which time the Minneapolis Daily Star wrote that he had "performed brilliantly on various professional football teams of local repute in the last few years at a guard position."[4]

Fire/police career and later years

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While playing football, Kraemer held jobs initially with the Minneapolis Fire Department stating in 1917, then transferring to the Minneapolis Police Department in 1923.[3][5] While serving with the police department, Kraemer received eight commendations and killed three men in the line of duty. One of his commendations was for arresting 97 vagrants in a two-day period.[3] In 1931, he engaged in a gunfight with a prowler that put him on the front page of The Minneapolis Star.[6] In 1945, Kraemer left the police department and operated a bar in Minneapolis until 1950.[3]

Kraemer died of a heart attack in 1965 at age 68 at his home in Minneapolis.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "George Kramer". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "George Kraemer". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Mr. Kraemer, Detective, Bar Owner, Dies at 68". The Minneapolis Star. October 7, 1965. p. 15B – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Paul Des Jardien Will Captain All-Star Team". Minneapolis Daily Star. September 16, 1926. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Des Jardien Signs To Oppose Nevers". The Minneapolis Journal. September 16, 1926. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Gunman, Shot in Duel, Dying". The Minneapolis Star. July 3, 1931. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.