Pete Calac facts for kids
| No. 4 (1922) 6 (1923) |
|
 |
|
| Born: | May 13, 1892 Valley Center, California |
|---|---|
| Died: | January 30, 1968 (aged 75) Canton, Ohio |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | End/Wingback/Tailback/Fullback |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| College | Carlisle West Virginia Wesleyan |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1916–1920 | Canton Bulldogs (OL)/(NFL) |
| 1921 | Cleveland Indians (NFL) |
| 1921 | Union Quakers (Ind.) |
| 1921 | Washington Senators (NFL) |
| 1922–1923 | Oorang Indians (NFL) |
| 1924 | Buffalo Bisons (NFL) |
| 1925–1926 | Canton Bulldogs (NFL) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 U.S. Army |
| Unit | 91st Division |
| Battles/wars | World War I Western Front |
Pedro "Pete" Calac (born May 13, 1892 – died January 30, 1968) was a talented football player. He played in the Ohio League and later in the early years of the National Football League (NFL). Over his 10-year career, he played for several teams. These included the Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Oorang Indians, and the Buffalo Bisons.
Contents
Pete Calac's Life Story
Growing Up and Early School
Pete Calac was born on May 13, 1892, in Valley Center, California. He was a Mission Indian, meaning he was part of a Native American group from California. Pete grew up on a reservation. When he was young, two of his brothers sadly died from typhoid fever.
He first went to the Sherman Indian School in Riverside, California. But Pete ran away from the school and went home to the reservation two years in a row. The third time, he was sent to the Carlisle Indian School far away in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Time at Carlisle Indian School
Pete arrived at Carlisle Indian School on November 16, 1908, when he was 15 years old. He traveled all the way across the country by train. When he started, he only had a third-grade education.
Pete left Carlisle in 1911 but returned in 1912. It was at this school that he started playing competitive football. He had never played the game before and didn't know much about it. Other players noticed him because he was quite large.
He became good friends with Jim Thorpe, who would later become one of the most famous athletes ever. Pete and Jim would even play professional football together later on. Pete was chosen as the football team's captain in both 1914 and 1915.
Serving in the U.S. Army
After attending West Virginia Wesleyan college, Pete went back to California to visit his family. While there, he joined the Army. He served in the 91st Division, which was known as the "Wild West Division."
Pete fought in World War I in both France and Belgium. He returned home safely from the war without any injuries. He later joked that he "dug in too much" during battles.
Pete Calac's Football Career
Playing for the Canton Bulldogs
In 1916, Pete Calac joined the Canton Bulldogs football team. His former Carlisle teammate, Jim Thorpe, also played for the Bulldogs. With Pete and Jim leading the way, the Bulldogs had an amazing season. They won 9 games, lost none, and tied one. This made them the champions of the Ohio League and they were called the best professional football team.
The Bulldogs repeated their success in 1917, winning the Ohio League championship again. In 1919, another future Hall of Famer, Joe Guyon, joined Pete and Jim in the backfield. Together, they won their third Ohio League Championship.
Joining the Union Quakers
In 1921, Pete Calac and Joe Guyon played for the Union Quakers team. They joined the Quakers for games around the Thanksgiving holiday. This team won the Philadelphia City Championship that year.
Time with the Washington Senators
The Washington Senators team only played one season in the NFL. After the 1921 season, the team left the league. Only three players from that team continued to play in the NFL the next season. Pete Calac was one of those players, along with Benny Boynton and Joe Guyon.
The Oorang Indians Team
In the winter of 1921, a man named Walter Lingo met Jim Thorpe and Pete Calac. Lingo bred Airedale dogs and wanted to promote them. He decided to buy a team in the National Football League. This team was called the Oorang Indians.
The Oorang Indians team was special because it was made up only of Native American players. Lingo mostly used the team to advertise his Airedale dogs. Even though the team had two future Hall of Famers, Jim Thorpe and Joe Guyon, they weren't known for being a top football team. Instead, they were famous for their fun halftime shows, which often featured their dogs. Pete Calac played as a halfback for the Oorang Indians during their two years in the league.
Playing for the Buffalo Bisons
After the Oorang Indians team stopped playing in 1923, Pete Calac needed a new team. He was signed by the Buffalo Bisons. The Bisons wanted to sign famous players to make the team better and attract more fans.
Pete was offered a contract to play as the team's fullback. With players like Pete, Tommy Hughitt, Benny Boynton, and Eddie Kaw, the Bisons had a very strong offense. In their first game of the season, Pete was knocked out of the game with a broken nose.
Pete once went to a restaurant in Philadelphia with some teammates. He sat next to a rookie player named Jim Ailinger. When the waiter asked Pete what he wanted, he said, "A lot of meat and a lot of potatoes."
Pete Calac's Family Life
Pete Calac and his wife were married in 1924. They had a son, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. Pete's son followed in his footsteps and played high school football in Canton. Later, his son became a police officer. Pete Calac passed away on January 30, 1968.
Pete Calac's Legacy
Grantland Rice, a very famous American sportswriter, once wrote about how amazing Native American football players were. He believed that an "All-Indian Football team" could beat any other famous team. He mentioned a powerful group of players: Jim Thorpe, Joe Guyon, Pete Calac, and Frank Mount Pleasant. This shows how highly Pete Calac was regarded in the football world.
