Ernest Schmidt
(1911-1986)
Hall of Fame Induction: 1974
Card Shown:
Signed Photograph
Position: C
Height: 6’4″
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Ernest Schmidt was one of the greatest college basketball players of his era. He played college ball for Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburgh, later to be known simply as Pittsburgh State. Schmidt was awarded All-Conference honors four times and was the leading scorer in his conference three times.
Awards and Honors
- Ernest attended Winfield High School and led them to three consecutive State Championships. He was a consensus All-State selection in 1927, 1928, and 1929.
- He was a four-time All-Conference basketball selection while at Pittsburgh State.
- Ernest led the Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburgh Gorillas to a record 47-game college basketball winning streak. This record lasted until 1956 when the San Francisco Dons, featuring Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, broke the record with 60 straight wins. In 1974 the UCLA Bruins won 88 straight basketball games without a loss.
- Schmidt was named to the AAU All-American Second Team in 1932.
- Ernest was inducted into the Pittsburgh State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
Points of Interest
- Ernest was nicknamed “One-Grand” because he scored exactly 1,000 points while playing basketball at Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburgh.
- At 6’4″, Schmidt was bigger than most of his opponents. He often scored on tip-ins and a strong one-handed shot.
- At one point, Ernest was recognized as the greatest college player in Missouri.
- From 1932-1936, Schmidt played AAU basketball in Reno and Denver.
Ernest Schmidt Videos
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