June 28, 1928: The Tragedy of Harry Kersenbrock

Left to right: Phog Allen, Harry Kersenbrock, James Naismith

June 28, 1928: Harry Kersenbrock dies from drowning in Crete, Nebraska. He was only 22 years old.

He was born on December 4, 1905, also in Crete, Nebraska. The last of 8 children, his father died when he was a toddler, and his mother had to raise all 8 alone. "High Harry" grew to a height of 7 feet, one-half inch. In the Final of the 1925 Saline County Basketball Tournament, he played for Crete High against DeWitt, and scored all of his team's points in a 45-9 win. This was when there was still a center jump after every basket, so 45 was a lot of points for a single player, at any level.

He played basketball at Doane College (renamed Doane University in 2016) in Crete, before transferring to the University of Kansas, coached by Dr. Forest "Phog" Allen, with his mentor, the inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, still teaching on campus. (Both men were certified medical doctors.)

Like a later, even taller, basketball star at that school, Wilt Chamberlain, he was also an expert high jumper by the standards of his time. Unlike Wilt, he also played football, at least at Doane, using his height to stop any runner and bat down any pass.

On June 28, 1928, he and a former Crete High and Doane football teammate, Byron Horn, were canoeing on the Blue River, near Crete. As they approached the boathouse, the canoe tipped, throwing them both into the water. Kersenbrock took Horn down with him once before both gained a hold on the canoe.

Horn could swim slightly, and Kersenbrock not at all, friends said. Horn told him to hang on, as he tried to swim ashore pulling the canoe. But the hold slipped, and the football player went down, not rising again.

He has been forgotten. But, even had he lived, there might not have been much of a post-college platform for him. This was before the advent of college basketball doubleheaders at Madison Square Garden in New York, the NCAA Tournament, the NIT, or any professional basketball league that could be called "major."

Harry Kersenbrock never got to become a Kansas Jayhawk basketball legend like his predecessors Paul Endacott, Charlie T. Black or Tusten Ackerman; or his successors Charles B. Black (no relation to Charlie T.), Ray Evans, Clyde Lovellette, B.H. Born, Wilt Chamberlain, Walt Wesley, Jo Jo White, Dave Robisch, Darnell Valentine, Danny Manning, Jacques Vaughn, Raef LaFrentz, Paul Pierce, Drew Gooden, Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison, Thomas Robinson or Frank Mason III.

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June 28, 1928 was a Thursday. Patrick Hemingway, writer and wildlife manager, was born on this day, to writer and adventurer Ernest Hemingway and 2nd wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. This was also the day that Governor Al Smith of New York was nominated for President by the Democratic Party, making him the 1st Catholic major-party nominee for the office. I have a separate entry for that event.

These baseball games were played:

* The New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 10-4 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. George Pipgras went the distance for the win, while Rube Walberg only pitched 2 innings. Babe Ruth went 3-for-5 with 2 home runs, a walk and 3 RBIs. Bob Meusel went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, and 2 RBIs. Lou Gehrig went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.

Playing out the string with the A's, Ty Cobb went 1-for-5 with an RBI, Eddie Collins struck out as a pinch-hitter, and Tris Speaker did not get into the game. Jimmy Dykes went 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk and 3 RBIs. Al Simmons went 1-for-4. Jimmie Foxx went 0-for-3 with a walk. He was catching, and Mickey Cochrane did not get into the game.

* The New York Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-1 at the Polo Grounds. Bill Terry and Mel Ott each went 0-for-2 with a walk.

* A doubleheader was split at Fenway Park in Boston. The Washington Senators won the opener, 4-3. The Boston Red Sox won the nightcap, 8-7.

* The St. Louis Browns beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-2 at Navin Field (later Briggs Stadium and Tiger Stadium) in Detroit.

* The Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 3-2 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

* The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Frankie Frisch and Chick Hafey hit home runs. For the Pirates, Paul Waner went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, and Pie Traynor and Lloyd Waner each went 0-for-4.

* The Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds were rained out at Redland Field (later renamed Crosley Field) in Cincinnati. The game was made up on July 2. The Cubs won, 8-2. Hack Wilson went 3-for-5 with 4 RBIs. Kiki Cuyler also went 3-for-5, but had no RBIs.

* And the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves were not scheduled.