Steve Hamas
Personal information
Born:(1907-01-09)January 9, 1907
Passaic, New Jersey, US
Died:October 11, 1974(1974-10-11) (aged 67)
Northport, New York, US
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:East Rutherford (NJ)
College:Penn State
Position:Fullback
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games:12

Steven Vincent Hamas (January 9, 1907 – October 11, 1974), also known as Hurricane and the Passaic Pounder,[1] was an American football player and boxer. He was a multi-sport athlete at Pennsylvania State University in the late 1920s, receiving 12 varsity letters in football, boxing, lacrosse, basketball, and track and field. He played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) in 1929 and then turned to professional boxing, defeating former heavyweight champions Tommy Loughran and Max Schmeling. He compiled a 35–4–2 in 41 bouts.

Early years

Hamas was born in 1907 in Passaic, New Jersey.[2] His father was an immigrant from Austria-Hungary who operated a tavern. His mother died when Steve was a boy. The family moved to Wallington, New Jersey, and Hamas transferred from Passaic High School to East Rutherford High School where he had "a fabulous athletic career."[3][4][5]

Penn State

He enrolled at Pennsylvania State University on a football scholarship.[5] He played for Penn State Nittany Lions football team where coach Hugo Bezdek played him at center, tackle, end, and halfback, and dubbed him the "All-American substitute."[5] He was a five-sport star at Penn State, competing in football, basketball, track and field (shot put, discus and hammer throw), and lacrosse.[5][4][6]

Though he had never boxed before, Penn State boxing coach Leo Houck recruited Hamas to spar with his roommate and the team's light heavyweight star, Marty McAndrews. His progress was slowed by a broken wrist, and he underwent an operation to straighten the wrist. He defeated "Dynamite Joe" LaVoti of Syracuse in his first meet and went on to win the national collegiate championship.[7] Hamas was the first athlete in Penn State history to receive 12 varsity letters, and as of 2015, the feat had been matched only by Tubby Crawford in the 1940s.[1]

Professional football

He played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) as a fullback for the Orange Tornadoes. He appeared in 12 NFL games, five as a starter, during the 1929 season.[2]

Professional boxing

After his football career ended, Hamas competed as a professional boxer in the heavyweight division. He won his first 29 bouts.[1] He twice defeated former light-heavyweight champion Tommy Loughran,[4][8] and in February 1934, he also defeated former champion Max Schmeling.[9]

In a rematch with Schmeling in March 1935 in Hamburg, Germany, Hamas had suffered a pre-fight injury, tearing a tendon in his left elbow while training in Hamburg. Hamas was not fit to fight in the rematch as the pain from the injury severely limited his ability to strike with his left arm.[10] Schmeling showed no mercy, and Hamas injured his knee falling to the mat and lost badly, the only fight that Hamas did not finish in his career.[1][10] Hamas was hospitalized for months after the fight, suffering a concussion and having his left side paralyzed for three years.[10][11] He did not fight again.[1]

Hamas had 41 professional bouts from 1930 to 1935, winning 35 (27 by knockout), losing four (twice to Loughran, once to Schmeling, and once to Lee Ramage), and two draws.[12]

Later years

During World War II, Hamas served in the United States Army Air Forces and attained the rank of major. He was assigned to physical fitness training for airmen. After the war, he worked as a copper salesman, for the Wright Aeronautical Company, and later for the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles. He died in 1974 at age 67.[1][5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Clayton Over. "Boxing legend 'Hurricane Hamas' has roots in Happy Valley". October 8, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Steven Hamas". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  3. ↑ Bob Curley (April 10, 1954). "The Steve Hamas Story, part 1". The Herald-News. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "Hamas' Second Win Over Loughran Proves Him Formidable Heavyweight Contender; Shows That All College Ringsters Aren't False Alarms". The Alliance Times-Herald. June 3, 1932. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Bob Curley (April 12, 1954). "The Steve Hamas Story, part 2". The Herald-News. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Penn State Soon To Lose Hamas, Five Sport Star". The Wilkes-Barre Record. May 28, 1929. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Bob Curley (April 13, 1954). "The Steve Hamas Story, part 3". The Herald-Press. p. 22.
  8. ↑ George Kirksey (January 6, 1928). "Loughran Intends To Beat Lomski And Then Go After Tunney". Lancaster New Era. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Schmeling To Carry On Despite Defeat". The Baltimore Sun. February 14, 1934. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 3 Bob Curley (April 16, 1954). "The Steve Hamas Story, part 4". The Herald-News. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Joe Lovas (May 12, 1965). "Hamas Took Up Boxing as Joke, Became Leading Title Contender". The Herald-Press. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Steve Hamas". BoxRec. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
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