Vic Janowicz

Vic Janowicz
Janowicz, circa 1951
Born	Victor Felix Janowicz (1930-02-26)February 26, 1930 Elyria, Ohio, U.S.
Died	February 27, 1996(1996-02-27) (aged 66) Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Football career
No. 43
Position	Halfback
Personal information
Listed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight	187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school	Elyria
College	Ohio State (1949–1951)
NFL draft	1952: 7th round, 79th overall pick
Career history
Washington Redskins (1954–1955)
Awards and highlights
Heisman Trophy (1950) UPI Player of the Year (1950) SN Player of the Year (1950) Unanimous All-American (1950) Second-team All-All-American (1951) Chicago Tribune Silver Football (1950) 2× First-team All-Big Ten (1950, 1951) Ohio State Buckeyes No. 31 retired
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards 410 Rushing average 4.1 Rushing touchdowns 4 Receptions 12 Receiving yards 148 Receiving touchdowns 3 Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame
Baseball career
Catcher
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 31, 1953, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
September 10, 1954, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Batting average	.214
Home runs	2
RBI	10
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Pittsburgh Pirates (1953–1954)

Victor Felix "Crash" Janowicz (February 26, 1930 – February 27, 1996) was an American football halfback and baseball catcher whose promising National Football League (NFL) career was cut short by a serious automobile accident in southern California. In 1950, he was awarded the Heisman Trophy and selected as the UPI College Football Player of the Year while a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes team. He went on to become the first Heisman Trophy winner to play major league baseball, a feat that Auburn Tigers halfback Bo Jackson duplicated 35 years later.

Janowicz was selected in the seventh round of the 1952 NFL draft and played professionally for the Washington Redskins in the 1954 and 1955 seasons. He was one of the few athletes in the post-World War II era to play in both the NFL and Major League Baseball, where he spent two seasons (1953-54) as a catcher and third baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Janowicz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976.

At 5-foot-9, 187 pounds, Janowicz the football player played bigger than his somewhat modest size. The fan favorite was known to run over defenders if he couldn't run around them, a bruising style that prompted local supporters and media to call him "Crash" before long.

Early life

Janowicz was born and raised in Elyria, Ohio as son of Polish immigrants. He attended Holy Cross Elementary School and graduated from Elyria High School. The stretch of Seventh Street which runs along the south side of Elyria High is named Vic Janowicz Drive in his honor. In addition, a life-size painting of Janowicz hangs in the lobby of the school. The Little League Baseball field located on Wittenburg Ave in Elyria is named Vic Janowicz Park.

College career

Janowicz starred at Ohio State University, where as a tailback in the single wing offense, he was among the first triple-threats in college football." The junior was awarded the Heisman Trophy in the 1950 season.^[1]

Said Woody Hayes, who coached Janowicz as a senior, "He was not only a great runner, but also passed, was a placekicker and punter, played safety on defense and was an outstanding blocker. Janowicz epitomized the so-called triple-threat football player.^[2]

Professional career

After graduation from college, Janowicz passed up offers to play professional football in order to pursue a baseball career. He reached the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates but hit only .214 over two seasons as a bench player. He returned to football with the Washington Redskins late in the 1954 season.

One year later, when Janowicz emerged as one of the best young players in the pro football, it appeared that he had made a wise career decision. League-wide, he ranked among the top 10 in points scored (88), touchdowns (seven), extra points (28), field goals (six) and field goal percentage (30.00). The second-place Redskins finished with an 8-4 record, their best in nine years.

Tragic accident

Prior to the 1956 season, Janowicz suffered a severe brain injury in a two-car crash that left him partially paralyzed on the left side and ultimately ended his career as a professional athlete.

After a 39-21 win over the Rams in an exhibition game on Aug. 19 at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Janowicz attended a victory celebration at the home of Redskins teammate Gene Brito near San Bernardino, approximately 90 miles from the site of the game. On his way back to the team training facility at Occidental College, Janowicz sustained severe brain trauma, lacerations and bruises when the car driven by 21-year-old student nurse Barbara Wagner swerved out of control and struck a utility pole. Teammate Al Dorow suffered a back injury in the accident. The victims were taken to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital for treatment and observation.

Janowicz returned to Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio to begin a rehabilitation program, but when his paralysis and occasional memory lapses lingered for nearly two years, it ended any hope for a return to the gridiron.

Post-playing career

Janowicz eventually recovered well enough to broadcast Ohio State football games. Later he worked as an account executive at a Columbus manufacturing firm and as an administrative assistant to the state auditor.

Janowicz's grave at St. Joseph Cemetery (Lockbourne, Ohio)

He died of cancer in Columbus on February 27, 1996, a day after his 66th birthday. He is buried at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, Ohio.^[3]

References

1. "The Repository". www.cantonrep.com. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
2. "The Repository". www.cantonrep.com. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
3. Karsko, Bernie (March 3, 1996). "OSU FOOTBALL GREAT VIC JANOWICZ BURIED". The Columbus Dispatch. pp. 3E.

External links

• Vic Janowicz at the College Football Hall of Fame
• Heisman Trophy profile
• Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
• Career statistics from Baseball Reference · Baseball Reference (Minors)  · Retrosheet  · Baseball Almanac