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KANSAN.COM
RETIRED JERSEYS
GALE GORDON
Center, 1925-1927
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No.26
► MICHAEL SWAIN
@mswain97
From 1923 to 1927, Kansas owned the Missouri Valley Conference.
The Jayhawks had won five-straight conference titles and lost only nine games during that time. That run of conference championships was the longest in school history until Kansas had won six-straight Big 12 rings in 2010.
Alarge piece of that later success was Gale Gordon, a two-time first-team All-American and All-Missouri Valley center. Gordon's All-American honor in 1926 was a consensus first-team All-American award. Gordon played for the
Jayhawks for three seasons from 1925-27.
Suiting up in 49 games, Gordon scored 219 points for an average of 4.5 per game. In one of those early 49 games, Gordon was on hand when the Jayhawks won their 300th game, a 33-11 win over Iowa State in 1925.
At the conclusion of the 1927 season, the Lawrence Journal-World asked James Naismith to select an "All-Modern KU Basketball Team" from the 1923-27 teams. Naismith selected Paul Endacott, Tus Ackerman, Charlie T. Black, Gordon and Al Peterson, according to Phog Allen in his book, "Better Basketball."
But the 1926 championship didn't look like it was going to happen. Through four games, Kansas started the season 2-2 after dropping
the season opener to Washington (Mo.) 18-25 and a game against Oklahoma 21-29.
lineup.
Allen switched Glenn Burton and Gordon's positions. Kansas didn't
The University yearbook, the
"Jayhawker," celebrated their success, writing, "Peterson, Gordon, and Schmidt were too strong a combination for the opposing teams ... Without question, this trio is one of the smoothest and fastest scoring combinations ever unleashed on a college basketball floor."
In Allen's book "Better Basketball," after, "a neat Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde stunt, playing the Sooners off their feet in the first half and being just as badly outclassed in the second frame," he changed the
lose another game that season.
The University yearbook, the "Jayhawker," celebrated their success, writing, "Peterson, Gordon, and Schmidt were too strong a combination
Photo courtesy of University Archives
for the opposing teams to overcome in the offensive part of the game. Without question, this trio is one of the smoothest and fastest scoring combinations ever unleashed on a college basketball floor."
Gordon's No. 26 jersey was lifted into the rafters in 2003. He is also enshrined in the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame.
- Edited by Ashley
Hocking
FRED PRALLE
Guard, 1936-1938 No.5
▶ AUSTIN GARCIA
@Austin_TG15
Fred Pralle is a name most people have never heard of, but he is one of the best players to ever come through Kansas.
In the book "Making Basketball," coach Phog Allen said, "In my personal opinion, he was the greatest guard that KU ever had." That is how special of a player he was.
Pralle, a 6-foot-3 guard, was recruited out of St. Louis and played for the Jayhawks from 1936-38. The first televised basketball game was in 1940, shortly after Pralle's time in college. However, if sports were broadcast on television during this time, undoubtedly many players today would watch his highlights and model their game after his. "Fabulous Fred," as many called him, dominated collegiate basketball in the late 30s.
Today, Jayhawk fans are spoiled with the iconic Allen Fieldhouse, but the Fieldhouse was not built until 1955. Pralle played his career at Kansas in Hoch Auditorium, also known as "Horrible Hoch" because opposing teams had trouble dealing with the tight area surrounding the court.
Also, in today's era, there are stats for everything and anything possible. In the 1930s, statistics were not maintained in such an official and formal manner.
However, statistics are not needed to enforce how great of a player Pralle was. He was the definition of a winner and a workhorse.
According to Kansas Athletics records, Pralle averaged 8.8 points per game in 1937, and 10.7 points per game in 1938. Those marks led the team both seasons.
His first year in 1936 was nothing short of spectacular. In the regular season, Kansas posted a strong winning percentage in the Big Six and was one win shy of representing the United States in the Olympic Games.
In Pralle's second year he began to blossom into a young prodigy. He led the Jayhawks to a tie with Nebraska for the Big Six Conference Championship.
In 1938, his 10.7 points per game led the conference, letting the nation know how great of a player he was in his final year. He became Kansas'
first ever consensus All-American, paving the way for other Kansas players like Clyde Lovellette, Wilt Chamberlain, Danny Manning and many other greats.
"I can tell you that Pralle was a one man team."
- PHOG ALLEN
Had the NCAA tournament begun in 1938 instead of one year later in 1939, many experts believe Kansas would have another national championship on its resume, according to the book "100 Things Kansas Fans Should Know & Before They Die." The Jayhawks
posted an 18-2 overall record and won the Big Six Conference Championship by a landslide.
Big Six titles (1936, 1937 and 1938), and was a three-time all-Big Six selection. He finished his career with 541 total points.
"I can tell you that Pralle was a one man team," Allen said in "Making Basketball." "We won the championship with a bunch of no-names and Pralle, who was an absolute great."
After graduating from the University, Pralle played for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) with the Phillips 66ers and won three national championships in his seven years with the team.
Pralle passed away in 1998.
Altogether, Pralle led Kansas to three straight
His jersey was retired Jan.15,2003,and hangs high in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse, representing the greatest players from Kansas.
Photo courtesy of University Archives
- Edited by Brendan Dzwierzynski
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