Jayhawk Jottings
Champion of the University Division mile relay will receive the Chuck Cramer Trophy, to be presented after Saturday afternoon's 5:05 race—the final event of theee 44th Kansas Relays. Chuck Cramer's determination in athletics never earned a gold medal, but his success that resulted from an energetic spirit serves as a reminder of the true value of sports.
KU's most famous pole vaulter never created a stir with his athletic achievements, but coaches and athletes throughout the world know the name—in a different context.
It began with a sprained ankle in 1912 and has grown to influence every segment of sports activity, amateur and professional. Chuck Cramer can be rightfully proud.
His pioneering in athletic trainer supplies, through the Cramer Chemical Company, reads like a Horatio Alger success story. Chuck parlayed a bottle of liniment into a multi-million-dollar business—a business whose impact reaches from sandlot baseball to the World Series, from high school football to the Super Bowl. Yes, even the Olympics.
"The greatest satisfaction comes from the fact that all this was accomplished in the great American tradition," says Chuck, reaching for a cliche since it fit so perfectly. "It's also a good feeling to know that we have created a new branch of a profession—a part of coaching as important as any other."
But the ex-Jayhawk trackman may never have seen a tube of "Cramergesic," an aerosol can of "Nitrotan," or a jar of "Butterfly Tablets" had it not been for the ankle injury in 1912.
Then a KU pharmacy student, Chuck was ordered out of track practice for a few days by Coach Bill Hamilton. So Chuck collaborated with a fellow student, concocting a liniment which would help the swollen ankle.
The following weekend, the KU pole vaulter won his event in a dual with Nebraska. Cramer Chemical Company was born, but Chuck didn't know it.
Chuck's first venture
Six years later, Chuck was working in the drugstore at Gardner—a small Kansas farm community some 20 miles southwest of Kansas City, in Johnson County. The enterprising young Cramer mixed a batch of his limitent and approached athletic people in the area.
"It's amazing to think back to those day," Chuck recalls. "I mixed a bucket of eight pounds of liniment and stirred it with a spoon. Today our machines mix 1,200 pounds at a time."
The success of that first bucketful prompted Chuck to contact his brother Frank, a salesman of building materials in Detroit, to become his eastern representative. By 1922, the brothers incorporated and bought a 12 by 20-foot building as their headquarters in Gardner.
Perhaps the greatest boost to the infant company came from the renowned Notre Dame football coach, Knute Rockne. With a letter of introduction from Kansas State College football Coach Charlie Bachman—and a list of the liniment's ingredients—Chuck called upon Rockne.
"Is this all that's in it?" asked Rockne. "No hidden potions or secret formulas?"
So Chuck passed a chance for an advertising gimmick. "We don't know any secret formulas," he told the Notre Dame coach.
"Good. I'll take five gallons if the factory can get it here by Monday morning." Rocke said.
The "factory," which didn't exist, supplied the five gallons, and Rocke became a supporter of the Cramers.
8 KANSAN Apr.18 1969
The Cramers have been doing it ever since, as well as supplying first aid products to just about every athletic interest.
Kansas, which split 12 games on the road,initiates its home baseball schedule this afternoon when the Jayhawks host Nebraska in a 1:30 doubleheader at Quigley Field.
The twinbill will open a three-game weekend series, with the two clubs meeting in a single game tomorrow. That game has been moved up to 11 a.m. to avoid conflict with the Kansas Relays, but should today's doubleheader become a rainout, two games would be played tomorrow.
The Jayhawks, now standing 2-4 in the Big Eight and 6-6 overall, claimed one of three games in series with Oklahoma
KU's starting pitchers for the Nebraska series will be Dave Robisch (1-1), Randy Stroup (1-3), and ace southpaw Richard Slicker (3-0), who boasts the lowest ERA on the staff at 1.33.
need hits when we've got runners on base. We've got to get the hits spaced out for runs."
KU initiates home slate with Nebraska twinbill
Jayhawks currently 6-6
Coach Floyd Temple, while satisfied with KU's defense and pitching, feels that the lack of clutch hitting is keeping the Jayhawks out of the win column.
Nebraska suffered three straight losses at Oklahoma last weekend, losing 6-3 and 1-0 and 3-1. The Cornhuskers were rained out of their three-game series with Kansas State two weeks ago.
and Kansas State. KU was belted last week by K-State, 2-0 and 10-0, before turning the tables, 12-2.
"We're getting all the hitting we need, but not the kind we need to win," said Temple. "We
Dine With Us This Sunday
and Enjoy Delicious Food and Delightful Atmosphere
- Prime Rib Special—$3.25
Murphy Hall Main Stage
Curtain 8:20 p.m.
Murphy Hall Box Office Hours 10-12, 1-5
Telephone UN 4-3982