Ben Roller
Encyclopedia
Dr. Benjamin Franklin Roller was a physician
, a professional wrestler and a football
player. He played football for the Pittsburgh Athletic Club
, Philadelphia Athletic Club and was later a player-coach
with the Philadelphia Phillies
of the first National Football League
. Also in 1902, he played for the "New York
" team during the World Series of Football
. In 1903, he played with the Franklin Athletic Club
and won his return trip to the World Series of Football with Franklin. He began the 1903 season with Syracuse Athletic Club. He won a wrestling championship in 1914.
Roller attended college at De Pauw University. While there he was active in student athletics and the capatin of the school's football and track teams. He graduated from Du Pauw University in 1898, completing the seven years worth of course in just five years. In 1904 Dr. Roller accepted a professorship in the University of Washington
. He later resigned that position in 1906 to become a full time wrestler. Later Roller would sit on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania
.
Roller died of pneumonia on April 19, 1933 at the age of 57.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, a professional wrestler and a football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played football for the Pittsburgh Athletic Club
Pittsburgh Athletic Club (football)
The Pittsburgh Athletic Club football team, established in 1891, was based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1892 the intense competition between two Pittsburgh-area clubs, the Allegheny Athletic Association and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, led to William Heffelfinger becoming the first known...
, Philadelphia Athletic Club and was later a player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies (NFL)
The Philadelphia Phillies were a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole league was a curious...
of the first National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Also in 1902, he played for the "New York
New York (World Series of Football)
"New York" was a term given to a professional football team formed by promoter Tom O'Rouke for the World Series of Football in 1902. The event was held in New York City at Madison Square Garden...
" team during the World Series of Football
World Series of Football (1902)
The World Series of Football was a series of football games played indoors at New York's Madison Square Garden in 1902 and 1903. It originally comprised five teams, four from New York state and one from New Jersey...
. In 1903, he played with the Franklin Athletic Club
Franklin Athletic Club
The Franklin Athletic Club was an early professional football team based in Franklin, Pennsylvania. It was considered the top team in professional football in 1903, by becoming the becoming the US Football Champions and winning the 1903 World Series of Football, held after the 1903 season, at New...
and won his return trip to the World Series of Football with Franklin. He began the 1903 season with Syracuse Athletic Club. He won a wrestling championship in 1914.
Roller attended college at De Pauw University. While there he was active in student athletics and the capatin of the school's football and track teams. He graduated from Du Pauw University in 1898, completing the seven years worth of course in just five years. In 1904 Dr. Roller accepted a professorship in the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. He later resigned that position in 1906 to become a full time wrestler. Later Roller would sit on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
Roller died of pneumonia on April 19, 1933 at the age of 57.