For the New Zealand public servant and educator, see Wally Hirsh.
Walter E. Hirsch (July 15, 1929 – May 10, 2022) was an American college basketball player. He is known for winning three NCAA championships at the University of Kentucky, and for being a central figure in the point shaving scandal that impacted American college basketball in the 1950s.
Hirsch was born in Dayton, Ohio,[1][2] on July 15, 1929.[3] He attended Northridge High School in his hometown,[3] where he received All-Ohio honors,[4] and was part of the school's basketball team that won the Class B state championship in 1945.[3]
College careeredit
After graduating from high school in 1947, Hirsch was awarded a scholarship to study at the University of Kentucky.[3] There he played for the Wildcats under future Hall of Fame coach Adolph Rupp. During his time at UK, Hirsch was a part of three championship teams, in 1948, 1949 and 1951.
As a freshman in 1947–48, Hirsch appeared in 13 regular-season games for the Wildcats. As a sophomore and junior, Hirsch moved into the Wildcats regular rotation, and as a senior was the captain of UK's 1950–51 championship team. While he made the SEC All-tournament team in 1951, he was declared ineligible for the 1951 NCAA tournament as he was a fourth year varsity player (prohibited at that time).[5][6]
After his career was over, Hirsch became embroiled in a point shaving scandal that implicated players from seven different schools across the nation. Hirsch, along with former UK teammates Bill Spivey and Jim Line, was accused of taking money to affect the outcome of several games during the 1950–51 season. Hirsch and Line admitted to shaving points and implicated Spivey as well. However, Hirsch was never formally charged.[7]
Hirsch's involvement with gamblers led to a ban from minor league baseball for the promising first baseman prospect. He was coming off a strong 1952 season for the Danville Dans of the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, but Minor League president George Trautman (a former college basketball coach himself at Ohio State) declared him permanently banned from minor league baseball.[8]
Personal lifeedit
Hirsch married Vicki Pals in October 1960. They met while he was working in Waterloo, Iowa,[3] and remained married until her death. Together, they had two children: Pam and Nancy.[2]
Hirsch joined the US Army after completing his studies at Kentucky and served from 1952 to 1954. Upon his return from military service, he was employed by the Rath Packing Company.[3][2] He died on May 10, 2022, in Mason City, Iowa.[2] He was 92, and suffered from a brief unspecified illness prior to his death.[3][9]
Referencesedit
^"Walter Hirsch College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
^ abcd"Walt Hirsch, Kentucky basketball's only three-time national champion, dies". Lexington Herald-Leader. May 13, 2022. from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
^ abcdefg"Walter Hirsch Obituary". Globe Gazette. Mason City, Iowa. May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Legacy.com.
^"Coaches, Sports Writers Pick All-Ohio 'A–B' Teams". The Athens Messenger. March 12, 1946. p. 7. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
^"UK Men's Basketball National Champion Walt Hirsch Dies". University of Kentucky Athletics. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
^"Walter Hirsch biography". Bigbluehistory.net. 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
^"Minors ban Kentucky floor fixer". Pittsburgh Press. September 24, 1952. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
^Kenny, Tom (May 13, 2022). "Three-time UK basketball national champion Walt Hirsch dies". wtvq.com. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
External linksedit
College statistics
Minor League baseball statistics
January 01, 1970
walter, hirsch, zealand, public, servant, educator, wally, hirsh, walter, hirsch, july, 1929, 2022, american, college, basketball, player, known, winning, three, ncaa, championships, university, kentucky, being, central, figure, point, shaving, scandal, that, . For the New Zealand public servant and educator see Wally Hirsh Walter E Hirsch July 15 1929 May 10 2022 was an American college basketball player He is known for winning three NCAA championships at the University of Kentucky and for being a central figure in the point shaving scandal that impacted American college basketball in the 1950s Walter HirschPersonal informationBorn 1929 07 15 July 15 1929Dayton Ohio U S DiedMay 10 2022 2022 05 10 aged 92 Mason City Iowa U S NationalityAmericanListed height6 ft 4 in 1 93 m Listed weight180 lb 82 kg Career informationHigh schoolNorthridge Dayton Ohio CollegeKentucky 1947 1951 PositionForwardNumber19Career highlights and awards3 NCAA champion 1948 1949 1951 Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editHirsch was born in Dayton Ohio 1 2 on July 15 1929 3 He attended Northridge High School in his hometown 3 where he received All Ohio honors 4 and was part of the school s basketball team that won the Class B state championship in 1945 3 College career editAfter graduating from high school in 1947 Hirsch was awarded a scholarship to study at the University of Kentucky 3 There he played for the Wildcats under future Hall of Fame coach Adolph Rupp During his time at UK Hirsch was a part of three championship teams in 1948 1949 and 1951 As a freshman in 1947 48 Hirsch appeared in 13 regular season games for the Wildcats As a sophomore and junior Hirsch moved into the Wildcats regular rotation and as a senior was the captain of UK s 1950 51 championship team While he made the SEC All tournament team in 1951 he was declared ineligible for the 1951 NCAA tournament as he was a fourth year varsity player prohibited at that time 5 6 After his career was over Hirsch became embroiled in a point shaving scandal that implicated players from seven different schools across the nation Hirsch along with former UK teammates Bill Spivey and Jim Line was accused of taking money to affect the outcome of several games during the 1950 51 season Hirsch and Line admitted to shaving points and implicated Spivey as well However Hirsch was never formally charged 7 Hirsch s involvement with gamblers led to a ban from minor league baseball for the promising first baseman prospect He was coming off a strong 1952 season for the Danville Dans of the Mississippi Ohio Valley League but Minor League president George Trautman a former college basketball coach himself at Ohio State declared him permanently banned from minor league baseball 8 Personal life editHirsch married Vicki Pals in October 1960 They met while he was working in Waterloo Iowa 3 and remained married until her death Together they had two children Pam and Nancy 2 Hirsch joined the US Army after completing his studies at Kentucky and served from 1952 to 1954 Upon his return from military service he was employed by the Rath Packing Company 3 2 He died on May 10 2022 in Mason City Iowa 2 He was 92 and suffered from a brief unspecified illness prior to his death 3 9 References edit Walter Hirsch College Stats College Basketball at Sports Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved May 15 2022 a b c d Walt Hirsch Kentucky basketball s only three time national champion dies Lexington Herald Leader May 13 2022 Archived from the original on May 14 2022 Retrieved May 15 2022 a b c d e f g Walter Hirsch Obituary Globe Gazette Mason City Iowa May 14 2022 Retrieved May 15 2022 via Legacy com Coaches Sports Writers Pick All Ohio A B Teams The Athens Messenger March 12 1946 p 7 Retrieved May 15 2022 UK Men s Basketball National Champion Walt Hirsch Dies University of Kentucky Athletics May 13 2022 Retrieved May 15 2022 Walter Hirsch biography Bigbluehistory net 2012 Retrieved August 2 2012 Rosen Charley 1999 Scandals of 51 Seven Stories Press ISBN 978 1 888363 91 3 Minors ban Kentucky floor fixer Pittsburgh Press September 24 1952 Retrieved August 2 2012 Kenny Tom May 13 2022 Three time UK basketball national champion Walt Hirsch dies wtvq com Retrieved May 14 2022 External links editCollege statistics Minor League baseball statistics Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Hirsch amp oldid 1222317951, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
