Frank Gotch
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Frank Alvin Gotch (April 27, 1878 – December 17, 1917) was an American professional wrestler back when the contests were largely real (see catch wrestling). He was World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion from 1908 to 1915.
The son of Frederick Rudolph and Amelia Gotch, Gotch was born and raised on a small farm three miles south of Humboldt, Iowa. He became interested in wrestling at a young age. Gotch met Dan McLeod, former American heavyweight champion, in Lu Verne, Iowa, on June 18, 1899. McLeod introduced Gotch to Martin 'Farmer' Burns who would become his trainer.
Under the guidance of Burns, Gotch won a series of matches in Iowa and then Alaska. While in Alaska, Gotch wrestled under the name Frank Kennedy and won the title of Champion of the Klondike.
Also during his time in Alaska, Gotch tried his hand at boxing, but failed miserably against the heavyweight Frank Slavin.
Gotch returned to Iowa where he took the American heavyweight title from Tom Jenkins. Jenkins went on to teach at West Point for 37 years. Gotch then went after The Russian Lion, Georg Hackenschmidt, an Estonian who had received the title of Heavyweight Champion of the World. Gotch and Hackenschmidt wrestled at Chicago's Dexter Park Pavilion on April 3, 1908 to a crowd of over 40,000. Hackenschmidt was favored to win, but after two grueling hours he conceded to Gotch. This match crowned him as World Heavyweight Champion.
Frank Gotch became a superstar. He was known around the world for his athletic ability. He was invited to meet President Theodore Roosevelt. He starred in the play "All About A Bout" where he received standing ovations.
Riding on the wave of fame, Gotch and Hackenschmidt agreed to another match and played at the newly opened Comiskey Park on September 4, 1911, to a crowd of 33,000. Gotch won again, easier this time, and was considered nearly invincible. Frank Gotch was undefeated from 1906 to his retirement from active competition in 1914. His professional wrestling career record was one hundred fifty-four wins against only six losses.
Gotch retired from wrestling in late 1914. While in retirement, Gotch joined Sells-Floto Circus where he would pay any man $250.00 if they could last 15 minutes in a match against him without being pinned or conceding. Not once did he have to pay.
He grew tired of touring and moved back to Humboldt. After a year of health troubles, Frank Gotch died in 1917 of at age 39 of uremic poisoning.
Profile
- Height: 6 ft (1.83 m)
- Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
- Birthday: April 27, 1878
- Date of Death: December 16, 1917 (Uremic poisoning)
- Hometown: Humboldt, Iowa
- Trained by: Martin 'Farmer' Burns
- Professional debut: 1899
- Previous Identities:
- Finishing/Signature Move(s): Toehold
Championships/Accomplishments
- 1-time World Heavyweight Champion
- 3-time American Heavyweight Champion
Legacy
- [Humboldt Community School District] sponsors the annual Frank Gotch Wrestling Tournament
- Local kids wrestling club still uses his name
- Frank A. Gotch State Park, three miles south of Humboldt, near his childhood farm
- First inductee to both the Professional Wrestling Writers Hall of Fame in Latham, New York, and Lou Thesz/George Tragos Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Newton, Iowa
Sources
- [Gotch: A German-American Hero]
- [Hickok Sports Biography: Gotch, Frank A.]
- [Chapman, Mike, Frank Gotch, World's Greatest Wrestler, William S. Hein & Co., Buffalo, NY, 1990.]
- [Stern, Karl, Pioneers of Wrestling, A DragonKing Press Newsletter Publication.]
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