22 Facts About Christian Steinmetz

Christian Steinmetz was an American basketball player.

Christian Steinmetz played forward for the University of Wisconsin from 1903 to 1905.

Christian Steinmetz was college basketball's leading scorer in the game's first 25 years from 1895 to 1920.

Christian Steinmetz became known as the "Father of Wisconsin Basketball" and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961.

Christian Steinmetz was the son of Chris, a Milwaukee real estate man, and Frances Steinmetz.

Christian Steinmetz led South Division to the state high school basketball championship in 1902 and was the state champion in the high jump that year.

Christian Steinmetz enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where he was a member of the Badgers' track and basketball teams from 1903 to 1905.

Christian Steinmetz was to basketball what Willie Heston was to football.

The Wisconsin players complained that fouls by the Columbia players were overlooked, and Christian Steinmetz had his jaw broken in the game.

Christian Steinmetz later recalled that he carried a rule book in his pocket during the game.

Christian Steinmetz had received advance publicity and was being closely guarded.

Christian Steinmetz set scoring records, some of which remain Wisconsin records: most points in a game, most points in a season, most free throws in a game, most free throws in a season, and most free throw attempts in a season.

Christian Steinmetz scored 20 field goals in a game against Beloit College, falling one basket short of the national record.

In Wisconsin's 1905 Badger yearbook, Christian Steinmetz wrote about the team's championship season:.

Christian Steinmetz was named the Player of the Year for 1905.

Christian Steinmetz was the first person selected to receive the Player of the Year award, and 1905 was the first year for which a recipient was selected.

Christian Steinmetz was active in coaching and officiating basketball for several years.

For 19 years, Christian Steinmetz selected the All-Western basketball team for Spalding's Official Basketball Guide.

Christian Steinmetz was recognized with multiple honors in his later years.

Christian Steinmetz was inducted into the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame in 1957, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1958, and the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961.

Christian Steinmetz suffered a stroke in 1962 and a second stroke in 1963.

Christian Steinmetz died at St Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee three weeks after the second stroke at age 80.