Dick Schnittker

Dick Schnittker
	Schnittker, circa 1950
Personal information
Born	May 27, 1928; Kelleys Island, Ohio, U.S.
Died	January 12, 2020 (aged 91); Green Valley, Arizona, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school	Sandusky (Sandusky, Ohio)
College	Ohio State (1946–1950)
NBA draft	1950: 1st round, 4th overall pick
	Selected by the Washington Capitols
Playing career	1950–1958
Position	Power forward
Number	22, 24, 15
Career history
1950–1951	Washington Capitols
1953–1958	Minneapolis Lakers
Career highlights and awards
	2× NBA champion (1953, 1954); Consensus first-team All-American (1950); Third-team All-American – AP, UPI (1949); 2× First-team All-Big Ten (1949, 1950);
Career statistics
Points	3,028 (8.3 ppg)
Rebounds	1,372 (3.8 rpg)
Assists	480 (1.3 apg)
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference

Richard D. Schnittker (May 27, 1928 – January 12, 2020) was an American professional basketball player born in Kelleys Island, Ohio.

A 6'5" forward from the Ohio State University, Schnittker played six seasons (1950–1951; 1953–1958) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Washington Capitols and Minneapolis Lakers. He averaged 8.3 points per game and won championships with the Lakers in 1953 and 1954. Schnittker's debut for the Lakers in the 1952–53 season occurred during the playoffs. He was the first player to see action in the Finals after not playing a game during the preceding regular season, a feat later equalled by Tom Hoover in 1966 and Tracy McGrady in 2013.^[1]

In college Schnittker also played end on the Ohio State football team during the 1949 season. After starting end Sonny Gandee went down with a season-ending neck injury, coach Wes Fesler recruited Schnittker to take Gandee's place. Schnittker helped the team to a Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl appearance. He died on January 12, 2020, at the age of 91.^[2]

NBA career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high
†	Won an NBA championship

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1950–51	Washington	29	–	.411	.866	5.3	1.4	10.2
1953–54†	Minneapolis	71	14.6	.397	.652	2.5	0.8	4.6
1954–55	Minneapolis	72	25.0	.388	.823	4.8	1.6	10.4
1955–56	Minneapolis	72	26.8	.393	.856	4.1	2.0	11.3
1956–57	Minneapolis	70	14.2	.322	.829	2.6	0.7	5.5
1957–58	Minneapolis	50	19.6	.359	.848	4.2	1.4	9.1
Career		364	20.1	.379	.825	3.8	1.3	8.3

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1953†	Minneapolis	7	4.1	.125	.636	0.6	0.0	1.3
1954†	Minneapolis	13	12.5	.344	.600	1.6	0.4	2.6
1955	Minneapolis	7	20.0	.275	.694	4.4	1.0	7.6
1956	Minneapolis	3	29.0	.565	.850	5.0	1.7	14.3
1957	Minneapolis	5	16.6	.286	.882	2.4	1.6	5.4
Career		35	14.3	.333	.731	2.4	0.7	4.7

References

^ "McGrady makes his NBA Finals debut". ESPN – Elias Says. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
^ Watkins, Jimmy (January 22, 2020). "Dick Schnittker dies at 91; starred for Blue Streaks, Buckeyes". Sandusky Register. Retrieved January 25, 2020.

External links

Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference

This biographical article relating to a United States basketball player, coach, or other figure born in the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "McGrady makes his NBA Finals debut". ESPN – Elias Says. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013.

[2] Watkins, Jimmy (January 22, 2020). "Dick Schnittker dies at 91; starred for Blue Streaks, Buckeyes". Sandusky Register. Retrieved January 25, 2020.

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