Don Elser

{{Short description|American basketball and football player (1913–1968)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Don Elser

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| number =

| position = Forward / center

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 220

| birth_date = {{birth date|1913|8|4}}

| birth_place = Gary, Indiana

| death_date = {{death date and age|1968|10|18|1913|8|4}}

| death_place = Gary, Indiana

| nationality = American

| high_school = Horace Mann (Gary, Indiana)

| college = Notre Dame (1933–1936)

| years1 = 1941–1942

| team1 = Toledo Jim White Chevrolets

| years2 = 1946–1947

| team2 = Gary Ingots

| letter =

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| highlights =

}}

Donald Lewis Elser (August 4, 1913 – October 18, 1968) was an American professional basketball and football player.{{cite web | url=http://peachbasketsociety.blogspot.com/2015/12/donald-elser.html| title=Donald Elser| publisher=Blogspot | work=Peach Basket Society | accessdate=January 17, 2017}}{{cite web | url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/e/elserdo01n.html| title=Donald Elser NBL stats| publisher=Sports Reference LLC | work=basketball-reference.com | accessdate=January 17, 2017}} He played in the National Basketball League for the Toledo Jim White Chevrolets during the 1941–42 season and averaged 4.5 points per game. Elser also played for the Boston Shamrocks in the American Football League (sometimes known as "AFL II"). While at Notre Dame, Elser was selected to play in the 1936 Chicago College All-Star Game.

Elser was also a standout track and field athlete in college. He finished in second place (behind Olympian Jesse Owens) in the 220-yard low hurdles at the 1936 NCAA Track and Field Championships. He also finished fifth in the shot put, earning All-American status in both events.{{cite web | url=http://www.indiana-football.org/?q=node/131| title=Elser, Don| publisher=Indiana Football Hall of Fame| work=| accessdate=January 17, 2017}}