Joe Malcewicz
{{short description|American professional wrestler}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Joe Malcewicz
|image =
|caption =
|birth_name = Joseph Malcewicz
|birth_date = {{birth date|1897|3|17|mf=y}}{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Steve|title=The legacy of Joe Malcewicz|url=http://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2015/03/25/the-legacy-of-joe-malcewicz/|work=Slam Wrestling|date=March 25, 2015|accessdate=October 16, 2020}}
|birth_place = Utica, New York, United States
|death_date = {{death date and age|1962|4|20|1897|3|17|mf=y}}
|death_place = San Francisco, California, United States{{cite book|author=Tim Hornbaker|title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuGLDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT72|date=2017|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing|isbn=978-1-61321-875-4|pages=71–72}}
|death_cause = Heart attack
|children =
|names = Joe Malcewicz
|billed = Utica, New York, United States
|trainer = Farmer Burns
Herbert Hartley
}}
Joseph Malcewicz (March 17, 1897 – April 20, 1962) was an American professional wrestler and a promoter. He is an overall three-time world champion under different incarnations and recognitions.
Nicknamed the "Utica Panther", Malcewicz is acknowledged for his contributions to professional wrestling in San Francisco, during his time as a promoter of NWA San Francisco. Malcewicz is a charter member of the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.{{cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|title=Professional wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2015 announced|url=http://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2014/11/26/professional-wrestling-hall-of-fame-class-of-2015-announced/|work=Slam Wrestling|date=November 26, 2014|accessdate=October 16, 2020}}
Early life
Malcewicz was born to Polish immigrants, being the oldest of five children. While being a teenager, Malcewicz played football at Utica Free Academy and for the Utica Knights of Columbus.
Professional wrestling career
Malcewicz began his training with Farmer Burns and Herbert Hartley, before entering the professional wrestling ranks in 1913. Malcewicz earliest recorded match was against Charles Uberle on February 2, 1914, which ended in a draw. On 1917, during the World War I, Malcewicz was drafted to the military when he served at Camp Jackson, reaching to the level of sergeant upon his return to wrestling. On 1926, Malcewicz was a last-minute challenger for Joe Stecher's World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. When Stecher left the match as a sign of protest, Malcewicz was named as the title holder, however, was never awarded the championship itself.
As a promoter, Malcewicz managed to promote wrestling at San Francisco, while running NWA San Francisco. In November 1935, Malcewicz replaced Jack Ganson as the leaseholder of New Dreamland Auditorium, after buying Ganson's interest for $15,000 after Paul Bowser and Toots Mondt convinced him to step aside. Malcewicz held is first show on November 26, 1935.{{cite news|title=New 'Rassling Promoter at Dreamland|work=The San Francisco Call|date=November 21, 1935|quote=Jack Ganson, promoter of the grunt-and-groaners at Dreamland for two years, relinquished his position to Joe Malcewicz. The latter yesterday signed a lease for rental of the auditorium with Phil Ehrlich attorney representing the Dreamland corporation [...] Ganson was ordered by Bowser and Mondt to 'sell out' to Malcewicz, who came into the local picture by buying out Dan Koloff's concession as booking agent for wrestlers throughout northern California. All matches are made from a central office in Oakland. The money involved in the transaction was not announced but is reported to be approximately $15,000. Ganson at first belligerent, buckled down and said 'uncle' after talking with Bowser and Mondt. He either had to give in or fight back with a group of 'independent' wrestlers. He would have been unable to obtain such performers as O'Mahoney, Lopez, Dean, Steele, Browning, George, Sonnenberg or other 'big' names. Malcewicz's first show will be staged next Tuesday night.}}{{cite book|author1=Pat Laprade|author2=Bertrand Hébert|title=Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs: The Untold Story of How Montreal Shaped the World of Wrestling|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ey8bluWM_m4C&pg=PA1764|date=2013|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77090-296-1|pages=1,764}} On November 26, 1949, Malcewicz joined the newly-formed National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).{{cite web|title=San Francisco Booking Office|url=http://www.legacyofwrestling.com/SFOffice.html|work=legacyofwrestling.com|accessdate=November 14, 2017}} During his time with NWA, Malcewicz created the NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) and the second regional NWA World Tag Team Championship.{{cite book|author=Brian Solomon|title=Pro Wrestling FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's Most Entertaining Spectacle|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A5DqCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT232|date=2015|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-1-61713-627-6|pages=232}}{{cite book|author1=James Dixon|author2=Arnold Furious|author3=Lee Maughan|title=Superstar Series: The Hart Foundation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vXG8BQAAQBAJ&pg=PA77|year=2013|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-291-53841-0|pages=77}}{{cite book|author=Tim Hornbaker|title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuGLDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT373|date=2017|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing|isbn=978-1-61321-875-4|pages=373}}
On April 20, 1962, Malcewicz died after he suffered a fatal Heart attack.
Championships and accomplishments
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2015
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=3508|wrestlingdata=13360}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malcewicz, Joe}}
Category:American male professional wrestlers
Category:Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
Category:Sportspeople from Utica, New York