Joe Stringfellow

{{Short description|American football and baseball player (1918–1992)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Joe Stringfellow

| number = 81

| position = Tailback

| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|3|10}}

| birth_place = Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1992|9|16|1918|3|10}}

| death_place = Savannah, Georgia, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 185

| college = Mississippi Southern

| draftyear = 1942

| draftround = 12

| draftpick = 105

| pastteams =

Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1942}})

| statlabel1 = Rushing yards

| statvalue1 = 41

| statlabel2 = Rushing average

| statvalue2 = 2.6

| statlabel3 = Receptions

| statvalue3 = 8

| statlabel4 = Receiving yards

| statvalue4 = 89

| pfr = S/StriJo20

}}

Joseph Elbert Stringfellow (March 10, 1918 – September 16, 1992) was an American professional football tailback who played one season with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Lions in the twelfth round of the 1942 NFL draft after playing college football at Mississippi Southern College. He also played minor league baseball.

Early life

Joseph Elbert Stringfellow was born on March 10, 1918, in Meridian, Mississippi.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StriJo20.htm | title=Joe Stringfellow | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=9 May 2025}} He was a member of the Mississippi Southern Southerners of Mississippi Southern College from 1938 to 1941 and a three-year letterman from 1939 to 1941.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/players/s/stri03000.html | title=JOE STRINGFELLOW | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=9 May 2025}} He was inducted into the M-Club Alumni Association Hall of Fame on May 8, 1971.{{cite web | url=https://southernmiss.com/sports/2020/11/25/m-club-hall-of-fame | title=M-Club Alumni Association Hall of Fame Members | publisher=University of Southern Mississippi | accessdate=9 May 2025}}

Professional football career

Stringfellow was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 12th round, with the 105th overall pick, of the 1942 NFL draft. He played in nine games, starting two, for the Lions during the 1942 season, totaling 16 rushes for 41 yards, eight receptions for 89 yards, five completions on 13 passing attempts for 67 yards and two interceptions, nine punts for 363 yards, and two kick returns for 54 yards.

Professional baseball career

Stringfellow also played minor league baseball as a catcher, outfielder, and first baseman. He played for the Meridian Bears of the Class B Southeastern League in 1940, the Charleston Rebels of the Class B South Atlantic League (SAL) from 1941 to 1942, the Nashville Volunteers of the Class AA Southern Association from 1946 to 1947, and in the Class A SAL for the Macon Peaches from 1947 to 1948, the Augusta Tigers in 1948, the Charleston Rebels in 1948, the Savannah Indians from 1949 to 1950, and the Jacksonville Tars in 1951.{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=string001jos | title=Joe Stringfellow | publisher=Baseball Reference | accessdate=9 May 2025}}{{cite news|last=Cleveland|first=Robert|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83720917/|title=Sports From A Ringside Seat|newspaper=Hattiesburg American|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 27, 1950|access-date=August 18, 2021}}

Personal life

During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Forces and played football for the service team at Maxwell Field.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83721159/|title=Bainbridge gets very close call|agency=AP|newspaper=The News & Observer|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 4, 1944|access-date=August 18, 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83721184/|title=Maxwell Field Loses, 15-7|agency=AP|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 30, 1944|access-date=August 18, 2021}} He was also the baseball coach at Gunter Field and Mississippi Southern.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83721206/|title=Service Status|newspaper=Montgomery Advertiser|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 23, 1945|access-date=August 18, 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83721230/|title=Baseball Practice Opens at Southern|newspaper=Hattiesburg American|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 18, 1947|access-date=August 18, 2021}} In 1950, he was named deputy sheriff of Chatham County, Georgia.{{cite news|last=Cleveland|first=Robert|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83721264/|title=Sports From A Ringside Seat|newspaper=Hattiesburg American|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 20, 1950|access-date=August 18, 2021}} Stringfellow died on September 16, 1992, in Savannah, Georgia.