Lou Abbruzzi
{{Short description|American football player (1917–1982)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox gridiron football person
|image=
|birth_date={{Birth date|1917|8|3}}
|birth_place=Warren, Rhode Island
|death_date={{Death date and age|1982|12|6|1917|8|3}}
|PlaceOfDeath=Newport, Rhode Island
|Position=Halfback, defensive back
|College=Rhode Island
|DraftedYear=
|DraftedRound=Free Agent Green Bay 1941, Boston Yanks 1946
|Awards= All Small New England 1938-40, All New England 1938, HM Little All-American 1938, 1939.
|Honors=
|Records=
|Retired #s=
|Stats=y
|http://www.nfl.com/player/dukeabbruzzi/2508149/profile)]
|playing_years1=1946
|playing_team1=Boston Yanks
}}
Louis John "Duke" Abbruzzi (August 3, 1917 – December 6, 1982) was an American football, basketball and baseball player.{{Cite web |title=Louis J. Abbruzzi (1973) - Hall of Fame |url=https://gorhody.com/honors/hall-of-fame/louis-j-abbruzzi/3 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=University of Rhode Island |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Duke Abbruzzi Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AbbrDu20.htm |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
Early career
Born in Warren, Rhode Island, Abbruzzi attended Warren High School where he received 'All State' recognition on six occasions in all three sports: football, basketball and baseball.{{Cite web |title=1931 thru 1949 archive photos |url=https://warrenathletichalloffame.com/1931-thru-1949-archive-photos/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Warren Athletic Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}
Sports cartoonist Frank Lanning dubbed him the 'Duke of Warren' in his illustrations published in the Providence Journal.
Professional career
Returning from his service in the US Army, Abbruzzi spent one season with the Boston Yanks of the National Football League (NFL) as a special teams player and tailback. He accounted for 229 all-purpose yards, 26 rushing yards from 6 carries, 55 receiving yards on 2 receptions, 147 yards on 8 kick off returns and completed one pass for 11 yards.
Coaching
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbruzzi, Lou}}
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:American football halfbacks
Category:Rhode Island Rams football players
Category:People from Warren, Rhode Island
Category:Sportspeople from Bristol County, Rhode Island
Category:Players of American football from Rhode Island
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
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