Walt Gorinski

{{Short description|American football player (1919–1977)}}

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

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Walt Gorinski

| number = 20

| position = Fullback

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|12|20|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Mutual, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1977|7|3|1919|12|20}}

| death_place = Bossier City, Louisiana, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 207

| college = LSU

| draftyear = 1943

| draftround = 17

| draftpick = 152

| pastteams =

| statlabel1 = Rushing yards

| statvalue1 = 3

| statlabel2 = Rushing average

| statvalue2 = 3.0

| pfr = GoriWa20

}}

Walter A. Gorinski (December 20, 1919 – July 3, 1977) was a professional football player in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After attending Hurst High School, located in Norvelt, Pennsylvania, Gorinski attended and played college football at Louisiana State University. Gorinski made his professional debut in the NFL in 1946 with the Steelers. He played his entire 1-year career for Pittsburgh. He is the uncle of Bob Gorinski, a designated hitter with the Minnesota Twins in {{by|1977}}.

Many sources{{who|date=April 2016}} state that Gorinski attended Mount Pleasant Area High School, located in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. However, the school was not open until 1961 well after Gorinski's graduation in 1938.{{cite news| url=http://www.pafootballnews.com/HalWilson/Hurst-06.htm| work=Great Pennsylvania Teams| title=Hurst 1927| first=Hal | last=Wilson | accessdate=February 17, 2012}}

NFL

Gorinski was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 17th round (152nd overall) of the 1943 draft.{{cite news| url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/08-06-273.pdf| title=1943 NFL Draft| publisher=Pro Football Researchers Association| volume=8| number=6| year=1986| accessdate=February 17, 2012| archive-date=February 26, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226110157/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/08-06-273.pdf| url-status=dead}} That year the Steelers and the Eagles merged their teams during the 1943 season and became the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh "Steagles". The merger was dissolved after the 1943 season, as it was not intended to be permanent. The Eagles, received enough players back from the war and resumed their traditional operation. Gorinski did not play with the merged teams he played only one season with the Steelers in 1946.{{cite news| url=http://www.lsusports.net/src/data/lsu/assets/docs/fb/pdf/04fb281-304.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=5200| title=Tigers in the Pros| publisher=Louisiana State University| page=5 | accessdate=February 20, 2012}}

College

On November 29, 1941, with Gorinski in at fullback, the LSU Tigers defeated Tulane 19-0 in New Orleans. This victory resulted in the Tiger Rag being awarded to LSU.{{cite news| url=https://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news/1941-11-30/page-10| title=LSU Defeats Tulane| publisher=Galveston Daily News| page=10 | date=November 30, 1941| accessdate=February 20, 2012}} In 1942, Gorinski was awarded LSU's Percy E. Roberts MVP Award, which is presented to the athletes selected as the most valuable offensive and defensive players.{{cite news| url=http://www.lsusports.net/src/data/lsu/assets/docs/fb/pdf/05fbguide158-176.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=5200| title=Team Awards| page=9| publisher=LSUSports.net| accessdate=February 20, 2012| archive-date=July 26, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726015947/http://www.lsusports.net/src/data/lsu/assets/docs/fb/pdf/05fbguide158-176.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=5200| url-status=dead}}

References