Card #28 in the Chicle set is Stan Kostka. It is the fourth of 12 short prints in the 1935 National Chicle set and one of the most difficult short prints to obtain.
Stanislaus Clarence "Stan" Kostka was born in 1913 in St. Paul, MN. Kostka played for the University of Oregon before transferring to the University of Minnesota after his freshman season. He was a fullbackand linebacker on the 1934 Minnesota team that won the National Championship. Minnesota outscored its opponents 270-38 that season and finishing the year 8 - 0. This was the first of five national championships Coach Bernie Beirman won at Minnesota during an eight year span (1934 - 1941). Kostka was also a member of the track and baseball teams at Minnesota.
The NFL Brooklyn Dodgers won a bidding war over the Philadelphia Eagles (and other teams) for Kostka's services. This made then Eagles owner Bert Bell so angry that he pushed for the NFL to implement a college draft system. The NFL agreed and a college draft began in 1936. It is the oldest college draft system among major sports leagues in the US.
Kostka only played one year in the NFL for the Dodgers. He also played one year of minor league baseball. His statistics in both are not noteworthy. Kostka later served as head coach of the North Dakota State football team in 1941 and 1946–1947. He was a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy during World War II.
Kostka died in 1997.
I do not have the Chicle Stan Koska card (please help!) so here is a stock photo.
kostka.jpg
Someone please post a real one!
jeff