Dick Van Raaphorst
| No. 30, 39 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Placekicker | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth: | December 10, 1942 | ||
| Place of birth: | Port Huron, Michigan | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Weight: | 218 lb (99 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Charlevoix (MI) | ||
| College: | Ohio State | ||
| NFL Draft: |
1964 / Round: 10 / Pick: 138 (By the Cleveland Browns) | ||
| Career history | |||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
| Career NFL statistics | |||
| |||
| Player stats at PFR | |||
Richard William Van Raaphorst (born December 10, 1942 in Port Huron, Michigan) is a former American football placekicker in the American Football League for the San Diego Chargers. He also played in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Ohio State University.
Early years
Van Raaphorst attended Charlevoix High School, before moving on to Ohio State University.
He was named the starter of the 1961 team coached by Woody Hayes that won the Big Ten Conference, but the Ohio State faculty council wanting to show that football was not overemphasized, voted against sending the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl. The University of Minnesota was the replacement team that beat UCLA 21-3.[1]
As a senior, he broke the school and conference distance record with a 48-yard field goal.[2] The next game he broke it again with a 49-yard field goal.[3] He also set a record with 6 field goals in Big Ten Conference games and 8 in the season. The next game he broke it again with a 49-yard field goal.[4]
Professional career
Cleveland Browns
Van Raaphorst was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the tenth round (138th overall) of the 1964 NFL Draft.[5] On August 24, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a draft choice, after the team decided to keep 40-year-old Lou Groza as the starter.[6]
Dallas Cowboys
In 1964, the Dallas Cowboys were looking for a replacement for Sam Baker, and when rookie Billy Lothridge couldn't fill the kicker role, the team acquired Van Raaphorst and named him the starter.[7] He struggled throughout the year and was replaced the next season with Danny Villanueva.
Chicago Bears
On January 13, 1965, he was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears,[8] but was waived before the start of the season.
San Diego Chargers
In 1965, he was signed by the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League, to their taxi squad. The next year he was named the starter and kicked 16 field goals, while also setting a franchise record with 7 field goals attempts against the New York Jets on October 8. In 1968, he was released after being passed on the depth chart by Dennis Partee. At the time, he left with the second most field goals (31) made in franchise history.
Personal life
After football he worked as a real estate developer. He served as a color analyst on the San Diego Chargers radio broadcasts in the 1970s.
His son Jeff Van Raaphorst played quarterback in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons. He won the 1968 Professional Football Players Golf Tournament.[9]
References
- ↑ "Glory, Past and Present : A Tale of Two Quarterbacks, Jeff Van Raaphorst and Jake Plummer". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Van Raaphorst Sets Field Goal Record". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Late Field Goal Gives Ohio State 20-20 Tie". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Van Raaphorst Gets His Kicks For All-Stars". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Buckeye Ace Signed By Browns". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Browns To Go With Groza Again". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Cowboys Trade For Specialist". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Van Raaphorst Goes To Bears". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Van Raaphorst Wins With 306". Retrieved February 11, 2016.