Dick Schafrath
| Dick Schafrath | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ohio Senate from the 19th district |
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In office January 2, 1987 – August 15, 2000 |
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| Preceded by | Lowell Steinbrenner |
| Succeeded by | Bill Harris |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| No. 80, 77 | |
| Date of birth | March 21, 1937 |
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| Place of birth | Wooster, Ohio |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Guard, Tackle |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Weight | 253 lb (115 kg) |
| College | Ohio State |
| NFL draft | 1959 / Round: 2 / Pick: 23 |
| Drafted by | Cleveland Browns |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1959–1971 | Cleveland Browns |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Pro Bowls | 6 |
| Career stats | |
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Richard Philip "Dick" Schafrath (born March 21, 1937) is a retired offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns, former Ohio State Senator and author. During his tenure as an athlete, he won a national football championship with the 1957 Ohio State University Buckeyes and the 1964 NFL Championship with the Cleveland Browns. Because of his strong work ethic and occasional stubborn determination friends and teammates nicknamed him "The Mule". Dick was born March 21, 1937.
Dick Schafrath was the first-born son of Norman and Mary, farmers of Irish-German descent. Their farm was located on the edge of Wooster, Ohio. At an early age, Dick learned his incredible work ethic while working alongside his father. By Dick's senior year of high school, the Cincinnati Reds and the Ohio State Buckeyes were actively recruiting Dick. Though his passion was baseball, the legendary Woody Hayes was persistent. In the end, Woody Hayes convinced Dick's parents and in the fall of 1955, Dick attended the Ohio State University. Schafrath quickly made an impression on the football field. While teams and players in this era were becoming specialized, coach Woody Hayes asked Dick to play both sides of the ball, as offensive tackle and defensive end. The team would go on to win the National Championship in 1957 and the 1958 Rose Bowl Game, as well as beating rival Michigan in 1957 and 1958. Schafrath was the Buckeyes' team captain in '58. During the Ohio State vs. Michigan game in '58, Michigan had the ball late in the fourth quarter, first and goal, with less than a minute clock, and down by 6 points. Dick was lined up as the right defensive end. The next play came his way and he hit the back causing a fumble and preserving the Ohio State win.
In 1959, during his senior year, Schafrath left Ohio State University to become the second NFL draft pick and join the Cleveland Browns. Drafted by the legendary and innovative Paul Brown, Dick was only 220 lbs. when he arrived as a rookie. Immediately, Dick began a then new, and unpopular, regimen of weight lifting on a regular basis. He also began to enter eating contests across the state. Within a year, Dick was 270 lbs. In 1964, the team won the NFL Championship against the Baltimore Colts 27-0. Schafrath's career with the Browns spanned 13 seasons, in which he was a fixture at the left tackle position. He protected the blind side of the Browns quarterbacks and opened holes for Hall of Fame Running Backs Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, and Leroy Kelly. Dick was selected to the All Pro Team four times, played in the Pro Bowl six times and was voted the Team's Most Valuable Player in 1963, the last year they held the distinction. He blocked against sixteen Hall of Fame Defensive Ends and thirteen Hall of Fame Linebackers. He was also elected to the Browns Legends Club in 2003. The Professional Football Researchers Association named Schafrath to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2008
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