Basketball
Irwin 'King Kong' Klein
A member of the NYU Athletics Hall of Fame, Klein was a great two-sport star (he was an All-America football player) at New York University in the 1930s, and helped lead the Violets to the college basketball National Championship in 1935.
Birth and Death Dates:
b. March 12, 1914 - d. May 1973
Career Highlights:
Klein played for NYU in the 1930s, when they were among the best teams in the country. In 1934, the sophomore Klein was a starter and helped lead NYU to an undefeated season (16-0). The spotless record earned the Violets a rating as one of the top five teams in the nation (there were no official polls at this time, they began in the late 1940s). The following year, Klein teamed with Sid Gross and Willie Rubenstein to lead NYU to the Helms National Championship with a record of 19-1. In 1936, they finished 14-4.
Origin:
Yonkers, New York
Career Dates:
Klein played for NYU from 1934-1936.
Physical description:
6'1", 200 pounds
Birth and Death Dates:
b. March 12, 1914 - d. May 1973
Career Highlights:
Klein played for NYU in the 1930s, when they were among the best teams in the country. In 1934, the sophomore Klein was a starter and helped lead NYU to an undefeated season (16-0). The spotless record earned the Violets a rating as one of the top five teams in the nation (there were no official polls at this time, they began in the late 1940s). The following year, Klein teamed with Sid Gross and Willie Rubenstein to lead NYU to the Helms National Championship with a record of 19-1. In 1936, they finished 14-4.
Origin:
Yonkers, New York
Career Dates:
Klein played for NYU from 1934-1936.
Physical description:
6'1", 200 pounds