Date of birth | January 2, 1926 |
---|---|
Place of birth | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
Date of death | May 7, 2017 | (aged 91)
Place of death | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
Career information | |
CFL status | National |
Position(s) | DB |
Career history | |
As player | |
1949– 1951 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
Career highlights and awards | |
Awards | 1949 - Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy |
John Stroppa (January 2, 1926 – May 7, 2017) was a halfback who played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1949 to 1951.
A native of Winnipeg, Stroppa took the league by storm in 1949, being the surprise winner of the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy for Canadian rookie of the year in the west. [1] He also played in the famed Mud Bowl, the 1950 Grey Cup but retired after a serious mid-season kidney injury in 1951. [2]
After his playing days Stroppa moved to Edmonton because of his job, and took up amateur officiating. He then became one of the few professional players to become a CFL referee, working 250 games in 15 years, after which he became the CFL's supervisor of officials for another 11 years. He died in Edmonton on May 7, 2017. [3]
Date of birth | January 2, 1926 |
---|---|
Place of birth | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
Date of death | May 7, 2017 | (aged 91)
Place of death | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
Career information | |
CFL status | National |
Position(s) | DB |
Career history | |
As player | |
1949– 1951 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
Career highlights and awards | |
Awards | 1949 - Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy |
John Stroppa (January 2, 1926 – May 7, 2017) was a halfback who played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1949 to 1951.
A native of Winnipeg, Stroppa took the league by storm in 1949, being the surprise winner of the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy for Canadian rookie of the year in the west. [1] He also played in the famed Mud Bowl, the 1950 Grey Cup but retired after a serious mid-season kidney injury in 1951. [2]
After his playing days Stroppa moved to Edmonton because of his job, and took up amateur officiating. He then became one of the few professional players to become a CFL referee, working 250 games in 15 years, after which he became the CFL's supervisor of officials for another 11 years. He died in Edmonton on May 7, 2017. [3]