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Phil Martinovich

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Phil Martinovich
No. 50, 34, 51, 29, 19, 21, 6, 45[1]
Position:Placekicker, back
Personal information
Born:(1915-02-09)February 9, 1915
Diamond Springs, California, U.S.
Died:September 22, 1964(1964-09-22) (aged 49)
West Sacramento, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:El Dorado
(Placentia, California)
College:Pacific (1934–1937)
NFL draft:1938: undrafted
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Philip Joseph Martinovich (February 9, 1915 – September 22, 1964) was an American professional football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) and All-America Football Conference (AAFC). He played college football at the University of the Pacific.

Early life and college

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Philip Joseph Martinovich was born on February 9, 1915, in Diamond Springs, California.[2] He attended El Dorado High School in Placerville, California.[1]

Martinovich was a member of the Pacific Tigers of the University of the Pacific from 1934 to 1937 and a three-year letterman from 1935 to 1937.[1] He only missed one extra point during his entire three years as a letterman.[3]

Professional career

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Martinovich went undrafted in the 1938 NFL draft. He then played in all ten games, starting nine, for the independent Cincinnati Bengals during the 1938 season and scored 57 totals points.[1][3] In 1940, he appeared in four games, starting three, for the Bengals, who were now members of the American Professional Football Association.[1] He converted four field goals and one of three extra points for the Bengals that year.[1]

On October 27, 1939, Martinovich was signed by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).[3] On November 5, 1939, the Lions faced the New York Giants, who had gone 19 straight games without a loss.[4] The Lions ended up winning 18–14.[5] An excerpt from The Times Herald the next day noted that "Phil Martinovich is about the coolest player on the Lion squad. He appeared in the game Sunday for six plays taking about two minutes and all he did was boot the pigskin through the goal post uprights three times, good for nine points, kicked off twice (the second went between the uprights but was called back because of an offside penalty) and made one tackle."[4] Overall, Martinovich played in four games for the Lions that year, converting three of six field goals.[2]

Martinovich signed with the Chicago Bears of the NFL in 1940.[6][7] He began the 1940 season playing for the Bears' farm team, the Newark Bears of the American Association.[8] He appeared in seven games for Newark Bears that year, scoring four field goals and two of two extra points.[1] He was later promoted to the big league Chicago Bears and played in two games during the 1940 NFL season, converting two of two field goals.[2] Martinovich also appeared in the 1940 NFL Championship Game, missing one field goal and converting one of one extra points, as the Bears beat the Washington Redskins by a score of 73–0.[2] On December 29, 1940, the NFL champion Bears played a team of NFL All-Stars in the 1940 NFL All-Star Game. Martinovich kicked an extra point during the game.[9]

Martinovich played for the New York Yankees of the American Football League in 1941, making nine field goals and eight extra points.[1] He then played for the independent Long Island Clippers in 1942.[1][10] Martinovich football career was interrupted by a stint in the United States Army during World War II.[1]

Martinovich returned to pro football in 1946 by playing in one game for the Newark Bombers of the American Football League.[1] He then signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).[7] He appeared in ten gams, starting six, for the Dodgers during the 1946 AAFC season, converting five of ten field goals and 21 of 22 extra points.[2] Martinovich played in all 14 games, starting five, for the Dodgers in 1947, making three of 20 field goals and 22 of 25 extra points.[2]

Personal life

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Martinovich died on September 22, 196, in West Sacramento, California.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Phil Martinovich". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Phil Martinovich". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Detroit Lions Sign Phil Martinovich, Place Kicker Deluxe". The Times Herald. October 27, 1939. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Speaking Of Sports". The Times Herald. November 6, 1939. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  5. ^ "New York Giants at Detroit Lions Game Statistics". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  6. ^ "Chicago Bears Break Camp". The Kalamazoo Gazette. August 28, 1940. p. 19. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Phil Martinovich Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  8. ^ "Phil Martinovich With Newark". Stockton Evening and Sunday Record. Associated Press. September 10, 1940. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  9. ^ "Luckman Passes Bears to Victory Over League All-Stars, 28 to 14". The Plain Dealer. Associated Press. December 30, 1940. p. 16. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  10. ^ Martin, Whitney (September 18, 1942). "Down The Sports Trail". The Morning Call. p. 24. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
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