ELDEN AUKER
1910 - 2006
Inducted - 1969

Called by former Kansas State University President James McCain, "the greatest all-around athlete in Kansas State history," Elden Auker won nine varsity letters - three each in baseball, basketball and football during his KSU career from 1929-1932. He was the first athlete to achieve All-America status in three sports by College Humor Magazine and was named a second-team All-America football player by Grantland Rice. Auker was all-Big Six in football, baseball and basketball at Kansas State. He pitched 10 years in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Browns. Due to a football injury at Kansas State, Auker developed a submarine throwing motion, one of a handful of pitchers in major league history up to that point to use that delivery. In 1934, his first full season in the majors, Auker was 15-7 with a 3.42 ERA and helped the Detroit Tigers to the American League pennant where he won the fourth game of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The following year, his record of 18-7 topped all American League pitchers in winning percentage at 72.0. Auker finished 17-9 in 1938 before being traded to Boston in 1939. His ten-year major league record ended in 1942 with a record of 130 wins, 101 losses and 128 complete games. His lifetime earned run average was 4.53. Born September 21, 1910 - Norcatur, Kansas. Died August 4, 2006- Vero Beach, FL. Graduated Norcatur (Kansas) H.S., 1928; Kansas State University, 1932.