Knitter, Wally

Wally Knitter – (1976)

 

Wally Knitter has contributed a great deal to Lorain’s athletic history, from football, baseball and boxing as a participant to managing teams and training amateur fighters.

Knitter played football with both the Franklin Athletic Club and Urban’s Athletic Club as well as the Strollers and Mercuries.

In baseball he both played or managed for Duskey’s, Nativity, Fisher Foods and Wolf Dry Goods, the latter managed by Wally won the American Federation Amateur Regional championship of the United States.

As a boxer in the late 1920’s, out of 42 fights, Knitter won 32 by knockouts. Wally trained with the late Alvie Miller, Johnny Kilbane, Alex Hart and was a stablemate of former world champion, Jimmy Slattery.

As a baseball player he played in the Northwest Suburban League for two years and batted .400 and .360 respectively.

Wally bowled in several area leagues and had scores of 265 and 712. At age 55 he played softball in the Lorain city league. Wally Knitter was a member of the Lorain Police Force for 15 years.