Bio

Fred Hakbarth displayed his athletic potential at Oshkosh High School, where he earned letters in football, baseball and basketball.

At UW-Oshkosh, which was then called Oshkosh Normal School, Hakbarth played basketball for three seasons (1923-25) and baseball for two (1924-25).

In basketball, Hakbarth captained the team for two years, including a state championship squad in 1925. He also played and captained the first Oshkosh All-Stars basketball team.

In baseball, Oshkosh Normal School won state titles both years he played, including an undefeated season in 1925. His baseball talents attracted the attention of several professional teams, including the New York Giants and manager John McGraw who signed him to a free agent contract in 1926. His dreams of reaching the major leagues ended in 1927 when a knee injury forced him to retire from the professional level.