Ching Hammill

James E. "Ching" Hammill III (September 28, 1902 – November 25, 1925) was an American football back. After playing college football for Connecticut, he played four seasons professionally, for a team in Bridgeport from 1922 to 1924, and both the Providence Steam Roller of the National Football League (NFL) and All-New Britain in 1925 before his death in November of that year.

Early life and education Hammill was born on September 28, 1902, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He entered Bridgeport High School in 1917, making the varsity team as a freshman. He played end in his first season before being switched to the backfield in 1918 by coach Fred Hunt, who "saw Hammill's possibilities as a football player." His school won most of their games that year, with Hammill "running wild" in the majority of them. After the season, he was named all-New England at the quarterback position. He left the school after just one year.

Professional career After leaving Connecticut, he signed a contract to play professional football with a team in Bridgeport. He scored the game-winning touchdown over a team called "Williams", which helped them head "straight for a state championship." A 1922 article in The Bridgeport Telegram said his "greatest feat on the gridiron this season was his 53 yard run back of a punt which he scored a touchdown." and 1924 seasons. Hammill made one of his longest career plays in 1924 against the "West Sides", scoring on a 65-yard rush.

In 1925, Hammill was signed by the Providence Steam Roller of the National Football League (NFL), making his debut against the Frankford Yellow Jackets on October 3, starting at the quarterback position. He and Cy Wentworth were described by The Philadelphia Inquirer as seeming to be "the only men in Providence's galaxy who could tear through Frankford's first and secondary defense for any sort of gains."

Death On November 25, 1925, less than two months after making his NFL debut, Hammill died of injuries suffered in an accident at his job. A report in The Journal said the following:

Both of his legs were amputated, but Hammill ultimately died of his injuries.

A sportswriter in the Hartford Courant posthumously called him:maybe the best player Connecticut ever had ... He could run, pass and kick. And what a tackler he was! He had as tricky a running style as I've ever seen on a football field and he had football sense that was uncanny. He would be hemmed in by tacklers and somehow he would get away and keep running.