Steve Baumgartner

Steven John Baumgartner (born March 26, 1951) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers, and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 1973 NFL draft. He played for the Saints from 1973 to 1977 and for the Houston Oilers from 1977 to 1979. Baumgartner also had an unusual hobby as a beer can collector.

Early life Steven John Baumgartner was born on March 26, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois. He played high school football at Benet Academy in Lisle, Illinois, as a defensive end. As a senior in 1968, he earned All-Suburban Catholic Conference honors. He made the traveling team in 1970 as the backup defensive tackle to starter John Handy. Baumgartner was then a two-year letterman from 1971 to 1972, and earned first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors in 1972 as a defensive end. In 2018, the Journal & Courier named Baumgartner the best Purdue football player to wear jersey number 97. Baumgartner played in only five games for the Saints that year before being waived in late October. He played in six games for the Oilers during the 1977 season in a reserve role, recording one sack and two fumble recoveries. He was activated on September 28 and played in the final 12 games of the season as a backup.

Beer can collecting

During his football career, Baumgartner had an unusual hobby as a beer can collector. In 1975, he was noted as being one of the 6,000 members of the Beer Can Collectors of America. Baumgartner said "I go out in the woods and look. Cans don't rust too badly under pine trees. I go just about anywhere except where I might get shot. Anywhere people congregate there will be beer cans." He also started teammate Jim Merlo's interest in beer can collecting. Baumgartner said his most valuable can was a Jackson Brewing Company can worth $25 depicting the LSU Tigers.