Harry Schaaf

Henry "Harry" Schaaf (born 29 November 1886) was an American track and field athlete, a member of the Irish American Athletic Club, and a Police Officer in the New York City Police Department.^[1][2] He served as a patrolman from 1912 until his retirement in 1943.^[3]

Harry Schaaf, wearing the Winged Fist of the Irish American Athletic Club, 1911.

On April 9, 1911,^[4] Schaaf was a member of the Irish American Athletic Club 4x440 yard relay team that broke the world record at Celtic Park, Queens, New York and set the first IAAF- recognized world's record for 4x440 yard or 4x400 meter relay race, with a time of 3 minutes and 18.2 seconds. The other members of the world's record-setting team were Harry Gissing, Mel Sheppard and James Rosenberger.^[5]