{{Short description|American track and field athlete}} [[Image:Harry Schaaf 1911.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Harry Schaaf, wearing the Winged Fist of the Irish American Athletic Club, 1911.]]
'''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.<ref>''New York Times'', January 27, 1920.</ref><ref>{{World Athletics}}</ref> He served as a patrolman from 1912 until his retirement in 1943.<ref>''New York Times'', June 15, 1943.</ref>
On April 9, 1911,<ref>[http://www.athletics.hitsites.de/events_info.php?eventNr=513# Del's Athletic Almanac]</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.wingedfist.org/assets/IAAC%201911%20Dinner%20Journal.pdf Annual Track & Field Dinner Journal], Irish American Athletic Club, 1911.</ref>
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/research/aia/primarydocs/iaac/iaac01.htm Archives of Irish America - NYU] *[http://www.wingedfist.org Winged Fist Organization] *{{sports links}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Schaaf, Harry}} Category:1886 births Category:Year of death missing Category:American men sprinters Category:World record setters in the sport of athletics Category:New York City Police Department officers Category:Track and field athletes from New York City
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