He was signed at the conclusion of the Pittsburgh season by Dave Printz and became a member of the Franklin Athletic Club, which won the 1903 "World Championship" or American Championship Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York. Historians later renamed this event the 1903 World Series of Football. Herman scored both touchdowns in the 12-0 title clinching win versus Watertown Red and Black from New York. In a practice that was common at that time, Kerkhoff, his teammates, and residents of Franklin wagered large sums of money on the games, and returned to Franklin as wealthy heroes.
