1920 Chicago Cardinals season

1920 Chicago Cardinals season
OwnerChris O'Brien
Head coachPaddy Driscoll
Home fieldNormal Park
Results
Record3–2–1 APFA
(6–2–2 overall)
League place4th APFA

The 1920 Chicago Cardinals season was the teams' inaugural season in the American Professional Football Association (soon to be the National Football League). Although the Cardinals' existence traced back as far as 1899, this was their first season as a member of the American Professional Football Association.

The team was also known as the Racine Cardinals in this period, a name borrowed from Racine Avenue, location of Normal Park in Chicago, where the team played its home games. In an effort to reduce confusion and capitalize on the name of a major metropolis, the name of the team was officially changed to "Chicago Cardinals" by owner Chris O'Brien on October 20, 1920, however.[1]

Their final two games of the season against the Chicago Stayms Foresters were played after the APFA season was officially over and did not count towards the standings.

The last remaining active member of the 1920 Chicago Cardinals was Paddy Driscoll, who retired after the 1929 season.

Background

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The Chicago Cardinals finished 4–3-0 in their 1919 season in the Chicago Football league[2] Following the 1919 season, representatives of four Ohio League teams—the Canton Bulldogs, the Cleveland Tigers, the Dayton Triangles, and the Akron Pros—called a meeting on August 20, 1920, to discuss the formation of a new league. At the meeting, they tentatively agreed on a salary cap and pledged not to sign college players or players already under contract with other teams. They also agreed on a name for the circuit: the American Professional Football Conference.[3][4] Then they contacted other major professional teams and invited them to a meeting for September 17.[5]

At that meeting, held at Bulldogs owner Ralph Hay's Hupmobile showroom in Canton, representatives of the Rock Island Independents, the Muncie Flyers, the Decatur Staleys, the Massillon Tigers, the Cardinals, and the Hammond Pros agreed to join the league. Representatives of the Buffalo All-Americans and Rochester Jeffersons could not attend the meeting, but sent letters to Hay asking to be included in the league.[6] Team representatives changed the league's name slightly to the American Professional Football Association and elected officers, installing Jim Thorpe as president.[6][7][8] Under the new league structure, teams created their schedules dynamically as the season progressed,[9][10] and representatives of each team voted to determine the winner of the APFA trophy.[11]

After joining the league, Cardinals owner Chris O'Brien signed former Northwestern star halfback John "Paddy" Driscoll to a contract paying him $300 per game, with a guarantee of 10 games.[12] The deal made the highly-skilled Driscoll among the best compensated players in the fledgling league. More than just a runner or a passer, Driscoll could also score via the drop kick. Driscoll still holds several NFL dropkicking records, including most successful drop kicks in one game (4), in a career (49), and longest drop kick converted (50 yards, twice).[12]

Schedule

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Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources
1 October 10 at Chicago Tigers T 0–0 0–0–1 Cubs Park 7,500+ Recap [13]
— October 17 at Moline Athletics W 33–3 — St. Rita's Field Recap [14][15]
2 October 24 at Rock Island Independents L 0–7 0–1–1 Douglas Park 4,000 Recap [16]
3 October 31 Detroit Heralds W 21–0 1–1–1 Cubs Park 3,000 Recap
4 November 7 at Chicago Tigers W 6–3 2–1–1 Cubs Park 7,000 Recap
— November 14 Cincinnati Celts W 20–0 — Normal Park 5,000 Recap —
— November 21 Lansing Oldsmobiles W 14–0 — Normal Park 3,500 Recap [17]
5 November 28 Decatur Staleys W 7–6 3–1–1 Normal Park 5,000 Recap
6 December 5 Decatur Staleys L 0–10 3–2–1 Cubs Park 11,000 Recap
— December 19 at Chicago Stayms T 14–14 — Pyott Field Recap —
— January 9, 1921 Chicago Stayms W 6–0 — Normal Park 3,000 —
Note: Non-APFA teams in italics.

Standings

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1920 APFA standings[18]
W L T PCT DIV DPCT PF PA STK
Akron Pros† 8 0 3 1.000 6–0–3 1.000 151 7 T2
Decatur Staleys 10 1 2 .909 5–1–2 .833 164 21 T1
Buffalo All-Americans 9 1 1 .900 4–1–1 .800 258 32 T1
Chicago Cardinals 6 2 2 .750 3–2–2 .600 101 29 T1
Rock Island Independents 6 2 2 .750 4–2–1 .667 201 49 W1
Dayton Triangles 5 2 2 .714 4–2–2 .667 150 54 L1
Rochester Jeffersons 6 3 2 .667 0–1–0 .000 156 57 T1
Canton Bulldogs 7 4 2 .636 4–3–1 .571 208 57 W1
Detroit Heralds 2 3 3 .400 1–3–0 .250 53 82 T2
Cleveland Tigers 2 4 2 .333 1–4–2 .200 28 46 L1
Chicago Tigers 2 5 1 .286 1–5–1 .167 49 63 W1
Hammond Pros 2 5 0 .286 0–3–0 .000 41 154 L3
Columbus Panhandles 2 6 2 .250 0–4–0 .000 41 121 W1
Muncie Flyers 0 1 0 .000 0–1–0 .000 0 45 L1

 †  Awarded the Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup and named APFA Champions.
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Game summaries

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Game 1: at Chicago Tigers

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1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0
Tigers 0 0 0 0 0

October 10, 1920, at Cubs Park

The Chicago Tigers hosted the Chicago Cardinals at Cubs Park in a scoreless 0-0 tie. While much of what happened in the quiet affair is unknown, it would eventually set the precedent for another, more important game in Week 7 that year.[citation needed]

Game 2: vs. Moline Athletics

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1 2 3 4 Total
Athletics 0 0 3 0 3
Cardinals 0 27 6 0 33

October 17, 1920, at St. Rita's Stadium

The Cardinals improved their record to 1-0-1 on the season with a resounding victory over the semi-pro team from Moline, Illinois. A massive four touchdown second quarter spelled demise for Moline,[14] with the Cardinals' putting up long runs by star halfback Paddy Driscoll and his backfield mate, Harry Curran.[15] Chicago's defense was stifling, forcing Moline to settle for a third quarter field goal to avert a shutout.[14]

Game 3: at Rock Island Independents

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0
Independents 0 7 0 0 7

October 24, 1920, at Douglas Park

The Rock Island Independents hosted the Cardinals at Douglas Park, with the Cardinals losing 7-0 in front of 4,000 spectators. Their record fell to 1-1-1 as a result. The only touchdown in the game was a 6-yard pass from Sid Nichols to Arnie Wyman in the second quarter. Nichols also kicked the extra point.[citation needed]

Game 4: vs. Detroit Heralds

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Heralds 0 0 0 0 0
Cardinals 0 0 21 0 21

October 31, 1920, at Cubs Park

In a 21-0 rout of the Heralds with 3,000 fans in attendance, the Cardinals improved to 2-1-1 on the season. All of the touchdowns scored were in the third quarter, two of which were blocked punts returned to the end zone by Lenny Sachs and Leo Chappell. The third touchdown was a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Paddy Driscoll, who also kicked each extra point.[citation needed]

Game 5: at Chicago Tigers

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 6 0 0 6
Tigers 3 0 0 0 3

November 7, 1920, at Cubs Park

In front of 7,000 fans, the Tigers hosted the Cardinals in a game that, according to urban legend, decided the fate of both teams, with the loser required to fold their team. Responding to the Tigers' 27-yard field goal by Johnny Barrett in the first quarter, Paddy Driscoll ran for 40 yards to score the game-winning touchdown for the Cardinals in the second quarter. The extra point was seemingly no good. While neither team ended their season on the spot, and the Tigers and Cardinals fell and rose to 1-3-1 and 3-1-1, respectively, the Tigers would fold at the end of the 1920 season.[citation needed]

Game 6: vs. Cincinnati Celts

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1 2 3 4 Total
Celts 0 0 0 0 0
Cardinals 6 14 0 0 20

November 14, 1920, at Normal Park

In a 20-0 shutout victory, the Cardinals hosted the Cincinnati Celts. Two of the three touchdowns came from Nick McInerney and Paddy Driscoll running the ball in from unknown distances. Leo Chappell recovered a fumble and ran another in as well. Driscoll was 2-for-3 in extra point attempts, seemingly missing after McInerney's touchdown.

Game 7: vs. Lansing Oldsmobiles

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1 2 3 4 Total
Oldsmobiles 0 0 0 0 0
Cardinals 0 7 7 0 14

November 21, 1920, at Normal Park

The Cardinals hosted the Lansing Oldsmobiles in a 14-0 win. The pair of scores came from two rushing touchdowns from Harry Curran and Paddy Driscoll in the second and third quarters, respectively. Driscoll also kicked both extra points.

Game 8: vs. Decatur Staleys

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Staleys 6 0 0 0 6
Cardinals 0 0 7 0 7

November 28, 1920, at Normal Park

In the first of two matchups, the Cardinals won 7-6 against the Decatur Staleys in front of a crowd of 5,000 fans. The two major scores of the game were a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Bob Koehler for Decatur and a 20-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Lenny Sachs for the Cardinals. Paddy Driscoll kicked the extra point as well. The Cardinals would finish their season 6-2-1.[citation needed]

Game 9: vs. Decatur Staleys

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Staleys 0 7 0 3 10
Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0

December 5, 1920, at Cubs Park

In a back-to-back rematch, the Staleys struck back with a 10-0 shutout win over the Cardinals. The only two socres of the game were a Bob Koehler 2-yard rushing touchdown and a Dutch Sternaman field goal from an unknown distance. Sternaman also kicked the extra point after the touchdown by Koehler.[citation needed]

Game 10: at Chicago Stayms

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1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 0 8 6 14
Stayms 0 0 8 6 14

December 19, 1920, at Pyott's Park

The Chicago Stayms hosted the Cardinals in a 14-14 tie. Only parts of this game survived in detail, with a supposed rushing touchdown scored by Nick McInerney for the Cardinals and a blocked punt recovered and scored by an unknown Staym. The other eight points apiece were scored by unknown means. This game, along with a supposed second matchup, did not count towards the 1920 APFA season, as it had ended. [citation needed]

Post-season: vs. Chicago Stayms

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1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0
Stayms 0 0 0 0 0

January ??, 1921, at ????

Any information about this game, or if it even occurred, is unknown.

Roster

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Chicago Cardinals 1920 final roster

References

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  1. ^ Joe Ziemba, Bears vs. Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2022; p. 73.
  2. ^ Ziemba 1999, p. 64
  3. ^ PFRA Research 1980, pp. 3–4
  4. ^ Siwoff, Zimmber & Marini 2010, pp. 352–353
  5. ^ PFRA Research 1980, p. 3
  6. ^ a b PFRA Research 1980, p. 4
  7. ^ "Thorpe Made President" (PDF). The New York Times. September 19, 1920.
  8. ^ "Organize Pro Gridders; Choose Thorpe, Prexy". The Milwaukee Journal. September 19, 1920. p. 24. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012.
  9. ^ Peterson 1997, p. 74
  10. ^ Davis 2005, p. 59
  11. ^ Price, Mark (April 25, 2011). "Searching for Lost Trophy". Akron Beacon-Journal. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Joe Ziemba, When Football Was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL. Chicago: Triumph Books, 1999; p. 74.
  13. ^ "Racine–Tigers Scoreless Tie," Hammond [IN] Times, Oct. 11, 1920, p. 6.
  14. ^ a b c "Cardinals Trim Athletics, 33–3: Second Quarter Waterloo for Moline Players When Four Touchdowns Are Made," Moline Dispatch, Oct. 18, 1920, p. 14.
  15. ^ a b "Racine Cardinals Beat Moline by 33 to 3 Count," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 18, 1920, p. 19.
  16. ^ "Rock Island Independents Win by 7 Points: Driscoll Proves His Reputation is Deserved by Nearly Trimming Entire Islander Team," Moline Dispatch, Oct. 25, 1920, p. 14.
  17. ^ "Lansing Easy for Cardinals: Long Run by Driscoll Feature of Game; Automobile Men Wage Bitter Fight," Rock Island [IL] Argus, Nov. 22 1920, p. 13.
  18. ^ "NFL – 1920 Regular Season". National Football League. Retrieved January 6, 2013.

Further reading

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