The 1919 and 1920 Green Bay Packers

PICTURED TO THE RIGHT: This photo was taken during the Packers 2nd full season as a professional team and the earliest known image I have seen. The Packers

are depicted playing an unidentified team. The Allouez Water and Beverages advertising sign can be seen in the background of the playing field. The players are shown

wearing leather helmets and football pants. The ground is lightly peppered with freshly fallen snow. The Packers are about to score and are closing in on the goaline as

the wooden hand constructed goalpost is shown. The back running the ball is believed to be Lambeau, but this cannot be positively supported.

HAGEMEISTER PARK (1919-22) - Green Bay's first home games were at Hagemeister Park, a vacant lot marked with a football gridiron, adjacent to East High.

There were no gates because there wasn't a fence. Spectators just dropped off the Walnut Street trolley and walked to the sideline, or drove their own cars and parked

about 10 yards behind the ropes stretched around the playing field. If they felt like it, they either sat in their automobiles or on top of them, but most preferred to get

out and follow up and down the field.

1919 SEASON

September 14: Green Bay (1-0) 53, Menominee North End A.C. 0

September 21: Green Bay (2-0) 61, Marinette Northerners 0

September 28: Green Bay (3-0) 54, New London 0

October 5: Green Bay (4-0) 87, Sheboygan Company C 0

October 12: Green Bay (5-0) 76, Racine 6

(GREEN BAY) - The Packers humbled the city team of Racine here today at a well-attended game. Somers, fullback, starred for Racine, his touchdown in the third quarter accounting for all the scoring the visitors were credited with. The Packers perfect aerial football brought them an easy victory.

October 19: Green Bay (6-0) 33, Ishpeming 0

October 26: Green Bay (7-0) 85, Oshkosh Professionals 0

November 2: Green Bay (8-0) 53, Milwaukee Maple Leaf A.C. 0

(GREEN BAY) - The Maple Leaf Athletic club squad from Milwaukee proved an easy victim for the Packers. Green Bay claims to have annexed the state championship in professional football by their victory over the

Cream City team.

November 9: Green Bay (9-0) 46, Chicago Chilar A.C. 0

(GREEN BAY) - The Packers, who claim the professional football championship of Wisconsin, easily

defeated the Chilar A. C. aggregation of Chicago here yesterday.

November 16: Green Bay (10-0) 17, Stambaugh Miners 0

November 23: Beloit Fairies 6, Green Bay (10-1) 0

(BELOIT) - An off-side play called by the head linesman on a Green Bay player just as the Packers shoved across a touchdown and tied the score, gave one of the most hotly contested football games ever seen in this vicinity to Beloit at Fairbanks-Morse field yesterday afternoon. Cries of derision were heard all over tho sidelines from the spectators when the penalty was called. For a time, with the 2,000 spectators surging over the field toward the two teams and the referee, it appeared that a riot would be in progress, but the players of both teams forced the crowd back.

1920 SEASON

September 26: Green Bay (0-0-1) 3, Chicago Boosters 3 (Tie)

(GREEN BAY) - The Packers and Chicago Boosters' club football teams to a tie here this afternoon. The game, was a thriller throughout, with the exception of several disputes over decisions and a near fist fight. Both teams scored their final field goal in the final quarter. Neilson of Chicago put a pretty drop between the goal posts from the twenty-seven yard line, while Curley Lambeau, former Notre Dame star, booted one over from the thirty-foot mark in the last minute of play. Lambeau's spectacular work in tying the score at the very last brought the crowd surging on the field at the close of the game and the carrying of Lambeau around on their shoulders in true college style. The game was the first for both elevens this fall and both showed a lack of training. Both teams marred the game in wrangling over decisions.

CHICAGO - 0 0 0 3 - 3

GREEN BAY - 0 0 0 3 - 3

4th - CHI - Nielson, 27-yard field goal CHICAGO 3-0

4th - GB - Lambeau, 1-yard field goal TIED 3-3

October 3: Green Bay (1-0-1) 56, Kaukauna American Legion 0

(GREEN BAY) - Kaukauna was handily defeated by the Packers, but the men were not disheartened because they entered into the game with but little practice while the Baymen had been working out for several weeks. In addition the Green Bay team is much heavier and is made up of some of the best football men in the Midwest.

October 10: Green Bay (2-0-1) 3, Stambaugh Miners 0

(GREEN BAY) - The Packers football team defeated the Stambaugh team from Stambaugh, Michigan here

yesterday. The game was played on a muddy field. Curley Lambeau, captain, kicked the only goal in the first period.

STAMBAUGH - 0 0 0 0 - 0

GREEN BAY - 3 0 0 0 - 3

1st - GB - Lambeau field goal GREEN BAY 3-0

October 17: Green Bay (3-0-1) 25, Marinette Professionals 0

October 24: Green Bay (4-0-1) 62, De Pere 0

(GREEN BAY) - The Packers defeated DePere before a crowd of 4,000, nearly half of them from DePere.

The one-sided score does not tell the story of the battle. DePere fought every inch and early in the game looked like they were on par with the Packers. Dalton and Lambeau were the stars of the day. Lambeau retired in the first half because of an injury, and Ladrow was laid out in the third quarter.

STAMBAUGH - 0 0 0 0 - 0

GREEN BAY - 3 0 0 0 - 3

1st - GB - Lambeau field goal GREEN BAY 3-0

October 31: Green Bay (5-0-1) 7, Beloit 0

(GREEN BAY) - The Packers outlucked the Beloit Fairies independent football team on Sunday. The winning touchdown came in the third quarter after Everson caught a punt on his own goal line. He was thrown so hard he lost the ball. In the scramble that followed several players fell on the pigskin, and when the pile was unraveled it was found in the arms of Wagner, Green Bay player. Dalton kicked goal. In the first half the teams fought hard, with the ball in Green Bay's territory most of the time. The Packers' defense was splendid. It rained during the entire game and the field was extremely slippery, but fumbles were not frequent. A crowd of 300 saw the battle.

BELOIT - 0 0 0 0 - 0

GREEN BAY - 0 0 7 0 - 7

3rd - Wagner recovered fumbled punt in end zone (Dalton kick) GREEN BAY 7-0

November 7: Green Bay (6-0-1) 9, Milwaukee All-Stars 0

November 14: Beloit 14, Green Bay (6-1-1) 3

(BELOIT) - The Council Packers of Green Bay lost their first game here to the Beloit Fairies football team by a score of 14 to 3. About 400 fans journeyed from Green Bay to witness the game.

November 21: Green Bay (7-1-1) 19, Menominee 7

(GREEN BAY) - The Council Packers defeated the Menominee football eleven here yesterday. The game was played in the rain. About 500 rooters accompanied the team from Menominee, Mich. NOTE: On November 22, Rigney (Dutch) Dwyer, star end of the Packers, was badly injured while switching in the Northwestern yards. He suffered the loss of his right leg and right arm. Doctors claim he has an even chance for recovery despite his injuries. Dwyer is prominently known in Wisconsin state football circles. From 1913 to 1917 he played end for the West side high school team. While in government service he played much football over in France. After the war he started with the Packers, playing two years with the team.

November 25: Green Bay (8-1-1) 14, Stambaugh Miners 0

(GREEN BAY) - The Packers exhibited their strength here on Thanksgiving afternoon when they defeated the Stambaugh football eleven, champions of the upper peninsula of Michigan. It was a hard fought game, with the Green Bay backs, repeatedly tearing through their opponent's line for large gains. For the greater part of the battle, the play was confined to the territory of the visiting eleven. Time and again, the Packers worked the ball deep into the territory of the Michigan eleven, where the Stambaugh line would stiffen and hold for downs. The Packers were also forced to fight in the shadow of their goal posts at several stages of the game, but always staved off a touchdown. The sensational plunging and kicking of Lambeau featured the game. The Stambaugh eleven were accompanied by several hundred rooters.

November 28: Green Bay (9-1-1) 26, Milwaukee Lapham A.C. 0

(GREEN BAY) - The Lapham A.C. fought stubbornly against a superior team Sunday afternoon and lost

to the Packers, who were reinforced by the presence of Cub Buck, former Badger star all-American and member of Jim Thorpe's Canton team. Buck was the life of the game, tossing his lighter opponents about at will and opening huge holes in the line. He stopped two forward passes, paving the way for one Packer touchdown. Of the visitors, McNutt played a whale of a game, mussing up many of the Packers' forward passes. The visitors brought a good sized crowd along and the rooting was a la collegian. The Laphams were greatly outweighed by the Packers, but on defense played a wonderful game. The Packers scored once in the first quarter, but throughout the first half the fighting was almost even.

Dwyer Benefit Game: December 6: Belevues 21, Northerners 13

(GREEN BAY) - Fully 5,000 persons packed the stands at the game between two local football teams here Sunday afternoon and in this way paid tribute to Keg Dwyer, star end of the Packer grid squad, who lost a leg and an arm while railroading. This game was played as a benefit for the unfortunate player and all the proceeds were turned over to him, which amounted to almost $6,000. The game resulted in a victory for the Belevues over the Northerners by a score of 21 to 13. Along with the victory goes the city championship. Landrow, Rosenow, Dalton and Lambeau were the stars of the thrilling battle.

1919 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS (10-1) - September (3-0)

14 Menominee North End A.C. W 53- 0 1- 0-0 N/A

21 Marinette Northerners W 61- 0 2- 0-0 N/A

28 New London W 54- 0 3- 0-0 N/A

OCTOBER (4-0)

5 Sheboygan Company C W 87- 0 4- 0-0 N/A

12 Racine W 76- 6 5- 0-0 N/A

19 at Ishpeming W 33- 0 6- 0-0 3,000

26 Oshkosh Professionals W 85- 0 7- 0-0 N/A

NOVEMBER (3-1)

2 Milwaukee Maple Leaf AC W 53- 0 8- 0-0 N/A

9 Chicago Chilar A.C. W 46- 0 9- 0-0 N/A

16 at Stambaugh Miners W 17- 0 10- 0-0 2,500

23 at Beloit Professionals L 0- 6 10- 1-0 N/A

1920 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS (9-1-1) - September (1-0)

26 Chicago Boosters T 3- 3 0- 0-1 1,200

OCTOBER (5-0)

3 Kaukauna American Legion W 56- 0 1- 0-1 N/A

10 Stambaugh Miners W 3- 0 2- 0-1 800

17 Marinette Professionals W 25- 0 3- 0-1 N/A

24 De Pere W 62- 0 4- 0-1 3,500

31 Beloit Fairies W 7- 0 5- 0-1 2,000

NOVEMBER (4-1)

7 Milwaukee All-Stars W 9- 0 6- 0-1 N/A

14 at Beloit Fairies L 3-14 6- 1-1 N/A

21 Menominee Professionals W 19- 7 7- 1-1 800

25 Stambaugh Miners W 14- 0 8- 1-1 N/A

28 Milwaukee Lapham A.C. W 26- 0 9- 1-1 N/A

1919-20 IN REVIEW

On the evening of August 11, 1919, a group of young athletes, called together by Curly Lambeau and George Calhoun, gathered in the dingy editorial room of the old Green Bay Press-Gazette building and organized a football team. The initial spark had been struck a few weeks before during a casual street corner conversation between Lambeau and Calhoun. They talked Curly's employer at the Indian Packing Company into putting up some money for equipment. Because the packing company, which also permitted the use of its athletic field for practice, had provided the team's jerseys the club was identified in its early publicity as a project of the company. With this tie-in the name "Packers" was a natural, although the corporation had practically faded out of the picture before the season was half over. That 1st season the team won 10 games and lost only 1 against other teams from Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Games were played in an open field with no fences or bleachers, and interested fans "passed the hat." In 1920, a section of stands was built, but it was just a small bleacher with a capacity of a couple hundred, on one side of the field, and a fee charged to sit there.

THE FIRST NFL TEAMS

OK, so, technically, this list should be the first teams in the American Professional Football Association. The league would not be known as the NFL until 1921. The league was formed in Canton, Ohio on August 20 by four independent professional American football teams from Ohio: Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Tigers, and Dayton Triangles.

AKRON PROS (1920-1926) - The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, however name was changed to the Pros in 1920. In 1926, the name was changed to back the Akron Indians, after the earlier semi-pro teams. Due to financial problems, the team suspended operations in 1927 and surrendered its franchise the following year.

BUFFALO ALL-AMERICANS (1920-27, 29) - The franchise was called the Buffalo All-Stars from 1915 to 1917, Buffalo Niagaras in 1918, the Buffalo Prospects in 1919, Buffalo All-Americans from 1920-1923, Buffalo Bisons from 1924-1925, 1927 and 1929, and the Buffalo Rangers in 1926. The franchise did not play in 1928 after experiencing financial issues.

CANTON BULLDOGS (1920-25, 26) - They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and in the NFL from 1920 to 1923 and 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs won the 1922 and 1923 titles. Before the 1927 season, the league decided to purge itself of some of the weaker franchise. Twelve teams were jettisoned, including the Bulldogs.

CHICAGO TIGERS (1920) - The Chicago Tigers played only in the first year of the league, and, because of this, have the distinction of being the first official NFL team to fold. They had a record of 2-5-1 and played its home games at Chicago's Wrigley Field (then called Cub's Park) and was the first NFL team to do so.

CLEVELAND TIGERS (1920-21) - The Cleveland Indians football team was originally established in 1916 and played in the Ohio League. Early in 1922, owner Jimmy O'Donnell received league permission to suspend operations for a year, but when he was unable to post the $1,000 annual guarantee the NFL required, his franchise was cancelled.

COLUMBUS PANHANDLES (1920-26) - In 1901 workers at the Panhandle shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Columbus, Ohio formed a professional football team called the Columbus Panhandles. Following the 1922 season, the Panhandles became the Tigers. This new team was purchased by local businessmen and played as a traveling team.

DAYTON TRIANGLES (1920-29) - The original Dayton Triangles members first began playing together as basketball players at St. Mary's College from 1908 until 1912. By the late twenties, Dayton was one of the league's doormats, winning just five games from 1923-29. Finally, in July 1930, the team moved to Brooklyn and was renamed the Dodgers.

DECATUR STALEYS (1920-now) - Originally named the Decatur Staleys, the club was established by the A. E. Staley food starch in 1919 as a company team. The team relocated to Chicago in 1921, where the club was renamed the Chicago Staleys. George Halas purchased the rights to the club for $100, whereupon they were renamed the Chicago Bears.

DETROIT HERALDS (1920) - In 1905, several University of Detroit footballl players, led by Bill Marshall, organized the Heralds as an amateur team after the University did not field a squad. While the Heralds didn't officially join the APFA, they are listed in league standings for the season, but inclement weather financially devastating the team.

HAMMOND PROS (1920-26) - The Pros were established in 1919 by Paul Parduhn and played most of its games in Chicago's Cub Park, which is now known as Wrigley Field. The Pros played most of their games on the road because Hammond lacked a field with any kind of seating capacity, and the team was dropped from the NFL in 1927.

MUNCIE FLYERS (1920-21) - The origins of the team show that it evolved from the Congerville (Muncie) Athletic Club, which dates back to at least 1905. The team played only three NFL games, and lost them all. After leaving the APFA, the Muncie Flyers reverted back to their original name of the Congerville Flyers, but died out in 1926.

RACINE CARDINALS (1920-now) - The team was established in Chicago in 1898 as the Morgan Athletic Club. They were named the Racine Normals, since Normal Park was located on Racine Avenue in Chicago. The team disbanded in 1906, but reformed in 1913. The club moved to St. Louis in 1960. In 1988, the team moved to Arizona.

ROCHESTER JEFFERSONS (1920-25) - Formed as an amateur outfit by a rag-tag group of Rochester-area teenagers in 1898, the team became known as the Jeffersons in reference to the locale of their playing field on Jefferson Avenue. The team remained technically suspended for 1926 and 1927, but allowed its franchise to expire in 1928.

ROCK ISLAND INDEPENDENTS (1920-25) - The Independents were first formed in 1907, when a group of men formed a team with no club affiliation, no social club ties and no corporate backing or sponsorship. As a result the team was named the Independents. The team jumped to the AFL in 1926, then played as a semi-pro team in 1927, then went under.