The 1920 YEAR IN FOOTBALL
APFA FRANCHISES
Akron Pros - Buffalo All-Americans - Canton Bulldogs - Chicago (Racine) Cardinals - Chicago Tigers - Cleveland Tigers - Columbus Panhandles - Dayton Triangles - Decatur Staleys - Detroit Heralds - Hammond Pros - Muncie Flyers - Rochester Jeffersons - Rock Island Independents
Non-League Opponents (N)
All-Buffalo * Chicago Boosters * Champaign Legion * Cincinnati Celts * Elyria Athletics * Ft. Porter (NY) * Ft. Wayne Friars * Gary Elks * Washington Glee Club * Kewanee Walworths * Lansing Oldsmobile * McKeesport Olympics * Logan Square (Chicago) * Detroit Maroons * Minneapolis Marines * Moline Indians * Cleveland Panthers * Wheeling Stogies * Columbus Wagner Pirates * Pitcairn Quakers * Pullman Thorns * Rockford A.C. * Richmond Athletics * Rochester Scalpers * Chicago Stayms * St. Paul Ideals * Syracuse * Thorn Tornadoes * Toledo Maroons * All-Tonawanda * Union A.A.(Philadelphia) * Utica K. of C. * West Buffalo * Wash. & Jeff. Collegians * Zanesville Mark Grays
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26
N-ROCK ISLAND 48, St. Paul Ideals 0 (800) - Rock Island scored two touchdowns in the first 10 minutes and continued to score almost at will. Kuehl of Rock Island ran 82 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Rock Island 1 0 0 1.000 48 0 Rochester 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Dayton 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Hammond 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Decatur 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Detroit 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Akron 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Chi. Cards 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Buffalo 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Chi. Tigers 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Canton 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Columbus 0 1 0 .000 0 14
Cleveland 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
SUNDAY OCTOBER 3
DAYTON 14, Columbus 0 (NA) - Francis Bacon returned a punt 60 yards to clinch the win. Lou Partlow scored the first TD on a 6-yard run in the third
ROCK ISLAND 45, Muncie 0 (3,110) - Arnold Wyman scored on two blocked punts and returned a kickoff 86 yards as the Independents rolled, and the Flyers folded shortly after the game
DECATUR 20, Moline 0 (1,500) - Dutch Sternaman scored on three TD runs to lead the Staleys
N-CANTON 48, Pitcairn 0 - Joe Guyon was the shining light for the Bulldogs, as he scored three touchdowns, including a 62-yard dash to start the scoring
N-ROCHESTER 10, All-Buffalo 0 (2,000) - Even though the score did not indicate it, Rochester had their way with All-Buffalo. In the end, Rochester’s punting kept the visitors on Buffalo’s side of midfield
N-BUFFALO 32, West Buffalo 6 (NA) - Bodie Weldon ran for an early score, while QB Tommy Hughitt and Weldon added TDs to give Buffalo a 19-0 lead at the half. Hughitt scored from a yard out in the third to make it 25-0. West Buffalo got on the scoreboard when Bob Langdon intercepted a Buffalo pass and ran it back 75 yards for a TD.
N-AKRON 43, Wheeling 0 (4000) - DE Al Nesser of the famous Nesser Brothers scored three touchdowns (two fumble recoveries and 1 blocked field goal). TB Fritz Pollard also scored two rushing TDs.
Rock Island 2 0 0 1.000 93 0 Cleveland 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Dayton 1 0 0 1.000 14 0 Hammond 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Akron 1 0 0 1.000 43 0 Detroit 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Buffalo 1 0 0 1.000 32 6 Chi. Cards 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Rochester 1 0 0 1.000 10 0 Chi. Tigers 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Canton 1 0 0 1.000 48 0 Columbus 0 1 0 .000 0 14
Decatur 1 0 0 1.000 20 0 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
SUNDAY OCTOBER 10
AKRON 37, Columbus 0 (2500) - Frank McCormick ran for two TDs, as the Pros took an early 14-0 lead and never looked back. Bob Nash recovered a fumble in the end zone (the first in APFA/NFL history), and the Triangle defense added a safety. Blocking back Harry Harris and FB Fred Sweetland scored one rushing TD each.
ROCK ISLAND 26, Hammond 0 (2550) - Although outweighed, Rock Island tore the Hammond line to shreds, the visitors only being able to make three first downs. Waddy Kuehl ran for one TD and caught another.
CHI. TIGERS 0, Cards 0 (T) (10000) - The two QBs, Driscoll and Ghee, were the luminaries, both in their long punting and runs through center and off tackle, but neither team could dent the scoreboard
DAYTON 0, Cleveland 0 (T)
N-DECATUR 25, Kewanee 7 (1500) - Coach Halas's line opened great holes in the visitors forward wall during the first half while the backfield plowed and squirmed their way through, for four touchdowns
N-BUFFALO 51, All-Buffalo 0
N-ROCHESTER 66, Fort Porter 0
N-CANTON 42, Toledo 0
N-DETROIT 40, Cle Panthers 14
Rock Island 3 0 0 1.000 19 0 Dayton 1 0 1 1.000 14 0
Decatur 2 0 0 1.000 45 7 Cleveland 0 0 1 .000 0 0
Akron 2 0 0 1.000 80 0 Chi. Cards 0 0 1 .000 0 0
Buffalo 2 0 0 1.000 83 6 Chi. Tigers 0 0 1 .000 0 0
Canton 2 0 0 1.000 90 0 Hammond 0 1 0 .000 0 26
Rochester 2 0 0 1.000 76 0 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
Detroit 1 0 0 1.000 40 14 Columbus 0 2 0 .000 0 51
SUNDAY OCTOBER 17
CANTON 7, Cleveland 0 (7000) - Ike Martin scored on a 7-yard run in the first quarter, and the score held up as the Bulldogs remained perfect.
DAYTON 44, Hammond 0 (2000) - Triangle QB Al Mahrt tossed three TD passes, two to Norb Sacksteder, as Dayton rolled to a 27-0 halftime lead.
Decatur 7, ROCK ISLAND 0 (7000) - Dutch Sternaman ran 47 yards for a TD in the second quarter
CHICAGO TIGERS 12, Detroit 0 (5000) - Oscar Knop picked up a blocked punt and ran 20 yards in the first quarter to put the Tigers ahead for good.
N-AKRON 13, Cincinnati 0 (NA) - The Celts were not directly affiliated with the APFA and would not join the league until the following year. FB Rip King and RB Fritz Pollard each scored a touchdown for Akron, whose defense was so dominant that the Celts did not get a single first down all game long.
N-FT. WAYNE 14, Columbus 0 (5000)
N-BUFFALO 28, McKeesport 7 (NA)
N-ROCHESTER 0, Utica 0 (T) (NA)
N-CHI. CARDS 33, Moline 3 (NA)
Akron 3 0 0 1.000 93 0 Chi. Tigers 1 0 1 1.000 12 0
Buffalo 3 0 0 1.000 111 13 Rock Island 3 1 0 .750 119 0
Canton 3 0 0 1.000 97 0 Detroit 1 1 0 .500 40 26
Decatur 3 0 0 1.000 52 7 Cleveland 0 1 1 .000 0 7
Dayton 2 0 1 1.000 58 0 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
Rochester 2 0 1 1.000 76 0 Hammond 0 2 0 .000 0 70
Chi. Cards 1 0 1 1.000 33 3 Columbus 0 3 0 .000 0 65
1920 Racine Cardinals vs. Rock Island Independents Program--Oldest Known APFA (NFL) Example!
While professionalism had long held sway over our national pastime of baseball at the completion of the first two decades of the twentieth century, the practice of paying football players for their services was in its infancy in 1920. Today that vintage stands in bold type in the history of the sport, a year that saw loose affiliations of professional teams in Ohio and New York State band together to form the American Professional Football Association, an organization that would take on the familiar name "The National Football League" just two years later. However it would be decades before the NFL would pull even with the collegiate game in the estimation of the American sports fan, a fact that left the first years of the league poorly attended or documented. Relics from the 1920's APFA/NFL are nearly non-existent, and we believe this remarkable offering to be the sole program to survive from the inaugural season of the league's existence. Diminutive in size but immeasurable in significance and collecting appeal, this 5.5x3.5" card reports team rosters matching only those present for the October 24, 1920 gridiron battle between the Racine Cardinals and Rock Island Independents, a 7-0 victory for the hosts at Rock Island's Douglas Park. Future Hall of Famers appearing on the roster include John "Paddy" Driscoll and Ed Healey. (Source: Heritage Auctions)
SUNDAY OCTOBER 24
AKRON 7, Cleveland 0 (NA) - Bob Nash picked up a blocked punt in the first quarter and ran 8 yards for the only score of the day. Nash apparently grabbed the ball from the Tigers' punter, Stan Cofall on the 8-yard line and ran in for the score. With an extra point from Charlie Copley, the Pros kept their undefeated streak alive.
DAYTON 20, Canton 20 (T) (5000) - Jim Thorpe kicked a 35-yard FG in the third and a 45-yarder in the final frame, as the Bulldogs failed to win for only the second time since 1915.
Decatur 10, CHI. TIGERS 0 (5000) - Pard Pearce ran 55 yards for a Staley TD in the second quarter, then Jimmy Conzelman kicked a 30-yard FG in the third to clinch the win.
DETROIT 6, Columbus 0 (NA) - Fitzgerald stepped in front of a short Frank Nesser passer and ran 85 yards for a second-quarter score
ROCK ISLAND 7, Cardinals 0 (4000) - Sid Nichols tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Arnie Wyman in the second quarter for the win
N-ROCHESTER 21, Syracuse 7 (NA)
N-BUFFALO 38, Toledo 0 (6000)
Akron 4 0 0 1.000 100 0 Detroit 2 1 0 .667 46 26
Buffalo 4 0 0 1.000 149 13 Chi. Cards 1 1 1 .500 33 10
Decatur 4 0 0 1.000 62 7 Chi. Tigers 1 1 1 .500 12 10
Rochester 3 0 1 1.000 97 7 Cleveland 0 2 1 .000 0 14
Canton 3 0 1 1.000 117 20 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
Dayton 2 0 2 1.000 78 20 Hammond 0 2 0 .000 0 70
Rock Island 4 1 0 .800 126 0 Columbus 0 4 0 .000 0 57
SUNDAY OCTOBER 31
Akron 10, CANTON 0 CLEVELAND 7, Columbus 0
BUFFALO 17, Rochester 6 ROCK ISLAND 20, Chi. Tigers 7
CARDS 21, Detroit 0 N-DAYTON 23, Cincinnati 7
N-Decatur 29, ROCKFORD 0 (NA) N-Hammond 14, LOGAN SQUARE 9
Akron 5 0 0 1.000 110 0 Chi. Cards 2 1 1 .667 54 10
Buffalo 5 0 0 1.000 166 19 Detroit 2 2 0 .500 46 47
Decatur 5 0 0 1.000 91 7 Cleveland 1 2 1 .333 7 14
Dayton 3 0 2 1.000 101 27 Hammond 1 2 0 .333 14 79
Rock Island 5 1 0 .833 146 7 Chi. Tigers 1 2 1 .333 19 30
Rochester 3 1 1 .750 103 24 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
Canton 3 1 1 .750 117 30 Columbus 0 5 0 .000 0 64
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7
Canton 18, CLEVELAND 0 ROCK ISLAND 0, Decatur 0 (T)
Chi. Cards 6, CHI. TIGERS 3 N-Columbus 10, ZANESVILLE 0
N-Hammond 14, PULLMAN 13 N-BUFFALO 35, Tonawanda 0
N-ROCHESTER 27, Utica 7
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 11
N-Decatur 20, CHAMPAIGN 0 N-THORN 7, Rock Island 7 (T)
Buffalo 6 0 0 1.000 201 19 Chi. Cards 3 1 1 .750 60 13
Akron 5 0 0 1.000 110 0 Hammond 2 2 0 .500 28 92
Decatur 6 0 1 1.000 111 7 Detroit 2 2 0 .500 46 47
Dayton 3 0 2 1.000 101 27 Cleveland 1 3 1 .250 7 32
Rock Island 5 1 2 .833 153 14 Chi. Tigers 1 3 1 .250 22 36
Canton 4 1 1 .800 135 30 Columbus 1 5 0 .167 10 64
Rochester 4 1 1 .800 130 31 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 14
CLEVELAND 7, Akron 7 (T) BUFFALO 43, Columbus 7
Dayton 21, ROCK ISLAND 0 CANTON 21, Chi. Tigers 0
N-Decatur 3, MINNEAPOLIS 0 N-FT. WAYNE 0, Detroit 0 (T)
N-GARY 7, Hammond 6 (2,000) N-Tonawanda 6, ROCHESTER 0
N-CHI. CARDS 20, Cincinnati 0
Buffalo 7 0 0 1.000 244 26 Rochester 4 2 1 .667 130 37
Decatur 7 0 1 1.000 114 7 Detroit 2 2 1 .500 46 47
Akron 5 0 1 1.000 117 7 Hammond 2 3 0 .400 34 99
Dayton 4 0 2 1.000 122 27 Cleveland 1 3 2 .250 14 39
Canton 5 1 1 .833 156 30 Chi. Tigers 1 4 1 .200 22 57
Chi. Cards 4 1 1 .800 80 13 Columbus 1 6 0 .167 17 107
Rock Island 5 2 2 .714 153 35 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21
Canton 3, BUFFALO 0 AKRON 13, Dayton 0
DECATUR 28, Hammond 7 N-ZANESVILLE 0, Columbus 0 (T)
N-CHI. CARDS 14, Lansing 0 N-CLEVELAND 14, Toledo 0
N-ROCHESTER 16, Roch. Scalpers 0
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25
AKRON 7, Canton 0 (NA) Decatur 6, CHI. TIGERS 0
DAYTON 28, Detroit 0 N-ELYRIA 0, Columbus 0 (T)
N-CHI. BOOSTERS 27, Hammond 0 N-Tonawanda 14, ROCHESTER 3
Decatur 9 0 1 1.000 148 14 Rochester 5 3 1 .625 149 51
Akron 7 0 1 1.000 137 7 Cleveland 2 3 2 .400 28 39
Buffalo 7 1 0 .875 244 29 Detroit 2 3 1 .400 46 75
Dayton 5 1 2 .833 150 40 Hammond 2 5 0 .286 41 154
Chi. Cards 5 1 1 .833 94 13 Chi. Tigers 1 5 1 .167 22 63
Canton 6 2 1 .750 159 37 Columbus 1 6 2 .143 17 107
Rock Island 5 2 2 .714 153 35 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28
Akron 14, DAYTON 0 BUFFALO 7, Cleveland 0
CHI. CARDS 7, Decatur 6 N-DETROIT 0, Lansing 0 (T)
N-CHI. TIGERS 27, Thorn 0 N-ROCK ISLAND 48, Wash & Jeff. 7
N-ROCHESTER 7, Roch. Scalpers 6
Akron 8 0 1 1.000 151 7 Rochester 6 3 1 .667 156 57
Decatur 9 1 1 .900 154 21 Detroit 2 3 2 .400 46 75
Buffalo 8 1 0 .889 252 29 Cleveland 2 4 2 .333 28 46
Chi. Cards 6 1 1 .857 101 19 Hammond 2 5 0 .286 41 154
Canton 6 2 1 .750 159 37 Chi. Tigers 2 5 1 .286 49 63
Rock Island 6 2 2 .750 201 42 Columbus 1 6 2 .143 17 107
Dayton 5 2 2 .714 150 54 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
SATURDAY DECEMBER 4
Buffalo 7, Canton 3 at New York
SUNDAY DECEMBER 5
BUFFALO 0, Akron 0 (T) DECATUR 10, Chi. Cards 0
N-DET. 7, Det. Maroons 7 (T) N-COLUMBUS 24, Col. Pirates 0
N-WASHINGTON 0, Canton 0 (T) at New Haven, CT
N-ROCHESTER 0, Roch. Scalpers 0 (T)
Akron 8 0 2 1.000 151 7 Rochester 6 3 2 .667 156 57
Decatur 10 1 1 .909 164 21 Detroit 2 3 3 .400 53 82
Buffalo 9 1 1 .900 259 32 Cleveland 2 4 2 .333 28 46
Chi. Cards 6 2 1 .750 101 29 Hammond 2 5 0 .286 41 154
Rock Island 6 2 2 .750 201 42 Chi. Tigers 2 5 1 .286 49 63
Canton 6 3 2 .667 162 44 Columbus 2 6 2 .250 17 107
Dayton 5 2 2 .714 150 54 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
SATURDAY DECEMBER 11
N-UNION A.A 13, Canton 7 at Philadelphia
MONDAY DECEMBER 12
DECATUR 0, Akron 0 (T) at Chicago
Akron 8 0 3 1.000 151 7 Canton 6 4 2 .600 169 57
Decatur 10 1 2 .909 164 21 Detroit 2 3 3 .400 53 82
Buffalo 9 1 1 .900 259 32 Cleveland 2 4 2 .333 28 46
Chi. Cards 6 2 1 .750 101 29 Hammond 2 5 0 .286 41 154
Rock Island 6 2 2 .750 201 42 Chi. Tigers 2 5 1 .286 49 63
Dayton 5 2 2 .714 150 54 Columbus 2 6 2 .250 17 107
Rochester 6 3 2 .667 156 57 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
SATURDAY DECEMBER 18
N-Canton 39, RICHMOND 0
MONDAY DECEMBER 19
N-CHI. STAYMS 14, Chi. Cards 14 (T)
Akron 8 0 3 1.000 151 7 Canton 7 4 2 .636 208 57
Decatur 10 1 2 .909 164 21 Detroit 2 3 3 .400 53 82
Buffalo 9 1 1 .900 259 32 Cleveland 2 4 2 .333 28 46
Chi. Cards 6 2 2 .750 115 43 Hammond 2 5 0 .286 41 154
Rock Island 6 2 2 .750 201 42 Chi. Tigers 2 5 1 .286 49 63
Dayton 5 2 2 .714 150 54 Columbus 2 6 2 .250 17 107
Rochester 6 3 2 .667 156 57 Muncie 0 1 0 .000 0 45
No official standings were maintained for the 1920 season, and the championship was awarded to the Akron Pros on April 30, 1921.