Green Bay Packers (1-3-2) 3, Columbus Panhandles (0-5) 0
Sunday November 5th 1922 (at Green Bay)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(GREEN BAY) - Walking around on a gridiron ankle deep in mud and playing in a driving rain, the Columbus Panhandles met defeat at the hands of Green Bay here Sunday afternoon at the ball park by the score of 3 to 0. A placekick from a difficult angle on the 25 yard line by Cub Buck, Green Bay's peerless left tackle, paved the way for the Panhandles' downfall. Never has a game been played here under worse climatic conditions. It began raining before 2 o'clock and by the time the game was to start, a half hour later, it seemed as if the clouds had let loose. It came down in buckets and the playing field looked more like a swimming pool than it did a gridiron.
STANDS ARE FILLED
Choice reserve seats went wanting. Space in the covered stands was at a premium while a few of the more venturesome ones took their chance in the open field covered by umbrellas, etc. A few of the more fortunate spectators came well prepared. A few were to be seen with hip boots, others wore all rubber outfits but the majority were caught S.O.L. and hundreds got wet to the skin. But it was a good natured crowd and they took their soaking with a smile. The band cut a few musical capers and even their "How Dry I Am" got a good hand from the crowd. One of the spectators drew a good laugh with the remark with "H2O" might be an appropriate signal for the quarterback.
VICTORY PLEASE 'EM
The Bays won and that helped out a lot. As the crowd slopped their way out of the park, through muck several inches deep, they were all smiling and happy over the thought that the big blue team had finally broken into the win column. "Now that we're started, let's not stop until we trim 'em all," so remarked one soaked-to-the-skin, who looked as if he had been to a mud bath instead of a football game, after it was all over. To the victors belong the spoils but a whole lot of credit is due Joe Carr's Panhandles. They battled valiantly in the face of defeat and every man on the visiting squad gave a good exhibition of sportsmanship. One thing is sure, Columbus will be welcomed back here next year.
IS GOOD EXHIBITION
Despite the condition of the field, it was a first class exhibition of football. The slippery pigskin made forward passing out of the question and both teams resorted mainly to line plunges and sweeping end runs. Generally when a player was tackled or blocked he would skid a few feet in the mud. The Panhandles occasionally with Nesser back tried some long forwards but aside from one toss which Hopkins caught in the fourth quarter the attempts went astray. Mathys, the Bay quarterback, played it safe after the Panhandles had mussed up a couple of forwards and used his backs on straight plays.
GAME CLEANLY PLAYED
The game was cleanly played and well officiated. But two penalties were called and the Bay lost yardage each. Once for delaying the play and the other offense was offside. Both clubs stuck pretty well to their original lineups. Green Bay didn't make a change until the last two minutes when Nadolny substituted for Earps who suffered a minor injury. Columbus made two replacements. Frank Nesser, the power behind the Columbus team, more than lived up to advance notices. He was here, there and everywhere. Considering the fact that he boasts 39 years of age, he is still quite a footballer. Woolford at center, and Ziegler, a hard running halfback, were the other luminaries in the visitor's lineup.
MACHINE-LIKE PLAY
The Bays worked more like a machine than in any other game this season. Splendid interference was given the man carrying the ball, especially on swings around the end. True enough, the punch still appeared to be missing a bit when within scoring distance, but even at that the offense looked considerably improved. Usher celebrated his appearance in a Green Bay uniform by playing great football. He gained a lot of ground for the home club and also starred on the defense. Gardella and Mills, together with Mathys, covered themselves with glory.
HOWARD AND HAYES
As usual, Howard and Hayes performed brilliantly on the wing positions. They both proved good mud horses, getting down the field well under punts. Buck and Earps were fighting demons at the tackle posts and the pride of Appleton made good use of his kicking foot. Woodin, Davis and Niemann, Green Bay's center trio, could be likened to a stone wall. Woodin hopped on a couple of fumbles in great style while Niemann was all over the lot. Aside from the fourth quarter, Columbus was not able to make much headway against the Green Bay line. As a matter of fact, not once during the game were the visitors
inside Green Bay's 35 yard line. The Bays splashed through for about double the yardage negotiated by the Carrites.
COLUMBUS KICKS OFF
Columbus opened hostilities by kicking to the Bays. It was mighty sloppy going and the home eleven kicked on third down. Buck, with the wind behind him, sailed the pigskin far down the field and for the remainder of the quarters, the play was all within Columbus territory. Several times Green Bay backed the visitors up within their 15 yard line but were unable to score. In this period, Nesser's kicks weren't going any too good in this quarter and he was having a lot of trouble getting them away.
BUCK CATCHES HIM
The play was pretty well even up in the second period and the visitors stiffened considerably. The ball see-sawed in midfield. Towards the close of the period, the Bays attempted a punt on their own 45 yard line but a mud covered visitor broke through, blocked the kick and was headed goalward. Buck grabbed him from behind on the Bays' 45 yard marker. Between halves, Joe Carr told us, it was Mr. Mulbarger that nearly got away. The time between halves was cut short and the teams went at it again after only five minutes rest. Columbus again kicked off. The Bays launched a spirited attack and swept through for five first downs. They were held on the invaders 20 yard line. Mathys' kick was partly blocked but Green Bay recovered the pigskin.
WOODIN COVERS FUMBLE
Columbus held tight again and Buck's attempt for a placekick was stopped en route. Their was a scramble for the pigskin but when the pile was uncovered, Woodin was found grasping the ball. Again the Bays tried to gain and again Columbus held tight. The ball was fairly well over to the north side line when Buck again dropped for a placement. This time the ball went true and cleared the crossbar with a foot to spare. This won the game for the Bays. Once more Columbus kicked off and the teams "mudded" it for the remainder of the quarter with but few gains. Early in the last period the visitors found themselves for a few minutes. They made two first downs and added another when Hopkins caught a forward pass while sitting on the ground. A fumble cut short the Columbus drive on Green Bay's 40 yard line. The Bays gained on an exchange of kicks and when Nesser fumbled a pass from center on the fourth down, Green Bay secured the ball on the visitors' 35 yard line. Here it was when the whistle blew ending the "muddiest" game ever played on a Green Bay gridiron.
COLUMBUS - 0 0 0 0 - 0
GREEN BAY - 0 0 3 0 - 3
SCORING
3rd - GB - Cub Buck, 34-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
FOOTBALL CLUB FORCED TO INCREASE PRICES; REASONS EXPLAINED; $3,400 BEHIND
NOV 7 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Conditions over which they have no control have resulted in the Green Bay Football club being forced to announce an increase in admission prices for the remaining games of the season at home. In a letter to the Sport Editor of The Press-Gazette, the club management lays its cards on the table. Right now the organization is $3,400 on the wrong side of the ledger and, at the prevailing prices, they don't stand a chance to recoup the losses. The communication makes interesting reading and it puts before the public straight-from-the-shoulder facts what it costs to maintain a team and play games in "Big League" football. The Football club's communication presenting its side of the case and showing the necessity for an increase in admission prices at the games here is as follows:
"Green Bay, Wis., Nov. 7, 1922
Sport Editor, Press-Gazette, Fighting with its back to the wall, the Green Bay Football club has found it necessary to raise the price of admission for the remaining football games in this city. Here are the facts of the situation:
1. The organization now is $3,400 in debt. Last year, the Claire brothers lost $3,800.
2. Unless the admission prices are increased, there is absolutely no chance of getting out of the hole. The remaining at home games on the Green Bay schedule call for heavy guarantees.
3. Despite reports to the contrary (the association's books at the Citizens bank are open for inspection), the club has run behind on all the game this season except Rock Island (there) and Milwaukee (there).
4. Last Sunday the club lost $1,500 on the Columbus contest, trying to keep faith with the fans. The club lost by three one-hundredths of an inch the rain insurance which would have covered the loss on the game.
5. The club when playing a team demanding a $1,500 guarantee must take in approximately $3,600 to make ends meet. It costs in the neighborhood of $1,500 to place the Green Bay team on the field. The government with its war tax rate takes 10 percent of the total gate. The expense of the officials averages $150. The referees appointed by the league president draws $50 and his expenses. Overhead expenses including the ground caretaker's money, printing, ticket sellers, and telephone bills which average about $50 per game. None of the officials connected with the organization are receiving a cent in salary.
6. The club officials put the matter before President Joe Carr of the league when he was in Green Bay with the Columbus team over Sunday. Here is his statement: 'You have only one way out. Increase the admission prices. Your field here is limited. At the outset, you probably can't get over 3,500 in your park. Other cities in the league, remember Green Bay is the smallest, are drawing from 8,000 to 15,000 crowds every Sunday and what's more, with but three exceptions, their admission prices are higher than at Green Bay. It is an unfortunate situation here because I consider Green Bay is the best 'little' football city in the country. However, I feel confident that if the matter is put before the public in a true light, the fans will rally at the club's support just as loyally as they did on Sunday when some 1,500 braved a driving rain storm to see 'their' team meet my club. It isn't fair that a handful should be called on to carry the financial load for all. Play fair with your fans and they will meet you square. If they question your word, open your books, and let them get the government report on war tax payments.
7. The management realizes that last year the Claire brothers were universally condemned for the price increase in mid-season but they feel that the attractions for the remainder of the season are of a high grade to warrant the boost under the above mentioned conditions.
8. The club wants to continue major football here, not alone, this season but the years to come. Those in the organization don't aim to make money but they do want to make ends meet. If there are any fans in the city who figures that it can be done at the prevailing prices of $1.10 and $1.65, the club management will willingly turn over the organization and let them gain by experience, providing they guarantee to finance the loss themselves.
9. The Minneapolis Marines play here Sunday and the admission prices will be $1.65 and $2.20. The club management trusts that the splendid patronage will be continued at the new prices.
The Green Bay Football Club."
CAL'S COMMENTS
NOVE 7 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Chris O' Brien's Chicago Cardinals took another step towards the National football championship by nosing out the Buffalo All Americans, 9 to 7, in a pro league fracas. The Windy City tribe is looking better every day and, when they clash with the Canton Bulldogs, the Ohio state champions, won't have the expected walkaway. In the Horween brothers, Driscoll and Koehler, the Cardinals have a quartet of backs which will give them the best team in the country a lot of trouble.
MINNEAPOLIS MARINES HAVE DISPLAYED PLENTY OF CASH ON GRIDIRON THIS SEASON
NOV 9 (Minneapolis) - The Marines football team that battles the Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon has made a great record in the American Professional football league and has become a feared team by every contender in the race. Here's what the Minneapolis team has done this year: Held Paddy Driscoll's Chicago Cardinals to a 3 to 0 score. Beat the Evansville Tigers, 48 to 0. Defeated Jim Thorpe's Oorang Indians of Marion, O., 13 to 6. Nosed out a win over the Duluth K.C.'s, 3 to 0. The Marines have a wonderful young professional star in the making in young Martin Norton, who only last year was a high school player. He was the big star of the Marine victory over the Oorangs Sunday. In addition to being a good ground gainer, he is a good tackler and a dandy kicker and interference man. He's only 19 years old and playing his first year of professional football...ADDED COLLEGE STARS: The Marines have added many other college stars to their lineup this year. Paul Flinn, who is playing left end this year, played opposite Bert Baston on the famous Minnesota University team of 1916. Dolly Kraft, on right end, was a member of Zuppke's Illinois eleven in the same year. Kraft and Flinn have played brilliant games this year and are by far the two best ends the Marines ever had. Harry Mehre, assistant coach at St. Thomas college and last year regular center on the undefeated Notre Dame team, is holding the pivot position for the Minneapolis team. Erickson and Tersch at tackles are veterans who have been with the Marines before...SAMPSON GOOD KICKER: The Marines have a splendid kicker in Sampson, fullback. His punting has helped the team considerably this year, while his passing is accurate and deadly, heaving the pigskin like a baseball. Cleve and Irgens are the other two Marine regular backfield men. They are light, but very fast. Irgens is a dropkicker of no mean ability. It was his toe which brought about a triumph over Duluth. In the game with Driscoll's Cardinals in Chicago several weeks ago, Irgens missed a dropkick from the 40 yard line by inches. Teamwork so far has been largely responsible for the great showing of the Marines. The boys have been well coached by Russell Tollefson, a former Minnesota quarterback, who has developed an interference for his backs the like of which hasn't been seen in professional football...STOP JIM THORPE: So anxious was Jim Thorpe to have his Oorang team beat the Marines in Minneapolis that he inserted himself into the lineup in the second half in an effort to turn the tide. He was stopped repeatedly when he tried the ends. The Marine backfield is light but fast as lightning. The brilliant form shown by Martin Norton, halfback, has made the Marine team very dangerous. Next Sunday the Marines will use Flynn, Kraft and Christensen on the ends, Tersch and Erickson at tackles, Gaustad and Anderson or Cramer at guards with Harry Mehre at center. Norton and Cleve will play the halves, Irgens at quarter and Sampson at full.
MINNEAPOLIS MARINES TO DRAW CROWD HERE SUNDAY
NOV 9 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Minneapolis Marines will draw a big crowd here on Sunday. This was indicated by the number of applications for seats received in this part of the state. The famous Gopher state team is well remembered here for the spirited battle in 1921 when Green Bay won out 7 to 6 in the last few minutes of play. In the '21 contest, the Marines held a 6 to 0 lead up until the last few minutes of play. Regnier, who played with the Marines at that time, fumbled a punt and Jab Murray covered for the Bays on the visitors' 25 yard line. Bubb Wagner grabbed a forward pass and traveled to the 4 yard line from where Art Schmael bucked the goal, winning the game, 7 to 6...HAVE COLLEGE STARS: The Marines squad is composed entirely of college stars and the majority of the players are products of Minnesota. Flynn, Erickson, Tersch, Sampton, Ingrens, Cleve, Madigan and Townsend were students at the Doc Williams school of football. Mehre was a varsity center at Notre Dame last season, Mohs and Gaustad are Hamline graduates; Norton formerly played with Minneapolis Central High; Kramer and Christianson are from South Dakota; Anderson comes from Montana "U"; Mason from Utah. Sunday's game should be a pretty exhibition to watch, because the visitors, like Green Bay, make good use of the aerial attack. Reports in the Minneapolis papers on the Marine-Thorpe's Indians' game, said that Dunn's team forward passed their way to a victory over the Redskins. If it is a dry day, the spectators will more than get their fill of
open football... TEAM PRACTICING HARD: The Bay squad is getting out every morning and putting in some stiff practice licks. The hospital list is pretty well cleared up and it is quite probably that Captain Lambeau, Moose Gardner, and Tommy Cronin will be fit to battle against the invaders from the Gopher state. As yet no notification has been received from President Joe Carr as to the referee of Sunday's game. It is probably that Coach Wilty will act as umpire and Harry Sylvester of Lawrence will be the headslineman. The kickoff on Sunday has been set ahead half an hour, due to the increasing darkness later in the afternoon. The ball will be put in play promptly at 2 o'clock. The gates at the park will be opened at 12:30.
COLUMBUS ELEVEN BOOKED FOR PAIR OF GRID BATTLES
NOV 9 (Columbus) - The main feature of the weekend schedule in the NFL is the "ironman" stunt to be undertaken by Joe Carr's Columbus Panhandles. This team is booked for two days in succession, playing at Racine on Armistice Day and Milwaukee on Sunday. Several "big" games are scheduled for Sunday. There is much interest being shown over the Dayton invasion of Rock Island while the Buffalo All Americans and Canton Bulldog fray is drawing more than its share of attention. Possession of the cellar championship will be ironed out in the Lousiville-Evansville conflict. Neither of these teams has won a game this year. The Minneapolis Marines' annual invasion of Green Bay is also scheduled for this Sunday.
MINNEAPOLIS MARINES WILL ARRIVE HERE TOMORROW
NOV 10 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Minneapolis Marines, 20 strong, headed by Coach Tollefson and Manager John Dunn, are scheduled to arrive here Saturday afternoon for the NFL game on Sunday against Green Bay. Manager Dunn is bringing his squad in here early so that the players can get a good night's sleep before stepping out on the gridiron to give battle to the big Blue team. While in Green Bay, the visitors will make their headquarters at the Beaumont hotel. Williams of Milwaukee has been named by President Joe Carr to handle the game here Sunday and Harry Sylvester of Appleton will act as head linesman. It is probably that Coach Wiley will be the umpire although the final choice of this official is up to Manager Dunn of the Marines...GAME STARTS EARLIER: The game has been set forward half an hour. The kickoff is scheduled at 2 o'clock instead of 2:30. This is made necessary by the increasing darkness in the afternoon and also to conform with the league regulations which provide for regulation periods of 15 minutes play. The Bay squad has been getting in some good practice licks during the last week and the team is in the pink of condition to make things mighty interesting for the much feared Marines. If dry weather conditions prevail, Captain Lambeau plans to cut loose with a varied aerial attack...ANOTHER BIG CROWD: Indications point to another big crowd. The Marines are a good drawing card wherever they play and the football fans from all over this part of the state are planning to come here for Sunday's game. The advance ticket sale has been up to the usual average while the demands for choice reservations from the out of town fans has been even greater than at the Rock Island fracas.
HEADED FOR BAY
NOV 10 (Minneapolis) - The Minneapolis Marines left here late this afternoon for Green Bay, Wis., where they are scheduled to play a pro league game on Sunday. Every man on the squad is reported fit for
the fray and Manager Dunn is hopeful of evening up last year's defeat at the hands of the Green Bay eleven.
CAL'S COMMENTS
NOV 10 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - John Dunn, veteran pilot of the Minneapolis Marines, has never been strong for All American stars on his football eleven. Instead, Dunn goes out in the bushes, so to speak, and digs his pigskin chasers out of the unknown. Dunn has got a 19-year old halfback, Norton, playing on his club and this youngster has shown all the earmarks of a super grid star in every game this season. "It's what they are," says Dunn. "Not what they were"...Can a team play two football games in two days and get away with the task in creditable shape? This question will be answered over the weekend by Joe Carr's Columbus Panhandles. Saturday they play Racine and on Sunday, Milwaukee. We don't think it can't be done.
BAYS CLASH WITH MINNEAPOLIS MARINES ON SUNDAY
NOV 11 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - The Minneapolis Marines, for many years one of the leading professional teams of the country, will give battle to Green Bay Sunday afternoon at the league grounds here in a NFL argument. The game will be called half an hour earlier, 2 o'clock, in order to complete the four regulation 15 minute periods before darkness sets in. The Marines have performed splendidly on the gridiron this season. Aside from their lone upset at the hands of the Chicago Cardinals, the Minneapolis Marines have stepped right along on victory road, downing Evansville, Jim Thorpe's Indians and the Duluth K.C.'s...USE AERIAL ATTACK: The visitors are credited with being past masters in the art of forward passing. In Cleve, Igrens, and Sampson, they have three super passers while Norton, a youngster from the Minneapolis scholastic gridiron, is making a name for himself as a receiver. The Marine line is built like a stone wall while the ends, two former conference stars, Flynn, of Minnesota, and Kraft, of Illinois, are fast and shifty. Green Bay will have all its regulars back in the game. Captain Lambeau will resume play at his halfback berth, Moose Gardner will step into action again at guard and halfback Cronin will be fit for service if he is needed. It will be the first time since the Milwaukee game several weeks ago that the big blue team's lineup is intact...EXPECT BIG CROWD: All indications point to another bumper throng at the pigskin conflict. The advance sale of seats has been unusually good and there have been many reservations requested by pigskin lovers from all part of Northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. As an extra attraction, a group of musicians from several of the well known places "about town" have offered their services. They will be on the job early to help "eat up" the dull minutes before the whistle blows. The usual efficient arrangements for handling the big crowd will be carried out and a flock of ushers will be on the job to take care of the reserved seat patrons. The gates at the park will be opened at 12:30 to admit the early arrivals.
CAL'S COMMENTS
NOV 11 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Sunday's game against Minneapolis is a crucial contest on the Green Bay schedule. If Captain Lambeau's eleven can sweep aside the invading Gophers, they will have a good chance to climb high on the football ladder.
DELAY ARRIVAL
NOV 11 (Green Bay Press-Gazette) - Manager John Dunn of the Marines won't bring his team here until just before the game. The Minneapolis squad will lay over in Neenah tonight, coming to the Bay only two hours before the game. Dunn secured a practice field in Menasha and he worked his club there this afternoon.
COLUMBUS PANHANDLES
The Columbus Panhandles were a professional American football team based in Columbus, Ohio. The club was founded in 1901 by workers at the Panhandle shops of the Pennsylvania Railroads. They were originally a part of the Ohio League from 1904 before folding after one season. Three years later, the team tried again and playing the Ohio League from 1907 to 1919, not winning a championship, before becoming charter members of the National Football League (NFL) - firstly named American Professional Football Association (APFA). The Panhandles are credited with playing in the first NFL game against another NFL opponent. They have zero NFL championships, but Joseph Carr, the team's owner from 1907 to 1922, is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his work as NFL president.
Origins: The earliest existence of the Panhandles was in 1900; the Columbus Press-Post reported Jack Walsh creating the "Panhandle railroad team" consisting of "big hardy railroad men." No other articles in 1900 were written about the Panhandles. A game was scheduled for October 19 of next year, however, no source provided an outcome. In 1901, managed by William Butler of the Ohio Medical University, the Panhandles played two games against the Columbus Barracks, a team consisting of local soldiers. The results were split; the first was a 2–6 loss while the second was a 12–6 win. Butler left the Panhandles for unknown reasons, and the new manager for the 1902 season was Harry Greenwood. Greenwood placed advertisements in every newspaper he could in order to schedule games against local opponents. His ad read "The Panhandle Athletic Club has organized a football team and would like to play any college, high school or manufacturing team on Saturday or Sunday." As a result, the Panhandles scheduled four games in 1902: three against the Columbus Barracks and one against the Dennison Panhandles, and finished with a 0–3–1 record. Once again, the Panhandles got a new manager for the 1903 season, E. E. Griest. Griest needed help with the team, so he hired Ben Chamberlain to coach the team. After an exhibition game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Panhandles won their first game of the season, a 38–0 victory over Neil Avenue Athletic Club. This victory gave the team some unexpected press; the Columbus Citizen wrote the first article praising the team. The Panhandles 1903 season ended with a 5–3 record.
Joe Carr: Joseph Carr directed the Panhandles in 1907 until 1922. In 1904, Joseph Carr, who was a sports writer for the Ohio State Journal and manager of the railroad's baseball team the Famous Panhandle White Sox, first took over the football team. However the Panhandles didn’t take off and the team played just two games. Carr tried again three years later in 1907. Carr saw the potential for professional football not only to be a great spectator sport but also to become a successful business venture and envisioned pro football being just as popular as Major League Baseball. One of the first things Carr did when he became the owner of the Panhandles was to exploit one the railroad's policies. Since most of the team's players were employed by the railroad, they could ride the train free of charge. Because of this perk, Carr was able to schedule mostly road games, eliminating the expenses of stadium rental, game promotion, and security for the field. However, while the team did play the majority of their games on the road as a traveling team, their home games were played at Indianola Park. The Panhandles adopted an amateur sandlot mentality for their playing style. Since the team was composed mainly of railroad workers, the scenario gave the players limited time to practice and prepare for games. The Panhandles did the majority of their preparation during their lunch breaks. Workers had a one-hour break during a normal workday, and the players on the team usually took the first 15 minutes to eat lunch and used the remaining 45 minutes to practice football. An athletic field behind the railroad shops in Columbus became the team's practice field.
The Nessers: However Carr knew that if his team was to succeed, he needed an attraction. Carr built his team around pro football's most famous family, the Nesser Brothers, who were already drawing crowds throughout the country. Carr used the seven Nesser brothers as the backbone of the Panhandles, and the football-playing family remained in that role for nearly twenty years. None of the Nessers attended college, despite many offers. The seven Nesser brothers, who worked as boilermakers for the Pennsylvania Railroad, were exceptionally large and strong for people living in the early 20th century. Frank Nesser alone was 6-foot 1-inch tall and weighed 235 pounds. They all were exceptionally great athletes for their time. Carr took out ads by describing his Panhandles as the toughest professional team in football, led by the famous Nesser brothers. In 1921 the Panhandles line-up included player-coach Ted Nesser and his son Charlie. It was the only time in NFL history a father and son played together on the same team. The Nesser brothers nephew, Ted Hopkins and brother-in-law, John Schneider, also played on the team. The Panhandles' rosters did not include many former college players or All-Americans, so the athletic field in the railroad yards was the place where the team found out who could play. The team's "dirty" reputation was learned and developed on the railroad yards, not in college stadiums. The press sometimes criticized the Panhandles for their rough play; however, the fans who paid the gate money to attend the games loved it.
Columbus city champs era: Over a span of twenty years, the Panhandles were considered the best pro team in the city of Columbus. The team compiled a 33–5 record against opponents from Columbus, including a 32–1 record over their last thirty-three games. The Panhandles were the best professional football team to ever come out of the capital city. Between 1914 and 1916, which were seen as best years of the franchise, the Nesser-led team went a combined 22–10–1. The majority of the early pro teams would go out of their way to schedule the Panhandles, as they knew it would be easy to advertise a game featuring the famous Nessers. In 1915, The Panhandles were rumored to have played against the legendary Knute Rockne six times in 1915. According to the team, each time they played Rockne, he was on a different team. This rumor, however, is false; Rockne was too much of a family man to play that much pro football, and Notre Dame had most of its home games during the pro football season.
NFL: On August 20, 1920, a meeting attended by representatives of four Ohio League teams—the Canton Bulldogs, the Cleveland Tigers, the Dayton Triangles, and the Akron Pros—was held. At the meeting, the representatives tentatively agreed to introduce a salary cap for the teams, not to sign college players nor players under contract with another team, and became united as the American Professional Football Conference. They then contacted other major professional teams and invited them to a meeting for September 17. At the meeting in September, held at Ralph Hay's Hupmobile showroom, representatives of the Rock Island Independents, the Muncie Flyers, the Decatur Staleys, the Racine Cardinals, the Massillon Tigers, the Chicago Cardinals, the Rochester Jeffersons, and the Hammond Pros were present. The following was achieved: the name of American Professional Football Association was chosen; officers of the league were elected with Jim Thorpe as president; a membership fee of $100 was set; a committee to draft a constitution was named; the secretary of the league was to receive a list of all players used during the season by January 1, 1921; and the trophy that would be awarded to the league champions. During this time, the Panhandles were admitted into the league.
First AFPA game: The Panhandles may have played in the first game with two APFA opponents. However, due to not having the games start at a standardized time, and the failure of the NFL of recording the start times, historians can not determine for sure which two teams played in the first league match-up. What is known for a fact is that the first contests between teams listed as APFA members occurred on October 3, 1920. On that date, the Panhandles were defeated by the Dayton Triangles, 14–0, at Triangle Park, and the Rock Island Independents beat the Muncie Flyers, 45–0, in Rock Island. Frank Bacon of the Panhandles is credited with the first punt return for a touchdown.
Columbus Tigers: Following the 1921 season, Carr became the league's new president and renamed the AFPA, the NFL. He then discontinued the Panhandles after the 1922 season because of cost and salary demands. Following the 1922 season, the Panhandles became the Columbus Tigers. In 1923, the Tigers attained their best ranking in the NFL, finishing eighth. During that season multiple players won awards. Rookie end Gus Tebell, who was also the coach, was awarded 1st Team All NFL by the Canton Daily News as well as the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Gus Sonnenberg, Paul Goebel, John Sack, and Bob Rapp were all awarded 1st Team all NFL by the Canton Daily News. Pete Stinchbomb was awarded 2nd Team All NFL by the Collyers Eye Mag. The next season, they finished tenth. Boni Petcoff was awarded 1st Team All NFL by the Green Bay Gazette-Press. Boni Petcoff and Paul Goebel were both awarded 2nd Team All NFL by the Green Bay Press-Gazzette, with the latter being awarded 2nd Team All NFL by the Collyers Eye Mag as well. Then, the Tigers ended their final two seasons twentieth and nineteenth, respectively. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)
The Columbus Panhandles: A Complete History of Pro Football's Toughest Team, 1900-1922
"In 1901 workers at the Panhandle shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Columbus, Ohio formed a professional football team called the Columbus Panhandles. The railroad workers, mainly European immigrants, learned the game of football not on college gridirons, but on the sandlots of railroad yards during their lunch breaks. With the leadership of an innovative team manager and its tough physical play, the Panhandles went on to play for more than twenty years as one of the most successful teams in the rag-tag days of professional football.
Incorporating original interviews and actual newspaper accounts, Chris Willis recreates the largely forgotten story of this unique squad of men. In The Columbus Panhandles: A Complete History of Pro Football's Toughest Team, 1900-1922, Willis shows how team manager, future NFL commissioner Joseph Carr, used the perks of free railroad travel for employees and the gate attraction of the famous Nesser brothers to build pro football's most successful traveling team. Season by season, Willis provides a fascinating account of the team's spectacular triumphs and crushing losses.
Full of wonderful newspaper quotes, entertaining anecdotes, and many original photos, The Columbus Panhandles also profiles a number of principle figures in the team's history, most notably manager Joe Carr and the six Nesser brothers who comprised the heart of the squad for many years. Written to honor the legacy of the Columbus Panhandles, this book will be of interest to historians, sportswriters and general football fans eager to learn about the early days of professional football."
FIND IT ON AMAZON HERE. Paperback – February 1, 2007
