The 1934 Green Bay Packers - 7-6 (3RD)
Head Coach: Curly Lambeau
1934 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (1-0)
SEPTEMBER (0-1-1)
9 G-FORT ATKINSON BLACKHAWKS W 28- 7 1- 0-0 4,000
1934 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS
SEPTEMBER (2-1)
16 G-PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (0-0-0) W 19- 6 1- 0-0 5,000
23 G-CHICAGO BEARS (0-0-0) L 10-24 1- 1-0 13,500
30 M-NEW YORK GIANTS (0-1-0) W 20- 6 2- 1-0 11,000
OCTOBER (2-2)
7 G-DETROIT LIONS (2-0-0) L 0- 3 2- 2-0 7,500
14 G-CINCINNATI REDS (0-4-0) W 41- 0 3- 2-0 3,000
17 M-Chicago Bears (Exhibition) L 6-10 10,000
21 G-CHICAGO CARDINALS (2-2-0) W 15- 0 4- 2-0 4,000
28 at Chicago Bears (6-0-0) L 14-27 4- 3-0 11,000
NOVEMBER (2-3)
4 at Boston Redskins (4-3-0) W 10- 0 5- 3-0 23,722
11 at New York Giants (5-3-0) L 3-17 5- 4-0 22,000
18 M-CHICAGO CARDINALS (3-5-0) L 0- 9 5- 5-0 3,000
25 at Detroit Lions (10-0-0) W 3- 0 6- 5-0 12,000
29 at Chicago Cardinals (4-6-0) L 0- 6 6- 6-0 1,738
DECEMBER (1-0)
2 at St. Louis Gunners (1-9-0) W 21-14 7- 6-0 6,300
G - Green Bay M - Milwaukee
1934 IN REVIEW
During a 7-6 season, the very existence of the Packers is threatened due to a 1932 court case involving a fan falling out of the stands at City Stadium. The fan wins a $5,000 verdict, which put the insurance company out of business. The Packers would go into receivership, and were about to fold, but Green Bay businessmen came to the rescue after the 1934 season, making the year a success despite the less-than-spectacular record.
BAD BLEACHERS AND NEAR BANKRUPTCY
In the first 18 years of their history, the Packers have had many narrow escapes. In 1922, when their sponsors owed $1,600 in back salaries, local businessmen formed a corporation to finance the team. The Packers repaid their benefactors by attracting as many as 15,000 spectators to a single Green Bay game. Then, the fates turned fickle. Willard Bent, a fan, fell off the grandstand in 1932 and sued the team for $20,000. In March 1933, he won a $5,200 award from the courts. Since the insurance company with which the Packers were insured went into bankruptcy during the trial and was a mutual company, the franchise was forced to pay the settlement, resulting in the Packers' debt ballooning up to $10,000 and heading into receivership. It appeared the Packers were on the verge of folding or moving. In fact, a December 1933 article in the Chicago Tribune, claimed "the Green Bay Packers will move to Milwaukee next fall and if the change is not made then it certainly will be made in 1935". The Packers had played one game in Milwaukee in 1933, under pressure from league officials after an expansion application was received in 1930 and 1931. The game attracted 12,467 fans, two thousand of them coming down from Green Bay. In 1934, Green Bay played two home games in Milwaukee, though did not move permanently. NFL officials gave the team one last chance to improve its financial position. In early 1935, the Green Bay Association of Commerce kicked off a $10,000 fundraising campaign through the sale of nonvoting stock. $13,029 was raised and the Packer survived, once again, to play another day.
PLAYER POS COLLEGE G PR YR HT WT
Nate Barragar C USC 12 4 3 6- 0 210
Hank Bruder B Northwestern 13 4 4 6- 0 190
Art (Red) Bultman C Marquette 4 3 6- 2 199
Frank Butler C Michigan St 3 1 1 6- 3 246
Charles Casper B TCU 1 1 1 6- 0 195
LaVern Dilweg E Marquette 12 9 8 6- 3 202
Tiny Engebretsen G-T Northwestern 3 1 6- 1 235
Lon Evans G-T TCU 12 2 2 6- 2 225
Milt Gantenbein E Wisconsin 10 4 4 6- 0 199
Buckets Goldenberg B Wisconsin 11 2 2 5-10 220
Roger Grove B Michigan St 11 4 4 6- 0 175
Arnie Herber B Regis 12 5 5 5-11 208
Clarke Hinkle FB Bucknell 12 3 3 5-11 200
Swede Johnston B Marquette 1 3 2 5-10 200
Robert Jones G Indiana 12 1 1 6- 0 216
PLAYER POS COLLEGE G PR YR HT WT
Carl (Bud) Jorgensen T-G St. Marys (CA) 10 1 1 6- 2 200
Joe Kurth T Notre Dame 7 2 2 6- 3 202
Joe Laws B Iowa 13 1 1 5- 9 180
August (Mike) Michalske G Penn State 13 8 6 6- 1 215
Bob Monnett B Michigan St 11 2 2 5- 9 180
Al Nordgard E Stanford 10 1 1 6- 0 193
Claude Perry T Alabama 13 8 8 6- 1 211
Lester Peterson E Texas 11 4 2 6- 0 211
Al Rose E Texas 10 5 3 6- 3 195
Ade Schwammel T Oregon St 13 1 1 6- 2 230
Champ Seibold G Wisconsin 1 1 1 6- 4 240
Earl Witte B Gust. Adolphus 5 1 1 6- 1 187
Harry Wunsch G Notre Dame 2 1 1 5-11 210
G - Games Played PR - Years of Pro Football YR - Years with Packers
BLOOD TO JOIN SQUAD
JAN 4 (Green Bay) - Johnny Blood, Green Bay quarterback, who was suspended by the Packers in New York and then taken back for the final game with the Bears, will join the Chicago Bears on their barnstorming trip in the west, he said here yesterday. Blood was in Green Bay yesterday to pay respects but planned to leave today for Chicago to move into the south with the Bears. Blood played one game with the St. Louis Gunners after the Packers season ended, performing against the Bruins at a fullback post.
PRESNELL BEST BACKFIELD ACE OF PRO LEAGUE
JAN 8 (Green Bay) - Glenn Presnell, former Nebraska player now with the Portsmouth Spartans, shaded Harry Newman, former Michigan all-America now with the New York Giants, in the race for selection as the outstanding all-around back of the NFL during the 1933 season, according to complete league statistics compiled today. Presnell shaded Newman in every department except forward passing where Newman led the league with 53 completed aerials for 963 yards. In point scoring, Presnell, with 64, tied with Ken Strong of the Giants, for the lead. In ground gaining Presnell gained 522 yards to 437 for the Giant ace. In addition Presnell booted a 38-yard field goal, the longest of the regular season, although it was surpassed by Jack Manders' 40-yard boot in the playoff against the Giants. Bob Monnett of Michigan State and Green Bay also figured prominently as an all-around performer. Cliff Battles, former West Virginia Wesleyan ace now of Boston, set a new ground gaining mark with 737 yards in 146 trials, an average of better than five yards per clip. The highest average was turned in by Kink Richards, former Simpson college ace now of New York, who played in but six games to pile up 277 yards for an average of six yards. Buckets Goldenberg of Wisconsin and Green Bay, and Shipwreck Kelly, of Kentucky and Brooklyn, were leading touchdown producers with seven apiece. Presnell, Clark Hinkle of Bucknell and Green Bay, and Jack Manders of Minnesota and the Chicago Bears were leading field goal kickers with six apiece. Kelly topped the pass receivers by snaring 21 tosses but Bill Hewitt, all-league end of Michigan and the Chicago Bears, gained more ground in the 16 he caught.
LAMBEAU BACK IN GREEN BAY AFTER WESTERN JOURNEY
JAN 20 (Green Bay) - Coach E.L. Lambeau of the Green Bay Packer football team returned to Green Bay last night after an extended trip that took him through the south and west, culminating on the Pacific coast where he witnessed the East-West football game on New Years' Day. According to Lambeau, several contracts have been made with football players for next year's team here, but no announcement can be made as to their identity as they are still in school and if they sign to play professional football they become ineligible for competition in other sports. The coach expects Nate Barrager, Southern California all-American center of a few years ago and a member of the Bays' 1932 team, to return to the Packers next year. He did not play football in 1933 as he has been working for the RKO studio in Hollywood and could not get a leave of absence. Interest in pro football has spread rapidly through the south and midwest, the coach reported, stating that conversations with leaders in sport everywhere bring out this fact. The west has many candidates for the pro field, he said, and he believes several young men who saw action in the East-West game will be with National league teams next year.
PACKERS SIGN LAWS, STAR IOWA PLAYER
FEB 8 (Green Bay) - One of the greatest college football players of the country in 1933 has been signed by the Green Bay Packer Football club. He is Joseph Laws, Iowa quarterback. Announcement of receipt of his signed contract was made today by Coach E.L. Lambeau of the Green Bay team. Laws was the winner of the Chicago Tribune award last year as being the most valuable man to his team in the Big Ten. He is an excellent field general, can pass, kick, run and block, according to observers who saw him in action last year, and should fit smoothly into the Packer style of offense as Iowa teams used a system to that employed by the Green Bay squad. The Iowa back was chosen on the second All-American team of Collier's weekly and placed on the third team in Liberty magazine's selection. The Liberty poll was taken of 1,508 players of 91 colleges and is published in this week's issue...WITH EAST TEAM: Laws performed with the East team in the East-West game on the west coast, and, according to Coach Lambeau who witnessed the game, turned in great work. He is 21 years of age, weighs 180 pounds and is five feet nine inches tall. His home is in Colfax, Iowa, and he graduates in June. The young man indicated a desire to play with the Packers when Coach Lambeau discussed professional football with him on the west coast. His signed contract was received at Coach Lambeau's office today. According to Andy Kerr, coach of the East team in the East-West game, Laws is the best candidate he has ever seen for professional football. Kerr was enthusiastic over Laws, Coach Lambeau said. The youth is a left-
handed passer and left-footed kicker, doing both exceptionally well. Stocky and powerful, he was one of the best blockers in the Big Ten last year...A GOOD ENTERTAINER: The quarterback gained quite a reputation as an entertainer while at the Iowa City school. He sings and plays a banjo, and has earned part of his school fund playing in orchestras. According to Coach Lambeau, Laws was sought by every professional team in the country, but was induced to come to Green Bay. Signing of the Iowa star is the first step in a program to rebuild the Green Bay team into the greatest team in the country in 1934, according to the coach. Several other outstanding college stars of the 1933 season also will be added to the squad before the season begins, the coach reports.
JOE KURTH, GREEN BAY PLAYER, UNDER KNIFE
FEB 22 (Green Bay) - Joe Kurth, Green Bay Packer tackle, and former all-American star at Notre Dame, underwent an emergency operation for appendicitis yesterday afternoon at the University hospital in Chicago, according to word received here today. He was resting comfortably today, it was reported.
COACH LAMBEAU GIVES LIONS HISTORY OF PACKER CLUB; PREDICTS ANOTHER WINNER
MAR 6 (Green Bay) - The Packers will remain in Green Bay as long as there is a spirit of cooperation throughout the community and the men who have made professional football here possible in the past continue their unselfish work, in the opinion of Coach E.L. Lambeau of the Green Bay team. Speaking at the noon luncheon of the Lions club at the Beaumont hotel Monday, Coach Lambeau briefly traced the history of the Packers in professional football, paid high tribute to officers who saw the team through many lean years, told of problems encountered and solved and outlined plans for future seasons. The coach pointed out that it has been no easy task to keep the team here, despite the fact that many though the Packer corporation had its coffers filled with gold. This fallacy has not been disputed because it is good advertising, he said. If the New York Giants had an open traveling date on their schedule and had to choose between the Packers and Portsmouth, it is only natural they would decide on the place that had the best financial status. In other words, he added, it is easier to draft a first rate schedule if opponents think the Packers have a surplus of cash...NOT ASKED FOR FUNDS: "Up to the present time, the Packers have been self-supporting," the coach commented. "No fan or businessman has been called upon for a donation, and I don't think they ever will be. We have had no help from the city or the Association of Commerce, despite the fact that Green Bay has and is receiving favorable advertising that is hard to measure in dollars and cents. By the 'skin of out teeth' we were able to finish each season without profit or loss until 1929. A few times each year it is usually necessary for the directors to endorse notes from two to five thousand dollars so that our team could go east. Other times they posted our guarantee fund, underwriting it personally. This mind you without a cent renumeration and having no assurance that they would get their money back. In 1929, 1930 and 1931, the corporation made money. With a comfortable bank balance, it was decided to spend money where it would do the most good. The playing field was improved upon (and, at this time, we have one of the finest fields in the country). Donations were given the American Legion and bonuses paid players."...IMPROVE PLAYING FIELD: "During the past ten years the Packers have spent $29,612 on the playing field; $2,500 has been given to the American Legion; $537 paid unemployed members of the American Legion for services at games; $2,799 paid city police and $6,203 paid to players at the end of the 1929, '30 and '31 seasons. If we could live the past five years over again and know what we know now, we probably would have a surplus of $25,000. But who wouldn't do otherwise if they could relive the last five years, either in business or pleasure? Our 1932 season was tough on our finances. Three days of rain cost us a minimum of $10,000 and we started our 1933 season with a deficit for the first time in history. Add to the unusual weather conditions the Packers lost a court case to Mr. Willard Bent, who sued the corporation for injuries received when he fell from a portable bleacher. Insurance was carried with the Southern Surety company to protect us against such injuries, but the Southern Surety company was declared bankrupt, and we had to take the load. In addition we had an assessment of $1,500 added to our $2,500 fee on our compensation insurance, making it necessary to pay $4,000 for coverage. We must carry this compensation insurance under state law."...CUTS IN SALARIES: "Naturally when planning our 1933 season, economy was the word. Salaries were slashed; our one thought in mind was to keep football in Green Bay. We applied for a friendly receiver to protect us from any embarrassment from our creditors. The Packer have an excellent record in settling with opponents immediately after each game and players have always been paid in full immediately after each contest. So this step was taken so our gate could not be attached. Probably the salary cuts had something to do with our season last year. Nevertheless the season finished without financial loss. We must have money to operate next year. But I have explicit confidence in the 'Four Horsemen' of the Packer corporation who have done so much in the past. They are Leland Joannes, A.B. Turnbull, Dr. W.W. Kelly and Gerald F. Clifford. For many years they have been doing fine work and spending much of their valuable time and quite often considerable money of their own - and will guide us through the present unpleasant situation, providing we all stick to the ship."...KILLED IN PROVIDENCE: "Football was killed in Providence, Philadelphia, Akron and other cities through lack of cooperation. In Philadelphia one of the strongest organizations in the country guided the club. Some members of the club thought they could run things better than officers who had been in for years. Senator Royle and Bob Haynes stepped out. A year and a half later, Philadelphia stepped out of the league. There is no substitute for experience. As long as you have men interested in an organization as you have the present directors, you will professional football here." Discussing the playing side of the professional game. the coach pointed out that Green Bay bids well to have one of the strongest teams in the league next year. He predicted that with a few "breaks" the team would be a pennant winner in 1934. The future of professional football is assured, the coach pointed out, calling attention to the attitude taken by leading sport critics and followers throughout the country. The interest in this game has spread rapidly in recent years and will grow even more, he predicted. New rules that the pros have adopted, tending to open up the game have done a lot to popularize the sport, Lambeau believes. He also predicted that the dead-ball rule soon would be a thing of the past...MANY STARS SIGNED: The coach said that plans are in the making to bring several outstanding players to Green Bay this year. Some fine performers already have been signed, but because they are still eligible for competition in colleges, no announcement can be made yet. Joe Laws, Iowa quarterback, recently signed by the Packers, was praised by Lambeau as the outstanding signal caller of the 1933 college season. Laws is big and powerful and can do everything well, he said. The Packer coach told the Lions that in his opinion very few All-American performers make good professional players. Usually an all-American star does one thing in such outstanding fashion that he is heralded far and wide for this achievement. He is placed on an all-American squad, yet may have many faults. In the pro game, a player must be good in all departments. He not only has to be a good runner, but must be a better blocker than he is a backfield man.
GREEN BAY TEAM SIGNS SCHWAMMEL, WEST COAST STAR
MAR 10 (Green Bay) - From the country that has produced such great football stars as Ernie Pinckert, Ernie Nevers, Morley Drury and Nate Barrager will come another outstanding performer to the NFL next year. He is Adolphus John Schwammel, Oregon State tackle, whose signed contract to play with the Green Bay Packers this fall, was received here today the office of Coach E.L. Lambeau. Schwammel is the second great college football player of the 1933 season to be signed to a Packer contract. A few weeks ago, Joe Laws, crack Iowa quarterback, was signed by the Green Bay team. Coach Lambeau saw both men perform in the East-West game at Kezar stadium on the west coast and was impressed with their work. He talked to them and several other stars at that time and today completed negotiations with Schwammel. The Oregon State lineman was a standout performer in the Pacific coast circuit, according to Coach Lambeau. Weighing 215 pounds and standing six feet, two inches in height, he is rugged and tough and loves the game. He also is a great kicker and it was his field goal from the 45-yard line that brought victory to Oregon State against Jimmy Crowley's Fordham Rams last year. Schwammel was given honorable mention on both Liberty and Collier's All-American teams and was chosen on the first squad of the Associated Press in 1932. His all-around ability should make him a valuable man for the Green Bay squad, the coach believes. In the East-West game, Schwammel turned in great work, according to Lambeau. He was a terror on defense, smashing down everything sent at his side of the line. On offense he opened wide holes charging like a demon into the East wall. The Packer coach expects to add several other players, equally as strong as the first two signed to contracts. It is hoped to get two new guards, a like number of tackles, one center and probably three more backfield men to add to the best of last year's squad.
PACKERS SIGN CHAMP SEIBOLD FOR 1934 TEAM
MAR 24 (Green Bay) - One of the greatest athletes ever seen in Fox River Valley conference competition has been signed to play football with the Green Bay Packers. He is Champ Seibold, former Oshkosh high track and football star and later a performer with freshmen teams at Ripon and the University of Wisconsin. Seibold is six feet-four tall and weighs 235 pounds. He played a year at Ripon after graduating from Oshkosh and was a sensation on the freshman team at Wisconsin last fall. He was expected to be an outstanding performer on Coach Clarence Spears Wisconsin team next season but last Saturday was declared ineligible for Big Ten competition by the Wisconsin athletic board. The action caused Seibold to quit the university and professional clubs immediately sought his services. The board's action was taken after Major John Griffith, commissioner of the Big Ten athletics made an investigation of a financial transaction that followed his departure from Ripon college. Siebold claimed that it was perfectly regular and was supported by many friends, but the board held that it altered his eligibility status and ruled him out of competition. While at Oshkosh Seibold played both tackle and fullback. He was seen in action against Green Bay teams many times, turning in fine performances. He also won honors in track setting records with shotput and discuss. He graduated from Oshkosh High in 1931. Although somewhat younger than most players who break into the professional circuit, Coach E.L. Lambeau of the Packers expects Seibold to make good his first year. He has a powerful body, loves the game and does everything well, the coach reports. Seibold is the third new man to be added to the Packer roster for the 1934 season.
DETROIT TO GET PORTSMOUTH'S FRANCHISE IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
MAR 25 (Detroit) - Detroit will be represented in the Western Division of the NFL next fall, it was announced Sunday. A Detroit syndicate, headed by George A. Richards, has acquired an option on the Portsmouth, O., franchise and the deal will be closed in less than three weeks, according to Irvin (Cy) Huston, widely known Detroit sportsman who has been appointed general manager. Huston said that the University of Detroit stadium had been secured as the site for games. All league games will be played on Sunday afternoons, with some exhibition games on Wednesdays, probably at night. The Portsmouth team had a fair record last fall. Richards and Huston plan to build up the roster, adding players from the University of Detroit, Michigan and Michigan State...BERNARD, PETOSKEY SOUGHT: Negotiations are underway, Huston said, to sign Charles Bernard, Wolverine All-American center, and Ted Petoskey, Michigan end, rated one of the best in the West last fall. Other deals pending may bring both Bob Monnett and Abe Eliowitz to the Detroit fold. The latter two players were responsible largely for keeping Jim Crowley's Spartan teams in the sports headlines for several seasons. Monnett is under a Green Bay Packers' contract and Eliowitz's contract is owned by the Brooklyn eleven. Eliowitz played rugby in Canada last year. Earl (Dutch) Clark, out of pro football last fall, will come with the Portsmouth franchise, as will Glenn Presnell, former Nebraska star. The latter was named on the pro All-America backfield last fall. Clark was a smart Colorado College quarterback and halfback and he is rated highly in pro circles. He has had two years' pro experience. The franchise brings to Detroit the entire Portsmouth squad.
DETROIT GROUP BUYS SPARTAN FOOTBALL CLUB
MAR 26 (Portsmouth) - The Portsmouth Spartans, one of the strongest teams in the NFL, were sold Saturday night to a Detroit syndicate headed by George A. Richards. No sale price was announced. The Detroit group, in purchasing the franchise, bought the services of Coach George (Potsy) Clark and 26 players along with it. The team will play its games in the University of Detroit stadium next fall. The financial burden of supporting the professional football team was a bit too heavy for Portsmouth, a city of some 40,000 although the team has been a member of the National league for four years, runners-up for the title twice. Harry Snyder, business manager of the Spartans, may go to the New York Giants football team as a business office associate of Tim Mara. Directors of the Portsmouth club announced their action Saturday evening, subject to certain approval of stockholders at a meeting here Friday, April 6. The sale marks the third entry of Detroit into the National league. In 1926, a Detroit football team joined the National league with Jimmy Conzelman as manager. The squad played Green Bay's Packers twice, Green Bay winning at home, 21 to 0, and taking a 6 to 0 decision at Detroit. Gus Sonnenberg was a member of the Detroit team that year. In 1927 the team dropped out of the league. In 1928 the Cleveland football club, headed by Le Roy Andrews, was moved to Detroit and played one year in that city. After the 1928 season the squad was bought by the New York Giant syndicate, the Giants moving the entire team to the eastern city. Benny Friedman played with the team at Cleveland, Detroit and New York. The Packers did not play Detroit in 1928. Football has been a losing proposition here the past two years despite rigid economies and a strong team, and the decision to sell the franchise was made only after an attempt to raise funds failed.
JORGENSEN, PACIFIC COAST TACKLE, WILL PLAY WITH PACKERS
MAR 31 (Green Bay) - The name of another outstanding college football star of the 1933 collegiate season was added today to the rapidly growing list of new players signed by the Green Bay Packer Football corporation to bolster the 1934 team. Carl Jorgenson, a 200-pound tackle from St. Mary's on the Pacific coast, is the latest addition to the Packer roster. His signed contract was received today at the office of Coach E.L. Lambeau. Jorgenson is the fourth new man to be signed by the Green Bay team this year. Jorgenson performed with the All-Star West team in the annual West-East game at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. Coach Lambeau, who attended the game, was so impressed with the big tackle's work that he immediately made plans to line him up for the Packer eleven. According to Coach Lambeau, Jorgenson was one of the most aggressive lineman on the field. Teamed with Adolph Schwammel, he broke up play after play sent at the West line by East quarterbacks. He is rugged, fast and a hard-charging lineman, the coach claims and should fit perfectly into the Packer picture as he is familiar with the Green Bay style of offense as St. Mary's uses many plays similar to those employed by the Packers. Jorgenson is 22 years old, six feet one inch tall, and weighs 200 pounds. His home is Burlingame, Calif., and he has been a regular on the St. Mary's team for the past three years. Jorgenson was chosen as a tackle on the second All-American team named by Grantland Rice in Collier's weekly magazine. He was given honorable mention on the Liberty all-players' team and chosen on practically every all-Western eleven named. The Packer coach plans to add six or eight more new men before the 1934 season opens and will recall several of the outstanding men of last year's team. He hopes to get another center, a pair of guards and four or five more backs to help round out the squad.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORT
APR 3 (Green Bay) - Henry Bruder of Indianapolis is a prospective University of Illinois football star, but Illini don't wish to call him "Hank" for fear of confusion with Northwestern's "Hard Luck Hank" Bruder of a few years ago who now performs with the Green Bay Packers. Hank's hard luck seems to have deserted him the past year or two; he has been going along fine....There will probably be three big-time professional football leagues in operation next fall - the National league, for the midwest and east, the same as last year's circuit, the American league, a new circuit for the West coast being formed by R.E. Whittlesey and a Southern league, being organized by S.A. Godman, who heads the Memphis Tigers. And those Memphis Tigers will be tough again, probably just as tough as they were the year the Packers played them a few season ago. What was that score? But why bring that up? The Packers still burn every time they think about it.
RULES COMMITTEE TO GO OVER RULES FOR NATIONAL LEAGUE
APR 23 (Green Bay) - Appointment for a rules committee to study and prepare proposed changes in the playing code for the NFL has been made by Joseph Carr, president of the circuit, according to word from Columbus today. The league president named E.L. Lambeau, Green Bay; Lud Wray, Philadelphia; Steve Owen, New York; Potsy Clark, Detroit, and George Halas, Chicago, as members of the committee. The men will correspond and interchange views in the next five or six weeks preparatory to a rules meeting at Chicago early in June. Plans to make the game even more open that it is now will be considered, according to Coach Lambeau.
GONZAGA STAR IS SIGNED BY PACKER CLUB
APR 28 (Green Bay) - Further indications that Green Bay's Packer football club will be greatly strengthened by outstanding college football performers before the 1934 season rolls around is seen in the announcement today by Coach E.L. Lambeau that Phil Poth, from far off Gonzaga University, has been added to the Green Bay roster. Poth, a giant guard, is the fifth new man added to the Packer roster in recent weeks. According to the Green Bay coach, several more outstanding players will be added to the Packer roster in the next few weeks. He has been in constant touch with leading college performers of the 1933 season and believes some of the greatest players in the country will be with the squad in this season. Poth comes highly recommended the coach said. He played three years of varsity football under Coach M.J. Pecarovitch, and was one of the best running guards on the coast. He is 5 feet 11 1/2 inches tall and weighs 218 pounds and gained a fine reputation as a blocker at Gonzaga. Coach Pecarovitch reports that Poth was also the mainstay of his line on defense. He is quiet, in civil life, but determined and aggressive when on a football field and an inspiration to teammates, Pecarovitch started in a communication received here recently. Many authorities picked him on all-Pacific coast teams and some gave him all-American rating.
PACKER PLANS DISCUSSED BY E.L. LAMBEAU
MAY 1 (De Pere) - "Never has the future of pro football been so bright as this year," said E.L. "Curly" Lambeau, coach of the Green Bay Packers, while telling the De Pere Rotary club at its weekly dinner last night at the Union hotel, of the encouraging outlook for continued success of the Packers, three times champions of the NFL. The Packers will be stronger, this fall, in several sport, the coach thinks, and so expressed himself. The quarterback position, so troublesome last year, will be occupied by an outstanding performer, Lambeau said. Joe Laws, Iowa, is the man the coach is confident will handle that important position satisfactorily...CONSIDER MILWAUKEE GAME: Laws is from 30 to 40 pounds heavier than three other college quarterbacks mentioned as All-Americans last season, and that extra weight makes him more valuable in the pro game, the coach continued. More weight and intelligence will be found in the center of the line this year. Lambeau claimed on the knowledge he has of players signed, some of whom have been announced, but names of others withheld for good reasons. The backs and ends will be as good as last year, he added. In answer to a question as to whether the Packers will play a game in Milwaukee next fall, Coach Lambeau said no decision has been reached, but the question will be discussed thoroughly, and it appeared he favored a Milwaukee appearance of the team in view of the support accorded the Packers by Milwaukee sport fans and the newspapers. Financial reasons figure in a Milwaukee exhibition, it was pointed out by the coach, who said the Packers made $5,000 when they played the Giants last fall in Milwaukee, whereas they lost $6,000 the year previous when the Giants came to the Packers' stadium under a big guarantee...ENCOURAGEMENT NEEDED: "We want the best games in Green Bay," declared the coach while continuing his discussion of playing before a Milwaukee audience. Lambeau devoted considerable time to a discussion of the prospects of Green Bay, the smallest city in the league, remaining in the circuit, and of Packer financials. He said that if the "Four Horsemen", the name he applied to Leland H. Joannes, A.B. Turnbull, Dr. W.W. Kelly and George F. Clifford, are encouraged by the fans, and not criticized, there is no question but that the Packers will continue in the league indefinitely. The four gentlemen, Mr. Lambeau said, work without pay, buy season tickets every year, spend their own money to go to league meetings in New York or other cities, and make other sacrifices on behalf of the Packers, because they are sportsmen and believe in the value of the Packers as a Green Bay institution. Unwarranted criticisms and untruths, about such loyal officials, will discourage them, whereas encouragement should be accorded them, Lambeau asserted. Nearly $40,000 has been paid out in 10 years by the Packers to improve the gridiron and increase the seating capacity of the stadium, in wages to legionnaires and city police, and as bonuses to players, Mr. Lambeau told the Rotarians. The money put into the playing field was $29,612. Bonuses totaled $6,203. The American Legion received $2,550, unemployed legionnaires received $537 and city police received $2,799, in that period, he declared...NEED ANOTHER GOOD YEAR: An impression, which prevailed a few years ago, that the Packers are a "gold mine", and the club's coffers are loaded with money, was never refuted, although not true, Mr. Lambeau said, for the good reason that such an idea is helpful in dealing with other league clubs. The Giants, for example, he said, are more liable to book the Packers for a game in Green Bay if they think the club is financially strong. The guarantee the Giants demand is big, he said, and they want to be sure of getting their money. However, finances were at a low ebb when the 1933 campaign started, he said. That year was the first the club faced a deficit in opening a season. The losses sustained in 1932 depleted the former reserve, he said. Three rainy Sundays in 1932 cost the Packers about $10,000, he estimated. On top of that, an injury was sustained by a fan falling from the bleachers, and the company carrying the insurance failed, so another burden fell on the association. However, a good year in 1934 will put the Packers back in sound financial condition, he said.
RUDY COMSTOCK TO COACH FOOTBALL AT OKLAHOMA A AND M
MAY 3 (Stillwater, OK) - Rudy Comstock, 33, for three years a regular on the Green Bay Packer football club of the NFL was named assistant coach at Oklahoma A. and M. college here today. Comstock will succeed "Puny" James, who went to Tulsa High school as football coach. Comstock was one of the veterans of the National league, having played for nine years as a member of teams of Buffalo, Philadelphia, the New York Giants and Green Bay. He went to Green Bay three years ago from the New York Giants. A graduate of Georgetown University, Comstock was rated as one of the outstanding guards of the eastern collegiate world when he was signed for his first work in the pro circuit with Buffalo. Always a hard worker, he played fine football with Buffalo, Philadelphia, the New York Giants and Green Bay. For the past few years Comstock has been working during the winter and summer months in Warren, Ohio, although his home originally was in Stillwater...The announcement of the appointment of Rudy Comstock, Bay guard, to a position as assistant coach at Oklahoma A. and M. was received here today with regret by Coach E.L. Lambeau that he is losing a good player. "I am sorry to lose Rudy," the coach said, "but am glad that he has received such a good position. He should make an excellent choice. Rudy was one of the most conscientious workers on our squad. He was always willing and could be called upon to play 60 minutes in any game."
INSURANCE CO. FACING SUIT BY WISCONSIN
MAY 8 (Madison) - H.J. Mortensen, state commissioner of insurance, was given authority today to bring a suit against the Indiana Liberty Mutual Insurance company to prevent the collection of an assessment against former Wisconsin policy holders amounting to one annual premium. The permission was granted by Governor Schmedeman and Attorney General Finnegan following a recent hearing on Mortensen's petition...DENIED LICENSE IN 1932: The company, in February, 1932, was denied a license to continue business in Wisconsin on grounds of failing financial conditions. Later it withdrew from the state and cancelled all unexpired insurance contracts in Wisconsin in October, 1932. The company then levied an assessment equal to one annual premium against all members and former members including Wisconsin policy holders whose policies had not expired prior to March 17, 1932. Mortensen estimated the assessment would amount to $419,255. The opinion of the governor and attorney general held that the company
could have paid its unpaid losses and reasonable expenses from its liquid assets at the time the assessment was made and that the proposed 100 percent levy was unreasonable and void...HAVE NO OBLIGATION: "It appears that the purpose of the company's assessment is to rehabilitate the company in which the former Wisconsin policy holders have no interest or obligation so to do," the opinion said. The company has retained Wisconsin attorneys in an attempt to force the collection and its counsel has indicated it will carry the case to the state Supreme Court if necessary...PACKER HAD POLICY: The Green Bay Football corporation, the Packers, was a policy holder of this insurance company and paid a premium for the year in question of $2,500 which means the corporation will save that amount if the state's suit is successful.
LAMBEAU, PACKER COACH, ORDERED TO PAY ALIMONY
MAY 18 (Green Bay) - E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, coach of the Green Bay Packers football team, is being sued by his wife, Marguerite, for divorce, it was learned definitely Friday and he already is complying with a court order to pay her temporary alimony. Mr. and Mrs. Lambeau, on friendly terms although they have been separated for several weeks, conferred Friday morning in the officer of her attorney, Allan V. Classon. An effort was being made to settle the case without a divorce hearing, it was said. If this is not done, the case will go to court in a few weeks, it was understood. The Lambeaus joked when they met in Classon's office, it was reported. "What are you going to pay me?" she was said to have asked jestingly. "Nothing," Lambeau replied, smiling. "You should pay me something to get rid of me." Later, Lambeau said that he and his wife had simply agreed to disagree, and that they remained on the friendliest of terms. "We hold no animosity toward each other," he said. "Certain reporters who claim to have pictures of me with a movie actress on the coast are not telling the truth. Only one picture was taken of me and that was with Myrna Kennedy, who is a married woman, sitting between Red Grange and me." Lambeau referred to a picture snapped with Miss Kennedy on the Packers' bench, at one of the exhibition football games played on the Pacific coach last winter. Both attorneys said that any charges in the case would not be sensational, that no third party was involved and that it was merely a situation in which "two friends" agreed to part amicably. Mrs. Lambeau has filed no complaint against her husband. This will not be done, it was understood, until just before the case is presented for recording in court. The proceedings thus far have been exceedingly secret and even Mrs. Lambeau's petition for temporary alimony was kept under cover. The clerk of Circuit Judge Henry Graass' court, where the petition was heard, had repeatedly denied knowledge of any court action by Mrs. Lambeau. However, in a document stamped May 1 at the Brown County courthouse, the court order: That Lambeau pay to Atty. Allan Classon $100 on or before May 15 to enable the plaintiff to carry on her suit for temporary alimony. That Lambeau pay to the clerk of circuit court of Brown County for the use of the plaintiff, Marguerite Lambeau, sums ranging from $25 to $50 up to May 15 and thereafter $100 a month for her support and maintenance. That Mrs. Lambeau be allowed the custody and charge of the minor child of the parties, Donald Lambeau, until the further order of the court. That the plaintiff be given temporary possession of the home in the town of Allouez and that the defendant shall pay for the upkeep, such as light, fuel, water, insurance and taxes. That until further order of the court Lambeau desist from imposing any personal restraint on the personal liberties of Mrs. Lambeau or interfering with Donald Lambeau, and that he desist from going upon the premises of the Lambeau home or in anyway interfering in Mrs. Lambeau's occupancy of it. That Lambeau absolutely refrain from disposing of, concealing or encumbering any of his property, excepting such sums as may be necessary for complying with the the present court order. Lambeau, it is understood, has complied fully with all the requirements of the order and has made the payments specified on schedule. He is represented by Gerald Clifford, Green Bay attorney.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORT
MAY 22 (Green Bay) - Observations at random...George Marshall, president of the Boston National league pro football club, is now the owner of the Washington Times, one of the leading newspapers in Washington...Luby Demolico has been signed by the Pittsburgh club as its coach for next year. He is a veteran of the Pittsburgh district and has a large following, it is said...George Halas, Lud Wray, Steve Owen, E.L. Lambeau and Potsy Clark former the National league football rules committee. They are not contemplating any changes in this year's rules, at least no radical changes...The New York Giants are planning exhibition football games at New Rochelle Sept. 9, Orange Sept. 13 and Paterson Sept. 16...A group of cities in the southwest section of the country - Memphis, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Dallas and Fort Worth - are planning a minor league of professional football to be known as the American Association. They have made some progress, but no definite plans have been completed.
NAME LELAND JOANNES ON NATIONAL CIRCUIT SCHEDULE COMMITTEE
MAY 22 (Columbus, OH) - President Joe F. Carr of the NFL today announced the members of the schedule committee for the 1934 season. With Carr as chairman, the committee will submit a schedule to the annual meeting of the league in July. Members of the committee are George P. Marshall, president of the Boston Redskins; L.H. Joannes, president of the Green Bay Packers; John V. Mara, president of the New York Giants, and George S. Halas, president of the Chicago Bears. The National league will open its season about the middle of September and close the second Sunday in December. On the third Sunday the playoff for the world championship between the winners of the eastern and western divisions will be held.
MRS. E.L. LAMBEAU WINS DIVORCE SUIT
MAY 23 (Green Bay) - Mrs. Marguerite Lambeau, wife of E.L. "Curly" Lambeau, was granted a decree of divorce from the Packer football coach by Judge Henry Graass in circuit court Tuesday afternoon on ground of cruel and inhuman treatment. Mrs. Lambeau's complaint charged that her husband has quarreled with her repeatedly, commencing soon after their marriage; that he had informed her that he no longer cared for her, and wished her to secure a divorce. His conduct, she stated, had so affected her health that it was no longer possible for her to live with him. The testimony was largely perfunctory in nature to establish the grounds under the statute. By stipulation between the parties, the defendant must pay to the plaintiff the sum of $5,000; $1,000 in cash, notes for $3,000 and two $500 bonds. She also receives the Allouez residence and contents and the Nash car. Custody of their 14-year old, Donald, is given to the mother with the provision that the father must pay $10 a month for his board and all his other expenses, including a college education. The father is given permission to see the child at all reasonable hours, but neither party may remove him from the state for residence purposes except by mutual permission or court order. Judge Graass expressed some skepticism as to the success of dividing the boy's expenses between the two parents, but the attorneys stated that this arrangement had been arranged upon. "If the arrangement isn't kept, I'll be right in here to demand that it be kept," declared Attorney Allan V. Classon, representing Mrs. Lambeau. "There is no doubt that it will be kept," replied Attorney G.F. Clifford. "Curly plans to give this boy a college education. As for his clothes, his father has been in the clothing business for years, and is better fitted to buy them than anyone else." "I can assure the court that the boy will be taken care of," stated the defendant.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORTS
MAY 24 (Green Bay) - A schedule committee has been appointed by President Joe F. Carr of the NFL to draw up the National league program. The group will meet some time later this month. The schedule must be approved at the annual meeting by at least a three-fourth vote of those present. The annual meeting will held in New York June 30 and July 1...St. Louis is seeking a franchise in the circuit, and may be admitted. Promoters are "hot" to put a team in the circuit, claiming St. Louis a "natural" for pro football...Bob Monnett and Champ Seibold, Packer players, would like work in Green Bay for the summer months to condition them for the football season. Do you know of anything?...The Fort Atkinson team of the State semi-pro football league would like to play Green Bay in the opening practice game next year. Mike Davey is running the team.
ROLLIE HALFMAN, MARQUETTE ACE, IS SIGNED BY PACKERS
MAY 25 (Green Bay) - Rollie Halfman, as rugged a backfield man as Marquette ever turned out, today was added to the rapidly growing list of new men who will be seen in a Green Bay Packer football uniform this fall. The signed contract of Halfman was received at the office of Earl. L. (Curly) Lambeau, Packer coach, this morning. Weighing 185, Halfman is tough, hard-hitting and loves to play. At Marquette he played both fullback and halfback, doing excellent work at both positions. He is an excellent man on defense, being able to back up the line with the best of them. He runs hard and low, with plenty of drive. Halfman played varsity football for three years at Marquette and was sought by the Cardinals, Bears and Packers, but chose to come here when a contract was offered...GOOD BASEBALL PLAYER: In addition to football, Halfman is an excellent baseball player. He is playing with Wisconsin Rapids at present, but has been offered a chance with the Cincinnati Red Legs. He plays in the outfield. Halfman's home is in Fond du Lac. The former Marquette star is the sixth new man added to the Packer roster this spring....PLAYED WITH ALUMNI: The Packer coach saw Halfman play last year and watched him again a few weeks ago in the annual Marquette-Alumni practice game to wind up spring football practice. He turned in a fine performance in the game with the varsity. Coach Lambeau plans to add probably another seven or eight new men and give contracts to the outstanding men of last year's team in his plans to rebuild the squad for the 1934 race. He has been communicating with several players for the past few weeks and expects to announce receipt of contracts shortly.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORT
JUN 6 (Green Bay) - We got into a discussion of suggested rule changes for the 1934 season in the NFL the other day and everyone had a proposal to make. There are so many plans brought up that we decided to investigate a bit and find out, from first hand, just what the rule makers of the circuit were planning to do. Calling on Coach E.L. (Curly) Lambeau of the Packers, a member of the league rules committee, we got from him a number of changes proposed for the playing code. Some 16 changes are under consideration, the coach reported. He went on to enumerate them and explain that members of the rules committee have had a great deal of correspondence on the proposals and will meet some time late this month to vote on the new code. Following are the proposed changes, only a few of which are expected to be adopted: 1 - That the defensive team be permitted to advance with a fumbled ball. 2 - That the defensive team be permitted to advance with a fumbled ball, except in the case of a fumbled lateral pass. 3 - That on all incomplete lateral passes the ball be declared dead and to count a down the same as an incomplete forward pass. 4 - That in the case of a touchback, the ball would be put in play on the 30-yard line. (It is put into play on the 20-yard mark, now.) 5 - Reinstatement of the onside kick. 6 - That a player entering the game be permitted to communicate with his teammates immediately, instead of waiting until one play is completed. 7 - That the timeout period be reduced from two minutes to one minute. 8 - That the time between halves be reduced from 15 to 10 minutes. 9 - That the rule changes made by the colleges be adopted. 10 - That rule changes made by the colleges be adopted, except that in the case of the rule which permits one incomplete pass over the goal line be limited to a play from a position where the ball was put in play on the 20-yard line or inside of it. (If a ball is passed over the goal line from outside the 20-yard line the same penalty as in force now would remain.) 11 - That the officials must notify the coach of each team when the team has exhausted its three legal timeouts. 12 - That a forward pass made hand-to-hand back of the line of scrimmage, which becomes incomplete, is to ruled a fumble. 13 - That within the 10-yard line a defensive team be penalized only half the distance to the goal instead of five yards. Suggested improvements include: 1 - That all teams be completely uniformed; either completely stockinged or completely without stockings. 2 - That four officials be used in all league games. 3 - That a professional football rule book be published before the opening of the 1935 season. Proposal No. 1 has many backers and is expected to be adopted as it would help enliven the game. No. 13, proposed by Coach Lambeau, also has many supporters, as the coaches point out that the last 10 yards to a goal line is the hardest to make and a team should not be penalized too much in that strip.
PACKERS SIGN MILLHEAM FOR 1934 ELEVEN
JUN 7 (Green Bay) - The name of another former university football player was added to the growing list of Green Bay Packer squad members today when Curtis (Duke) Millheam, a former Notre Dame quarterback, signed a contract. Millheam, a well-built young athlete whose home is in Beloit, played with the Notre Dame varsity one year, in 1930. He was one of the greatest high school athletes ever developed at Beloit, starring in football and basketball. He played basketball with the Beloit team in the state YMCA tournament in 1932 and for the past two years has played quarterback for the Fort Atkinson Blackhawks, winners of the state semi pro football championship. In announcing receipt of Millheam's contract today, Coach E.L. Lambeau of the Packers reported that several other young college performers also were being sought to help bolster the
Arnie Herber and Clarke Hinkle
team for the 1934 season. He plans to bring many candidates here this year, giving the Green Bay team the biggest squad of new men it has had in years. The Beloit back in the seventh athlete signed by the Packers for the 1934 season. He is the fourth backfield ace secured, others signed being linemen.
CIRCUIT HEADS TO DRAW PRO FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
JUN 8 (Columbus, OH) - Schedule makers of the NFL will hold their annual meeting in New York City on Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1, Joe F. Carr, league president, announced today. Besides drawing up the 1934 schedule, league officials will confirm the purchase of the Portsmouth franchise by the Detroit club, headed by George Richards, Carr said. Other members of the league this year are New York, Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cards, Cincinnati and Green Bay.
PACKERS SIGN ROBERT JONES, INDIANA GUARD
JUN 21 (Green Bay) - A giant lineman, one of the stars of the Big Ten conference last year, was added to the Green Bay Packer roster today when the signed contract of Robert Jones, Indiana guard, was received at the office of Coach E.L. Lambeau. Lambeau saw the big lineman play on the All-Star East team in the annual East-West game on the Pacific coast New Years' day and talked to the youth at that time. He reached a verbal agreement with Lambeau at that time to come to Green Bay to play professional football, being the first of the crop of new men to come to terms. He did not verify the verbal agreement until today, however...22 YEARS OLD: According to the coach, Jones should make an ideal professional performer. He is 22 years old, weighs 215 pounds and is 6 feet, 2 1/2 inches tall. He was pulled out of the line to punt on several occasions in the East-West game, booting the ball consistently more than 50 yards. While at Indiana, he played both fullback and guard, working in the line position most of the time, however. The new man is big and rugged and is a fine blocker, Coach Lambeau reports, adding that he pulls out of the line with speed and does good work at running interference. While at Indiana, Jones played with Ralph Schilawsky and Richard Zoll, a pair of former Green Bay West high stars who earned letters there last year. Zoll played tackle and Schilawsky end on the same side of the line as Jones. Both speak highly of the new Packer.
NFL MEETING IS SCHEDULED SUNDAY
JUN 26 (Green Bay) - Changes in the playing rules will be one of the most important items placed before the NFL owners and coaches by Joe F. Carr, president of the circuit, at the annual meeting of the league in New York next Saturday and Sunday. The Rules committee headed by George Halas, coach and owner of the Chicago Bears' world champions, has received more than ten suggested changes from other members of the committee but it is likely that only three or four of these will be accepted by the club owners. At present the league code is similar to the college code except for several notable exceptions such as the goal posts being on the goal line, forward passing being permitted up to the line of scrimmage, and allowing the ball carrier to advance until actually downed. It is felt a few more changes will be submitted that have an excellent chance of being included in the new code. The old rule regarding a fumble being run by the defensive team is strongly sponsored. The league tutors are not inclined to favor the change in college rules permitting the first pass over the goal line to be ruled only an incompleted aerial. They would prefer to see this possible only inside the twenty yard stripe. The argument in favor of rejecting the college changes is that the pro game already has a more liberal pass rule in permitting tosses from any point up to the line of scrimmage.
FITZGIBBONS, FORMER PACKER, ILL ON COAST
JUN 27 (Green Bay) - Word has been received here today by Paul Burke, that Paul Fitzgibbons, former Green Bay Packer halfback and quarterback, has been stricken with infantile paralysis at Los Angeles and will be laid up for several months. Fitzgibbons, a physician and neurologist at the Los Angeles County General hospital, was stricken about two months ago and probably will be confined for another six months.
13 LEAGUE CONTESTS FOR GREEN BAY TEAM
JUL 2 (GREEN BAY) - Green Bay's professional football team will play a schedule of 13 games in the NFL this year, meeting the strongest teams of the circuit at home and on foreign fields. Six league games are booked in Green Bay. The league season will open Sept. 16 at Green Bay with a strong Philadelphia eleven furnishing the opposition. On successive Sundays will come the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Detroit (formerly Portsmouth), Cincinnati and the Chicago Cardinals. Two games will be played with the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati, the Chicago Cardinals and Detroit. A third game also may be played with the Cardinals...ADOPT RULE CHANGES: At the annual
meeting here over the weekend, the league directors adopted several rule changes for the 1934 season, approved the transfer of the Portsmouth franchise to Detroit, re-elected officers and drew up the schedule. New rules adopted by the professionals include a provision allowing newly injected players to communicate with teammates before the first play, another to have officials notify coaches when each team has exhausted its legal three minute timeouts in each half. A hand-to-hand forward pass incomplete behind the line of scrimmage will be termed a fumble in the league with either team permitted to recover, according to another change and within 10 yards of the goal line a defensive team will be penalized only half the distance to the goal line instead of five yards as heretofore on offside and in-motion penalties. The professionals also adopted the new rules approved for colleges. One provides for a smaller football and another allows a team to toss forward passes into the end zone on the first down without it being called a touchback. The fumble rule was debated but no change made in it, with the exception of the back-of-the-line play...JOE CARR RE-ELECTED: Joseph Carr, Columbus, Ohio, was re-elected president of the league and Carl Storck, Detroit, named treasurer. The new executive committee includes George Halas, Chicago; Dr. Henry March, New York, and Bert Bell, Philadelphia. Football trades completed at the meeting brought to Cincinnati four player of national renown. Tay Brown and Marger Apsit, tackle and halfback from Southern California, will go to the Reds from Boston in exchange for Frank Abruzzino, Colgate state. John Lyons, Tulsa, will go from the Cardinals to the Reds and they also will get Frank Stevenson, Arizona back, from the Chicago Bears. Two Alabama stars, Jim Dildie, end, and Bob Kirkland, guard, also have been signed by the Reds, who will send Ray Smith, Missouri center, to Brooklyn for a player to picked later. Ed Danowski, whose ownership was disputed by the New York Giants and Boston, was awarded to the Giants...PLAY FOR TROPHY: The Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy, in honor of the famous official who died recently, will go to the winner of the league championship, it was decided. Play will be eastern and western divisions again with the winners of each section meeting for the titles. The championship games will be alternated between the two sections starting next fall. Coach E.L. Lambeau, Green Bay's representative at the session, announced that the team would start practice the first week in September and a non-league game will be booked for Sept. 9 to open the season.
SIGN JOHNSON TO PLAY WITH PACKERS AGAIN
JUL 13 (Green Bay) - Another young man whose home is in Wisconsin, the fourth signed to date, was added to the Green Bay Packer roster today when Coach E.L. Lambeau received the signed contract of Chester (Swede) Johnson, former Appleton High star fullback. Johnson received a tryout with the Packer club in 1931, but lacked experience and was released for further training. Since that time he has been playing with the St. Louis Gunners in a southern professional circuit, turning in sensational performances. Last year, he was the outstanding man on the St. Louis club and three National league teams bid for his services this season, according to Coach Lambeau. Johnson is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighs 205 pounds and can do everything well, the coach reports. At Appleton high school he was a star track, basketball, football and baseball players, setting several conference track records. He is unusually fast for a big fellow, being able to do the 100-yard dash in better than 10.4 seconds. After graduating from Appleton High school in 1929, he entered Marquette university but did not stay there more than through his freshman year. He played with Fort Atkinson in 1930, came to Green Bay in 1931 and then finished that year and the 1932 and 1933 seasons with the St. Louis club.
FRANCIS SCHWAMEL TO COACH HAWKEYE LINE: SOUGHT BY PACKERS
JUL 14 (Iowa City, IA) - Linemen of the University of Iowa football squad will be coached this fall by Francis Schammel, all-American Hawkeye guard of last season. Appointment of Schammel as assistant coach was announced last night by C.M. Updegraff, chairman of the university athletic board...Francis Schammel, who was named Iowa line coach yesterday, was one of the Big Ten grid stars who was expected to sign a contract to play football with the Green Bay Packer eleven.
PROFESSIONAL GRIDIRON SPORT CARRIED ON HERE WITH COMMUNITY PRIDE
JUL 18 (Green Bay) - It is a long jump from passing the hat for a game in the open field when the cash would run less than a century note to playing at the Polo Grounds in New York where the gate receipts ran into five figures but that is just what the Packers, Green Bay's famous football eleven, have accomplished since 1919. For 15 years the Packers have performed on the gridiron and their fame has not alone brought glory to Green Bay but the whole state of Wisconsin as well. The Packers have engaged in 193 gridiron combats. Of these contests, the Green Bay eleven has won 131; there have been 43 defeats and 19 of the games resulted in ties. This gives the Packers an all time percentage of .751. The Packers have scored 3,115 points to their opponents' 919. Green Bay has its paper mills, railroads, cheese factories and fish houses but the Bays have brought more national publicity to this city than all the other institutions combined...KEY TO SUCCESS: How does Green Bay compete against the biggest cities in the nation and get away with it successfully? This question has often been asked and to the writer who has been associated with the Packers since the year after the war, the answer is team spirit, capable direction both on and off the field and the whole heated support of the football fans, not only of Green Bay but the entire Badger state and the upper Michigan peninsula. Team spirit, main stock in trade of the Packers, is a twin brother of Community Pride of which Green Bay has an overabundance. This city follows its Packers like Princeton does its Tigers and, as a result, there is a certain "something" in the football air around these parts that is not to be found in any other spoke of the National wheel. The success of the Packers has put Green Bay on the national sport map in capital letters. From coast to coast, Green Bay is known as that Wisconsin city where they have the professional football team with college spirit...BEEN LIKED FOR YEARS: Everybody is strong for a winner and the Packers have been liked for years. Records of the National league show that Green Bay is the best drawing team in the circuit. Why? Because the fans of Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Boston or elsewhere know that when they go to see the Packers play, win, lose or draw, they are going to get their money's worth. The first year the Packers operated, the team was "fathered" by the Acme Packing company, one of Green Bay's war boom industries, to the extent of buying sweaters, a half dozen or so of footballs and several sets of shoulder pads for the selected stars. As to the rest of the equipment in those days the players furnished their own. Games were played at Hagemeister Park, now known as Joannes on the site of the present East high school. There was no fence nor bleachers and the hat was passed and spectators tagged to foot the bill for the visiting teams. Whatever was left went into the "kitty" and the pot was split between the players at the end of the season. In 1920, Neil Murphy, Joe Delloye associated with Frank Jonet, took over the team. Stands were built at the park and a fence was put up. This was a step in the right direction and the Packer players drew a more healthy cut when the schedule was completed...GOT LEAGUE FRANCHISE IN 1921: The next year John and Emmet Clair, who were connected with the packing plant, had the club and a franchise in the NFL was secured. The team did well against much faster competition and the increased attendance showed that the fans liked the improved brand of football. During the summer of 1921, the Claires left the city and a new organization composed of E.L. Lambeau, who was coach and captain of the team, Joseph Ordens, Nathan Abrams and G.W. Calhoun assumed the financial responsibilities. This group went through the season but the increased cost of players and the higher guarantees made the load too stiff for the individuals to carry. The team has a fairly successful season, despite the loss of the first four games. Of the other eight contests, five were victories and there were three tie games...FOOTBALL CORP. IS FORMED: Early in the summer of 1923, the Green Bay Football corporation was organized and purchased the league franchise, together with the players' contracts. A.B. Turnbull was the first president. Associated with him in the football promotion were a number of business and civic leaders, some of whom are still connected with the team management. Mr. Turnbull continued to serve as president through the 1926 season. Roy Evrard headed the Football corporation in 1927. Dr. W.W. Kelly was the team executive in 1929 and L.H. Joannes took over the reins in 1930 and continues to hold the presidential post. The present executive board is composed of President Joannes, ex-presidents Turnbull and Kelly, Charlie Mathys, former Bay quarterback, and G.L. Clifford, the corporation's attorney. The Packers were without a field in 1923. It was necessary to transfer playing activities to Bellevue park on Main-st. For two seasons, the team carried on at this location. Portable bleachers were purchased, benches were borrowed from the park and every other possible step taken to provide seats for the spectators...SECURED NEW FIELD: Before the 1924 season rolled around, the Packer management brought pressure to bear on the city for a new field. Wenzel Wiesner, who was mayor at that time, cooperated with the football officials and a stadium was laid out in Joannes park. A contract was let for permanent stands and a fence to Marcel Lambeau and by working his crew overtime daily for three weeks, he got the park in readiness for the first game. At that the carpenters were nailing the last boards on the fence only an hour before game time. Since that year the Packers have built up the City stadium until now it is one of the best football plants in the country. With a seating capacity of about 15,000 and every seat a good one, the Green Bay field has served as a model for gridiron fields in many cities of the country. The Packer management has spent thousands of dollars in improving the stadium and it now serves as a civic monument to those who carried on for professional football in Green Bay when things looked the darkest. And there were many of those "low spots" in the early years of the football corporation...ON SCHOOL BOARD PROPERTY: The field which is located on school board property is used by the high schools for their games and there is a cinder track around the playing field for the school boy runners. The stadium is also available for civic entertainments. During the high school band tournament this year, a night show was staged at the park which attracted thousands and the stadium will be the scene of drill marches and other features at the Wisconsin Legion convention here in August. Each year the Packer football corporation stages a season ticket drive before the season gets underway. Members of the corporation and volunteer solicitors campaign the city thoroughly during the drive. In some years, the advance season ticket sale went as high as $10,000 and this served as a nest egg to carry the club over the lean sports and rainy days. In the olden days, it was often necessary for members of the executive board to endorse notes at the bank to carry the Packers through with the necessary cash. The financial side of pro football in a city the size of Green Bay is a big problem but thanks to capable executives, the Packers have built up an enviable reputation around the circuit on the money side. When the season gets underway, the Packer management opens a main ticket office in the Columbus club which is open from morn until night for the home games. Ticket offices in recent years have also been established in a number of the leading cities in Wisconsin and upper Michigan as well. Football fans drive hundreds of miles to see the Packers play and request for tickets from Minneapolis, Duluth, St. Paul and all the upper Michigan cities are received for almost every game. The Packers are on the air for all their games. One of the Milwaukee stations sends their announcer up here for each contest while WHBY, the St. Norbert's college station, also serves the radio fans direct from the City stadium. Every Packer game is like a circus-day in Green Bay. Autos are parked for blocks around the City stadium. The railroads run special excursions here and the bus lines always put on reduced rates. The Bay eleven has built up a great following in the rural sections. Many of the Packer supporters never saw a college game but rain, hail or shine they flock to Green Bay when Coach Lambeau's hirelings are locking horns with the clubs from the metropolitan areas. The annual attack of "footballitis" which sweeps Green Bay each fall is one of those unexpected mysteries of the sport world which seems to be growing more acute even after 15 years...EVERYBODY GIVES HAND: From the promotion point of view one of the main reasons for success of the team is the cooperation of all civic and other agencies in the Green Bay Football corporation. The American Legion which cuts in on a share of the football receipts forms a stadium patrol each fall. This is composed of about 100 war veterans who help guard the field and gate entrances. The city band has not missed a home game of the Packers in 10 years and their services are donated. The musicians tune things up a bit before the contests and whenever there are no other half time programs they keep the spectators in a good mood with lively tunes. For a number of years, this organization always made a yearly trip to Chicago for the Bear game and the members of the band togged themselves out in Lumberjack outfits which always made a big hit with the spectators at Wrigley field...KNOT HOLE GANG: The Packer management has always catered to the "fans of tomorrow". There is a "knot hole gang" whose membership is composed of youngsters of short pants variety and these boys are admitted to the games at a quarter a head. Sometimes, the little fellows are allowed to enter two on a ticket. An open invitation is extended each year to the high school football teams of the vicinity to be "pay guests" at the games. In other words, these scholastic gridiron warriors are given bargain prices and at some of the games there have been a half a dozen different squads in attendance...PLENTY OF COLOR HERE: One of the main criticisms of pro football has been the lack of color at the game but the Football corporation has succeeded in showing a different picture. Scholastic bands often come here for the Packer games and during the intermission, the gridiron is turned over to the musicians as a stage and they go through their fancy prancing. At some of the games, the crack Legion corps from Fond du Lac, Beaver Dam and other cities have put a lot of color into the engagements here. Three pennant raisings, reunions of the veteran Bay players at their annual homecomings and other sorts of entertainment have helped a lot to give the collegiate tinge to the post-graduate gridiron exhibitions at the stadium...RADIO REPLACES GRIDGRAPHS: The radio has brought one change in the Packer picture. Now when the team is playing away from home, the fans tune in on a Milwaukee station and get a running story but it wasn't so long ago that the gridgraph would be set up in the Columbus club and the game flashed on the big board. There was plenty of rooting and sometimes the furniture got smashed up a bit during a joyful demonstration over a Green Bay score. Even before the gridgraph, the fans would flock to Turner Hall and hear a play-by-play announcement of the game. Green Bay has had some great celebrations since Jean Nicolet set foot
here some 300 years ago but next to the Armistice in 1918, probably the greatest demonstration of civic joy was when the first championship Packer team came home after a victorious eastern trip early in December of 1929...KING JOY RULED SUPREME: King Joy ruled supreme. When the train pulled in at the Northwestern station, red fire dotted the tracks from beyond the city limits, the band blazed forth "On, Wisconsin", and a surging mass of humanity simply carried the players from their special parlor cards to the big buses of the Wisconsin Public Service company. Thousands lined the streets as the parade moved across the bridge and to the city hall where an official welcome was extended. The players of the championship squad were heroes of the hour and the residents of Green Bay left nothing undone to cap the pennant winning year in a blaze of glory...HOLD VICTORY BANQUET: On the following night a victory banquet held forth at the Beaumont hotel, and the Packers were presented with victory medals along with a handsome purse which had been raised by the public spirited citizens. The victory celebration was repeated in 1930 and '31, but the 1929 welcome was the peak affair and it probably will be talked about for years to come. Green Bay, however, is loyal to the Packers in victory or defeat. Last December when the team returned after a lean trip around the circuit, there was a good sized turnout at the station and the loyal rooters expressed themselves with words of encouragement to the players. "That's the kind of spirit that makes a fellow bear down just a little bit harder," remarked one of the veterans. "We'll show 'em in 1934."...MANY OUTSTANDING GAMES: Of all the games that the Packers have played, the outstanding contest was in New York in 1929 when the Giants were smothered 20 to 6 in an argument that paved the way for Green Bay to win its first national championship. Going into the battle as underdogs and with two regular backs, Red Dunn and Eddie Kotal, on the injured list, the Packers played perfect football against Benny Friedman and his high priced aggregation of all-Americans. One of the high spots of this engagement was the fact that the Packers played all but two minutes of the game without a single substitution. The only substitution was Paul Minick for Him Bowdoin at a guard position. But there were other feature engagements. Take for instance in 1928 when Dick O'Donnell caught a pass from Red Dunn in the closing minutes of the last game of the season against the Bears in Chicago and scampered for the only touchdown of the combat. In 1927, the New York Yankees (with Red Grange on crutches) met defeat at the hands of the Packers in Green Bay, 13-0, before a crowd estimated at 13,000...PURDY'S DROP KICK: Back in 1926, the Packers whipped the Cardinals at Normal park, Chicago, thanks to Pid Purdy's dropkick, 3 to 0. In this contest, the Bays held for downs twice when the Cards had the ball, first down goal to go, only a football from the goal line. After a disastrous trip east in 1925, the Bays took the final tilt in Providence, 14 to 10. The win came with but minutes to play and it was Jimmy Crowley's circus catch of a forward pass that brought home the bacon. Football fans will never forget the way Tillie Voss snagged a pass while prone on the ground in the end zone for the winning touchdown of the Racine fracas which was played at Bellevue park in 1924. In 1923, the Packers were trailing Milwaukee, 7 to 3, in a state championship game at Borchert field, Milwaukee. The fourth quarter was halfway over and it looked like a defeat. However, Charlie Mathys passed to Lambeau and the Packer captain literally ran through Jimmy Conzelman, the Milwaukee quarterback, for the winning score...FIELD GOAL BY BUCK: Columbus faced the Packers here in 1922 and the game was played in a rainstorm. The old field at Hagemeister park was a sea of mud but Cub Buck wiped off his kicking show and sailed a placekick through the uprights for the only score of the game...FIRST LEAGUE VICTORY: The Bays scored their first victory in the NFL by defeating the Minneapolis Marines, 7 to 6, in 1921. The Gophs, using the Minnesota shift, counted first but the Packers came back in the fourth quarter by recovering a fumbled punt by Doc Regnier. Schmael plunged through for a touchdown and Capt. Lambeau added the extra point. In 1920, the 62-0 victory over Jimmy Nuss and his De Pere eleven stood out a high spot while in the opening year, 1919, the 17 to 0 victory against the Stambaugh, Mich., team was outstanding. In this contest, Riggie Dwyer, now register of deeds, basked in the limelight on the receiving end of several forward passes...TIE WITH PORTSMOUTH: The 1930 season had a lot of sensational tilts but the final contest at Portsmouth had thrills enough for a couple of seasons. The Packers needed a win or tie to cinch the title and the game ended with a 6 to 6 count despite the fact that the Spartans loaded up for the battle. The game at New York in 1931 was the bright spot. It seemed as if the Giants were going to blast the Bays' title hopes by Hank Bruder elected himself for the hero role and he grabbed an overhead toss, bowled over Benny Friedman and scampered for the winning score. In 1932, the game here with Portsmouth earned the "top line". The clubs didn't meet in 1931 and the Spartans had circulated a lot of propaganda about the "cheese champions". It was a see saw contest all the way and held the fans on tiptoe. In the last quarter, Clark Hinkle made himself famous here by breaking through for the winning touchdown as the fans pretty near went crazy with delight...TOOK PHILLIES INTO CAMP: Last fall the Packers had rather slim pickings. Injuries and tough breaks kept Coach Lambeau's team continually in a hole. Towards the close of the season the Packers went into Philadelphia. At this stage the Quakers were at the peak of their form while, on the other hand, the Bays were minus Cal Hubbard and several other veterans. However, the Bays came through with a brilliant exhibition of open football and Lud Wray's hirelings were nosed out by a 10-0 score in one of the best played games of the season...YEAR ROUND SEARCH: The Packer management carries on a year round search for football material. Back in the olden days, Coach Lambeau and his associates would do a lot of letter writing with prospective pro gridders and in some instances diamonds were found in the rough. However, times have changed. The Green Bay coach makes a yearly pilgrimage to the Pacific coast for the East-West game and also drops in at the other "Christmas circuit" engagements on the Pacific coast. This gives him personal contact with the cream of the collegians who have completed their varsity gridiron careers. Competition for the star "rah-rah" gridders is exceptionally keen as the big city clubs like the Chicago Bears and Cardinals, New York, Boston and Philadelphia go the limit in their bids for players. There is no salary limit in the NFL and naturally the Green Bay management is hard pressed at all times when seeking a player that some of the other teams are after...GOOD TOWN FOR PLAYERS: However, the Packers still hold one advantage as Green Bay is known as a good town for the players. For years, the Bay management has always shot square with its players. All obligations in the way of salaries and hospital bills have always been met to the last letter. This hospital bill angle is an important factor because there are a number of clubs in the league that only give a player two weeks' injury allowance and then cut off the pay until he is again physically fit for action. Every man on the Packer squad is insured by the corporation. The bill for this insurance runs close to $3,000 a season but it is money well invested and in the long run has paid dividends, not in actual cash but in a team morale that is second to none to any professional squad in the country. Some of the old Packer players, now coaching, have steered promising footballers to the Packers. Just for one example, take the case of Bob Monnett, the former Michigan State star. Nearly every pro team in the circuit was after the flash backfielder when he graduated at Lansing in 1933. Monnett went into a huddle with Jimmy Crowley, one of Green Bay's own, who had been his coach for three years and as a result Monnett joined the Packers last fall and probably was the outstanding first year gridder in the circuit...PLACE PLAYERS IN JOBS: Ever since its organization, the Football corporation has attempted to place the Packer players in positions here. An all year round residence enables the gridders to catch the Green Bay spirit and the old civic pride helps a lot when a team is battling to keep its doorstep clean. Verne Lewellen is a good example of how football helped put a player over. He came here in the fall of 1927 after graduating in law from Nebraska. Lewellen was taken in by a local law firm and soon after the state bar examination. It wasn't long before he began to be heard from in legal circles hereabouts, and, after a few years, he was elected district attorney on the Republican ticket and then named for a second term. Sportwriters all over the circuit gave Lew, the district attorney halfback, no end of publicity and the writers in New York simple ate this feature up...FEW HOME PRODUCTS: For the last 10 years, the home product players on the Packer teams have been few and far between. Coach Lambeau is one of Green Bay's own, and he has been with the Packers since the starting year. Charlie Mathys played quarter for the Packers from 1922 until the middle of the 1926 season. Tom Hearden was with the Bays in 1927, Dave Zuidmulder saw a couple of seasons of service while for the past several years Arnold Herber has been playing in the backfield and Art Bultman has been giving splendid service at center. Ken Radick, a lineman, was a member of the 1930 championship squad. Jimmy Crowley played two games as a Packer at the close of the 1925 season. Among the out of town veterans who have remained in Green Bay after finishing their years of actual competition on the gridiron are Jugger Earpe, Dick O'Donnell, Whitey Woodin, Tiny Cahoon, Hurdis McCrary and Bernard Darling. Other members of the Packer alumni are spread out all over the nation. Glancing here and there we find Cub Buck, a traveling sales representative for the Buick Motor Co.; Richard (Jab) Murray is mayor of Marinette, Wis.; Moose Gardner is the head of an auto sales agency in Ashland, Wis., and coaches Northland college; Myrt Basing is a bond salesman in Milwaukee; Rex Enright is coaching in the Southern
conference; Pid Purdy is playing ball with San Antonio in the Texas league; Red Dunn has a good insurance business in Milwaukee and is a member of the Marquette coaching staff; Russ Saunders is connected with a film concern in Hollywood; Eddie Kotal is athletic director at the Stevens Point, Wis. State Teachers' college...GAVIN IN CALIFORNIA: Fritz Gavin is associated with an oil company in California; Art Schmael is a Chicago gas inspector; Rosie Rosatti serves as an engineer for an upper Michigan mining concern; Tillie Voss is employed as a playground director in Detroit while his old playmate, Dutch Hendrian, is in the movies. Dewey Lyle owns a ranch in Montana, George Abramson is a Chicago realtor, Buck Harris has a job with a New York utility, Dukes Duford is coaching at St. Ambrose, Davenport, while Tom Hearden holds the same job at St. Catherine's, Racine; Ojay Larson is a Chicago lumber salesman; Butts Hayes works for the Wisconsin Highway commission and Carl Lidberg runs a string of summer camps in Minnesota. Red Sleight is assistant coach in Missouri; Nate Barragar runs a sport good store in California; Don Carlos is a dentist in Des Moines and Dick Flaherty a Cleveland physician. Bill Kern helps coach Pittsburgh; Paul Minick travels for a St. Louis bonding house and does some football scouting for Southern California; Red Smith assists Dr. Clarence Spears, football mentor at Wisconsin and Frank Maher is a Minneapolis businessman...ALL TIME PACKER TEAM: The selection of an all-time Packer team is not so difficult although at several positions there are hairline decisions. At the ends, Lavvie Dilweg and Tillie Voss are outstanding with Tom Nash in the picture. Cub Buck and Cal Hubbard were the best tackles. Bill Kern was another star at this position, as was Dick Stahlman. Mike Michalske was the greatest Packer guard. The other center flanker honors is a tossup with Frank Maher being placed just a shade ahead of George Abramson and Moose Gardner. Jugger Earpe earns the center position with Nate Barragar next in line, followed by Wally Neiman, a great pivot man despite his lack of weight...DUNN AND MATHYS: Red Dunn and Charlie Mathys were the Packers' two best quarterbacks. Dunn probably gets his nod for his goal kicking ability, but in his day, Mathys could snag forward passes with the best in the league. Pid Purdy was the No. 3 Green Bay quarter. There is no question about the left halfback as Lewellen was one of the greatest that ever trod a gridiron and football fans are still talking about his punting. Curly Lambeau, now coach of the Packers, deserves the other halfback position. Back in the olden days, Lambeau was an outstanding ball carrier and as a forward passer had few equals. Of the others Eddie Kotal, Johnny Blood, Arnold Herber and Bob Monnett deserve mention. The Packers have been blessed with some good fullbacks but for all around play, Clark Hinkle was the cream of the lot. Cully Lidberg was a bone crushing line plunger while Bo Molenda gave the Packers a lot of good service during the championship days...ALL AMERICAN SELECTIONS: Each year there is a crop of All-American teams and any number of players are mentioned by the sport scribes from Broadway to Sugar Bush. There are generally one or two teams that secure national recognition and Green Bay has been well represented. During the time that the Packers were on their victory spree Mike Michalske, Cal Hubbard, Lavvie Dilweg and Verne Lewellen were placed on nearly every selection. Clark Hinkle was quite popular with the experts in 1932 and he got many a vote last fall...LAMBEAU DESERVES CREDIT: Ever since the Packers started operating in 1919, Curly Lambeau has functioned as a headliner and it is mainly due to his efforts as player, captain, manager and coach that the Packers have climbed to peak heights in the postgraduate world. It has been a tough road for the Packer leader. After one year of varsity football at Notre Dame under the late Knute Rockne, Lambeau stepped into the Packer machine and has been the ace leader ever since. A knee injury shortened Lambeau's playing career in 1925. He saw a bit of action after this but confined his activities mainly to coaching and success has crowned his efforts. To date no mentor in the National league aside from Lambeau has won three championships in a row. He pulled this record breaking performance in 1929, 1930 and 1931. With the exception of last fall, his teams have always finished in the topnotch division of professional football...DEVELOPED OWN STYLE: In the point of service, Lambeau is the oldest coach in the National league. He has developed his own style of football, which is based on the Notre Dame system with variations and results speak for themselves. The Packer teams under the Lambeau leadership have always been colorful and crowd pleasers. Lambeau has developed a great forward passing attack and his open football has provided thrills in every city of the circuit. Lambeau eats and sleeps football. Some of his best formations he has drawn up on the back of an envelope while talking insurance on his daily business rounds. The Packer mentor is a good judge of players and he has the happy faculty of getting the best out of them...KEEPS HARMONY ON TAP: Players who have been troublemakers on other clubs have come to the Packers and given Lambeau everything possible. He is a strong believer in the "happy family" football team and always goes out of his way to keep harmony on tap at all times. Lambeau is a master psychologist when it comes to "keying" his club for important games. He never misses an opportunity to talk things over with his players and the gridders who have played under him claim that the Packer coach is one of the smartest mentors in football today. The Green Bay coach is not a hard taskmaster. Seldom does he tongue lash a player before his teammates or the public. He keeps on the best of teams with every member of his squad yet is just enough aloof to retain the respect of the gridders not only during the football season but for years afterward. A few of the veterans call him "Curly" but to the majority he is "Coach"...POPULAR IN LEAGUE CIRCLES: Lambeau is popular in league circles. He gets along just as well with Tim Mara of the N.Y. Giants and George Halas of the Chicago Bears as he did in the olden days when dealing with Bill Doyle of Menominee or Babe Ruetz of Racine. The Packer coach arranges the schedule and must approve any post-season contests which are played for the players' benefit only. In 1932, Lambeau directed the successful pilgrimage to Hawaii. This trip was played on a split basis and Lambeau not only had to be coach, captain and player but business manager as well. Lambeau's super qualifications as a coach coupled with his shrewd business ability make a combination hard to beat and it is no wonder that a prominent New York sportwriter once termed Lambeau as the "main spring in the professional football capital of the world at Green Bay, Wis., U.S.A."
PACKERS SIGN FRANK BUTLER, SPARTAN STAR
JUL 23 (Chicago) - Frank Butler, husky veteran center of Michigan State, signed a contract today to play professional football with the Green Bay Packers, Coach E.L. Lambeau announced. Lambeau remained here to confer with other prospective Packer players. Butler hits the beam at 222 pounds and stands at six feet two and a half inches. He is 26 years old and lives in Chicago...MICHIGAN STATE GRADUATE: The new Packer graduated from Michigan State last June, and in his college days played with Roger Grove and Bob Monnett, Packer regulars. He is expected to be a bulwark in the Green Bay line. Butler placed high in the Chicago Tribune poll to select an all star team as opposition for the Bears, and he played a year under Coach James Crowley, who recommended him highly. Butler is the tenth Packer to sign his 1934 contract, and all thus far are newcomers to the Green Bay team. Swede Johnson, Appleton fullback, played in one or two games here before heading for St. Louis, but he is not counted a Packer veteran.
BARRAGER, PETERSON SIGN CONTRACTS TO PLAY WITH PACKERS
JUL 26 (Green Bay) - Two veterans of the Packer forward wall today were added to the several recruits, untried professionally, who comprise the growing 1934 Green Bay football squad. Coach E.L. Lambeau announced that Nate Barrager, Southern California center, and Les Peterson, Texas university end, have turned in their contracts for the approaching season. Both men have been tried and proved their ability in the NFL, and their return is certain to hailed with pleasure by Packer fans...THREE YEARS ON VARSITY: Barrager graduated from U.S.C., where he played three years of varsity football, winning all-American recognition. He joined Minneapolis in 1930, and served with that team until midseason, when the club went on the financial shoals. Nate then was shifted to Philadelphia, where he wound up the 1930 season with the Frankford Yellowjackets. In 1931, he was back with the same squad, but in the middle of the season he was purchased by the Packers, and through the 1932 season he performed brilliantly for the Green Bay pros. Last year Nate didn't play professionally during the regular season, sticking to his sporting goods store in Los Angeles. During the winter he performed in several exhibition games, and is reported in fine condition. He is a one-handed passer, and an aggressive player. Peterson, a powerful end, entered professional football in 1931 as a member of the Portsmouth Spartans. After one season with that club he came to Green Bay, and in mid-season he was released to Stapleton. He was recalled for the last two games, against Portsmouth and the Bears, in the 1932 season, but last year was released to Brooklyn, playing all season with that club...TEAMED WITH NASH: Near the end of the season Les teamed up with Tom Nash in a brilliant wing combination, and won much favorable comment for his style of play. In his college days Peterson played three years of varsity football for the University of Texas, captaining the team his senior year. He is a giant in stature and performs equally well on offense and defense. Twelve Packers thus far have been signed for 1934.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORT
JUL 27 (Green Bay) - The announcement in last night's Press-Gazette that Nate Barrager and Les Peterson have returned to the Packer fold has stirred up considerable chatter concerning the team's chances to go places in this year's pennant chase. The addition of seasoned material to the promising recruits already signed up by Coach E.L. Lambeau apparently has met with outstanding approval of Packer fans. C.A. Holznecht, who falls in that category, has a few ideas of his own on the subject, and he writes the sports department the following letter: "The Green Bay Packers look like a winning club for the season of 1934 in every way, and may I say this is my sentiment because I have always been a staunch Packer fan since the inception of our Packer team in 1919...Now that the Green Bay fans are going to see many faces on the Packer team this season, a great many fans want to see Jugger Earpe and Verne Lewellen, assisting Coach Curly Lambeau to shape this collection of new stars into another world champion team. What Green Bay players and fans need above all this season is more of the Rockne spirit, and from past performances Earpe and Lewellen are qualified to give Curly Lambeau and his players the cooperation and spirit that this great array of players need during the season of 1934, which I feel certain is going to carry Green Bay over the top again. Let us have more suggestions from more of our fans on this subject." It would be interesting to know just how many Green Bay fans are planning to head for Chicago Aug. 31 to see several of the new Packers in action against the Chicago Bears.
PIRATES' GRID TEAM SIGNS SMITH, MCNALLY
AUG 2 (Pittsburgh) - Art Rooney, president of the Pittsburgh Pirates of the NFL, yesterday completed a deal with the Green Bay Packers which stands out as the biggest transaction of the year in the circuit. He bought the contracts of Johnny Blood and Ben Smith after a lengthy conversation over the long distance with President Lambeau of the Green Bay team. Blood, who really is John McNally, former Notre Dame quarterback, is rated as one of the best field generals in the league. He is particularly adept at handling the ball, in kicking, passing and receiving passes. His presence was especially desired because Rooney desired a tried general back of the line to direct the operation of the team afield. McNally adopted the name Blood for the football profession. He lives in Los Angeles, and now is working on an ocean liner. Smith was an All-America end from the University of Alabama. He joined the Green Bay team a year ago after graduation. He lives in Alabama, stands six feet three and weighs 220 pounds, being of the rugged type. He is proficient in handling passes. Blood is another six-footer and weights 180.
PITTSBURGH REPORTS BLOOD PURCHASED TO PLAY WITH PIRATES
AUG 6 (Green Bay) - Johnny Blood, for the past five years a colorful performer with the Green Bay Packer eleven, has been purchased by the Pittsburgh club, it was announced here Saturday. No report was made on the purchase price, other than it was a straight cash deal. Blood, a halfback, has been playing professional football for eight years. The purchase of Johnny Blood, veteran Packer halfback, by the Pittsburgh Pirates, announced Saturday, marks the passing from Green Bay of one of the most colorful backfield performers in the game. Before coming to Wisconsin, Blood played with the Duluth Eskimos and Pottsville Maroons. As a Packer he was, at times, a brilliant performer. A spectacular performer when he was "hot", he often broke into the limelight by snaring almost impossible passes. He was a colorful performer, known almost as well for his escapades, mostly of the harmless sort, off the football field, as well as those upon it. Near the end of last season Blood was released after the Packers' eastern trip. The Packers negotiated for his sale with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati but Coach E.L. Lambeau made no announcement that it was complete before he left the city last week on a business trip. As he has not returned, no confirmation of the deal being completed was available today. Other officers of the club said they did not know the deal for Blood's sale had been completed.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORTS
AUG 7 (Green Bay) - We are going to miss Johnny Blood this fall. He was sold to the Pittsburgh club by the Packers the other day, perhaps not miss him as far as the game itself is concerned, but for other reasons. Johnny was always colorful. He was good copy and volumes could be written about his exploits, both on and off the gridiron. Blood was an "on and off" performer last year but we believe that if he gets down to business and quits a lot of his foolishness he still has a year or two of good football in him...From Detroit comes word that the former Portsmouth team will be known as the Detroit Lions and the club will be presented with two cub lions by John Millan, director of the Detroit Zoo, to be used as mascots. That's all right, as long as the Lions don't let their cubs grow up too fast and let them roam around the field.
FORT ATKINSON TO BATTLE PACKERS IN GAME HERE SEPT. 9
AUG 10 (Green Bay) - Coach E.L. Lambeau announced today that the Fort Atkinson Blackhawks would oppose the Packers in the opening non-league game of the season here Sunday, Sept. 9. Several opponents were considered, he said, and Fort Atkinson chosen as being the best semi-pro team in this part of the country. The Blackhawks have a lineup composed of several former Wisconsin and Marquette stars and are coached by S.O.D. (Sod) Dunkle. A game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers may be played in Milwaukee Wednesday evening, October 17, Coach Lambeau said. No definite arrangements have been completed as the plan is tentative subject to several conditions, the coach said. If staged on that date, it would be a night game under floodlights. The Packer coach, Leland H. Joannes, president of the club, and A.B. Turnbull, a member of the board of directors, went to Milwaukee this afternoon to look over possible sites for staging a Milwaukee contest. A game between the Packers and St. Louis may be staged in St. Louis in December, the coach said. St. Louis desired to meet the Packers earlier in the season but the Green Bay team has no open dates, except for Sept. 9, and St. Louis could not get its club organized by that time. The Green Bay team will be called together for the first official practice on September 1, according to the coach. After meeting Fort Atkinson, the team swings into action in the National league with a game against the Philadelphia club here Sept. 16. Contracts have been sent out to several members of the Green Bay club of last year and are expected to be returned within the next 10 days or two weeks, the coach believes. Eleven new men have been signed. The coach expects to have a few more new stars and several of his last year's regulars back for action again.
TEXAS QUARTERBACK SIGNED BY PACKER PRO FOOTBALL CLUB
AUG 11 (Green Bay) - A highly touted quarterback, a guard rated as one of the best first year men in the NFL last season, and a tackle who is one of the real Packer veteran have signed their 1934 contracts with the Green Bay team, Coach E.L. Lambeau announced today. The new signees are Charles Casper, Texas Christian university, quarterback; Lon Evans, Texas Christian, guard, and Claude Perry, Alabama, tackle...TRIPLE THREAT ARTIST: Casper is rated an outstanding addition to the ranks of the professional football. He can punt, block and carry out the rest of the backfield assignments, and was high scorer last season in the Southwest conference. He turned in the longest run of the season by taking a kickoff against Texas university, and running the ball 105 yards for a touchdown. His general all-around excellent work won him all-American honors from the All-American board, and he received a certificate to that effect...PLAYED WITH EVANS: Casper graduated last June, and contacted the Packers through his old teammate, Lon Evans. He weighs 185 pounds and has run the 100-yard dash consistently under 10 seconds for the past three years. The Packer recruit played two season with Evans, and three under Coach Francis Schmidt, now at the University of Ohio. There were few first year guards in the National league last year whose work won more commendation than that of Lon Evans. He also is a graduate of T.C.U., where he starred with the varsity for three seasons. His weight is 225 pounds, and he uses it well both offensively and defensively. During the past summer Evans has been wrestling in the southern states. While playing football at Texas Christian, he won an "iron man" reputation, going through the entire three seasons without an injury...STARTS HIS EIGHTH YEAR: Perry has earned a place with the all-time veterans of Green Bay football. This will be his eighth year with the Packers, and he is reported in best of condition. Perry always plays without a headgear, and he stars particularly on defense, rushing passers and punters with as much facility as any linemen in the league. He played three years of varsity football at Alabama, and weighs 215 pounds when in trim for National league competition...14 UNDER CONTRACT: Coach Lambeau has 14 players under contract. The contract signing season is now at its height and the Packer management hopes to be able to make frequent announcements about players, both old and new, for the rest of the month as the players have been requested to "get on the line" immediately.
CONTRACTS SIGNED BY THREE MEMBERS OF '33 PACKER TEAM
AUG 14 (Green Bay) - More speed for the Packer backfield and additional power for the line stands behind the signature of three Green Bay veterans whose signed contracts were received today by Coach E.L. Lambeau. The latest additions to the squad are Robert Monnett, Michigan State halfback; Joe Kurth, Notre Dame tackle, and Arnold Herber, Green Bay product who has won prominence in the NFL. Although Monnett was a first year man for the Packers last season, he was one of the league's outstanding scorers, placing seventh among the toughest offensive men in the circuit. He went over for four touchdowns and kicked 10 extra points for a scoring total of 34, and he was second only to Buckets Goldenberg among the Green Bay scorers. Before joining the Packers, Monnett played three years of good football for Michigan State university, under Jim Crowley. He is great in an open field, is one of the fastest men of the Green Bay squad, and is a consistent extra-point booter. Kurth was another newcomer last year who made good in his first year of post-graduate company. He came fresh from Notre Dame, where he won all-American recognition. He was one of the few Irish players who served as a regular during his sophomore year, and he carried on his slashing style of line play into the professional league. He weighs 202 pounds. Herber will be playing his fourth season for Green Bay. He has quite a reputation as a triple threat back, particularly through the eastern sector of the National league, where he annually plays outstanding football. Herber's weight is close to the 200 mark, and he used it to good advantage with the Bays. He formerly starred at West high school here, later serving as captain of the University of Wisconsin freshmen. Herber also has a season at Regis college of Colorado behind him. He lives the year around in Green Bay. Seventeen Packers are now under contract.
PACKER SEASON TICKET DRIVE STARTED HERE
AUG 17 (Green Bay) - The season ticket sale of the Green Bay Football corporation was successfully launched Thursday night when approximately 20 representative businessmen attended an open session at Joannes Bros., and pledged their services in the campaign. Not since the boom days of 1928 and '29 has the Packer sales drive got off to such a flying start and veteran members of the organization are confident that the desired goal of $10,000 will be reached before the team takes the field in the opening game, a non-league affair, with Fort Atkinson on Sunday, Sept. 9...JONET READS REPORT: President L.H. Joannes and Coach E.L. Lambeau addressed the meeting while Frank J. Jonet, who handles the corporation's finances, read a report on last year's activities. President Joannes called the attention of the businessmen that it was necessary for football solicitors to bear down harder than ever this year as competition all around the circuit was getting tougher and the financial demands on the management for players was climbing higher each fall. "The season ticket sale returns provide a 'war chest'," said Joannes, "on which we carry through on any of the lean spells. To date this system has functioned well and I am hopeful that this fall our sale will reach the safe quota which will enable the Packers to carry on and yet steer clear of the financial shoals."...LAST "SMALL" CITY: "Green Bay is the last small city left in the big show. Each year has brought changes in the makeup of the NFL and one by one the smaller cities have been forced to withdraw on account of the ever mounting financial cost. Since the close of the 1933 season, Portsmouth has transferred its franchise to Detroit, Mich., and this leaves Green Bay alone to battle with the metropolitan communities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Brooklyn. It is a huge undertaking but I am confident that the Green Bay spirit and support will enable us to carry on." The Packer executive in outlining the home schedule said six games would be played at the City stadium. There will be five league contests and the opener with Fort Atkinson, a team composed mainly of former Wisconsin stars, which will be an attraction with prices cut in half...BEARS HERE SEPT. 23: Philadelphia will open the National league season here on Sept. 16. A week later, Sept. 23, the Chicago Bears are to battle the Packers at the City stadium. Detroit, the former Portsmouth Spartans, is booked for Oct. 7. Cincinnati is the gridiron attraction on Oct. 14, and the Chicago Cardinals come here on Oct. 21. Coach E.L. Lambeau told the football boosters that Green Bay would have another good club. He predicted a first division machine and said that if several of the new players delivered according to advance notices the Packers won't have to take their hats off to any team in the circuit...IS MORE DIFFICULT: "Each year it is more difficult for us to sign the collegiate topnotchers as clubs like the Bears, New York, Boston and Philadelphia with unlimited funds offer these players such large salaries that we are not in the picture. It seems that each season the scale of pay in the National league goes higher and that is the main reason why we want this fall's season ticket sale to slant upward. In Joe Laws, Iowa; Bob Jones, Indiana, and Adolph Schwammel, Oregon State, the Packers have secured three outstanding stars and a number of our other new men come here with splendid recommendations. My holdover veterans should be better than ever this fall, and I think we will again have a team spirit second to none in the National league."...START WORK AT ONCE: The ticket salesman drew their first assignment of prospects and the solicitation will get underway immediately. In the meantime, President Joannes and his associates will draw up a new list of prospects and these will be given out at a meeting next Thursday night. All season ticket holders of other years are to be called on first to see if they want their same reservations for this fall.
JOHNSON TO PLAY HERE
AUG 17 (Green Bay) - In a telephone conversation with Coach E.L. Lambeau, Chester (Swede) Johnson, Appleton, denied a story published in a Milwaukee newspaper this morning that he will play football with the St. Louis Gunners again instead of the Packers. Johnson signed a Green Bay contract recently and told Coach Lambeau that under no circumstances would he "jump" it. He will report here on September 1 with other members of the Packer squad, the coach said.
ANYBODY KNOW WHERE HE'S LOCATED?
AUG 17 (Pittsburgh) - If anybody knows where Johnny Blood, professional football star recently purchased by the Pirates, can be located, the information will be appreciated by Curly Lambeau, president of the Green Bay Packers who sold Blood to the Pirates. Blood sailed from San Francisco two months ago. He doesn't know he has been sold to the Pirates, and Lambeau doesn't know where Johnny is to tell him. Lambeau is trying to locate the star so that he can have Blood report to the Pirates before they go to their training camp, Aug. 26.
BOOK THREE PACKER GAMES IN MILWAUKEE
AUG 18 (Green Bay) - Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin football fans will have an opportunity of witnessing the Green Bay Packers in action in Milwaukee in three games, it was announced today by Leland H. Joannes, president of the Green Bay club following a conference between Joannes, A.B. Turnbull and Coach E.L. Lambeau of the Packers and Wisconsin State Fair park officials. One of the game will be the contest originally booked for Green Bay between the Packers and New York Giants on Sept. 30. The second will be an extra game probably with the Chicago Bears, on Wednesday evening, Oct. 17, under floodlights, and the third contest will be a game originally booked for Chicago with the Cardinals and the Packers on Sunday, Nov. 18, according to the present setup, the president said...ADDITIONAL CONTEST: Decision to shift the New York-Packer game from Green Bay to Milwaukee will give southern Wisconsin fans an opportunity of seeing the same teams that played there in 1933 fight again, with the Packers having a chance of avenging the defeat suffered there last year. It is believed that by changing the game from Green Bay to Milwaukee, it will help the Packers considerably from a financial standpoint according to President Joannes. The Chicago Bears meet the Packers in Green Bay on Sept. 23, the Giants face them on Sept. 30, and Detroit, formerly Portsmouth, tangle with them on Oct. 7. On three successive Sundays, the three strongest teams in the
circuit would come to Green Bay, under the original plan, and it is doubtful whether all three could be made to prove successful, financially. Booking of the other two games in Milwaukee means that Green Bay fans will have additional contests literally in their "own backyard". The Packers and the Chicago Cardinals were originally scheduled to play in Chicago in two games, 11 days apart, Nov. 18 and Nov. 29. It is believed that, by changing the site of the first game from Chicago to Milwaukee, it will draw much better...PLAY THREE TIMES: The night game with the Chicago Bears, planned for Wednesday evening, Oct. 17, under lights, is an added game to both the Packers' and Bears' schedule. The Packers have always played the Bears three games each before this season, winding up the season with the Chicagoans at Chicago the second week in December. This game had to be played under handicaps most of the time, because of unfavorable weather, so it was not booked this year. The night game in Milwaukee would take its place, giving Green Bay fans an opportunity of seeing the old rivals clash at less expense than if they played in Chicago. The Milwaukee Journal will act as co-sponsors of the night game for the benefit of the Christmas Good Fellows fund. Complete details as to this contest are expected to be worked out within the next few days, according to President Joannes, but plans for the other two contests are practically completed...AT FAIR PARK: The games will be played at the Wisconsin State Fairground park, which is being developed as an athletic center under the direction of Ralph Ammon. There will be 12,000 good seats in the concrete grandstands and between 5,000 and 8,000 bleacher seats. The field will be sodded and put into shape immediately after the annual state fair. Lights will be installed by the fair association. The Green Bay club president pointed out that with three games in Milwaukee and six in Green Bay, Wisconsin fans will have the biggest program of professional football games ever offered. Five league games will be played in Green Bay, besides the practice game with the Fort Atkinson Blackhawks.
GANTENBEIN, GROVE SIGN CONTRACTS TO PLAY WITH PACKERS
AUG 21 (Green Bay) - Rounding into shape for a strenuous gridiron season, the Green Bay Packer squad today included 23 players, with contracts received from Milt Gantenbein, veteran end; Roger Grove, former Michigan State quarterback; and Earl Witte, Gustavus Adolphus back. Rated highly capable on blocking and interference, and a better than average pass receiver, Gantenbein will be starting his fourth season with Green Bay. He formerly starred at the University of Wisconsin, captaining the Badger varsity during his senior year. He lives at Madison during the off-season. Packer fans like to remember Gantenbein's work in the great 6 to 2 victory over the Chicago Bears, which the Packers took in 1931. It was a bitter struggle, and wasn't decided until Mike Michalske, veteran guard, picked off a Bear pass and galloped some 55 yards for a touchdown. Gantenbein was right on hand during the run, making possible the touchdown with some vicious blocking. Gantenbein weighs 201 pounds...PLAYED FOR CROWLEY: Roger Grove, speedy quarterback, was one of the stars in a rather drab 1933 Packer season. His shifty work behind the line, particularly in bringing back punts, has earned him the respect of all National league players. Grove saw service under Jimmy Crowley at Michigan State when the Spartans were carving a national name for themselves. He is a neat pass receiver and will be appearing for the fourth time with the Packers. His weight is 188. Witte is a husky back who has been selected as an all-state man in Minnesota for the past four seasons. His experience at Gustavus Adolphus has covered every position in the backfield, and that of end. Coach George Myrum of Witte's alma mater terms him one of the best backs in his experience. The new Packer weighs 195 pounds and measures six feet in height. The Packer players will begin unofficial practice here tomorrow afternoon and hold similar sessions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until the first official practice is called on Sept. 2. Approximately 15 players are expected to work out Wednesday.
GOOD DEMAND REPORTED FOR GRID TICKETS
AUG 24 (Green Bay) - The businessmen's committee handling the Packer season ticket sales held another enthusiastic meeting Thursday night and encouraging reports were turned in. The majority of ticket sellers have reported that there was a lot of football talk in the air and that they found that many of the "prospects" called upon were in the mood to sign up for tickets...SIX GAMES AT HOME: The six game schedule at home, opening with Fort Atkinson on Sunday, Sept. 9, and following through with games against Philadelphia, the Chicago Bears, Detroit, Cincinnati and the Chicago Cards has met with favor of the fans, according to the ticket sellers who have also had some inquiries about how tickets can be reserved for the contests booked for Milwaukee. Dr. W.W. Kelly, former president of the Football corporation, presided at last night's meeting in the absence of President L.H. Joannes, who with A.B. Turnbull and Coach E.L. Lambeau, made a hurried trip to Chicago on some football business and also to interview several members of the All-American squad at Evanston, who are "still on the fence" about playing professional football...NO TIME TO WASTE: Dr. Kelly called attention of the solicitors that the ticket sales campaign must be cleaned up in less than three weeks. He urged that every member of the committee make his assigned calls within the next day or two and have his reports complete early next week. During the last few days of the drive, it is possible that volunteers will be paired up, Dr. Kelly said. E.A. (Spike) Spachmann will again have charge of the football ticket distribution and the Packer headquarters will be opened at the Columbus club on Sept. 1. Mail orders for a number of the home games have already been received from out of town fans, according to Spachmann, who has been with the Football corporation since its organization. There is more pre-season interest this fall than has been shown since the first and second championship years of 1929 and '30. Tickets are in the hands of the printer, proofs of the charts and schedules are being checked over and by next week the Packer campaign will be underway, full blast, on every front.
PIRATE PROS' JOHN BLOOD FINALLY CORRALED
AUG 24 (Pittsburgh) - Johnny Blood, rated as one of the outstanding stars of the NFL and who holds its all-time high scoring record, will play quarterback, and direct the plays on the field for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, which will start September 9 at Forbes Field with Cincinnati. Blood, who is really John McNally, former Notre Dame quarterback, was located early yesterday morning by Art Rooney, president of the Pirates, when his ship docked in San Francisco bay from a voyage to the Philippines, he being its purser. Blood left yesterday afternoon for St. Louis by airplane to visit his parents. He will report here Sunday morning and leave in the afternoon with the other members of the party for Mt. Pleasant to start training. His contract was purchased from the Green Bay club at a big price.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORTS
AUG 25 (Green Bay) - You probably wonder why Duke Millheam, former Notre Dame backfield man, is working out with the Chicago Bears, when some time ago it was announced that he would play with the Packers. He sent a letter to Coach E.L. Lambeau of the Packers stating that he would accept a contract from the Packers at the terms offered, but when he received the contract, he returned it unsigned, saying he had changed his mind. Coach Lambeau could have held him to the agreement by letter, but rather than become involved in a wrangle over a player whose worth is undetermined, he let the Bears have him. Millheam is fast but isn't as tall as Coach Lambeau likes his back - little men weaken a team's pass defense.
CLARK HINKLE RETURNS TO BAY; BEGINS DRILLS
AUG 27 (Green Bay) - Clark Hinkle, veteran Packer fullback, arrived here from his Toronto, Ohio, home, and indulged in a preliminary workout with other members of the Green Bay professional football squad. He looked fit and ready for action. Hinkle was rated one of the league's best backs last year and was an outstanding figure in a somewhat disappointing Packer season. He was one of the most consistent scorers in the circuit.
FORT ATKINSON SQUAD BEGINS GRID PRACTICE
AUG 28 (Fort Atkinson) - The Fort Atkinson Blackhawks started football practice under lights at the City park here last night, dashing through a spirited lumbering up drill as the first step in their annual training grind. Coach S.O. (Sod) Dinkle had 19 candidates working out, preparing for the opening game with the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay on Sept. 9. It is the toughest game ever booked by the Fort Atkinson team and the coach plans to have the men in great shape for the contest. Among the veterans who reported were Moon Molinars, captain of last year's team and a former Wisconsin star, Ralph Mattison, former Davis and Elkins player, Dale Tobias, L. Rupert also of Wisconsin, "Woggy" Ruesh and Les Smith, Carroll, Walter Dahns, Whitewater, and Red Krenning and Gabby Zirath, Fort Atkinson. New men included Chuck Bratton, Mark Catlin, Hal Smith, George Casey and Mickey Bach, Wisconsin, and Tilly Gunness of Milliken. The team will work out three or four nights each week until the September 9 game. After the game with the Packers, it will compete in the State Professional Football league, recently formed.
NORGARD, STANFORD END, BULTMAN SIGN PACKER CONTRACTS
AUG 28 (Green Bay) - A veteran center, a recruit end of considerable promise and a rookie halfback today were added to the 1934 roster of the Green Bay Football corporation. The veteran is Arthur (Red) Bultman, and the newcomers are Al Norgard, giant Stanford university wingman, and Walter (Cyclone) Holmes, Ripon halfback. Norgard comes to Green Bay highly recommended by Ernie Nevers, blond giant of the Chicago Cardinals, who turned in his Chicago uniform to return to Stanford as assistant coach. Nevers believes that the big end has great possibilities in the NFL, and Nordgard appears well equipped to bear out this recommendation....IS 200 POUNDER: The new Packer stands at an even six feet and weighs 200 pounds. He is fast and aggressive, playing three years of varsity football for Stanford without taking a single timeout for injury. Dick Hanley, Northwestern coach, commends him highly. In the poll for the All Star team which will face the Chicago Bears this week, he placed just outside the select class, and he is rated certain to keep the average National league tackle plenty busy. Bultman is a Green Bay product, having served his interscholastic time with West High school. Later he entered Marquette and played three years of aggressive football at the center position, captaining the team his senior year. He joined the Brooklyn professional league team for one season after graduation, winning acclaim in eastern sport circles, but joined the Packers for the 1932 gridiron season. He weighs 202 pounds. Holmes was captain of last year's Ripon team and also was a basketball star for the Redmen for three years...MEET WEDNESDAY NIGHT: The committee of businessmen handling the Packers' season ticket sale will meet Wednesday night at Joannes Brothers at 8 p.m. The solicitors have been working overtime since last week's session and President L.H. Joannes of the Football corporation is looking for some encouraging reports. With the opening game against Fort Atkinson only about 10 days off, the ticket salesmen will have their hands full completing their calls so that all tickets can be delivered to the purchasers in time for the initial fray. The Football corporation will open its headquarters in the Columbus club on Sept. 1 and E.A. Spachmann, who handles all tickets, will be ready to make immediate deliveries. An enlarged office force will function during the final week's rush and the ticket headquarters will be open from morning until night. Wednesday night's meeting will get underway at 8 p.m. and all solicitors are urged to be on hand promptly as there are several lists of assignments to be handed out.
CLARK HINKLE SIGNS TO PLAY WITH PACKERS
AUG 29 (Green Bay) - Clark Hinkle, bruising fullback of the Green Bay Packers for the past two seasons, will start his third year with the former national champions when the Packers open fire for the 1934 season. Announcement that Hinkle has signed his contract was made today by Coach E.L. Lambeau. Outstanding among Packers of the post-championship era, Hinkle's return is certain to be regarded by Green Bay fans as a fine omen for the approaching professional football season. Big and tough, Clark has earned a distinctive reputation throughout the National league as one of the circuit's most durable fullbacks...JOINED BAYS IN 1932: Joining the Packers in 1932, Hinkle scored enough points, 19, to tie for 12th place in the National league scoring column. He placed fourth among the Green Bay scorers, finishing behind Johnny Blood, Hank Bruder and Roger Grove. His efforts during that season landed him in a tie for 23rd place on the all-time Packer scoring list. Continuing his brilliant play last season, Hinkle boosted his standing on the all-time list from a 23rd place tie to undisuputed 13th place, which he now occupies. While in a Green Bay uniform, Clark has chalked up six touchdowns, one extra point and two field goals for 43 points. He now rests five points behind Myrt Basin of the 1923-26 era and is certain to climb further in the permanent list this season...TWELFTH HIGH SCORER: Last season Hinkle tied for 12th in the National league scoring race, nailing three touchdowns and a pair of field goals. One of the features of the Packer season last year was the terrific collision between Hinkle and Bronko Nagurski of the Chicago Bears, which took place at City stadium in the first meeting of the two clubs. Both traveling at top speed, the opposing fullbacks collided head-on, with the result that Nagurski was helped from the field and was unavailable for service for several weeks. Hinkle did his undergraduate playing at Bucknell university, running wild through the Eastern Intercollegiate conference. Coach Lambeau had his eye on Hinkle for several seasons, and, when he saw the Bucknell star perform in the East-West game at San Francisco in 1931, it didn't take the Packer mentor long to come to terms with the hustling backfielder...27 PLAYERS SIGNED: Hinkle's return to the squad brings the total to 27. There will be a joint meeting of the board of directors and ticket solicitors tonight at Joannes Brothers, 8 p.m., and halfway reports in the sales campaign will be filed. This is one of the most important sessions of the drive and L.H. Joannes, president of the Football corporation, issued a special plea that all directors and committee salesmen be on hand promptly. "We have only 10 days to go before the opening," said President Joannes. "And there is no time to waste. Special lists of 'probably buyers' have been drawn up and we want to hand out these prospects at the meeting tonight."...CALL ON EVERY FAN: "This year we have the largest sales force since our first championship days and the officers of the corporation want to see that every football fan in Green Bay is called on and asked to buy a ticket. We are doing some 'promoting' in the neighboring cities and I am confident that if all the directors and solicitors give us some extra time during the next 10 days the Football corporation will have its best season ticket sale in several years. With the players reporting and a lot of football talk in the air, the time is ripe to complete our campaign in a blaze of glory and I am calling on every Packer fan to help us out, financially and otherwise, because we must have a good 'nest egg' to launch the season or else we are apt to have more than our share of financial worries if we run into a streak of rainy Sundays as we have in the last couple of season."...GET FIRST CHANCE: E.A. Spachmann, who is in charge of the Packers tickets, is working on his reservations and all season ticket holders from other years are being given first chance to purchase their regular ducats. Requests for tickets to individual games are being filled in the order they are received and these envelopes will be filled after the season ticket rush is over with. Packer tickets will be on sale at the usual places about town and in a number of Wisconsin and upper Michigan cities. From the number of ticket request already on hand, the out-of-town interest in the Packers have never been at a higher peak.
MICHALSKE AND ROSE SIGN TO PLAY FOOTBALL
AUG 30 (Green Bay) - Packer fans may add two more veterans to the Green Bay roster, with the news that August (Mike) Michalske, guard, and Alfred Rose, end, have turned in their contracts for 1934. Both men are expected to help stabilize a squad studded with inexperienced men, in what is expected to be one of the most critical seasons in the history of the Green Bay professional team. Michalske will be starting his ninth year in professional football, and his sixth with the Packers, while Rose's 1934 season will be his fourth in the pro gram, and his third with Green Bay. Michalske has left a permanent reputation in the National league. Before he entered the circuit he played three seasons of stellar football at Penn State, winning considerable recognition, and after graduation he joined up with C.C. Pyle's New York Yankees for three season of pro football...CAME TO GREEN BAY: When the Yankees fell apart before the start of the 1929 season, Michalske came to the Packers, immediately winning wide acclaim for his brilliant play. "The Guard of the Century" was the name sportswriters tacked onto him, and he won All-American rating season after season. Mike weighs 210 pounds and during his undergraduate days at Penn State, served as captain of his school's varsity. Al (Bigum) Rose, the lanky end from Texas, will be starting his third year with the Packers. He was considered an outstanding end during his days at the University of Texas, when his flank play was known throughout southern football circles. Upon leaving college, Rose hooked up with the Providence Steam Rollers at the height of their power, and his work soon attracted the attention of Packer officials. Big and powerful, Rose has been a mainstay with the Packers since his arrival in 1932...SQUAD NEARLY COMPLETE: The Packer squad is now almost intact for its 1934 championship campaign.
BUSINESS IS GOOD
AUG 30 (Green Bay) - Continued reports of "better business" were filed at the Packers' season ticket sale meeting Wednesday night at Joannes Brothers and officials of the Football corporation now have great hopes of exceeding the total sales peaks of 1932 and 1933. Some 20 businessmen who have been volunteers in the ticket sales campaign reported during the session. One of the outstanding features of the mid-week
gathering was the dearth of listed "turn downs". It seems that nearly everyone who had season tickets last year will again be in line and there is quite a number of newcomers. Two meetings, Wednesday and Friday nights, have been scheduled for next week and directors of the corporation have hopes of completing the drive before the non-league game with Fort Atkinson on Sept. 9, but, if necessary, the salesmen will carry on right up to the eve of the opening National league game here on Sept. 16 with Lud Wray's Philadelphia eleven...TICKET OFFICE OPEN: In order to meet the rush of ticket business, E.A. Spachmann, director of sales, has moved into the Packer headquarters ahead of time and he can be reached on the telephone at Adams 6180. Starting next Tuesday the ticket office will be open all during the day and at night as well. Any season ticket holder of other years who has not been called upon for their 1934 reservations is urged to get in touch with the Packer headquarters immediately. This avoids a last minute rush next week and helps greatly in the assignment of tickets for the season.
100 RETAILERS TO COOPERATE IN PACKER BOOSTER PLANS
AUG 30 (Green Bay) - There are between 100 and 200 people in Green Bay and this vicinity who this fall will see free of any cost themselves a Packer professional league game that perhaps they didn't figure on or would be home listening to on the radio. This interesting bit of news was revealed today in an announcement of the retail division of the Association of Commerce and through a cooperative effort of more than 100 participating Green Bay retailers and the Football corporation these tickets will be given way strings attached. The tickets will be for the initial league tilt in Green Bay, Sunday, Sept. 16, when the Packers battle Philadelphia. They are to be $1.50 reserved seat tickets and will be selected in order that they be in a suitable part of the stands at the City stadium. As announced, it is the plan of the merchants to give the Packers a flying start this year and so they are tying up their support with the official fall opening of Green Bay's retail stores the evening of Thursday, Sept. 6. The double even will afford people the opportunity of seeing in the merchants' shop windows the many new articles which will be worn this fall and of viewing the Packer football rally and torchlight parade which aims at stirring and sustaining interest in the Packers as an important unit in the city's community life and welfare. These merchants are now having 25,000 coupons printed and they will be ready for the stores to pass out within a short time. Also in a few days the merchants cooperating in this event will have placards in their windows telling what stores are giving coupons away. The venture was entered into enthusiastically by the merchants and they predict it will arouse more interest than ever before in the Packers. Coupled with the even will be a big torchlight parade, cheering, musical entertainment and other attractions. While a definite answer has not yet been received, Coach Curly Lambeau has promised to have the Packers out that night if at all possible. Further arrangements and details of the program which will make this fall mercantile opening and the start of the Packers' season a real community event are being prepared and will be announced from time to time.
PACKERS WILL OPEN SEASON WITH DRILLS AT PARK TOMORROW
AUG 31 (Green Bay) - In an effort to develop a outfit that is contending for the sixteenth annual season of the Green Bay Packers, the first official practice for 1934 will take place at Joannes Park tomorrow afternoon, starting at 2 o' clock. The practice session will provide Packer fans with their first opportunity to size up the 1934 Packers, old and new, as Coach E.L. Lambeau chases his veterans and recruits through the first of a strenuous series of early September drills. Lambeau was in Chicago today, witnessing the football game between the College All Stars and the Chicago Bears, professional champions of 1933. When he returns tomorrow morning he will be accompanied by three Packer recruits, all of whom were to play with the All Stars tonight: Joe Laws, former Iowa quarterback; Adolph Schwammel, Oregon State tackle, and Robert Jones, Indiana guard...PACKERS LOOK TOUGH: On paper at least, the 1934 edition of the Packer football machine looks as tough, and maybe somewhat tougher, than the squad which kept National league contenders busy last season. Some of the old timers will not be back, and there are a number of newcomers whose value rests at present largely upon reports of their activities as undergraduate gridmen. Many of the veterans have been handing around town for the past week or more, and all were expected to be on hand for the opening practice tomorrow afternoon. These include Rover Grove, Michigan State quarterback; Bob Monnett, Michigan State, Arnold Herber, Regis, and Hank Bruder, Northwestern, halfbacks; Clark Hinkle, Bucknell, and Buckets Goldenberg, Wisconsin, fullbacks - all backfield men who will be counted on to lead the way for the recruits at the start of the professional season. Hinkle was one of the latest arrivals, his contract only being turned in this week. It is worth notice that the four highest Packer scorers of 1933 - Goldenberg, Monnett, Hinkle and Bruder, in that order - will be back again to provide punch for the newest eleven. These backfield veterans will be abetted by a group of new men of whom much is expected. None will be watched more closely than Laws, as upon his experienced shoulders will fall no little work at the quarterback position. Another signal caller who will be seeking steady work will be Charlie Casper, Texas Christian...NOT YET EXPERIENCED: Three new halfbacks come to Green Bay with good
college records, but without experience in the tougher professional game. These are Rollie Halfman, Marquette; Walter Holmes, Ripon; and Earl Witte, Gustavus Adolphus. Swede Johnston of Miami, Appleton youth who was a sensation with the St. Louis Gunners last season, will don a Packer uniform and show how he did it for the powerful Gunners. He's a fullback, and is slated for much service, particularly if Hinkle should be switched to halfback. The Packer strength at the flanks is open to question, and can only be proved by watching the four wingmen develop. There is only one recruit at end, Al Norgard, Leland Stanford varsity star, and he will work with Les Peterson, Texas; Mile Gantenbein, Wisconsin; and Al Rose, Texas. If one or more of these men pick up injuries, the end situation is apt to be critical. Lavvie Dilweg, a veteran end of many years, as yet has not signed a 1934 contract. Coach Lambeau is well fortified with tackles, both old and new. Veterans who look good at the spots are Claude Perry, Alabama, and Joe Kurth, Notre Dame, both members of last year's squad. New tackles who will be tossed into the professional league grind and told to pick up their own experience are Carl Jorgenson, St. Mary's, Adolph Schwammel, Oregon State, Champ Seibold, Wisconsin, and Joe Plihal, South Dakota State...BARRAGER IS BACK: Packer fans are cheering the return of Nate Barrager, stocky iron wall of the forward line, who will be back at the center post after a year's absence, during which he was badly needed. Aiding Barrager will be Art Bultman, Marquette, a Green Bay product, and Frank Butler, Michigan State. Four guards, headed by veteran Mike Michalske, have been signed. The others are Lon Evans, Texas Christian, starting his second year, and the recruits: Robert Jones and Phil Poth, Gonzaga.
PACKERS BEGIN PRACTICE FOR 1934 NATIONAL LOOP SEASON
SEPT 1 (Green Bay) - With only a few days to prepare for the opening game with the Fort Atkinson Blackhawks on Sunday, Sept. 9, Coach E.L. Lambeau and his squad of 30 odd Packer candidates will put in a busy weekend of practice. Official workouts started this afternoon and a big crowd of fans were on hand to see the gridders prance through preliminary drills. Another workout is scheduled for early Sunday afternoon and there will also be a practice on Labor Day. The regular morning drills will get underway on Tuesday...MUST WORK FAST: The Packer mentor will have his hands full whipping together his outfit for the Fort Atkinson engagement, as there are more new men than ever before this season in Green Bay togs. However, the squad is displaying lots of pep and willingness to work so that, when the whistle blows next Sunday in the City stadium, the Bays will have the makings of a gridiron machine which may go somewhere in the National league race. Coach Lambeau has warned his squad not to take Fort Atkinson too lightly. According to the Green Bay mentor, the Blackhawks are coming here with an all star lineup and primed for a victory. The team has been practicing for over a week, the Packer coach said, and the Hawks have some three elevens in uniform. F.L. (Jugger) Earpe, one of the Packer football "immortals" whose brilliant line play was an important factor in Green Bay winning three national championships, is assisting Coach Lambeau in the practice drills. Old Jugger knows the professional game like a book and his experience should prove more than valuable to some of the recruit "front wall" candidates...SPEED TICKET SALE: While the Packer players are going through their practice stunts, the business office of the corporation is working overtime in an attempt to reach the $10,000 goal in the season ticket sale. This desired figure is far from reached but President L.H. Joannes and his associate executives are confident that, if the business men solicitors make all their promised calls, the quota will be near at hand by the end of next week. The ticket sale campaigners will meet Wednesday night at Joannes Brothers and there will be another session next Friday night. In the meantime special committees will make the rounds calling on some of the parties who are listed as "turn downs." Another group will call on the industrial plants and business establishments in hopes of getting everyone "on the line" for the Packers. The office crew at Packer headquarters will start functioning on regular shifts Tuesday morning and the distribution of the season tickets and filling of the mail orders will get underway soon after that. As usual there is a big demand for Bear game tickets. This contest will be played at City stadium Sunday, Sept. 23. Those desiring extra pasteboards for the "grudge" engagement are advised to file their applications as soon as they can.
PACKERS SNAP INTO PRACTICE SESSIONS FOR OPENING GAME
SEPT 4 (Green Bay) - Football fans who have looked over the Packer squad in the weekend drills are of the unanimous opinion that this year's aggregation has the best looking new material that Coach Lambeau ever assembled for a National league gridiron race. Saturday's workout drew a big crowd and spectators were all eyes spotting newcomers and looking over the veterans. Sunday's drill was staged at the City stadium. A crowd which partly filled the south grandstand and strung around the field a half dozen deep was in attendance...SPEEDS UP PRACTICE: The Packers "labored" plenty in their Labor Day drill as Coach Lambeau speeded up the signal formations as soon as the new players started to click on "lockstep" timing. Veterans as well as youngsters seem to have an abundance of pep and, if the squad gathers momentum all week, as it did in the opening drills, Sod Dudley and his Fort Atkinson Blackhawks will bump in a gridiron game here next Sunday that they won't forget for a long time. The team will work out every morning at Joannes park with a scrimmage Wednesday afternoon. There is plenty of beef in the Packer squad and lots of speed as well. Coach Lambeau will have a fast moving forward wall and two or three sets of backs which should pile up plenty of yardage. In addition, there are any number of splendid passers and a half dozen kickers so that this year's Green Bay team should be well fortified in every department of the game...THREE NEW STARS: Joe Laws, the Iowa sensation, Adolph Schwammel, man-mountain from Oregon State, and Bob Jones, stellar Indiana center flanker, got a lot of extra attention from spectators as this trio of gridiron greats got a lot of the air space in the radio broadcast of the Bears-All Star collegians game in Chicago last Friday night. They all lived up to advance notices. Both Schwammel and Jones did some fine kicking, while Laws was cutting capers in the backfield and his two way passing attracted eyes of the crowd. Joe is patterned somewhat along the lines of Bob Monnett, and they should pair up as a classy duo of ball carriers. Champ Seibold and Carl Jorgenson, two of the biggest men on the squad, saw a lot of drill in the tackle positions. Seibold, who Doc Spears, Wisconsin coach, says has the makings of one of the greatest players on the pro gridiron, handles himself well despite his poundage while Jorgenson knows what it is all about and it didn't take him long to fit into the formations...BARRAGER LOOKS GOOD: Nate Barrager's return to the fold strengthens the front wall a lot. The big center, who was a star here in 1931 and '32, looks to be in good shape despite his one year layoff. Red Bultman, veteran snapperback, was passing superbly while General Butler, a big husky from Michigan State, looked much as if he was going to have something to say about the center's job. The veterans all seemed to be in first class physical condition, and the list was complete are Lavvie Dilweg, one of the stars of the championship era, donned his togs and skipped around like a recruit. Mike Michalske, Claude Perry, Milt Gantenbein, Al Rose, Arnold Herber, Hank Bruder, Clark Hinkle, Bob Monnett, Lon Evans, Buckets Goldenberg, Joe Kurth and Les Peterson, all veteran Packer players, were very much in evidence during the practice session...BUSY WEEK AHEAD: This will be a busy week in Packer football circles with a drive down the home stretch in the season ticket sale campaign. The last minute rush in arrangements for the opening game next Sunday is well underway and all the Football corporation officials will put in a lot of overtime in the next few days getting the stage set for the inaugural tilt. The ticket sales committee will meet Wednesday night at Joannes Bros., 8 p.m., and a windup conference of the same group has been planned for Friday evening. A meeting of Legion police is slated for the Legion building at 7:30 p.m., Thursday. H.J. (Tubby) Bero will again be in charge and he wants the veterans who have worked at the City stadium in other years to report and be assigned for 1934 duty...MERCHANTS AID PACKERS: Approximately 100 of Green Bay's retail stores today are setting the stage for Thursday evening's big double attraction, the Packer football rally and annual Fall opening, by passing out to patrons several hundred coupons that will entitle them to participate in the awarding of 150 or more tickets for the first pro league game of the season, Sunday, Sept. 16 between the Packers and Philadelphia. Merchants themselves appeared as enthusiastic as the persons seeking the coupons and indications are that the largest crowd in years will be downtown that night to see the many attractive windows of the season's newest styles and witness the celebration for the Bays that will give them assurance that the entire community is behind them as their 1934 campaign gets underway...PLACARDS IN WINDOWS: Placards in merchants' windows explain briefly the purpose of the event and the evening's program. The business section, it is planned, will be illuminated with flares. A torchlight parade will pass through the main thoroughfares and plans have been made to have the entire Packer squad "on parade" too. There will be music and other attractions to give the affair a real football season atmosphere. Coupon holders in going from store to store to see a preview of new fall styles will be able to identify them with cards placed in prominent locations in the windows. Anyone, men, women or children, can take part in the affair and have equal opportunity of receiving one or more tickets to the game. Persons outside of Green Bay also are invited to come here that night as they too may participate in the awards to be offered...STIMULATE FOOTBALL INTEREST: Members of the retail division of the Association of Commerce and the Green Bay Football corporation have promoted the affair jointly in order to arouse and stimulate interest in this year's Packer team which looks as good as any in its history. The tickets are to be distributed are regular
$1.50 seats and will be selected in a strategic part of City stadium. They will be good, however, for only the Philadelphia-Packer contest. Merchants entering into the event say they are very enthusiastic and they predict an exceptionally large crowd on downtown streets that night. More effort is being exerted by them this year also in the matter of preparing attractive windows. It is reported that the new fall clothes for business, sports and formal wear are unusually distinctive and they plan to exhibit their best for that evening when the shades are pulled back at 7:30 for the official 1934 fall season.
BULLETIN
SEPT 4 (Green Bay) - Coach E.L. Lambeau announced today the signing of Harry Wunsch, three year varsity guard at Notre Dame. He participated in this morning's practice. Wunsch tips the beam at 210 pounds and is 5:10 in height. While at college, the new Packer was awarded the athletic council medal for being the best blocker on the squad. With Wunsch in the fold, the Packer squad is now composed of three complete elevens - 33 players.
ISSUE NEW RULE BOOK
SEPT 4 (New York) - Officials of the NFL today received a new rule book issued by President Joe F. Carr containing changes in the playing code of the professional game as it differs from the college code. With the opening of the league race scheduled for next Sunday in Pittsburgh when the revamped Cincinnati team meets the Pirates, officials were again reminded of the differences that existed in 1933 and the other minor changes that have been made for the current season. The major differences in 1933 put the goal posts on the goal line, permitted forward passing from any point up to the line of scrimmage, placed no restrictions on the kickoff or on the flying tackle or block and made it necessary to actually down a ball carrier to end a play...FOUR ADDITIONAL CHANGES: This year the professional code adopted the changes made in the college playing rules with four additional changes. The changes are: A player entering the game shall be permitted to communicate with his teammates instead of waiting until one play is completed. Game officials shall notify coaches of both team when time has been taken out three times. On all offside plays committed withing the ten yard line by the defensive team, the penalty shall be one-half the distance to the goal line instead of five yards. A forward pass made hand to hand back of the line of scrimmage which becomes incomplete, is to be ruled a fumble.
BLACKHAWKS AT WORK
SEPT 5 (Fort Atkinson) - Preparing for the most strenuous opening game in their history, against the National league Packers at Green Bay Sept. 9, the Fort Atkinson Blackhawks will speed up their practice work over the weekend. The Blackhawks never faced a tougher foe than the Packers, and Coach S.O. (Sod) Dinkle has been pushing his men at top speed. Nearly all the Hawks are former university of Wisconsin men,
who are anxious to get a crack at the state's most formidable football team. Fort Atkinson is a member of the newly organized State Professional Football league, which also includes the La Crosse Brewers, Chippewa Falls Marines and Milwaukee All Stars. Play in this circuit will commence Sept. 16, the week after the Packer-Blackhawk contest. Moon Molinaro, captain of the Blackhawks last season and mainspring of the Fort Atkinson offense, is back in togs and looking better than ever. Other former Badgers who are working out with the squad, and who will see service against the Packers, are Dale Tobias, L. Rupert, Chuck Bratoon, Mark Catlin, Hal Smith, George Casey and Mickey Bach.
BLACKHAWKS POINT FOR PACKER BATTLE
SEPT 5 (Fort Atkinson) - If the Green Bay Packers, who face the Fort Atkinson Blackhawks in their opening professional football game next Sunday, are expected a setup, they are in for a rude surprise, according to S.O. (Sod) Donkle, Hawk manager, who intends to make the most of his team's appearance against the National league squad. Green Bay fans may regard the contest merely as a warming up game before the league schedule opens, but the Blackhawks are sending up a group of determined young men who have every intention of smearing the vaunted Bays...AIM TO SURPRISE PACKERS: Reports of the promising new material now working out in the Packer camp have served to intensify the practice periods of the Blackhawks. The invaders will unleash an attack of their own which is guaranteed to make the Packers sit up and take notice, and if it doesn't, there will be many a disappointed fan in Fort Atkinson. There probably is no stronger line among the state's better football teams than the heavy wall carried by Fort Atkinson. The huskiest of the Hawks is Woggy Ruesch, 230 pound tackle, who was rated regularly as an all-state selection during his four years of football at Carroll college, Waukesha. Ruesch's stamina will be brought to the test against the Packers. Working as tackles with Ruesch, who takes care of one side of the Hawk line by himself, are Les Smith and Clyde Gallup, two other Carroll players. Both have been all-state selections, and each weighs 190 pounds...DAHMS STAR CENTER: The Hawk center is Wally Dahms, an excellent man in 6-3-2 defense, who is going to be depended upon to break up many of the Packer passes. Another flashy pair in the Fort Atkinson line are George Casey and Moon Molinaro. Casey starred at Wisconsin for three years and is rated a fine pass receiver. Molinaro hits the scales at 210, is very fast for his bulk, and is known as a keen fighter. Much of the Blackhawk flank assignment is carried by Adam Janiscek and Mark Catlin, both weighing better than 190. Catlin is a former Badger, and did a little playing on the Packer squad early last season...PLAYED BOSTON IN 1933: Meeting a National league opponent will be no new experience for the Blackhawks. Last year the Hawks met the powerful Boston Redskins. The Boston game was a big surprise to Lone State Dietz and his men, as the players from the east were leading by a mere 3 to 0 at the half. It was only the Redskins' reserve material, hurled into the game during the last half, that enabled Boston to leave the field in possession of a 20 to 3 decision.
PACKERS WON IN 1931
SEPT 5 (Green Bay) - Sunday's game between the Packers and Fort Atkinson Blackhawks will be the second meeting between the teams as the Green Bay eleven defeated the down-staters 21-2 on Dec. 13, 1931. The Packers had won their third consecutive National professional football title and a number of the players made a barnstorming trip to Milwaukee and the southern part of the state. According to reports from Fort Atkinson, this year's squad is rated about two touchdowns stronger than the club that made it rather interesting for the Packers back in 1931. Johnny Blood, Mule Wilson and Lavvie Dilweg made touchdowns for the Packers while the Blackhawk points were scored when Blood attempted to run the ball from back of the goal line after a bad pass from center. Red Dunn was successful on all three points after touchdown...WILSON AND BLOOD: Wilson scored the first touchdown early in the second quarter and it wasn't long after that a long pass, Dunn to Blood, and a fancy sprint by the latter counted the second for the Green Bay team. In the third period Dunn threw two long aerials to Dilweg for the final counter scored by Packers. Sheehan's punt that rolled dead on the one yard line in the third quarter led to the Fort Atkinson score.
PLAN FINAL TICKET SALE DRIVE HERE
SEPT 5 (Green Bay) - Success of the Packers' season ticket drive hinges on the efforts of the businessmen's committee and the board of directors as the solicitors dash down the trail in the final days of the campaign with the desired $10,000 goal not yet in sight. The most important meeting of the drive will be held tonight at Joannes Bros., 8 p.m., and it is urgent that all the ticket sellers be on hand promptly as an eleventh hour "cleanup" barrage will be launched...STILL PLENTY OF TIME: The sales campaign got off to a flying start but it has dragged somewhat in the last 10 days and there was little or no activity over the Labor Day weekend. However, executives of the Football corporation still think there is plenty of time to do the trick and that is why all hands are asked to be on deck promptly tonight and help wind up the preseason football activities. In a final appeal to spur the season ticket sale, President L.H. Joannes issued the following statement: "In an effort to get back on the championship trail this season, the Football corporation has gone the limit to get together what looks in the early practice days as the best squad that the Packers ever secured."...BEST PACKER SQUAD: "There are some 30 candidates working out and even the 'drug store coaches' have to admit that Coach E.L. Lambeau has rounded up material for a great gridiron machine. Our preseason dope, our club looks on a par with the championship Chicago Bears, Tim Mara's New York Giants, the high priced Boston Braves, owned by George Marshall, and the famous Portsmouth aggregation which is now sporting the colors of Detroit, Mich., and is backed by a group of wealthy sportsmen. It takes a lot of money to finance a high class professional football team. In some of the larger cities, the owners can fall back entirely on their big gates towards the close of the season when the championship race gets the hottest."...LOCAL SITUATION DIFFERENT: "The situation in Green Bay is different. Climatic conditions force the Packers to play all their November games away from home and they must reap the harvest the first half of the season. Green Bay is the only city in the NFL that attempts a season ticket sale that puts the Football corporation in a position to weather any of the financial storms that may blow up during the season. The biggest nest egg we get from the season ticket sale, the better off we are to keep pace with the major league cities in the hiring of players and the numerous other expenses that are including in the budget of a winning professional eleven. Each year has seen some of the smaller cities drop out of the National league until now Green Bay is the only city that does not have a major league population. Portsmouth was forced to give up the ghost early this spring as the football overhead was too big for the Ohio community to carry."...DEPEND ON FOLLOWERS: "The Green Bay Football corporation has been a fixture in the National league since 1921, and we hope to continue for years to come, but this will depend on Green Bay and the army of Packer followers not alone in the city but through the whole state of Wisconsin and the upper Michigan peninsula as well. The Football corporation has set $10,000 as the goal of its season ticket sale this fall. To date we are far from our quota, but we still have a few days to go and together with the other Packer executives I am once again making a plea for a season ticket sale that will enable us to start the 1934 schedule with flying colors."
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORT
SEPT 5 (Green Bay) - There are dark days ahead for one Paul Scheutte, of Manitowoc and the Bears. He's heading for the big bump. Why? He's committing the unpardonable sin of scouting a Packer football practice. Which is just as bad as stealing their signals, or taking the children's toys, the blind man's dog, or the widow's tax money. Paul spent at least one day here over the weekend with a notebook in hand, sitting in the Packer stands and watching development of the plays. The Packer player didn't know of it at that time; since then, however, they have found out and there's an ugly undercurrent of resentment that broods no good for the chunky Chicago Bear lineman if he's seen around again. Make no mistake about it, Paul, if they spot in the crowd you're going to get the bum's rush as few have got it. We're just passing out that information for your own good. We've never seen players as angry about anything as they have been since they heard you were on hand. Scouting at games of an opponent is ethical, and no one objects to it in the professional circuit, but when you scout a practice session that's something else again..."One of the most colorful gridiron men ever to play in San Francisco was Phil Poth, 190 pound Gonzaga university running guard who will play with the Packers this season," writes a friend on the Examiner on the west coast. "Poth's a volatile, dynamic booming type of player, and was Gonzaga's candidate for all-coast honors last fall. Against Oregon State, whom the Bulldogs held to the same score that Southern California did, 0 to 0. Poth was the best man on the field. You can take the word of Coach Mike Peacarovich for that statement. He is an unusual type of blocker and specializes in a 'Leaping Lena' block which may be described as a cross between a straight shoulder block and a standing block. He leaps or dives, hitting his man high. Besides being an outstanding football player, he was student body president at Gonzaga and a brilliant student who majored in philosophy." That's a great sendoff, all Poth has to do now is live up to it...The squad of Green Bay Packers, now numbering 33, is the largest group ever assembled here to prepare for the season. It contains, in our opinion, the largest number of promising men ever recruited in Green Bay. They are of all sizes and types, built like they can take it. Butler, the center from Michigan State, is probably the biggest man among the recruits. Halfman, of Marquette, is probably the smallest, but by no means the lightest. He's built for power. Champ Seibold is another giant, and Tar Schwammel ranks with most of the big men. Casper, the new quarterback from down south, looks very fast, so does Joe Laws, from Iowa. Schwammel and Bob Jones, Indiana, are identical in height. Both go 6 feet, 2 1/2 inches. Schwammel has it over Jones by about 12 pounds in weight and three years in age.
PRO FOOTBALL PREPARES FOR BANNER SEASON
SEPT 5 (New York) - Professional football, eager to get on with its "National Discovery act" which has been gaining discovers and converts by the thousands among the nation's fans in the last few seasons, will plunge into the 1934 campaign on Sept. 9 with high hopes for holding and increasing its steady gains in crowd-pulling appeal. On that date the Cincinnati and Pittsburgh clubs on the NFL will kick off the lid of a full three-month schedule due to terminate in the second annual East-West playoff this year booked for the home field of the eastern winners on Dec. 9...BEARS RETAIN TITLE: The grand windup of the 1933 season, which saw the Chicago Bears retain their title by a 23 to 21 victory over the New York Giants in a game which eyewitnesses said matched any collegiate classic ever staged for thrills and heroics, have encouraged all 10 teams, officials say, to make the coming campaign one of those "bigger and better" things. Both of last year's divisional champions face formidable tasks in defending their honors because of the unusually large number of new college stars bolstering the ranks of their rivals. More than 80 percent of the players in the all-star squad which met the Chicago Bears in the Aug. 31 spectacle at Chicago, league officials said, were already contracted to league terms...DETROIT HAS TEAM: Detroit, new home of the team which for several years has operated out of Portsmouth, O., as the Spartans may provide sternest opposition for the Bears in the western division. The Detroit club, to be known as the Lions, will feature a "Clark and Clark" combination that should be hard to beat. George (Potsy) Clark is still coach of the club and Earl (Dutch) Clark is returning after a year of coaching in the Rocky Mountain conference. This team, even without the great ex-Colorado college quarterback, finished second to the Bears last year.
PACKERS WILL STAGE PARADE HERE TONIGHT
SEPT 6 (Green Bay) - One of the largest crowds in years is expected downtown this evening for the 1934 Fall Opening of Green Bay's retail establishments promptly at 7:30. There have been big crowds in previous years, but merchants, waiting to give everyone the opportunity of seeing many attractive and modish styles of clothes and apparel that will be worn this season, have outdone themselves in the way of preparations and have coupled with the staging of a big pep rally and parade for the Packer football team which begins its season next Sunday, with a non-league game against Fort Atkinson. The Packers, 33 strong, will participate in the parade which is scheduled to start from the Legion building about 7:45 p.m. Headed by the Firemen's band, the route of procession will be west on Washington-st.; north on Washington-st., to Main and east on Main-st. to Monroe...RIDE BIG TRAILER: A big trailer will transport the Packers and the spectators will
have a chance to look the gridders over in their civilian clothes. Red flares are to be burned along the route of march which will add a bit of color to the celebration. Preceding the parade, the Packer squad and directors will gather around the dinner table at the Beaumont hotel for the first get together of the season. Coach E.L. Lambeau will introduce the members of the squad, while President L.H. Joannes in behalf of the Football corporation will welcome the men to Green Bay. As an added incentive merchants have banded together and will give away about 150 Packer football tickets to their patrons. For several days they now distributed among their customers coupons which entitle the holder to take part in the awarding of tickets and it is reported that many people are as enthusiastic about the prospect of receiving a ticket as the merchants are about awarding them...FOR PHILADELPHIA GAME: The winning tickets will be good for the Packer-Philadelphia game a week from Sunday, Sept. 16, this being the first league encounter for the three-time national champions. They are to be regular $1.50 reserved seats and will be in an advantageous location in the City stadium. No obligation is attached to participating in the event and men, women and children alike will have equal opportunity of winning. The coupons one hold may be identified by comparing them with cards in store windows, each firm displaying a placard telling that it is participating in the event. Some of the larger establishments will award as many as 15 tickets, many others are giving five and ten, and in all nearly 100 retailers will participate. Coupon holders should observe closely the identification cards which may be in any window of the store as they pass from one to the other...OFFER MANY ATTRACTIONS: Aside from the possibility of winning one or more tickets and having a preview of the season's latest and correct styles, merchants and the Green Bay Football corporation, joint sponsors of the affair, feel that it will be well worthwhile for everyone to be on the streets for the many attractions which are to be offered. Window drapes, as previously mentioned, will be drawn exactly at 7:30 and lights will remain on an hour or more longer than usual to permit all of the large crowd expected to see the windows. The parade will get underway shortly after and is to follow the playing of college songs and other selections by the Firemen's band which has been engaged for the occasion.
TICKET SELLERS BUSY
SEPT 6 (Green Bay) - The Packer football ticket solicitors met Wednesday night at Joannes Bros. and more encouraging reports were turned in. The cleanup drive got underway today and a group of some 20 odd workers are making the rounds and calling on last minute prospects. There will be another session Friday night at the Columbus club and the season tickets are to be passed out for distribution. E.A. Spachmann, who handles the football ducats, is now filling the envelopes so that all purchasers will have their tickets before Sunday. Due to the fact that a number of prospective ticket buyers are out of town, it was decided to continue the campaign for another week in hopes of reaching the $10,000 quota. A final checkup showed fewer "turn downs" listed this year than even before and there are quite a number of new names placed on the books. Members of the sales committee have pledged several hours daily to the campaign and between telephone calls and personal solicitation, the football executives still feel confident that success will climax the drive.
PLAYERS SCRIMMAGE
SEPT 6 (Green Bay) - During shoulder pads and other protective gear for the first time in many practice sessions, the Green Bay Packers were driven through a stiff scrimmage yesterday afternoon by Coach E.L. Lambeau. In recent years, the Packers have never scrimmaged during their weekly drills, but have contented themselves with running through routine formations. The squad, however, gave indication of meaning business with its tough workout yesterday. The drill was watched closely by Lambeau and Assistant Coach
Jugger Earpe, as well as by a crowd of some 500 or more spectators. Roughness of early season training was apparent, but the men appeared willing, and smacked each other around with considerable enthusiasm. A first backfield to take the offensive included Grove, Herber, Johnson and Halfman, but Coach Lambeau soon tossed his other aces into the practice and all were given a chance. Hinkle, Gantenbein, Monnett and Herber provided a comedy act for the crowd by staging a brief baseball show at the side of the field. Hinkle did the pitching (with a football) and Herber called the balls and strikes, most of which were balls. Considerable time was spent in aerial work, and most of the passes were completed. Sad lapses in pass defense were noted from time to time, and there were too many interceptions to suit the coaches.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORTS
SEPT 6 (Green Bay) - Several friends of Paul Schuette, of Manitowoc, who played with the Chicago Bears, have come to his defense, after we wrote a piece about his scouting the Packers' practice session here the other day. They seem to think that it was a personal slap at the man, which it was not. He, no doubt, was acting upon orders from George Halas, owner of the Bears, and as such should not be considered as a personality, but as agent of the team. What criticism we had to make of the scouting tactics have no reflection on him, but of the Bear management that condones and orders such practice, and we repeat that it is small, and, if we heard of the Packers or high schools or colleges indulging in it, we would be just as bitter in our attack upon them...For the first time in many years, the Packers indulged in a scrimmage session yesterday afternoon. Did they hit hard? Ask anyone who saw the session. Many of the newcomers looked impressive. Phil Poth, the Gonzaga guard, drew comment of the bystanders for his ability to slam into ball carriers. Casper, the new quarterback, was another who drew the attention of many. Schwammel was as good as many expected him to be to mention only a few. It's going to be a tough job trimming the squad this year, with such a large group of promising men.
FORMER WISCONSIN GRID STARS TO PLAY FOR FORT ATKINSON
SEPT 7 (Green Bay) - Fort Atkinson is sending quite a football team here Sunday to tangle with the Packers at the City stadium in a non-league game starting promptly at 2 p.m., but Coach Lambeau and his men will be ready for the Blackhawks' scalping party. The authority for this statement is supplied by Packer fans themselves who have watched the team in practice scrimmages all week, and were highly pleased with the showing of the professional contenders, both old and new. Bargain rates will prevail at the gate, and with fair weather in prospect, a near-record pre-season crowd is anticipated...BADGER COLLEGE STARS: A considerable portion of the visitor's lineup is supplied from Badger colleges and the University of Wisconsin. The line is said to be strong and rugged, and the backs versatile. Among the former Wisconsin greats and almost greats who appear with the Hawks are Casey, an end; Molinaro, halfback; Tobias, halfback; Hal Smith, fullback; Catlin, end; Bach, halfback, and Neupert, end. Probably most of the punch in the Blackhawk attack will be supplied right from this group of former Badgers. Green Bay people know Mark Catlin very well. His father was one of the all-time greats at the University of Chicago in the days of Walter Eckersall, but Mark graduated from Wisconsin and is an Appleton resident. He attended Lawrence college before entering the state
attended Lawrence college before entering the state university, and he tried out, briefly, with the Packers one season. Hal Smith's name is about the best known of the group. He was a real athlete at Wisconsin, and may help make things rocky for the Packers...PLAYERS WORKING HARD: The Bays aren't concealing the fact that they expect to win, and the actions of the squad in practice seem to bear out this confidence. The new men all have been driving hard in an effort to justify their appearances in Packer uniforms, and some of the old men have had to scramble themselves to keep up with the fresh talent. One thing is certain: Sunday's game will provide an excellent preview of everything the Bays have under contract at the present time. Nearly all the men Coach E.L. Lambeau has on hand will be trotted onto the field against the Blackhawks, and Packer fans will have an opportunity to see just what will carry the blue and gold into the professional gridiron wars this season. According to Trainer Bud Jorgensen, only Lavvie Dilweg and Buckets Goldenberg are on the hospital list. Dilweg banged his shin bone in Wednesday's scrimmage while Goldenberg has a touch of the flu and Dr. W.W. Kelly, team physician, ordered him to bed for a couple of days...BIG HAND FOR SQUAD: The Packer squad got a big hand Thursday evening while participating in the parade which was a feature of the fall opening. The streets in the business section was jammed by hundreds who went along looking in the store windows, hoping for a chance to grab off some football tickets. The entire Packer squad boarded the big flat trailer of the Brown County highway commission at the Legion building. Park benches were placed on the huge vehicle and it was a comfortable ride west on Walnut to Washington-st., north on Washington to Main-st., and east on Main to Monroe-ave., where the line of march terminated. Red flares lighted the way and a carnival spirit prevailed in the business section. Headed by a detail of the city motorcycle unit and the firemen's band, some 30 strong, the Packer squad got a big hand all along the route of march. Applause was continual and in some blocks the auto horns tooted plenty. The turnout reminded some of the Packer veterans of those welcome home nights in 1929, 1930 and 1931, when the Bays returned with national championships...PLAYERS MEET DIRECTORS: The Packer squad and the Football corporation board of directors had their "get-together" dinner at the Beaumont hotel before the parade. It was an informal affair and the mixer served the purpose of getting the new players acquainted with the executives. President L.H. Joannes introduced his associates on the board of directors while Coach E.L. Lambeau in turn presented the new players and also called on the veterans to stand up and take a bow...DR. KELLY SPEAKS: Dr. Kelly made a short address to the squad explaining the aims of the Football corporation, its hopes for this fall, and assured the new players that Green Bay, the greatest professional football city in the country, welcomes them with open arms. The doctor pointed out to the players that professional football in Green Bay was operated on a different scale than in any other city in the National league. The club here is owned by the citizens of Green Bay and is operated on a non-profit basis. There is no personal gain for any executive of the Football corporation and that the community ideal has gone a long way to put the Packers where they are today in the post-graduate football world...ORGANIZE LEGION PATROL: The Legion police force for the Packers' games at the City stadium was organized last night at the Legion building. H.J. (Tubby) Bero and Chief Ralph H. Drum were in charge of the session. Those assigned to posts on the City stadium detail were given special instructions by both Drum and Bero. It is planned this year to tighten the guard around the field and drastic efforts will be made to stamp out fence jumpers. Members of the Legion squad were told that any laxity on their part would result in immediate dismissal and that special inspectors would be on hand at every game to check the efforts of the guards. Walter Mott, who has charged of the ushers, will meet this group at the City stadium Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Those who has ushered in former years will be given first choice although it is probably that the force of ushers will be cut down.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORTS
SEPT 7 (Green Bay) - When the Packers line up for their first game of the year against Fort Atkinson Sunday you are likely to see a young man who played fullback at college at the quarterback position, a halfback at fullback and a a quarter at halfback. More than likely you will see two, or ever three players, who saw action as fullback in school in the same backfield for the Green Bay team. No, there's nothing screwy about it all. It is a plan of offense prepared by Coach Lambeau that looks very good. As an example, here's one set of backs to be used by the coach: Buckets Goldenberg at quarterback, Clark Hinkle at fullback, Bruder at one half and Joe Laws at another. From the right halfback position Laws will call the signals. The ball can go to one of the four backs, the other three will do the blocking. Under the coach's plan of attack this year, there will be four backfield men who can be shifted to almost any position behind the line. In this manner, the coach gets the full strength of all his men. He can use two fullbacks in the same group for their blocking ability, or perhaps it will be two men who played quarterback who are in the same starting squad, with one calling the signals and the other for other duties. It is sure to add versatility to the Packer attack and plenty of power...Interest in professional football here this year appears to be greater than any time since the first year Green Bay won a National league championship. You can hear conversation about the team and the game everywhere. The consensus of opinion seems to be that never before have the Packers had such an array of promising material. Many fans already have picked their favorites. Others are waiting until after the first game. It should be an interesting season.
SWAP UP TICKETS
SEPT 7 (Green Bay) - An enthusiastic flock of Blackhawk football fans today descended upon the block of tickets received here yesterday for distribution here, and a big Fort Atkinson delegation at the Hawk-Packer game Sunday now seems assured. Blackhawk fans have always followed their team closely, and they do not intend to be absent when the club makes its appearance against its most formidable foe. Most of the Fort Atkinson visitors will leave here early Sunday morning, arriving at Green Bay before game time, but a number will leave Saturday night, spending the weekend at Green Bay. Enthusiasm is running high, and there's little doubt but that fans are hoping that their teams will give the former national champions a real tussle.
GREEN BAY PACKERS OPEN SEASON SUNDAY
SEPT 8 (Green Bay) - Green Bay's Packers - 1934 edition - will be on review at the City stadium here tomorrow afternoon. The occasion will be the official opening of the professional football season here with Fort Atkinson Blackhawks furnishing the opposition. The kickoff is scheduled for 2 o'clock, and despite the fact that the game is scheduled as a practice affair, some 5,000 fans are expected. Football followers will have their first chance to see what a score of new men are able to do under fire. They will see whether veterans have gone back or improve; whether the Packers will be in the running for another national title, or whether they will be just one of the league teams...FORMER BADGER STARS: Perhaps all of the questions relating to the Green Bay team will not be answered. However, the game will give the coaches and followers a good line on what to expect when tougher competition is faced. The Fort Atkinson team, made up mostly of former Wisconsin stars, probably will not be able to check the Green Bay attack, but it is sure to be stubborn. With a line that averages well over 200 pounds and a backfield that boasts several fast, shifty performer some excitement can be looked for. Coach Earl Lambeau has not announced his starting lineup other than to say that all available men will be a chance to see action. He has 13 backfield men and 20 linemen on the squad, and, with the exception of possibly two players, all will be ready for action. The two who may not be able to play are Buckets Goldenberg, former Wisconsin fullback who has been laid up a case of summer flu, and Lavvie Dilweg, veteran end, who has an injured shin...HAS HEAVY LINE: The Packer coach can have a line that will average well over 210 pounds no matter who goes into the game. At the ends beside Dilweg are Al Rose, Norgard, Peterson and Gantenbein. At tackles six men are ready to play. Claude Perry and Joe Kurth are the veterans of last year; Champ Seibold, Ad Schwammel, Carl Jogenseon and Plihal, South Dakota, new men. The Packers are well fortified at the guard positions with six men ready for work. Mike Michalske and Lon Evans are back from last year's team while Jones, of Indiana, Salem, South Dakota, Wunsch, Notre Dame, and Phil Poth, Gonzaga, will be getting their first taste of pro competition. At center, three men are ready to go. Art Bultman and Nate Barrager are veterans who know all the tricks. Butler, of Michigan State, is a giant who should be valuable. The backfield men could all be designated as halfbacks as the Packer coach has been building up an offense that makes little distinction between the men who work in it. Fullbacks will be running from the quarterback position to increase the blocking effectiveness. Quarterbacks will be calling signals from a halfback post...MANY BACKS READY: Backs include Buckets Goldenberg, Arnold Herber, Roger Grove, Bob Monnett, Hank Bruder and Clark Hinkle of last year's team. New backfield performers are Joe Laws, Iowa; Swede Johnston, Appleton; Charles Casper, Texas Christian; Rollie Halfman, Marquette; Holmes, of Ripon; Witte, of Gustavus Adolphus. All have shown promise in practice sessions. What they can do under fire will be seen Sunday. Among the stars of the Fort Atkinson team are Moon Molinaro, former Badger halfback; Smith, also of Wisconsin; Ruesch, Carroll tackle who weighs 232; Casey and Mark Catlin, Wisconsin ends; Bach, a halfback from the state university, and Neupert, also a Badger end. Tackles include Smith, Carroll, and Gunness, Milliken, Ruesch and Bussie, who comes from Watertown. Guards are Raithel, Gallup, Popp, while Dahms and Janiscek are capable centers. In the backfield Krening, Fort Atkinson, and Zirath, also of that city, play quarterback. Halfbacks are Schwager, of the Army; Bach and Tobias. Fullbacks are Smith and Fitzgerald.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORTS
SEPT 8 (Green Bay) - Strengthened, remodeled and overhauled, the Green Bay Packers make their first 1934 bid for patronage at City stadium here tomorrow afternoon. The Packer management has scoured the country for new material in hopes of regaining the NFL title. From the West Coast, Texas, the midwest and the east, young men have been picked to represent this city in the toughest kind of competition. They have been secured to give Green Bay the best team obtainable. Whether Green Bay and Wisconsin appreciates it remains to be seen. Seventeen men who starred on college teams last year have been signed for duty here. Among the newcomers are many who gained nationwide fame in collegiate circles. All, however, enter this competition on the same plane - they must prove their worth. The new men will be needed, for Cal Hubbard and Rudy Comstock, forward bulwarks of the teams that made Green Bay one of the brightest spots on the football map, will not be back. Colorful Johnny Blood, another Packer great also has stepped from the picture, as has Jugger Earpe, a veteran center of many years, and Verne Lewellen, of the educated toe and slashing smashes off tackle. It is the shoes of these men that the newcomers will try to fill - and they are big shoes. They will have help from those who remain from the title teams - Michalske, Dilweg, Perry, Barrager - and from the young men who have come up in the past two years to make their names known in the professional field. Perhaps the Packers will win another champions, perhaps they will be just one of the many National league teams. No matter what happens, it's a sure bet they will play interesting football, entertaining football and give every supporter value for value received. Even if you do not care for professional football, you cannot
deny the fact that the Packers add something to the town that is invaluable. They put new life into the city, add an interesting topic of discussion, offer a colorful spectacle at a nominal price, entertainment that cannot be equaled outside of a metropolitan center. If they did nothing but offer diversion the harried business or working man in these days of a hundred troubles, they would be well worth their while.
PITTSBURGH VS. CINCINNATI
SEPT 8 (Columbus, OH) - The best season in the history of the NFL is predicted by Joe F. Carr, president of the circuit, on the eve of the 1934 opening. The campaign gets underway Sunday when Cincinnati invades Pittsburgh, and next Sunday two games are scheduled, Philadelphia at Green Bay and Boston at Pittsburgh. Following a tour of all the league cities, President Carr states that conditions everywhere were much better than a year ago when the league enjoyed one of its greatest seasons. Every team in the circuit has been strengthened and interest appears to be keener than in the past. The league is divided into eastern and western sections with division champions meeting Dec. 9 in the home field of the eastern winner for the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy, emblematic of the world title. The Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants, 23 to 21, last year to gain the crown in the initiation of the sectional playoff system.
NEW MEN WILL GET REAL TEST IN FIRST GAME
SEPT 9 (Milwaukee Sentinel) - Pro football fans in general, and Green Bay Packer fans in particular will have their first chance of the season to get a somewhat accurate line on the strength or lack of strength, on the part of the Packers when Curly Lambeau's horde meets its first test of the season today at Green Bay against the Fort Atkinson Blackhawks. The Packers, if they belong in the pro league at all, should win rather convincingly. If they are given the toughest kind of a battle, we'll know that Coach Lambeau will have his work cut out for him if his club is to finish in the league. The guess of this writer is that the Packers will surprise - possibly everyone. There is a combination of old, experienced blood and youth, power and stamina that should make one of the greatest teams in Packer history - including the three teams that won three successive titles in the pro league. The vets, sprinkled among the youngsters, will actually be playing coaches. The youngsters, full of fire, zep and the ol' determination to make good in the toughest of all grid circuits, will have youth, stamina and ambition on their side. The combination, in view of the showing of several of the youngsters in the All-Star-Chicago Bears game, should be doubly effective. On the Packer battlefront we'll see some of the real vets of the game, such as Mike Michalske, and Lavvie Dilweg, while we're getting a line on the ability of such well known characters of college football as Joe Laws, Bob Jones, Adolph Schwammel, and others of their ilk. Packer fans know the Bays must develop plenty of power from this year's rookie crop to get anywhere in the league race. Cal Hubbard is gone. Rudy Comstock is gone. And when a tackle and guard of their caliber leaves the battlefront a gigantic problem remains. The kids in the line must come through. Today's game, played against a team of average college or university caliber, will serve to give us a line on what the kids will do in the big show. The Black Hawks are strong in their own class, stars from the University of Wisconsin and other Wisconsin colleges, making up their roster. They've more than upheld their own in state pro circles, and a Black Hawk team that was decidedly inferior to the one Fort Atkinson boasts this year gave the Bays a tough assignment at Janesville three years ago. That the Hawks have plenty of power can be judged when the caliber of the following players who are on the roster is considered: Jim Van Sistine, 194 pound end who was a star of recent Washington State university elevens; Dave Tobias, former 195 pound Wisconsin tackle; George Hulka, excellent Ripon college tackle weighing 204 pounds; Bus Bucci, 192 pound Wisconsin guard, and Glen Raithel, 185 pound Whitewater college tackle, all newcomers. Members of the 1932 and 1933 Hawks teams who will see action against the Packers include: George Casey, 186 pound end; Moon Molinaro, 210 pound tackle; Hal Smith, 193 pound tackle; Mark Catlin, 196 pound end; Mickey Bach, 190 pound halfback, and Larry Neupert, 215 pound fullback, all former Wisconsin players; Les Smith, 190 pound end; Woggy Ruesch, 232 pound tackle, and Clyde Gallup, 195 pound guard, of Carroll college; Tully Gunness, 190 pound halfback, of Milliken university; Edgar Schwagger, crack 196 pound ball lugger, punter and passer of Army; George Popp, 193 pound guard, of Miami university; Lande Fiedler, tough 210 pound guard of Platteville college, and Wally Dahms, 208 pound center; Red Krening, 185 pound halfback; Adam Janiseck, 193 pound end and Gabby Zitath, 170 pound center, all of Whitewater college.
GRIDIRON RECORD OF 1934 PACKERS LAUDED BY WRITERS
DEC 3 (Green Bay) - A spirited defense of Green Bay's 1934 National league record appeared in yesterday's Milwaukee Journal, in "Campus Comment", column by Oliver E. Kuechle. The article was written before the Green Bay-St. Louis game was played. Kuechle says: "The Green Bay wolves have started to nip at Curly Lambeau's heels. They don't like the way Lambeau has handled the team this fall. They think the Packers should have done more. I wonder what they want. The Packers have won six and lost six. Against the sweeping triumphs of those great Green Bay teams of a few years ago, I'll admit this is no great shakes, but analyze the season further."...FOURTH BEST TEAM: "With the standing of six victories and six defeats - which ought to be improved to 7-6 with a victory at St. Louis Sunday - the Packers still rate as the fourth best team in the league. They stand ahead of Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and the Chicago Cardinals. They stand only behind the Chicago Bears, Detroit and the New York Giants, and with what Lambeau has had to work with this year they could hardly be expected to be up with them. At that, with New York and Detroit, the Packers split even. It takes only a brief glance at the personnel of the three teams that rate higher than Green Bay to understand that, all other things equal, they should stand higher. The Packers have good backs, but the others have better backs and more."...ENDS ARE EQUAL: "The Packers have good ends, but the others have ends at least as good. The Packers have a fair line, but the others have just as much or more. Consider it this way, and over the season's play, the Packers stand just about where they belong. That more hasn't been done certainly shouldn't be laid at Lambeau's doorstep."
SQUAD BREAKS UP
DEC 3 (St. Louis) - Arnie Herber, Packer halfback, is remaining over in St. Louis to play a few exhibition games with the Gunners. Coach E.L. Lambeau loaned the passing ace with the understanding that he will still remain the property of the Green Bay Football corporation. Tar Schwammel, Lon Evans and Les Peterson traveled via auto with Nate Barragar enroute to Texas and California. Joe Laws left immediately after the game for Des Moines. Hank Bruder went on his way to Pekin, Ill., his old hometown, while Bob Jones returned to Bloomington. The other members of the Packer squad boarded a C. and A. train at 9:10 a.m. this morning for Chicago, arriving at 3:40 p.m. At Chicago, Engebretsen will leave the squad. The final lap from Chicago over the Milwaukee road gets underway at 5:05 p.m, with the arrival in Green Bay at 10:20 p.m. tonight. Buckets Goldenberg will get off at Milwaukee.
HERBER TO PLAY WITH GUNNER TEAM
DEC 4 (St. Louis) - Arnold Herber, star passing back of the Green Bay Packers, has been borrowed by the St. Louis Gunners for the remainder of the season. The Packers completed their season Sunday with a 21 to 14 victory over the Gunners, who have several exhibition games yet to play, including a charity encounter with the Brooklyn Dodgers here Sunday.
PACKERS HAVE NO APOLOGIES FOR GRID YEAR
DEC 4 (Green Bay) - The 1934 professional football season is over for Green Bay's team and her coach and players have no apologies to make. Completing a schedule as difficult as that of any team in the circuit, and more difficult than most, the club won eight games and lost six. It won at least one game from every top-notch eleven in the circuit, except the Chicago Bears. Players and coach alike look forward to next year, firmly convinced that with a few additions to the squad, it will be a championship contender again. Discussing the season and prospects for next year, Coach E.L. Lambeau today pointed to the team's record as speaking for itself. He admitted the team play was disappointing in one or two games, but looked upon the season as a whole as successful. His views are shared by nearly every man on the club, the coach said. All realize in what departments the squad was weak this year, but are convinced that it is a team that is coming up and with new material in a few spots next year, can give any club in the circuit a fight for the championship...BEARS ARE STRONGER: "Only one team can be said to have had it over us in the 1934 season," the coach said. "It is the Chicago Bears. Against the New York Giants and Detroit Lions we split, and our men believe that we have it over those two clubs. The games against the Cardinals were disappointing. Both, however, were played in mud. As the leading passing club in the league, you can realize what a muddy field does to spoil our offense. We were disappointed in that Carl Jorgenson, tackle, didn't come up to expectations. That was one spot in which we were weak. He was under a handicap, being 20 pounds underweight throughout the season. Every coach and player knows the importance of having a powerful left tackle. We also could have used another big, tough back, who could stand 30 minutes of play. The loss of Chester (Swede) Johnston hurt us, and Buckets Goldenberg was injured and not able to play in several games...GOOD NEW MEN: Tar Schwammel, tackle, and Bob Jones, guard, were fine first year men. So was Joe Laws, halfback. All are tremendously interested in the club for next year and will be back, fighting to put us on top again. Many of our veterans played fine ball throughout the season. They have no apologies to make for the season's record. Through the east we maintained our record as being one of the most popular clubs in the circuit. At Boston, New York and Detroit, the players held up the prestige that has been theirs for many years. Opponents realized and told us that we has club that was coming up fast. We plan to get three tackles, two ends, a center and two big backs for next season to add to the best men of this year's squad and if we show as much improvement next year as we did in 1934 over last year, we'll be a contender for the title from the opening whistle to the final gun."...PLAYERS GO HOME: The coach returned from St. Louis to Green Bay last night with members of the team who reside here. Others departed for their homes scattered from the west coast to the east. Mike Michalske, Milt Gantenbein, Hank Bruder, Art Bultman, Roger Grove, Claude Perry, Lavvie Dilweg, Bob Monnett and Al Rose returned to Green Bay. Schwammel and Nate Barragar left for their homes on the Pacific coast. Clark Hinkle has gone to his home at Toronto, O., Lester Peterson to Taylor, Tex., Buckets Goldenberg to Milwaukee and Lon Evans to Fort Worth, Tex. Robert Jones returned to Wabash, Ind., where he will spend the winter, Earl Witte to St. Peter, Minn. Herber remained in St. Louis to play a few exhibition games with the Gunners. He was loaned by the Packer club to the St. Louis team. Later he will return to Green Bay. In winning eight and losing six games this year the Packers scored 184 points to 119 for opponents. They split with the Detroit Lions, losing here, 3 to 0, and winning at Detroit by a similar score. Against the Giants, they won in the game at Milwaukee, 20 to 6, and lost in New York, 17 to 3. The Chicago Bears took two games after thrilling battles and the Cardinals won two of three from the club, the only teams to have an edge over the squad. Coach Lambeau plans to go to Minneapolis late this week and confer with a few members of the 1934 Gopher eleven who he believes would make great professional performers. Several other clubs are seeking Minnesota players for the 1935 season, the coach said, and he believes there will be several high bids made for their services. Later this month the coach plans to go to the Pacific coast for the annual East-West game where he expects to contact other players to be added to the 1935 Green Bay squad.
CHICAGO BEARS POSSESS BEST OFFENSIVE RECORD IN PRO FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DEC 4 (New York) - Scoring record in the NFL remained today as the final totals for the 1934 season were posted. The Chicago Bears lead the league offensively with a total scoring record of 286 points to their opponents' 86 and the Detroit Lions finished on top defensively, having had 59 points scored upon them, and making 242 themselves for the second best offensive record. The Philadelphia Eagles had the second best defensive record with 85 points for their opponents and the Bears were third with 86. The Green Bay Packers were third best offensively, piling up 156 points to their
opponents' 112. The New York Giants, who won the eastern division race, and who will play the Bears for the championship Sunday, scored 147 points to their opponents' 107.
BROOKLYN WINS OVER GUNNERS
DEC 9 (St. Louis) - Brooklyn's Dodgers defeated the St. Louis Gunners, 17 to 14 today, a fourth quarter field goal by Ralph Kercheval providing the margin of victory. The exhibition game between the two NFL team, played for the benefit of the Missouri and St. Louis societies for crippled children, attracted a slim crowd due to cold weather.
PRO FOOTBALL LEAGUE OFFICIALS PASS NEW RULES
DEC 10 (New York) - The National Professional Football league magnates, in annual winter meeting this afternoon, made sweeping changes in the code of rules governing the sport. Professional football, according to today's decrees, will depart further from the code of intercollegiate competition than ever before. The changes were adopted by unanimous vote of the representatives of the ten clubs in the league and were the rulers' contribution in return for the support of the public, which in 1934 surpassed any previous year in the history of professional football. The changes voted today are: 1. All penalties will be inflicted from the point of the previous down, or in other words, where the ball was put into play. This in direct contrast to the present rules which inflict penalties for holding, etc., from the point of foul. 2. The defending team may recover and run with any fumbled ball from a scrimmage play. The defense may recover, but not run, after a fumbled punt, placekick, kickoff or lateral pass. 3. A fourth down forward pass which is incomplete in the end zone, or a second forward pass incomplete in the same territory in a series of downs, will not count as a touchback unless the ball was put into play within 20 yards of the goal line. Otherwise the ball will be brought back to the point at which it was put into play and given to the defense. 4. Any lateral pass attempt, which inadvertently becomes a forward pass through misdirection, will belong to the passing team at the point of the forward pass. This means that a forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage will not be brought back to the point where the ball was put into play and counted as a down. It also means no 15 yard penalty will be inflicted on a team making an unintentional forward pass after having gained possession of the ball by the reception of a kick or the interception of a pass. A penalty is exacted for this offense under intercollegiate rules. 5. The ball will be brought into the field 15 yards after all plays within 15 yards of the sidelines. This abrogates the present 10 yard sideline rule of the colleges and conforms to the rules of the National High School Athletic associations. The National Professional league owners turned down the proposal to put the ball on the 30 yard line after touchbacks. Most important as far as the owners were concerned was the new "waiver rule". After the sixth league game, the magnates rules, no players may be released until his name has been submitted to all other owners. If any team desires the services of this player, the order of choice will start with the team having the lowest standing after the six game period. This is in accord with the desire to prevent switching of players in midseason between teams so that those having opportunities to win sectional titles may be strengthened. It is likely, so it was reported today, that the player limit will be changed at the next meeting. Under the present rules 25 players may be kept until the third league game, after which the limit is 22. Those attending today's session at the Victories were George Halas, Chicago Bears; Tim Mara and John Mara, New York Giants; George Marshall and Larry Doyle, Boston Redskins; Bert Bell and Coach Lud Wray, Philadelphia Eagles; Arthur Rooney and Dick Guy, Pittsburgh Pirates; Dan Topping, Brooklyn Dodgers; William Alfs, Detroit Lions. The Chicago Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Gunners were not represented. The owners were enthusiastic over the championship game yesterday. With five of the ten teams showing a profit for the year, and the Philadelphia Eagles so close to black figures that they hope to pull out with an exhibition game Saturday against the Chicago Bears, there was reason for gratification. "Philadelphia hasn't made a profit so far," Bert Bell said this afternoon, "but we reduced our losses 65 percent this year. I believe that within five years professional football will be on its feet as far as all the teams are concerned." The owners did not discuss the proposal of George Marshall of Boston that the league be reduced to eight teams, with home and home games compulsory. There were many yesterday to congratulate Coach Steve Owen of the Giants on the rubber soled shoes with which he equipped his team in the championship game in the second half. Without dispute, the press considered that this had much to do with the four touchdown spurt which gave the Giants a 30 to 13 victory. Only two members of the team declined to wear the gymnasium shoes, it was revealed. These men were Gibson, guard, and Hein, center. Danowski started without the rubber soles shoes, but changed his mind after he slipped and fell early in the third quarter. The Bears were philosophic about their defeat, although regretting the collapse of their 33 game record and in particular bemoaning the loss of the extra $200 for the winning players. Only 14 Giant players competed in the
championship and the Bears' total of substitutions was also abbreviated. The Chicago men, however, are looking forward to next year, when they will seek revenge for yesterday's licking.
MR. PLATTEN AND THE PACKERS
DEC 10 (Green Bay) - There appears to be much criticism of the Packer football organization this year, most of it directed at its management and its coach. Experience has shown that following a few championship years all coaches and managements are due for a panning, if they happen to lose a few games after the victorious season. Michigan is getting it, Notre Dame is getting it, Southern California is getting it, Wisconsin has always had to put up with it, and now in Green Bay some are sobbing and criticizing a ball club, a coach and a management that has placed third in the western division and fourth in the standing of the ten clubs in the NFL. Perhaps this is not good enough. Possibly Green Bay must have a championship team every year. Maybe it is not sporting or patient enough to go through the rebuilding process that must be encountered periodically to produce championship contenders. It is, of course, impossible to ascertain just how widespread the criticism is. It appears to the Press-Gazette to come mainly from Emmet Platten who buys time on the air each Sunday to tell the fans of Green Bay just how the team should be handled and just what the management and coach should do to make champions every year without a miss. Mr. Platten probably could do the trick, and perhaps he should be given the chance, although George Halas of the Chicago Bears cannot do it, Potsy Clark of the Detroit Lions cannot, Steve Owen of the New York Giants cannot, Lone Star Dietz of Boston cannot, Paul Schissler of the Chicago Cardinals cannot; even though all of these men have plenty of experience and money at their disposal. No one has done more to tear down team morale than Mr. Platten and we wonder what his purpose is. He represents a Milwaukee brewing company in Green Bay. Yesterday he read over the air a letter inquiring whether this company might acquire the Packer franchise and move the club to Milwaukee. Surely Mr. Platten does not desire to bring this about. It cannot be that his constant heckling is insincere. It isn't possible that his allegiance to the brewing company he represents is greater than his loyalty to Green Bay and our Packers. Mr. Platten does not tell the public that the present management and coach have handled the club through much rougher water than present, that over a period of 10 to 12 years they have brought the Packers up the hill and finally through three championships, a record yet unequaled by any other club in the league, that they have done this in a town of 40,000 people in competition with the largest cities in the United States and against the best promotion and coaching brains in the country, backed with plenty of money. That they have accomplished this without asking the public to subscribe a single dollar other than the cost of a few season tickets, that the management has never received even a dime for its efforts, but on the contrary has frequently used its own private funds to carry the club over some rough spots. Whether he realizes it or not Mr. Platten's attitude can only result in tearing down the whole Packer structure and if it does Green Bay will be the loser. It will live to regret listening to and heeding his tirades, but it may not wake up until its Packers are gone and it finds itself obliged to be contented with listening over the radio to games between the Bears and the Giants or the Cards and Boston or what-have-you. The Press-Gazette does not believe Green Bay is ready to give up its Packers. It believes the city will put up a fight to keep them and it feels that the business interests of this community would be foolish indeed to let this great civic asset get away because of a bad year or two or because of the carping of one individual who gives the public information that is mostly street gossip or hearsay. Green Bay is greatly indebted to the group of men who have been given unselfishly of their time and effort to the Packers management over all these years. We venture to say all of them would be happy to give up the job which brings no thanks but much unjustified criticism were it not for civic loyalty and a sense of duty to this community. We salute them as gluttons for punishment.
PACKER RECORD STANDS
DEC 10 (Green Bay) - With the defeat of the Chicago Bears at the hands of the New York Giants yesterday, 30 to 13, the record of the Green Bay Packers of three
successive championships stands for at least another two years. The Bears, who had won two titles, in 1932 and 1933, had a chance to tie the Packers mark but lost it when they were beaten. The Packers won the championship in 1929, 1930 and 1931, finished in second place in 1932, in third place in the western division in 1933 and 1934.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORT
DEC 11 (Green Bay) - The New York Giants, who have lost five games this year, including a 6 to 0 beating at the hands of Philadelphia, one of the weakest teams in the National league, are the new champions and the Bears, winners of 13 consecutive games against the strongest clubs in the circuit, get second place. In two games this year the Bears beat the Giants yet the New Yorkers, by winning the third game, won the title. All of which would indicate that the National league has a peculiar method of determining champions. It's just as bad as in 1932 when the Bears won the title with six tie games chalked against their record and the Packers took second place, with three more victories than the Bears. George Halas, owner of the Bears, was one of the club directors in favor of Eastern and Western divisions of the National league. Tim Mara, of New York, and George Marshall, Boston, were others who favored the plan. The Packer management bucket it. We wonder what Halas thinks of the idea now?...That the playoff plan between Eastern and Western division champions is a good idea from a financial angle cannot be denied. But it is far from a satisfactory method of deciding a championship. It naturally helped keep up interest in the race this year. If the title was decided by the old method, going to the team winning the most games, it would have been over, as far as the eastern clubs were concerned, several weeks ago. If the league was large enough to divide it into two sectional divisions, with teams in one section meeting only squads in its area and the winners of each district title meeting for the championship, the post-season game plan would be ideal. As it is, it is undecidedly unfair. We have no particular love for the Bears, but we can't help but feel that they got the worst of the deal...An unusual feature of the 1934 National league race has been the absence of tie games. A glance at the records reveals that there wasn't a game played to a tie decision throughout the year. It is the first year since the league was formed in 1922 that this has happened. It is doubtful whether any other circuit or league in the country has such a record. This can be traced largely to the growth of field goal kicking. We can't recall a year when the value of field goals has been so apparent. With the moving of the goal posts to the goal line a few years ago, the art of place and dropkicking was revived in the National league. It has grown steadily, so that today it is one of the most important offensive maneuvers of the game. Witness the record of Jack Manders, of the Chicago Bears, who although he made but three touchdowns, led the league in scoring with 77 points. It would be safe to estimate that without Manders' 59 points through field goals and placements for extra points, the Bears wouldn't be on top in the Western division. Study of league records reveal that in 1932 when the goal posts were 10 yards behind the goal line, there were 10 tie games in the National league. In 1933, the posts were moved to the end line, there were only five tie games, a 50 percent cut, and this year ties were eliminated.
OFFER RED GRANGE POSITION AS COACH OF PIRATE ELEVEN
DEC 11 (New York) - For the same reason that baseball moguls are anxious to keep Babe Ruth in the game - his ability to make the turnstiles click steadily - professional football is trying to keep Harold (Red) Grange from hanging up his moleskins. While the Chicago Bears were losing the National league championship to the New York Giants Sunday, Grange, the "Galloping Ghost of Illinois", was ending his playing career on the Chicago bench. "I'm 31 years old and have been playing a long time," said Grange. "I can't take it the way I could a couple of years so this is my finale."...LOSES 10 GAMES: It was to have been Grange's swan song from the pro game until Arthur Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, heard about it. Rooney wasn't a bit pleased with the team Coach Luby De Meola turned out for him - it lost ten of 12 games. De Meola was given his walking papers. Rooney attened the club owners' meeting yesterday and after the session went into a long huddle with Grange. During their conference Rooney offered Grange the job as coach of the Pirates next season. "We didn't come to an agreement yesterday," said Rooney, "but I'm going to see Grange again today."...DODGER COACH RELEASED: It also became known that John McEwan had been released as coach of the Brooklyn Dodgers. No successor has been mentioned. At the meeting here yesterday, attended by seven of the ten club owners or directors, the National league playing rules were modified further to make the pro game more attractive to the customers. Five changes were designed not only to speed up the game, already spectacular enough to attract 40,000 customers to the Polo Grounds despite sub-freezing temperatures, but also to make it more understandable to the customers...CHANGE PENALTY RULE: Next year all penalties will be assessed from the spot where the ball was put in play; it will be a free ball, making any player eligible to run with it on any fumble, except those where the ball was kicked or passed; the ball will be brought in 15 yards, instead of the present 10, following an out of bounds; on a fourth down pass, or the second in the end zone, the ball will be returned to the point where it was put in play, except when inside the 20-yard line when it will be returned to the 20. A ball illegally forward passed beyond the line of scrimmage will be downed at the point where it was thrown forward, instead of the point where the play started, a rule designed to encourage more lateral passing...PASS WAIVER RULE: The changes were decided upon unanimously by seven club owners. They appointed George Halas of Chicago and Bert Bell of Philadelphia to codify the rules. The only other business of the meeting aside from routine matters, was passage of a waiver rule similar to that in the baseball leagues which prohibits a club from trading or selling a player, after the first six games of the season, unless all other clubs have waived on his services. The owners turned down the proposal to put the ball on the 30-yard line after touchbacks. Most important as far as the owners were concerned was the new "waiver rule". After the sixth league game, the magnates ruled no player may be released until his name has been submitted to all other owners. If any team desires the services of this play, the order of choice will start with the team having the lowest standing after the six-game period...PREVENT SWITCHING PLAYERS: This is in accord with the desire to prevent switching of players in midseason between teams so that those having opportunities to win sectional titles may be strengthened. It is likely, so it was reported today, that the player limit will be changed at the next meeting. Under the present rules, 25 players may be kept until the third league game, after which the limit is 22. Those attending today's session at the Victoria were George Halas, Chicago Bears; Tim Mara and John Mara, New York Giants; George Marshall and Larry Doyle, Boston Redskins; Bert Bell and Coach Lud Wray, Philadelphia Eagles; Arthur Rooney and Dick Guy, Pittsburgh Pirates; Dan Topping, Brooklyn Dodgers; William Alfs, Detroit Lions. The Chicago Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Gunners were not represented...FIVE TEAMS SHOW PROFIT: The owners were enthusiastic over the championship game Sunday. With five of the ten teams showing a profit for the year, and the Philadelphia Eagles so close to black figures that they hope to pull out with the exhibition game Saturday against the Chicago Bears, there was reason for gratification. "Philadelphia hasn't made a profit so far," Bert Bell said yesterday afternoon, "but we reduced our losses 65 percent this year. I believe that within five years professional football will be on its feet as far as all the teams are concerned." The owners did not discuss the proposal of George Marshall of Boston that the league be reduced to eight teams, with home and home games compulsory...CONGRATULATE GIANTS' COACH: There were many yesterday to congratulate Coach Steven Owen of the Giants on the rubber-soled shoes with which he equipped his team in the championship game in the second half. Without dispute, the press considered that this had much to do with the four touchdown spurt which gave the Giants a 30 to 13 victory. Only two members of the team declined to wear gymnasium shoes, it was revealed. These men were Gibson, guard, and Hein, center. Danowski started without the rubber soled shoes, but changed his mind after he slipped and fell early in the third period. The Bears were philosophic about their defeat, although regretting the collapse of their 33-game record and in particular bemoaning the loss of the extra $200 for the winning players. Only 14 Giant players competed in the championship, and the Bears' total of substitutions was also abbreviated.
BEARS HAVE BEST OFFENSIVE RECORD IN NATIONAL LOOP
DEC 13 (New York) - Although the New York Giants won the 1934 National league championship, they were far from the strongest offensive and defensive team in the loop. Offensively, according to final statistics released today, the Chicago Bears, for the second consecutive season, were the outstanding ground gainers. A year ago the Bears established a pro yardage record with a total of 3,029 yards gained. This year with Bronko Nagurski and Beattie Feathers tearing off big chunks, the Bears stepped up the pace with 3,750 yards for the season. The Detroit Lions, the Green Bay Packers and the Boston Redskins also surpassed the 1933 standard. The Lions rolled up 3,510 yards, the Packers 3,372 and the Redskins 3,351. The Chicago Cardinals made less yardage than any other eight teams in the league, but they had the best defensive record, holding their opponents to 1,578 yards in 11 games. Passing honors for the season went to the Giants, who completed 63 in 154 attempts for an average of slightly more than .400 percent. The Packers were only a fraction behind with 73 completed in 188 attempts.
PRO COACHES NAME ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
DEC 14 (Green Bay) - Professional football climbed to a record high this fall. The interesting, open style of play developed keen competition and produced so many thrills that attendance records showed a healthy increased over other seasons and the National league club owners are looking forward to 1935 in a most pleasant frame of mind. This year's professional football All-America ranks as the strongest that has ever been picked from the post-graduate gridiron stars. There is no end of class in the backfield, the ends and tackles are way above par while the center trio would be a joy forever to any coach. Playing a brand of football that let the fans see everything that was going, the 10 National league clubs swept through a successful season that was climaxed last Sunday when the New York Giants dethroned the twice champion Chicago Bears in an exciting contest at the Polo grounds by a score of 30 to 13. There were three other surprising upsets this fall. After winning 10 games in a row, the Detroit Lions were taken into camp by the Green Bay Packers, 3 to 0, while New York in the final game of the eastern division schedule was bumped off by Philadelphia to the tune of 6-0. Early in the schedule, the Brooklyn Dodgers dented the dope bucket with a 10-6 win over Boston...GIANTS FINISHED STRONG: The pennant winning Giants were off to a wobbly start and dropped several games on their western trip. However, once the New Yorker got back on their home grounds, they began to click nicely and gained strength as the season went on. It wasn't all a bed of roses for Coach Steve Owen but he came through with flying colors and to the winner belongs the spoils. The Chicago Bears swept the boards clean with every team that faced them this season until the title combat with New York. The Halas-men seemed headed for their championship as they had chalked up 13 victories in a row and from the percentage point of view had a rating far ahead of any other spoke in the National league. Detroit finished the season with a percentage of .770. The Lions only three out of 13 games. However, the three upsets suffered by Potsy Clark's team came in the last week of play and ruined any championship hopes of the former Portsmouth squad...PACKERS HAD GOOD SEASON: The Green Bay Packers went through a fairly successful season with seven wins and six losses for a percentage of .539. In several contests, the Wisconsin eleven rose to great heights such as the victories over New York, Boston and Detroit. The Packers had a tough schedule and rubbed elbows with all the top-notchers. The Boston Redskins completed their schedule with an even .500 ranking, winning six games and losing another half dozen. When the season opened, the Redskins were considered a pennant contender but Coach Lone Star Dietz bumped into a lot of trouble and he was forced to juggle his battle front frequently, particularly in mid-season. The Chicago Cardinals played eleven games and won five. Coach Paul Schissler had a bunch of youngsters fresh from college on his club and it took those yearlings a month or so to get the "hang" of professional football. However, once the Cardinal squad found itself it went places and on the final lap was probably the most improved gridiron machine in the circuit. Look out for the Cards in 1935...DODGERS, EAGLES EVEN UP: The Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Eagles finished their schedule on an even plane with four victories and seven defeats. The Dodgers flashed prominently early in the season but failed to stand the gaff in the closing drive. Lud Wray and his Quaker City outfit proved troublesome at all times but aside from Swede Hanson had little or nothing on the offense. Wray has the foundation laid for a winning machine and quite likely his Eagles will be up there next season. Pittsburgh and St. Louis complete the procession. The Pirates were "in and outers" all season. Owner Rooney spent a lot of money for ball players but somehow he failed to get together a combination that could win consistently. Dame Rumor has it that there will be wholesale changes in the Pirate camp before the 1935 schedule gets underway...ST. LOUIS IS GOOD SPOT: The St. Louis Gunners took over the Cincinnati franchise late in the schedule. Chile Walsh and his associates had but little time to place a representative team on the gridiron. St. Louis, however, is a "red hot" football community and a winning team should net dividends. The Gunners' management is already looking forward to 1935 and every possible step will be taken to have an A1 eleven. Unofficial records show that the two longest runs of the season were made by Homer Griffith and Jack Russell, a pair of "first year" halfbacks with the Chicago Cardinals. In the game against Cincinnati on Sept. 23, Russell received the kickoff and dashed the length of gridiron for a touchdown. Griffith repeated this performance against the Green Bay Packers in Chicago on Thanksgiving day for the victory margin. Glenn Presnell, former Nebraska star, playing halfback for the Detroit Lions, established a field goal record of 54 yards when he placekicked one against the Packers in Green Bay on Oct. 27. This feature boot was the only score of the contest. The all-American selections follow...ENDS: Bill Hewitt of the Chicago Bears was still the best end on the professional gridiron although his margin of ability was not so wide as in 1933, when he was the "ace" of the circuit. Other clubs in the loop set their guns for Hewitt and he was not able to roam at will. Again the officials had their eyes on the crafty Bruin every second and this prevented him for jumping the gun. McKalip of Detroit is placed at the other terminal on the first selection. He was a rough and ready customer and carried enough fire to pull him over a lot of tough spots. As to the other ends, Smith, a Chicago Cardinal recruit from Washington, was outstanding. Carrying a lot of poundage yet fast as a flyweight back, Smith carried a lot of trouble to every team he faced. In addition, the youngster from the west was a first class field goal kicker. Karr of the Bears gets the other position on the second eleven. He came to the front with a rush and earned a shade over several veterans. New York had three good wingmen in Flaherty, Frankian and Badgro. Gantenbein of Green Bay displayed lots of class, particularly on the defense, while Dad Kenneally, the Philadelphia veteran of 15 seasons, scampered around like a youngster...TACKLES: Link Lyman, Chicago Bears, who was playing professional football when a lot of the other present day post-graduate gridders were in high school, ranked head and shoulders above any other tackle in Joe Carr's "cash and carry" gridiron wheel. Lyman's comeback was the most remarkable and some of the coaches claim Link's work this year placed him on a higher plane than Cal Hubbard, former Green Bay Packer lineman, who was considered the peer of all tackles in the land. It was next to impossible to take Lyman out of a play and he would cut holes a mile wide for the Bear backs. In addition, the husky lineman was often down the field faster than his ends under unts. Bill Morgan of New York came up fast this season and earned a first team berth over several stars who have been outstanding for a couple of seasons. Morgan climaxed a great season by playing super ball in the championship game against the Bears. Morgan is a lively customer on the defense and he seemed to have a super sense when it came to solving plays. There was a lot of other good tackles in the league this season. Turk Edwards was still a bulwark for Boston while MacMurdo was the ace of the Philadelphia Eagles' front wall. Capt. Christensen of Detroit carried on to success again and it was his consistent play that helped a lot in keeping the Lions in the running until the last week of the schedule. Lou Gordon of the Cardinals and Musso, the giant Bear lineman, also deserve mention...GUARDS: Good guards galore played professional football and at least a half dozen center flankers are entitled to consideration for the all star posts. Joe Kopcha, next to Lyman, was the Bears' best forward. He could do everything well at a guard's position and still have something in reserve to help out his teammates. Mike Michalske, Green Bay veteran, came back to form in great shape and experienced one of his greatest years of football. The Packer star featured in every game played by Coach E.L. Lambeau's outfit and it was his savage tackling and line knifing that enabled Green Bay to finish a fairly successful season. Aside from Michalske and Kopcha, Jones of New York and Hickman, the Brooklyn wrestler, seemed to be the best of the crop. Jones was as aggressive as ever while Hickman made the best of things with an organization that seemed to have interior ailments. Of the other center flankers, Emerson, Detroit; Walton, Boston; Carlson, Bears, and Jones, Green Bay, were outstanding...CENTER: Mel Hein of New York is the center. As a matter of fact, this was one of the few positions in which the vote was not even close. Hein has been around for a few years but ever since he started with the Giants, he has played bang-up ball. Hein passed well and he always followed through after snapping the ball. He was mighty capable when it came to pass defense. Kawal of the Bears started out as a third stringer but before the season reached the halfway mark. Coach George Halas had him passing the ball with the "varsity" squad. Kawal talked it up a lot to help put fight in the 1932-33 champions. Nate Barragar, Green Bay, and Mike McNally, Chicago Cards, were the best of the other snapper backs...BACKFIELD: Two Chicago Bears, Bronko Nagurski and Beattie Feathers, were unanimous selections for backfield posts but the other two positions developed into a free-for-all, with half a dozen candidates getting their share of votes. Nagurski was the outstanding performer in the National league. The Gopher husky ran the ball, cleared the way and backed up the line splendidly. It was his crashing interference that enabled the Bear backs to pile up many a first down. Probably not since the days of Red Grange has another back made the headlines so often as Feathers, the Chicago Bears' recruit from Tennessee. Feathers was out of the last three games with an injury, but he did enough damage to opposing teams in the other games to be picked on half a dozen all-American teams. and in addition, Feathers didn't have to take off his hat to any punter in the National league...STRONG STILL SHINES: After Nagurski and Feathers comes Ken Strong, a pro league veteran, who is still a mighty fine back. Strong had a great year with the Giants and his brilliant play in the title game against the Bears probably will be long remembered by the thousands of fans who witnessed his spectacular exhibition. Aside from running with the ball, Strong could pass and he was one of the best placekickers and punters. Dutch Clark, the Detroit Lions' field general, completes the backfield and is placed at quarterback. Clark returned to the pro game after a year of coaching in 1933 but the layoff from active competition didn't seem to harm him a bit as he was as brilliant as of old and in some departments of the game even showed keener judgment. Clark probably was the best all around back in the circuit and on this "dream team" he would fit in perfectly with the bone-crushing Nagurski, the elusive Feathers and the hard-driving Strong. What a backfield it would be!...NEWMAN AT QUARTER: On the second team is Newman of New York at quarter; Battles of Boston and Hanson of Philadelphia in the halfback positions with Clarke Hinkle of Green Bay at full. Newman enjoyed his best season as a professional. Both Battles and Hanson continued their brilliant open field running of 1933 while Hinkle completed his third season of play for the Packers at Green Bay has another "high spot" year. Any number of other backfielders bobbed into the limelight. Danowski, first year gridder with New York, proved himself a find. Gutowsky and Presnell of Detroit covered themselves with glory while Pug Rentner and Pinckert, both of Boston, did a lot for Lone Star Dietz's machine. Kercheval from the Kentucky Blue Grass region made a home for himself in Brooklyn during his first year while two other freshmen, Mike Mikulak of the Chicago Cardinals and Joe Laws of Green Bay, were outstanding backfielders...MANDERS WELL PRAISED: No all-America selection would be complete without special mention of Jack Manders, the Bears placekicking specialist. In other departments of the game the former Minnesota star is just an ordinary back but when it comes to getting those extra three points and converting the additional counter after touchdown, Manders is just about in a class by himself. He was the leading point scorer of the league this fall and pulled about a half a dozen games out of the fire for Halas and Co. Jack is a handy man to have around but it seems that the "balloters" for the all-star teams figured that something more than placekicking was required to make the grade. However, nearly all of the returns carried some special mention of Manders...ONLY THREE REPEATERS: This year's all-American has only three first team repeaters from 1933. The select trio is Hewitt, Nagurski and Strong. Hein and Kopcha are promoted from last year's second team while Edwards, Hickman, Christensen and Battles are demoted from the 1933 "varsity" to this year's second eleven. Newman, Hinkle and Hanson retain their second team posts like in 1933.
WILL RAISE $10,000 TO KEEP GREEN BAY'S PACKERS IN PRO LOOP
DEC 15 (Green Bay) - Green Bay is not losing the Packers! This became a certainty last night when 25 interested business and industrial leaders of this city voted unanimously to raise $10,000 to extricate the Green Bay Football corporation from its present financial difficulties, make possible a reorganization and to provide a fund to be used in building up the team for the 1935 season. The status of the team has been uncertain since the close of the 1934 season, but when Green Bay businessmen met a meeting last night at Joannes Bros. company office with Frank J. Jonet, receiver, and an executive committee named by help to carry on the club's affair during the receivership, were given a word picture of the situation here, they voted unanimously to support the team, all of them declaring that it was too valuable an advertising asset for Green Bay to be thrown overboard without a struggle. The executive committee composed of Leland H. Joannes, president of the Football corporation, A.B. Turnbull, Dr. W.W. Kelly, Gerald F. Clifford and Charles Mathys. All
were present at the meeting, except Mr. Mathys, who is ill, and with Mr. Jones, explained the financial difficulties of the corporation brought about by circumstances over which they had no control and then outlined plans for putting the club on a sound financial footing. To do this would require at least $10,000 which must be raised principally among those present at the meeting, it was explained...WANT TO CARRY ON: Once those present has a picture of the situation there was no hesitation or uncertainty over what Green Bay must do. There was an emphatic answer to the executive committee's question: "Shall professional football be continued in Green Bay, or shall we sell our franchise and call it a day?" and that was "We'll carry on." Mr. Joannes, who has been president of the Football corporation for the last five years, presided at the meeting, and before the discussion became general, reviewed the accomplishments of the Football corporation since
its organization twelve years ago. He said, in part: "You have been invited here tonight to decide whether the Packer football team shall be retained here, or whether you want to throw it overboard. The situation brought about as you know by obtaining of a judgment of something over $5,000 against the corporation for injuries suffered by a spectator at a game here two years ago, and the failure of the Southern Surety company, a concern with which we carried a policy where substantial financial assistance must be forthcoming from the business interest or we cannot go on."...FUNDS BUILT STADIUM: "Green Bay is the smallest town in the NFL, but with careful management and a comparatively low overhead, we have been able to compete with such cities as New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Detroit, and up until a year ago keep going without a deficit. As a matter of fact over the last twelve years the club has made money, enough to build the City Stadium, which represents a permanent investment of more than $20,000, all paid for by professional football. However, the club did not make any profits this year due to the fact that the team - handicapped by weather, injuries and lack of sufficient first class material - did not make such a good showing and was not as good a drawing card as in previous years. We reduced expenses to a minimum and operated very economically the last two seasons, in the hope that we could make enough to pay off the claims against the corporation and lift the receivership. Due to several circumstances, we have been unable to do this, so we are laying our cards on the table and are asking you whether you consider the team of sufficient value to Green Bay to be continued. We cannot go on operating when the club is losing money - the court will not permit it. We must either raise enough money to lift the receivership or close up shop. Under present conditions we are handicapped in signing players, contracting for games and in many other ways. It is an unhealthy condition all the way around and cannot possibly go on."...CLAIMS TOTAL $12,322: "We have been negotiating with those who have claims against the corporation and we feel confident that if we can raise $10,000 we can make a settlement with our creditors, and have some money left to start rebuilding our team negotiating with those who have claims against the corporation and we feel confident that if we can raise $10,000 we can make a settlement with our creditors, and have some money left to start rebuilding our team for next year. Claims on file with the clerk of Circuit Court against the club total $12,322.46. The money is owed to nine individuals or firms, and includes judgement of $5,260.22 obtained by Willard Bent for injuries received when he fell from a stand at the stadium. Another claim is for $2,500 by the Indiana Mutual Insurance company, which has been carrying our compensation insurance. This mutual company is the only one that we could get to carry this type of insurance and the $2,500 represents an assessment. There is another claim by the American Mutual Liability Insurance company of $1,502.63. The balance of claims are for equipment, bank notes, etc. Our unpaid current bills total $8,429.27. Among the largest items are $1,994 for compensation insurance, $1,470 for printing programs. There are also two score minor bills also that range from $200 to $1.80 each. We have $7,645 on hand. We have gone to many of those that owe and have been able to get some reduction in
these claims. If we raise $10,000 and with the cash on hand we can settle every bill we owe and be in a position to go out and get more good players for next season."...RECEIPTS TOTAL $99,586: "Do you think it is worthwhile to attempt to do this, or do you want to pass the whole thing up? Personally, in view of the worth of the team to Green Bay as an advertising medium and as an entertainment feature during the fall, I think it would be a crime to let the Packers leave Green Bay without trying to do something about it. I am confident that if we once cleaned up these liabilities and built up our team to the 1929 or 1930 standard we could keep our head above water for many years to come." Mr. Jonet then read the financial report of the corporation. "The operation of the Packer football team," he said, "has entered the realm of big business. This year receipts totaled $99,586.01, a sizeable sum. Our total disbursements and unpaid bills are $102,992,33. This included player salaries, guarantees to visiting teams, traveling expenses, etc. We opened the 1934 season with $2,561.95 on hand so that the deficit from current operations is small. We thought at one time this season that we would be able to weather the rough seas we have been sailing on, and that we would soon have the club out of receivership. About the middle of the season we have $9,000 on hand and things looked fairly bright. However, we got three tough breaks in succession, two rainy Sundays and a poor crowd for the Cincinnati game here and dropped approximately $12,000, which put us on the wrong side of the ledger."...COURT MAY TAKE ACTION: "We finished the season with a deficit, but not a large one, but large enough probably to cause the court to order the corporation into bankruptcy unless the claims outstanding are cleaned up. The court cannot permit the club to operate with a deficit; the creditors must be protected. The club has been operated very economically, expenses have been trimmed to the bone, sometimes I think they were trimmed too much and harmed the team's efficiency, in an effort to obtain enough money to settle all outstanding claims. However, under the present setup this looks like a hopeless task and we must have help. If we can raise $10,000 and add that to the cash we have on hand we can settle all the claims against the club and once more be in a position to go ahead and give Green Bay a good ball club. The present situation cannot go on." Mr. Jonet said the club had been operated on a business-like basis and that not one cent had been paid out without being accounted for....NO SALARIES TO DIRECTORS: "During the five years that I have audited the corporation's books," he said, "I have found everything absolutely businesslike. There has been no waste or undue expenses. Neither has there been any salaries paid to officers or directors of the corporation. As a matter of fact many of these directors have spent their own money attending games to protect the club's interest, or in traveling to football league meetings. They could legitimately have put in a bill for their traveling expenses to these meetings, but they did not. They paid their own expenses because they did not want to put this burden on the football club."...DIRECTORS DID FINE WORK: " I think the directors are to be congratulated for their unselfishness and the fine work they have done over a period of ten years in keeping this team in Green Bay. Managing a team like the Packers is no small undertaking and Green Bay is fortunate that it has men who are willing to tackle the job." A.B. Turnbull, a director, and former president of the corporation also spoke briefly, but informally, on the club's status, as did Dr. Kelly, president in 1929, and Mr. Clifford, a director. "The situation is not hopeless," said Mr. Turnbull. "I've seen several years when conditions looked much blacker and we came through all right. Our present problem is to get enough money to pay off these bills and claims and have done with them for once and all. We cannot go on with these judgments staring at us in the face - it is too big a burden to carry. We must raise this $10,000, settle these claims and get our affairs in shape for next year, so that we can go out after players and games."...NEED NEW MATERIAL FOR TEAM: "We have a good ball club, but in order for Green Bay to stay in the National league, we must have an extraordinarily good ball club and we can't have that kind of a club without more first class players. We have a good coach, too, one of the best in the league, and, if we have the money, we ought to have to get the players the Packers will again be up there fighting for the championship. Green Bay is a good drawing card and, if we have a strong team, we ought to able to finish each season even with the board or with a very small deficit - one that can easily be made up by contributions from the various business concerns here. Personally, I think that in view of the value of the Packers to Green Bay, we ought to subsidize the team and make up our minds to meet any deficits that develop over the years. The Packers have been an integral part of Green Bay too long to let them go without making some real effort to hold them here. Other small cities have lost their teams, but I do not think that Green Bay is ready to give up the Packers just yet."...PACKERS CAN COME BACK: Mr. Turnbull said Green Bay had the nucleus of a great ball club and by strengthening several positions on the team he saw no reason why the Packers could not come back next year and give the Bears, Giants and Detroit a battle for league honors. He said the Packers played some outstanding football this year, but unfortunately most of the game were away from home. He mentioned the Detroit, Boston and St. Louis games and the Cardinal game here as being among those that were real exhibitions of football. The game against Detroit a few weeks ago was the greatest the Detroit fans had seen up to that time and won many friends for pro football there. After Mr. Turnbull finished, Mr. Joannes pointed out that the Packers are still a good drawing card on the road, but that they wouldn't be unless they won more games than during the last two seasons. "We've had no trouble in booking games," he said. "On the contrary we can play in any league city that we desire so great is the popularity of the Packers. If we have a first class team next season and get in on one of those big gates in Chicago, New York or Detroit, we ought to come through the season without a deficit - unless we can get some unusually tough breaks in weather for the home games. The day of the big gate in pro football is just around the corner, and it would be a shame if we gave up now and failed to cash in on the pioneer work that we have done for pro football."...GREEN BAY CARRIED LEAGUE: Apropos of Mr. Joannes' remarks about pioneer work, it might be well to mention here that for a number of years Green Bay virtually carried the league on its back. It was drawing the biggest crowds at home and on the road and the type of football played by the Packers converted more pro fans than anything else. It might also be apropos to say that such clubs as the Bears, New York and Boston realize this and stand ready to book games with Green Bay here or elsewhere. After an informal discussion of the situation as a whole in which many of the businessmen present showed knowledge of football and enthusiasm for the Packers, a motion was made by Frank P. Vaughan, president of the Green Bay Association of Commerce, that the $10,000 be raised to support the Packers. This motion was carried unanimously and Mr. Joannes announced that he would appoint a committee immediately to draw up a plan for solicitation of funds and get to work as the money had to be raised within thirty days. It was the consensus of opinion that most of the money would have to be raised among the individuals or firms that were represented at the meeting and the balance obtained in smaller amounts from various sources...PRETTY DULL WITHOUT PACKERS: There were no ifs and ands voiced by those called in to hear the story of the Packers. Once they had a picture of the situation there was no reluctance to launch the steps that will be necessary to keep the team here. Everyone was in favor of doing something about it at once, not talking about it and forgetting the matter until next year. They asked for action - immediate action - on the money raising campaign, and Mr. Joannes assured them that they would get it. "When somebody knocks at your door," he told the crowd, "you'll know what he is there for. Do the best you can." After the meeting broke up, most of the crowd stayed and informally discussed the Packers. One man said to him the Packers and Green Bay were synonymous - just like ham and eggs or pork and beans. "Believe me," he commented, "these autumn afternoon would be pretty dull without the Packers to worry about. Can you imagine Green Bay without the Packers? Well, I can't so I'm going to give every dollar I can." No actual solicitation of funds was made at the meeting, but one man present told Mr. Joannes to put him down for s $250 donation. He is an attorney.
PRO FOOTBALL TEAMS REAP RICH FINANCIAL HARVEST THIS SEASON
DEC 16 (Chicago) - At least five of the ten professional football teams made money this season. This is a better record than professional baseball can boast. The New York Giants, with 46,000 paid for the game which the Bears won, 10 to 9, a month ago, topped the league's attendance records. The Detroit Lions, by virtue of 26,000 in Detroit against the Bears on Thanksgiving Day, and 34,000 three days later in Chicago, pulled out of red ink. The Boston Redskins, owned by a smart businessman and newspaper publisher of Washington D.C., George Marshall, also finished with a profit, it is said. The Green Bay Packers, who hold the league record of three consecutive championships in 1929, 1930 and 1931, also showed a slight margin on the right side of the ledger. The Bears are the big money earners of the league race. This may be questioned, but with the Bears' stock given a value of $76,000 (a figure set automatically by the sale of Ed Sternaman's half share for $38,000 in 1932) the 1934 dividend will probably be near 100 percent. That's big business, and explains why George Halas, controlling stockholder and coach of the ex-champions, figures his franchise in professional football is worth a half million. The other clubs were not as fortunate. Philadelphia may have come mighty close to breaking even. Pittsburgh is making progress. Brooklyn was a small lose, but hopes to capitalize on Manhattan's interest if it can produce a winner. The Chicago Cardinals lost money. Which leaves the St. Louis Gunners as the last of the list. The Gunners took over a National League franchise after the Cincinnati organization failed. St. Louis, with more than 13,000 paid for its opening league game, did not lose. Cincinnati was the loser, but St. Louis, a better sports center, may have luck next year. In any event, a sport which has done as well as professional football did this fall commands attention.
LOOKING UP IN THE REALM OF SPORTS
DEC 18 (Green Bay) - There will be no "adoption" of the Packer professional football club by Milwaukee or any other city. Having nursed and fretted over her "baby" for twelve years, coddling it along through sick, lean years when it looked like it and the league it played in would not survive. Green Bay is not ready to disown it after such a minor setback as has been experienced the past two years. Green Bay saw her club survive through the early struggling years of the National league. She saw and helped it do probably more than any other club in the circuit to popularize the professional game. She saw the team win three consecutive championships, something never before or never since accomplished in football competition...It has been a long, tough climb over many obstacles. Bucked strenuously by many college coaches, jealous of anything that might distract from their personal glorification in great football teams, the professional had to educate fans that their game was not in competition with the college variety, but one that offered good football, without benefit of bands or beauties - in fact a wide-open game that could stand on its own feet as entertainment. It was no easy job. There were many uneasy hours. Leaders in the movement, both in Green Bay and in other cities, occasionally were nearly ready to throw in the sponge. Bad weather, uneven games, poor officiating, all contributed to check the game's advance. Then came the swing the other way, born on a Green Bay club that swept everything before it in 1929. From that date on can be traced a decided upswing in the professional's fortunes. Green Bay repeated in 1930 and the crowds increased. She won again in 1931 and the game continued to grow. Came 1932 and the Chicago Bears carried on when Green Bay was narrowly nosed out...Through 1933 and 1934 the game gained in popular favor by leaps and bounds. Green Bay proudly held her head above water with the strongest teams in the country, despite the fact that circumstances under which she had no control forced the club to operate with one of the smallest payrolls in the league. Today the game has definitely arrived. That it will survive and grow still more is a foregone conclusion. Its possibilities are unlimited. Would Green Bay step down at this time, after weathering much worse storms when the future was dark because of a few thousand dollars? The answer came at a meeting here the other night. Representative industrial and business leaders emphatically said "No" to the question of quitting. They voted unanimously to raise $10,000 to extricate the football corporation from its present financial difficulties and make possible a reorganization to build up the team for another championship. Which is the answer Green Bay should give.
ST. LOUIS MAY LOSE PROFESSIONAL ELEVEN
DEC 18 (St. Louis) - The NFL franchise of the St. Louis Gunners was in jeopardy yesterday as the result of a poor season financially climaxed Sunday with the attachment of an exhibition game's receipts. Ed Butler, president of the Gunners, today said a meeting of interested persons would be held Thursday to determine the future of the franchise. He did not disclose any names, but said several "people from the East" are interest in the possibility of moving the franchise. The president said his club, which acquired the National league franchise from Cincinnati six weeks ago, had lost money this year, in addition to that spent for the franchise. Some of the players remain unpaid, he said, but indicated a reorganization plan, which would straighten out the salary problem, was being considered. The Gunners' financial woes hit a new high Sunday, when their 7 to 0 victory over the Kansas City Blues, American Professional Football league champions, was anticlimaxed by the attachments. The St. Louis Soccer league filed an attachment for $1,350, representing two week' rent on Sportsman's Park, plus court costs; and the federal government filed a $1,700 tax claim for this season and 1933. Thus, of the money taken in at the gate, the Gunners will have nothing left after the Blues receive their full share of $1,620, of which they have been paid $1,200.
COACH LAMBEAU LEAVES FOR EAST-WEST BATTLE
DEC 19 (Green Bay) - Coach E.L. Lambeau of the Green Bay Packer professional football team left Green Bay yesterday afternoon for the Pacific coast where he plans to contact several football players for the 1935 Packer eleven. The coach will attend the annual East-West all-Star game at Kezar stadium, San Francisco, on New Year's day for the benefit of Shriners' hospital for crippled children and then go to Los Angeles to see members of the Stanford and Alabama teams before returning to Green Bay probably the second week in January.
LEAGUE GUARANTEES PAY OF GUNNERS
DEC 21 (Columbus, OH) - Players on the St. Louis Gunners, National Professional Football league team, will be paid their back salaries even if the league has to dig into its own treasury for the funds, Joe F. Carr, president of the loop, said Thursday. The St. Louis club, transferred from Cincinnati in midseason, finished the year in a financial muddle, with the result that the players have not been paid for a couple of weeks.
RECORD CROWDS ATTEND GAMES IN PRO LEAGUE
DEC 22 (Columbus, OH) - The NFL enjoyed its most successful season during 1934. Joe F. Carr, president of the professional football circuit, disclosed in stating that the past season was the ninth straight season in which attendance figures had improved. The 1934 season saw the biggest crowds in the history of the National league, according to President Carr...PLAY BEFORE 820,000: Teams of the National league played to approximately 820,000 customers last season, officials estimated. The figures included the 58 regular scheduled games, the championship tilt between the Chicago Bears and New York Giants and several preseason exhibition contests. The largest pro audience of the season was the 50,000 which saw the Bears and the Giants at the Polo grounds Nov. 18. This was 10,000 more than attended the Giant-Bear playoff Dec. 8, when cold weather held down the attendance. Chicago, with a total of about 150,000 for the home games of the Bears and Cardinals, was next to New York in attendance. Green Bay, with an estimate of 90,000, was third, the figures include exhibition games played by the Packers. The New York Giants, celebrating their tenth season in the pro circuit, annexed the world title and the Ed Thorp Memorial trophy by defeating the Chicago Bears, 30 to 13, in the playoff game between the eastern and western champions. The New York victory ended the two year sway of the Bears as national champions, and marked the second world crown the Giants have won. They captured world laurels in 1927...LIONS ARE SECOND: The Lions, in their initial season in the league, finished second to the Chicago Bears in the western division race after winning ten straight contests. The Boston Redskins were runners-up in the Eastern race while Green Bay took third honors in the west and in the East third place resulted in a deadlock between Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Scoring honors for the circuit went to Jack Manders, Chicago Bears ace kicker, who booted 29 points after touchdown, ten field goals and scored three touchdowns for 77 points, to lead Dutch Clark of Detroit, who was picked as all-league quarter. Ground gaining honors went to Beattie Feathers, Tennessee recruit of the Bears, who piled up a record total of 1,004 yards in eleven games. Bronko Nagurski, Bears fullback, came closest of any player in the circuit to getting universal recognition on the all-star team, only one coach placing him on his second team. Forward passing honors for 1934 went to Arnold Herber of Green Bay, who piled up over 650 yards by aerial but did not eclipse the mark of Harry Newman set in 1933. For effectiveness Clark of Detroit and Ed Danowski of the Giants completed almost half their passes. In receiving passes honors were close with Joe Carter of Philadelphia topping the circuit with 16 caught, while Red Badgro, Giants all-league end, caught 15.
WEST LINE LOOKS STRONGER THAN EAST, SAYS LAMBEAU
DEC 28 (Green Bay) - Coach E.L. Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers sends some "dope" from the West Coast on the personnel of the East and West teams which play at San Francisco, New Years' day, for the benefit of the Shriners' hospital fund. The teams, the pick of the college material that graduates in 1935, have 22 men each and are regarded as exceptionally strong this year, particularly the backfield of the Eastern team, which before Purvis was injured, comprised the Purdue star, Pug Lund of Minnesot, Munjas and Weinstock of Pittsburgh, the Green Bay coach writes. The injury to Purvis, who is definitely out of the game, made necessary a revamping of the Hanley and Kerr's plans and they have shifted Sheppard, a shifty halfback - and the leading scorer in the country this season - from Western Maryland, to Purvis' place. Lepeer, of Northwestern, a lineman, is also practicing in the backfield and may be used at halfback to give Shepard a breathing spell...WEST LINE STRONG: The West line looks stronger than that of East, Lambeau says, the coast men being heavier and more rugged looking, especially Theodoraeous, 259 pound tackle from Washington State. This big tackle is impressive looking and probably would go well in pro football, but indications are that he will not play, at least for a year or two, as he has other irons in the fire, Lambeau says. The Green Bay coach, who made the trip west with the East team and Coach Dick Hanley and Andy Kerr, says that Borden of Fordham, an end, Larson, Minnesota, an end, Pacetti, Wisconsin, a guard, Sheppard, Western Maryland, halfback, Whalen, Northwestern tackle, and Nott, University of Detroit halfback, have about decided to play pro football, but that none has been signed to a contract by any club. Several of them have received quite a number of offenses and are undecided as yet as to which club they will play with. Pug Lund, all-American halfback, almost a unanimous choice of all the football experts, has received many flattering offers to play pro football and to appear in the movies. As a matter of fact, he has so many offers he can't make up his mind about any of them, the coach says. "Lund," Coach Lambeau writes after seeing him in action, "is truly an all-American halfback. He has everything an all-American should have and he obtained top football honors under several handicaps, which included amputation of a finger last August. He played 60 minutes in one game and starred after University doctors had forbidden him to play at all." Purvis, he says, is a great halfback and would make the grade in pro football, but he won't play for a year or two at least as he wants to maintain his amateur status until 1936 as he wants to compete in the Olympic games in Berlin. The Green Bay coach is after two big, rugged tackles and he is determined to get them, wherever they may be. He believes that the addition of two first class tackles would make a great difference in Green Bay's offensive and defensive power and mean the margin between victory and defeat on many occasions. The Packer mentor has his eye on a couple of husky linemen from the south and may sign them for Green Bay, but negotiations so far are only in the conversation stage. However, one can bet his shirt that any tackles signed for next season will be good ones and able to stand the gaff...MET COACH STAGG: Lambeau attended a "welcome" breakfast for the West team at Sacramento Saturday and met Coach Alonzo Stagg, formerly of the University of Chicago, but now football mentor at College of the Pacific. Stagg, he says, although he has been on the coast only two yeas, acts and talks like a native son. The Green Bay coach met Coach Paul Schissler of the Chicago Cardinals in Frisco a few days ago, and Schissler predicted that the Cards would win the NFL championship next year. The Cardinals are playing quite a few post-season game, hoping to weld their football machine into a cohesive and efficient unit, so that it can start the 1935 season with a well drilled squad and thus have a jump on most of the other teams. This, to the Green Bay coach, sounds all right, but he does not think the Cardinals will nose out such teams as the Bears, Giants - and the Packers next year. After the East-West game in Frisco, the Packer coach plans to go to Los Angeles to take with several members of the Alabama and Stanford squads. Alabama has two or three men that he would like to land for Green Bay, and Stanford has at least one man that he wants for the Packers.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
FRANCHISES MOVING: Portsmouth Spartans to Detroit Lions FRANCHISES MOVING DURING SEASON: Cincinnati Reds move to St. Louis Gunners
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 9
PITTSBURGH 13, Cincinnati 0
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
Pittsburgh 1 0 0 1.000 13 0 Detroit 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Brooklyn 0 0 0 .000 0 0 GREEN BAY 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Philadelphia 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Chi Bears 0 0 0 .000 0 0
New York 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Chi Cards 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Boston 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Cincinnati 0 1 0 .000 0 13
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16
GREEN BAY 19, Philadelphia 6 Boston 7, PITTSBURGH 0
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
Boston 1 0 0 1.000 7 0 GREEN BAY 1 0 0 1.000 19 6
Pittsburgh 1 1 0 .500 13 7 Chi Bears 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Brooklyn 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Chi Cards 0 0 0 .000 0 0
New York 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Detroit 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Philadelphia 0 1 0 .000 6 19 Cincinnati 0 1 0 .000 0 13
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23
DETROIT 9, New York 0 Chicago Bears 24, GREEN BAY 10
Chicago Cards 9, Cincinnati 0 at Dayton
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
Boston 1 0 0 1.000 7 0 Detroit 1 0 0 1.000 9 0
Pittsburgh 1 1 0 .500 13 7 Chi Bears 1 0 0 1.000 24 10
Brooklyn 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Chi Cards 1 0 0 1.000 9 0
New York 0 1 0 .000 0 9 GREEN BAY 1 1 0 .500 29 30
Philadelphia 0 1 0 .000 6 19 Cincinnati 0 2 0 .000 0 22
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26
Philadelphia 17, PITTSBURGH 0
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30
BROOKLYN 10, Boston 6 Chicago Bears 21, CINCINNATI 3
DETROIT 6, Chicago Cards 0 Green Bay 20, New York 6 at Milwaukee
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
Brooklyn 1 0 0 1.000 10 6 Detroit 2 0 0 1.000 15 0
Boston 1 1 0 .500 13 10 Chi Bears 2 0 0 1.000 45 13
Philadelphia 1 1 0 .500 23 19 GREEN BAY 2 1 0 .667 49 36
Pittsburgh 1 2 0 .333 13 20 Chi Cards 1 1 0 .500 9 6
New York 0 2 0 .000 6 29 Cincinnati 0 3 0 .000 3 43
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3
New York 14, PITTSBURGH 12
SUNDAY OCTOBER 7
New York 16, BOSTON 13 Chicago Bears 21, BROOKLYN 7
Detroit 3, GREEN BAY 0 Chicago Cards 16, CINCINNATI 0
Pittsburgh 9, PHILADELPHIA 7
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
Brooklyn 1 1 0 .500 17 27 Detroit 3 0 0 1.000 18 0
New York 2 2 0 .500 36 54 Chi Bears 3 0 0 1.000 66 20
Pittsburgh 2 3 0 .400 34 41 Chi Cards 2 1 0 .667 25 6
Philadelphia 1 2 0 .333 30 28 GREEN BAY 2 2 0 .500 49 39
Boston 1 2 0 .333 26 26 Cincinnati 0 4 0 .000 3 59
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 10
Chicago Bears 28, PITTSBURGH 0
SUNDAY OCTOBER 14
NEW YORK 14, Brooklyn 0 BOSTON 39, Pittsburgh 0
Chicago Bears 20, CHICAGO CARDS 0 GREEN BAY 41, Cincinnati 0
Detroit 10, PHILADELPHIA 0
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
New York 3 2 0 .600 50 54 Chi Bears 5 0 0 1.000 114 20
Boston 2 2 0 .500 65 26 Detroit 4 0 0 1.000 28 0
Brooklyn 1 2 0 .333 17 41 GREEN BAY 3 2 0 .600 90 30
Pittsburgh 2 5 0 .286 34 108 Chi Cards 2 2 0 .500 25 26
Philadelphia 1 3 0 .250 30 38 Cincinnati 0 5 0 .000 3 100
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 17
DETROIT 24, Boston 0
SUNDAY OCTOBER 21
NEW YORK 17, Pittsburgh 7 GREEN BAY 15, Chicago Cards 0
BOSTON 6, Philadelphia 0 CHICAGO BEARS 41, Cincinnati 7
MONDAY OCTOBER 22
DETROIT 28, Brooklyn 0
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
New York 4 2 0 .667 67 61 Chi Bears 6 0 0 1.000 155 27
Boston 3 3 0 .500 71 50 Detroit 6 0 0 1.000 80 0
Brooklyn 1 3 0 .250 17 69 GREEN BAY 4 2 0 .667 105 30
Pittsburgh 2 6 0 .250 41 125 Chi Cards 2 3 0 .400 25 41
Philadelphia 1 4 0 .200 30 44 Cincinnati 0 6 0 .000 10 141
SUNDAY OCTOBER 28
NEW YORK 17, Philadelphia 0 BOSTON 9, Chicago Cards 0
CHICAGO BEARS 27, Green Bay 14 BROOKLYN 21, Pittsburgh 3
Detroit 38, Cincinnati 0 at Portsmouth, OH
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
New York 5 2 0 .714 84 61 Chi Bears 7 0 0 1.000 182 41
Boston 4 3 0 .571 80 50 Detroit 7 0 0 1.00 118 0
Brooklyn 2 3 0 .400 38 72 GREEN BAY 4 3 0 .571 119 57
Pittsburgh 2 7 0 .222 44 146 Chi Cards 2 4 0 .333 25 50
Philadelphia 1 5 0 .167 30 61 Cincinnati 0 7 0 .000 10 179
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4
CHICAGO BEARS 27, New York 7 Green Bay 10, BOSTON 0
DETROIT 40, Pittsburgh 7
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
New York 5 3 0 .625 91 88 Chi Bears 8 0 0 1.000 209 48
Boston 4 4 0 .500 80 60 Detroit 8 0 0 1.000 158 7
Brooklyn 2 3 0 .400 38 72 GREEN BAY 5 3 0 .625 129 57
Pittsburgh 2 8 0 .200 51 186 Chi Cards 2 4 0 .333 25 50
Philadelphia 1 5 0 .167 30 61 Cincinnati 0 7 0 .000 10 179
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6
PHILADELPHIA 64, Cincinnati 0 Chicago Cards 21, BROOKLYN 0
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11
Brooklyn 10, PHILADELPHIA 7 NEW YORK 17, Green Bay 3
ST. LOUIS 6, Pittsburgh 0 Chicago Bears 21, BOSTON 0
Detroit 17, CHICAGO CARDS 13
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
New York 6 3 0 .667 108 91 Chi Bears 9 0 0 1.000 230 48
Boston 4 5 0 .444 80 81 Detroit 9 0 0 1.000 175 20
Brooklyn 3 4 0 .429 48 100 GREEN BAY 5 4 0 .556 132 74
Philadelphia 2 6 0 .250 101 71 Chi Cards 3 5 0 .375 59 67
Pittsburgh 2 9 0 .182 51 192 Cin-St.Louis 1 8 0 .111 16 243
On August 8, 1934, before the start of the NFL season, St. Louis purchased the NFL's Cincinnati Reds for $20,000. However, the Gunners needed the other league owners to approve the sale. Only then would the Gunners would be official members. On August 17, the other owners decided to reject the Gunners bid to buy the Reds, probably because St. Louis was considered to be too remote from the rest of the clubs, most of which were in the Northeast, and yearly trips there would have increased travel expenses. Meanwhile, the Gunners declined membership in the minor league American Football League. As a result, the new league decided to form the St. Louis Blues. Gunners GM Bud Yates was credited with founding the team. The Blues lured Dick Frahm away from the Gunners and even took over the lease of Public Schools Stadium. As a result, the Gunners moved their home games to Sportsman's Park. Meanwhile, Chile Walsh became the team's fourth head coach in four years. The Gunners started their 1934 season, 5–0 against several semi-pro teams. The team was searching desperately for decent teams to compete against. However, on November 6, 1934, the NFL finally approved the sale of the Cincinnati Reds to St. Louis for $20,000 – $30,000. The Gunners were now officially members of the NFL and were invited to play the Reds last 3 games of the 1934 NFL season. The Blues then moved to Kansas City two days later in order to avoid fighting the Gunners for control of the St. Louis fan base. (Source: Wikipedia)
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18
Chicago Bears 10, NEW YORK 9
Boston 14, PHILADELPHIA 7
DETROIT 40, St. Louis 7
Brooklyn 10, PITTSBURGH 0
Chicago Cards 9, Green Bay 0 at Milwaukee
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
New York 6 4 0 .600 117 101 Chi Bears 10 0 0 1.000 240 57
Boston 5 5 0 .500 94 88 Detroit 10 0 0 1.000 215 27
Brooklyn 4 4 0 .500 58 100 GREEN BAY 5 5 0 .500 132 83
Philadelphia 2 7 0 .222 108 85 Chi Cards 4 5 0 .444 68 67
Pittsburgh 2 10 0 .167 51 202 Cin-St.Louis 1 9 0 .100 23 283
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 25
NEW YORK 3, Boston 0 Philadelphia 13, BROOKLYN 0
CHI BEARS 17, Chicago Cards 6 Green Bay 3, DETROIT 0
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
X-New York 7 4 0 .636 120 101 Chi Bears 11 0 0 1.000 257 63
Boston 5 6 0 .455 94 91 Detroit 10 1 0 .909 215 30
Brooklyn 4 5 0 .444 58 113 GREEN BAY 6 5 0 .545 135 83
Philadelphia 3 7 0 .300 121 85 Chi Cards 4 6 0 .400 74 84
Pittsburgh 2 10 0 .167 51 202 Cin-St.Louis 1 9 0 .100 23 283
X-Clinched Division Title
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29
New York 27, BROOKLYN 0 Chicago Bears 19, DETROIT 16
CHICAGO CARDS 6, Green Bay 0
SUNDAY DECEMBER 2
BOSTON 13, Brooklyn 3 PHILADELPHIA 6, New York 0
CHICAGO BEARS 10, Detroit 7 Green Bay 21, ST. LOUIS 14
EASTERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION
X-New York 8 5 0 .615 147 107 X-Chi Bears 13 0 0 1.000 286 86
Boston 6 6 0 .500 107 94 Detroit 10 3 0 .769 238 59
Brooklyn 4 7 0 .364 61 153 GREEN BAY 7 6 0 .538 156 112
Philadelphia 4 7 0 .364 127 85 Chi Cards 5 6 0 .455 80 84
Pittsburgh 2 10 0 .167 51 206 Cin-St.Louis 1 10 0 .091 37 304
X-Clinched Division Title
1934 NFL TITLE (December 9 at New York - 35,059)
NEW YORK GIANTS (8-5) 30, CHICAGO BEARS (13-0) 13 - A freezing rain the night before the game froze the Polo Grounds field. After Ray Flaherty, a Giants end, made a remark to Giants' head coach Steve Owen suggesting that sneakers would provide better footing on the frozen playing surface, Owen sent Abe Cohen to Manhattan College to get some sneakers. Cohen arrived in the third quarter with nine pairs of basketball sneakers from the college. The Bears were leading the Giants 13-3 when the Giants switched to the basketball sneakers. Giants quarterback Ed Danowski threw a touchdown pass to Ike Frankian to make the score 13-10 (actually, the pass was intercepted at the Bears' 2-yard line, but Frankian then grabbed the ball out of the defender's hands). On the Giants next drive, running back Ken Strong scored on a 42-yard touchdown run. Later an 11-yard run by Strong was turned into another touchdown for the Giants. Finally the Giants closed it out with Danowski's 9-yard touchdown run. The game ended with the Giants ahead: 30-13.
1934 Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears Program, 1st NFL Thanksgiving Game
In 1934, the owner of the Detroit Lions decided to see if he could get his new team noticed, so he scheduled one of the team's most important games for the holiday, even though there was no tradition of Thanksgiving football in Detroit at the time. The Lions went into the game with a 10-1 record; the Bears were 11-0. The promise of a late-season chance to tie for first in the league, and the opportunity to see it happen on a day off from work, helped tickets sell out. Though the Bears won, the Lions got to keep the tradition of hosting - not least because their owner, a radio executive, had made sure that the game was broadcast nationwide. During the last 80 years, the only Thanksgivings on which the Lions have not hosted were six seasons during World War II. Source: Heritage Auctions
1934 NFL Rule Book (Joe Carr's Personal Copy)
Football Hall of Famer Joe Carr was a giant among men. He played an instrumental role in the founding of the National Football League and in the drawing up of its constitution and by-laws. And as the NFL's first commissioner - from the league's founding until his death - Carr introduced the player contract and reserve clause, and it was under his guiding auspices that the league expanded to major markets, setting the foundation for the popularity and success the it enjoys today. Source: Heritage Auctions
1934 NFL Championship "Sneakers Game" Program Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants
The Bears came into the game riding a nineteen-game winning streak and featured stars Red Grange and Bronko Nagurski. The Giants were trailing 10-3 at halftime on an icy field at the Polo Grounds, when they changed into basketball shoes and exploded offensively in the second half, scoring four touchdowns to win 30-13 in what became known as "The Sneakers Game." Source: Heritage Auctions
CANADIAN FOOTBALL - INTERPROVINCIAL RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION
NOTES: Edward (Red) Tellier of Montreal, who had been suspended for life for attacking George Gilhooley of Regina in the 1931 Grey Cup final, was re-instated. Eastern Intercollegiate Union formally withdrew from Grey Cup competition. The horn was introduced to officiating
SATURDAY OCTOBER 6
Hamilton 9, OTTAWA 1 (5000) - Hamilton dominated from the opening whistle, as their defense kept the Ottawa attack in check. The game was played in a driving rain which turned the field into a muddy mess, slowing down all the runners.
HAMILTON - 6 1 1 1 - 9
OTTAWA - 1 0 0 0 - 1
1st - OTT - Single, Abe Eliowitz kick to Frank Turville for rouge OTT 1-0 1st - HAM - Seymour Wilson, 10-yard pass from Johnny Ferraro (Frank Turville convert) HAM 6-1 2nd - HAM - Single, Turville kick touch-in-goal HAM 7-1 3rd - HAM - Single, Turville kick to Red Morrison for rouge HAM 8-1 4th - HAM - Single, Turville kick touch-in-goal HAM 9-1
MONTREAL 3, Toronto 2 (1500) - Herman Murray, wearing glasses on the field, made a name for himself - recovering a fumble, intercepting two passes and preventing Tommy Burns from scoring a major - in leading Montreal to an opening win in a driving rain which kept the crowd down.
TORONTO - 0 1 1 0 - 2
MONTREAL - 0 3 0 0 - 3
2nd - TOR - Single, Ab Box kick to Johnny Bennett for rouge TOR 1-0 2nd - MON - Single, Bennett kick to Box for rouge TIED 1-1 2nd - MON - Single, Box kick to deadline MON 2-1 2nd - MON - Single, Huck Welch kick to deadline MON 3-1 3rd - TOR - Single, box kick for rouge MON 3-2
Montreal 1 0 0 3 2 2 Toronto 0 1 0 2 3 0
Hamilton 1 0 0 9 1 2 Ottawa 0 1 0 1 9 0
SATURDAY OCTOBER 13
Toronto 12, OTTAWA 1 (10000) - Stung by an opening day defeat to Montreal, the Argos broke into the win column with some of the big names from 1933 making the difference - Jack Taylor, Teddy Morris and Tommy Burns running, Mike Chesepuik kicking his first FG, and Ab Box punting superbly.
TORONTO - 7 4 0 1 - 12
OTTAWA - 0 0 0 1 - 1
1st - TOR - Teddy Morris, 3-yard run (Tommy Burns convert) TOR 6-0 1st - TOR - Single, Ab Box kick to Chris Schearer for rouge TOR 7-0 2nd - TOR - Single, Box kick to Schearer TOR 8-0 2nd - TOR - Mike Chesepuik, 25-yard field goal TOR 11-0 4th - OTT - Single, Abe Eliowitz kick to Box for rouge TOR 11-1 4th - TOR - Single, Box kick to Schearer for rouge TOR 12-1
HAMILTON 8, Montreal 8 (T) (8000) - Gordie Perry announced his retirement some weeks ago, then changed his mind - to Montreal's benefit. Trailing Hamilton 8-5 with seconds to spare, Perry broke away for a 55-yard run, putting the ball right in front of the goal line where Huck Welch kicked a field goal to force the tie.
HAMILTON - 2 0 0 6 - 8
MONTREAL - 0 1 4 3 - 8
1st - HAM - Single, Frank Turville kick to deadline HAM 1-0 1st - HAM - Single, Turville kick to deadline HAM 2-0 2nd - MON - Single, Huck Welch kick to deadline HAM 2-1 3rd - MON - Welch, 15-yard field goal MON 4-2 3rd - MON - Single, Welch kick to Turville for rouge MON 5-2 4th - Johnny Ferraro, 3-yard run (Turville convert) HAM 8-5 4th - MON - Welch, 25-yard field goal TIED 8-8
Montreal 1 0 1 11 10 3 Toronto 1 1 0 14 4 2
Hamilton 1 0 1 17 9 3 Ottawa 0 2 0 2 21 0
SATURDAY OCTOBER 20
Hamilton 17, TORONTO 9 (17000) - Frank Turville kicked the Tigers into first place thanks to two placements, one from 40 yards out, and four singles. Seymour Wilson started the rally when he went nearly the length of the field with a blocked kick early in the second half.
HAMILTON - 1 0 11 5 - 17
TORONTO - 8 1 0 0 - 9
1st - TOR - Paul Clancy, 20-yard return of blocked kick (Tommy Burns convert) TOR 6-0 1st - HAM - Single, Frank Turville kick to Ab Box for rouge TOR 6-1 1st - HAM - Turville kick to Burns for rouge TOR 7-1 1st - TOR - Single, Burns kick touch-in-goal TOR 8-1 2nd - TOR - Single, Box kick to Turville for single TOR 9-1 3rd - HAM - Seymour Wilson, 90-yard return of blocked kick (Turville convert) TOR 9-7 3rd - HAM - Single, Turville kick to deadline TOR 9-8 3rd - HAM - Turville, 37-yard field goal HAM 11-9 3rd - HAM - Single, Turville kick to deadline HAM 12-9 4th - HAM - Jimmy Simpson tackled Armour Munro for safety HAM 14-9 4th - HAM - Turville field goal HAM 17-9
Ottawa 6, MONTREAL 4 (6000) - Abe Eliowitz and Lorne Johnson, playing the first game of the year for the Riders, engineered one brilliant Ottawa drive in the first quarter that ended with a Bernie McNutt major that out the Riders in front to stay.
OTTAWA - 6 0 0 0 - 6
MONTREAL - 3 0 0 1 - 4
1st - MON - Huck Welch, 23-yard field goal MON 3-0 1st - OTT - Bernie McNutt, 1-yard run (Abe Eliowitz convert) OTT 6-3 4th - MON - Single, Welch kick to Lorne Johnson for rouge OTT 6-4
Hamilton 2 0 1 34 18 5 Toronto 1 2 0 23 21 2
Montreal 1 1 1 15 16 3 Ottawa 1 2 0 8 25 2
SATURDAY OCTOBER 27
HAMILTON 3, Toronto 3 (T) (9000) - The Argos saw their last chance at the title nearly fade to nothing thanks to a tie with the Tigers. Hamilton blocked Mike Chesepuik's 12 yard placement attempt in the fourth quarter, and Ab Box kicked a rouge to force the deadlock.
TORONTO - 0 1 1 1 - 3
HAMILTON - 1 0 2 0 - 3
1st - HAM - Single, Frank Turville kick to deadline HAM 1-0 2nd - TOR - Single, Ab Box kick to Wilf Patterson for rouge TIED 1-1 3rd - TOR - Single, Box kick touch-in-goal TOR 2-1 3rd - HAM - Safety, Box tackled in end zone HAM 3-2 4th - TOR - Single, Box kick touch-in-goal TIED 3-3
Montreal 18, OTTAWA 15 (11000) - Montreal survived a furious Ottawa rally to stay in contention for the Big Four title. The Riders scored 12 points on two majors and two conversions in the final frame.
MONTREAL - 11 7 0 0 - 18
OTTAWA - 0 0 3 12 - 15
1st - MON - Stan Ferry, 1-yard run MON 5-0 1st - MON - Kenny Grant, 35-yard fumble return (Huck Welch convert) MON 11-0 2nd - MON - Single, Welch kick to deadline MON 12-0 2nd - MON - Pete Jotkus, 40-yard fumble return (Welch convert) MON 18-0 3rd - OTT - Abe Eliowitz, 37-yard field goal MON 18-3 4th - OTT - Eliowitz, 1-yard run (Eliowitz convert) MON 18-9 4th - OTT - Frank Quinn, 40-yard pass from Lorne Johnson Eliowitz convert) MON 18-15
Hamilton 2 0 2 37 21 6 Toronto 1 2 1 26 24 3
Montreal 2 1 1 33 31 5 Ottawa 1 3 0 23 43 2
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 3
Toronto 14, OTTAWA 6 (5000) - Toronto rode the arm of American QB Square Clark to mathematically remain in contention for the Big Four title. Clark tossed a touchdown pass to Bud Clancy and then tossed a long pass to Jack Taylor to set up another major.
TORONTO - 6 1 6 1 - 14
OTTAWA - 0 0 6 0 - 6
1st - TOR - Bud Clancy, 35-yard pass from Square Clark (Tommy Burns convert) TOR 6-0 2nd - TOR - Single, Ab Box kick to Lorne Johnson for rouge TOR 7-0 3rd - TOR - Single, Box kick to deadline TOR 8-0 3rd - TOR - Jack Taylor, 5-yard run TOR 13-0 3rd - OTT - Dave Sprague, 2-yard run (Abe Eliowitz convert) TOR 13-6 4th - TOR - Single, Box kick for rouge TOR 14-6
MONTREAL 13, Hamilton 0 (9000) - Montreal scored two touchdowns in the first half and that was enough to move the Winged Wheelers into first place with one game to play.
HAMILTON - 0 0 0 0 - 0
MONTREAL - 0 12 0 1 - 13
2nd - MON - Gordie Perry, 25-yard run (Huck Welch convert) MON 6-0 2nd - MON - Single, Welch kick to deadline MON 7-0 2nd - MON - Kennie Grant recovered fumble in end zone MON 12-0 4th - MON - Single, Welch kick to Johnny Ferraro for rouge MON 13-0
Montreal 3 1 1 46 31 7 Toronto 2 2 1 40 30 5
Hamilton 2 1 2 37 34 6 Ottawa 1 4 0 29 57 2
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10
TORONTO 11, Montreal 8 (12000) - Lou Hayman's Argos showed why they were the class of Canadian football in 1933 by knocking Montreal from the top thanks to some veterans like Armour Munro, Teddy Morris, Ab Box and Tommy Burns.
MONTREAL - 7 1 0 0 - 8
TORONTO - 1 1 8 1 - 11
1st - MON - Single, Huck Welch kick MON 1-0 1st - MON - Ken Grant recovered Ab Box fumble in end zone (Huck Welch convert) MON 7-0 1st - TOR - Single, Mike Chepesuik kick for rouge MON 7-1 2nd - MON - Single, Welch kick for rouge MON 8-1 2nd - TOR - Single, Tommy Burns kick for rouge MON 8-2 3rd - TOR - Ab Box kick for rouge MON 8-3 3rd - TOR - Single, Box kick for rouge MON 8-4 3rd - TOR - Teddy Morris, 23-yard run (Burns convert) TOR 10-8 4th - TOR - Single, Box kick to deadline TOR 11-8
HAMILTON 10, Ottawa 5 () - Hamilton returned to the top of the Big Four after a one year absence and earned the right to meet Sarnia for Eastern supremacy. The Tigers built up a ten point lead in the first half then held off an Ottawa rally.
OTTAWA - 0 0 5 0 - 5
HAMILTON - 0 10 0 0 - 10
2nd - HAM - Frank Turville, 25-yard field goal HAM 3-0 2nd - HAM - Single, Turville kick to Lorne Johnson for touch-in-goal HAM 4-0 2nd - HAM - Turville, 55-yard pass from Johnny Ferraro HAM 9-0 2nd - HAM - Single, Bernie Thornton kick to Dave Sprague for rouge HAM 10-0 3rd - OTT - Safety, Jack Craig tackled in end zone HAM 10-2 3rd - OTT - Abe Eliowitz field goal HAM 10-5
Hamilton 3 1 2 47 39 8 Toronto 3 2 1 51 38 7
Montreal 3 2 1 54 42 7 Ottawa 1 5 0 34 67 2
1934 GREY CUP PLAYOFFS
WESTERN SEMIFINALS
THUR NOV 1 - VANCOUVER MERALOMAS 5, University of Alberta 0 (Western Semifinal)
SAT NOV 3 - VANCOUVER MERALOMAS 8, University of Alberta 6 (Western Semifinal)
SAT NOV 3 - REGINA ROUGHRIDERS 8, Winnipeg 'Pegs 0 (Western Semifinal)
WESTERN FINALS
SAT NOV 10 - Regina Roughriders 22, VANCOUVER MERALOMAS 2
MON NOV 12 - Regina Roughriders 7, VANCOUVER MERALOMAS 2
(Regina wins series, 29-4 points)
CIRFU FINAL
SAT NOV 17 - Queens University 8, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO 7 (CIRFU Final)
NOTE: Queens University did not participate after the first game
EASTERN FINAL
SAT NOV 17 - Sarnia Imperials 11, HAMILTON TIGERS 4
1934 GREY CUP GAME (Saturday November 24 at Toronto - ATT: 8,900)
SARNIA IMPERIALS 20, REGINA ROUGHRIDERS 12 - Most experts believed the Sarnia Imperials should have won the Grey Cup in 1933. They made certain the opportunity didn’t slip past them again in 1934. The Imperials, who won nine-straight league titles from 1931 to 1939, won its first Grey Cup title against the Regina Roughriders, who were playing in their seventh final in 12 years. The game was played at Toronto’s Varsity Stadium in ideal football conditions. About 1,000 supporters from Sarnia and other areas in Southwestern Ontario arrived for the game on special trains. Most of the Toronto fans were neutral, but supported the underdog Roughriders as the game progressed. Sarnia had a 5-0 lead at the end of the first quarter on a field goal by Alex Hayes and a pair of rouges off the foot of Bummer Stirling. The Imperials took advantage of a Regina turnover in the second quarter when Terry Olsen mishandled a snap. Sarnia would later score on an extension play as Norman Perry made a lateral pass to Gordie Patterson. The Roughriders answered this touchdown with one of their own before the end of the half. Hugh Stirling fumbled on an attempted kick, and Regina recovered the ball on the Sarnia six-yard line. Olsen carried the ball four yards,
Sarnia Imperials Win the Grey Cup, Twice - By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer (2003)
Half a century after they hung up their cleats for good, the Sarnia Imperials remain the most famous sports team in the city’s history. And with good reason. They were the little team that could. The squad, which operated out of a city with a population of just 18,000 people, battled its way to the Grey Cup game three times in four years during the mid-1930s, winning twice. There are oldtimers who insist the 1934 Imps were the best Canadian football squad ever assembled. Indeed, the Sarnians established a record that year which will probably never be equaled. They posted a perfect 10-0 won-lost record, winning every exhibition, regular schedule and playoff game they played. More impressive still, they were never behind on the scoreboard at any time during the entire season. During seven of the 10 contests, in fact, the Imperials didn’t even allow the opposition to score a touchdown. Overall, the club surrendered only five majors all year. So how did they do it? A key to their success was the fact that Imperial Oil Ltd. was their sponsor. The company lured some of the finest players in the United States to Sarnia by offering them jobs in the local refinery. It’s hard to imagine today, but during the Depression a job at Imperial Oil was worth more than a contract with the fledgling National Football League. Because of that, a player like Orm Beach was willing to turn down the New York Giants in order to suit up with the Imps. Another key to their success was the play of Sarnia native Norm Perry, a future Canadian Football Hall of Famer. When the Imperials won their first Cup in 1934 by defeating the Regina Roughriders, The Observer gave the story lavish coverage. Former Imps lineman Red Wilson, who was the newspaper’s football writer, provided a colourful story. “Paced by the skyscraping hoists of Bummer Stirling, the open field tackling of Orm Beach, the reckless running of Norm Perry and smart generalship of Alex Hayes, the Sarnia twelve was full value for the win,” he told readers. Sarnia had lost the 1935 final to the Toronto Argonauts in a game played at what is now called Norm Perry Park, but the squad drank from the Grey Cup again in 1936 by vanquishing the Ottawa Rough Riders. The Imps continued to thrill Sarnians for years to come, making it to the Eastern Final as recently as 1952. After that, the CFL decided not to let small towns compete, because it feared more Grey Cup wins by Sarnia would tarnish the ‘big league’ image it was striving for. The club’s manager, Maury Chilton, was bitter about the snub for the rest of his life. By the late 1950s, the Imperials had a team “that would have beaten the ears off anything in the CFL if they had let us compete,” he said.
BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR - NOVEMBER 12TH 1934
and then plunged over the line on second down for the major. Sarnia led 11-5 at intermission. Sarnia scored on another turnover in the third quarter. Stirling lifted a kick towards the Regina goal line, which Andy Young caught deep in his zone. As he was tackled, the ball was jarred loose with Johnny Manore pouncing on it for a Sarnia touchdown. Many felt a no-yards penalty should have been issued, but the play stood, giving the Imperials a 17-5 lead at the end of three quarters. Once again in the fourth quarter, Stirling fumbled on a snap, giving Regina possession of the ball. The Roughriders scored their second touchdown when Olsen passed to Steve Adkins for a major. From that point on, Sarnia’s defence shut Regina down. Stirling and Hayes added three singles as Sarnia capped off a perfect season with a Grey Cup championship. It was the last time the Regina Roughriders made it to the Grey Cup until 1951. In its first seven trips, Regina was outscored by the opposition 176-27.
REGINA - 0 5 1 6 - 12
SARNIA - 5 6 6 3 - 20
1st - SAR - Single, Bummer Stirling kick to deadline SAR 1-0 1st - SAR - Alex Hayes, 3-yard field goal SAR 4-0 1st - SAR - Single, Stirling kick to deadline SAR 5-0 2nd - SAR - Gordie Patterson, 11-yard lateral from Norman Perry (Hayes convert) SAR 11-0 2nd - REG - Walter Olsen, 2-yard run SAR 11-5 3rd - SAR - Johnny Manore recovered fumble in end zone (Hayes convert) SAR 17-5 3rd - REG - Single, Paul Kirk kick to Hayes for rouge SAR 17-6 4th - REG - Steve Adkins, 15-yard pass from Olsen (Kirk convert) SAR 17-12 4th - SAR Single, Stirling kick to Ralph Pierce for rouge SAR 18-12 4th - SAR Single, Stirling kick to Pierce for rouge SAR 19-12 4th - SAR - Single, Stirling kick to deadline SAR 20-12