Clarence Spiegel
Encyclopedia
Clarence Adolph Spiegel (July 12, 1898 - May 28, 1970) was a professional football
player in the early 1920s. He played in the early National Football League
for the Evansville Crimson Giants
. He also worked as a promotion manager for about 30 years. Prior to that he was the owner of a family owned and operated furniture store located in Evansville, Indiana
. During World War I
, he served as a private
in the Army
.
Prior to playing with the NFL's Crimson Giants, Spiegel played for a semi-pro
team in 1920, the Evansville Ex-Collegians. When Frank Fausch
created the Crimson Giants in 1920, Spiegel decided to remain with the Ex-Collegians. However the team folded after, Fausch was given the only lease to Evansville's only football stadium, Bosse Field
. Spiegel then joined the Crimson Giants.
A few scheduling errors prevented the team from playing many of their games during the latter half of the 1921 season
, as a result the Crimson Giants' players were not getting paid. Spiegel, and quarterback
Menz Lindsey
, then formed what was known as the "Committee of Five". The Committee then forced management control of the team from Fausch. However Fausch was still the holder of the franchise rights of the Crimson Giants and therefore the owner of the team. Spiegel and Lindsey then reformed the Ex-Collegians in 1922, back by Evansville's baseball association. The new team was called the Evansville Pros. However the team folded after just two games. Speigel then rejoined the Crimson Giants for one game in 1922
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player in the early 1920s. He played in the early National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Evansville Crimson Giants
Evansville Crimson Giants
The Evansville Crimson Giants were a professional American football team based in Evansville, Indiana and were a part of the National Football League in 1921 and 1922. The Giants home games were played at Bosse Field...
. He also worked as a promotion manager for about 30 years. Prior to that he was the owner of a family owned and operated furniture store located in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Prior to playing with the NFL's Crimson Giants, Spiegel played for a semi-pro
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
team in 1920, the Evansville Ex-Collegians. When Frank Fausch
Frank Fausch
Franklin Leo Fausch was a professional football player-coach for the Evansville Crimson Giants of the National Football League in 1921 and 1922. He was also the owner, co-founder, president and general manager of the Crimson Giants during their brief time in the NFL...
created the Crimson Giants in 1920, Spiegel decided to remain with the Ex-Collegians. However the team folded after, Fausch was given the only lease to Evansville's only football stadium, Bosse Field
Bosse Field
Bosse Field, is a baseball stadium located in Evansville, Indiana. Built in 1915, it is the third oldest ballpark used for professional baseball on a regular basis in the country, surpassed only by Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago.It is the current home of the Frontier League...
. Spiegel then joined the Crimson Giants.
A few scheduling errors prevented the team from playing many of their games during the latter half of the 1921 season
1921 NFL season
The 1921 APFA season was the 2nd regular season of the National Football League, which was then called the American Professional Football Association....
, as a result the Crimson Giants' players were not getting paid. Spiegel, and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Menz Lindsey
Menz Lindsey
Ellis Menzies Lindsey was an attorney as well as a professional football player in the early 1920s. Lindsey was a quarterback for the Evansville Crimson Giants of the National Football League in 1921. He was also a co-manager of the semi-pro Evansville Ex-Collegians in 1920, before joining the...
, then formed what was known as the "Committee of Five". The Committee then forced management control of the team from Fausch. However Fausch was still the holder of the franchise rights of the Crimson Giants and therefore the owner of the team. Spiegel and Lindsey then reformed the Ex-Collegians in 1922, back by Evansville's baseball association. The new team was called the Evansville Pros. However the team folded after just two games. Speigel then rejoined the Crimson Giants for one game in 1922
1922 NFL season
The 1922 NFL season was the 3rd regular season of what was now called National Football League . The NFL fielded 18 teams during the season, including new league teams such as the Milwaukee Badgers, the Oorang Indians, the Racine Legion, and the Toledo Maroons...
.