New York (World Series of Football)
Encyclopedia
"New York" was a term given to a professional football
team formed by promoter Tom O'Rouke for the World Series of Football
in 1902. The event was held in New York City
at Madison Square Garden
. It featured five football teams from New York
and New Jersey
: the Syracuse Athletic Club, Orange Athletic Club, Knickerbocker Athletic Club
, Warslow Athletic Club
and "New York". The "New York" team was designed and heavily favored to win the tournament however they were defeated in the opening game by Syracuse.
and Philadelphia Athletics
of the first National Football League
. The team was made up of 8 Phillies and 4 Athletics. It included Charlie Gelbert, Blondy Wallace
, Walter E. Bachman
and Ben Roller
. However the team also featured some recognizable players from New York such as Curly Davidson. By putting together a team of all-stars calling them the "New York" team, O'Rourke expected to give his New York audience the pleasure of watching the "home team" win.
The tournament was scheduled to last three nights starting on December 29 and ending on New Year's Eve. O'Rourke scheduled his tournament by considering the expected strengths of the teams. On opening night, he scheduled the "New York" team against Syracuse. By defeating Syracuse, the "New York" team, O'Rouke hoped, would then defeat the team that would probably bring the fewest fans into the Garden. Then on the second night the Knickerbockers and Warlow would play to determined which team would be beaten by the "New York" team in the series third game. O'Rourke anticipated the this game as having the best attendance of the tourney. Finally the fourth game, by holding out the Orange Athletic Club until the end, he predicted a New York versus New Jersey match-up in which New Jersey would lose a close game to one of the three New York teams.
who conducted daily practices in preparation for the series. Syracuse defeated "New York" in what has been called the first indoor pro football game. The final score of the game was recorded as 6-0, but in reality it was 5-0, since touchdowns only counted for five points in 1902 and Syracuses' Pop Warner
missed the extra point. Warner later suffered a head injury and was replace by "New York's" Blondy Wallace. Syrcause would go on to win the Series with as 36-0 win over the Orange Athletic Club.
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...
team formed by promoter Tom O'Rouke for the World Series of Football
World Series of Football (1902)
The World Series of Football was a series of football games played indoors at New York's Madison Square Garden in 1902 and 1903. It originally comprised five teams, four from New York state and one from New Jersey...
in 1902. The event was held in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden (1890)
Madison Square Garden was an indoor arena in New York City, the second by that name, and the second to be located at 26th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan...
. It featured five football teams from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
: the Syracuse Athletic Club, Orange Athletic Club, Knickerbocker Athletic Club
Knickerbocker Athletic Club football team
The Knickerbocker Athletic Club was an early amateur and later professional football team based in New York City from around 1897 until 1902. The team is best known for participating in the 1902 World Series of Football. During the event, the Knickerbockers defeated the Warslow Athletic Club from...
, Warslow Athletic Club
Warslow Athletic Club
Warslow Athletic Club were an early amateur, and later professional, American football team. The club, based on Long Island, is best remembered for playing in the 1902 World Series of Football, played at Madison Square Garden...
and "New York". The "New York" team was designed and heavily favored to win the tournament however they were defeated in the opening game by Syracuse.
Origins
The "New York" team was comprised by ex-players from the recently defunct Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies (NFL)
The Philadelphia Phillies were a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole league was a curious...
and Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Athletics (NFL)
The Philadelphia Athletics were a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole "league" was a curious...
of the first National Football League
National Football League (1902)
The National Football League was the first attempt at forming a national professional football league in 1902. The league has no ties with the modern National Football League. In fact the league was only composed of teams from Pennsylvania, which was hardly "national". Two of the teams were based...
. The team was made up of 8 Phillies and 4 Athletics. It included Charlie Gelbert, Blondy Wallace
Blondy Wallace
Charles Edgar "Blondy" Wallace was an early professional football player. He was a 240-pound, former Walter Camp second-team All-American tackle from the University of Pennsylvania. He also played two years at Peddie Institute, in New Jersey, winning state championships in 1896 and 1897...
, Walter E. Bachman
Walter E. Bachman
Walter Ellsworth Bachman, Sr. was a college football player and coach. A player at Lafayette College from 1899 until 1901, Bachman developed the "roving center" position for college football. He is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen in Lafayette history...
and Ben Roller
Ben Roller
Dr. Benjamin Franklin Roller was a physician, a professional wrestler and a football player. He played football for the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, Philadelphia Athletic Club and was later a player-coach with the Philadelphia Phillies of the first National Football League. Also in 1902, he played...
. However the team also featured some recognizable players from New York such as Curly Davidson. By putting together a team of all-stars calling them the "New York" team, O'Rourke expected to give his New York audience the pleasure of watching the "home team" win.
The tournament was scheduled to last three nights starting on December 29 and ending on New Year's Eve. O'Rourke scheduled his tournament by considering the expected strengths of the teams. On opening night, he scheduled the "New York" team against Syracuse. By defeating Syracuse, the "New York" team, O'Rouke hoped, would then defeat the team that would probably bring the fewest fans into the Garden. Then on the second night the Knickerbockers and Warlow would play to determined which team would be beaten by the "New York" team in the series third game. O'Rourke anticipated the this game as having the best attendance of the tourney. Finally the fourth game, by holding out the Orange Athletic Club until the end, he predicted a New York versus New Jersey match-up in which New Jersey would lose a close game to one of the three New York teams.
Opening game vs. Syracuse
O'Rourke didn't realize how seriously the Syracuse team took the tournament. The team was put together by Frank "Buck" O'NeillFrank "Buck" O'Neill
Frank J. "Buck" O'Neill was an American football player and coach. He served as head football coach at Colgate University , Syracuse University , and Columbia University , compiling a career college football coaching record of 81–41–8...
who conducted daily practices in preparation for the series. Syracuse defeated "New York" in what has been called the first indoor pro football game. The final score of the game was recorded as 6-0, but in reality it was 5-0, since touchdowns only counted for five points in 1902 and Syracuses' Pop Warner
Pop Warner
Pop Warner refers to*Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner, an early 20th century American college football coach*Pop Warner Little Scholars, a non-profit organization named after the coach that offers youth American football and cheerleading & dance programs...
missed the extra point. Warner later suffered a head injury and was replace by "New York's" Blondy Wallace. Syrcause would go on to win the Series with as 36-0 win over the Orange Athletic Club.