New York Yankees (NFL)
Encyclopedia
The New York Yankees were a short-lived professional American football
team from 1926 to 1928. The team was a member of the first American Football League
in 1926, and later the National Football League
from 1927-1928. They played their home games at Yankee Stadium. The team featured Red Grange
at running back.
. During the early 1920's, Grange was the star attraction for the Bears, in fact he was the greatest attraction in the history of football and his play had done a lot to promote the fledgling NFL. However Red's agent, Grange's services, his agent, C. C. "Cash and Carry" Pyle
challenged the Bears owner George Halas
in 1926, by stating that Red's contract was owned by himself, and not Halas. Pyle then approached Halas to demand for Grange a generous salary and one-third ownership of the Bears. Halas refused.
Pyle then took his quest for an NFL franchise to the NFL's 1926 winter meeting. There he showed to the other owners that he had the rights to Grange. As a result he wanted an NFL team of his own and he wanted it in New York City's
Yankee Stadium. If he would be denied, Pyle threatened to start his own league. However a market in the New York market wasn't available. Tim Mara
held exclusive NFL rights to the New York Giants
. Mara had just struggled through his first year as an owner, and was saved from financial disaster ironically by Grange's exhibition appearance. Nearing the end of their first season, the Giants had gone largely unnoticed by New York fans and newspapers, and Giants' owner Tim Mara was deeply in the red. But Grange's appearance drew 73,000 people to the Polo Grounds
; in one afternoon Mara was in the black financially, and professional football had gained new respect among New York's influential sportswriters. Now Pyle wanted to take away half of Mara's market.
to watch the Yankees play the Philadelphia Quakers
. In comparison an NFL game a week later in the same stadium
between the Frankford Yellow Jackets
and the New York Giants drew only 10,000. However the league would still fold at the end of the season. However Pyle's Yankees were given the NFL franchise that was asked for in the first place.
. Although the Brooklyn Horsemen
disbanded after its last NFL game, the team's franchise was never withdrawn or cancelled by the league. New York Giants owner Tim Mara was awarded the Horsemen franchise in payment of a debt and proceeded to lease it to C. C. Pyle for his New York Yankees team. The agreement between the two rivals limited the number of home games that the Yankees were permitted to play in its namesake stadium (four in 1927) and forced to be primarily a road team
displaying the talents of Red Grange. This arrangement lasted for two years: the Yankees were no more after the 1928 season. Grange played for the Yankees in 1927, however he sat out the season with a bad leg, and then returned to the Bears where he played until 1934. He then coached the Bears from 1942 until 1948.
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 from 1926 to 1928. The team was a member of the first American Football League
American Football League (1926)
The first American Football League , sometimes called AFL I, AFLG, or the Grange League, was a professional American football league that operated in 1926. It was the first major competitor to the National Football League. Founded by C. C...
in 1926, and later the 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...
from 1927-1928. They played their home games at Yankee Stadium. The team featured Red Grange
Red Grange
Harold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", was a college and professional American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and for the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League...
at running back.
Challenge to the NFL
The Yankees arose as a result of a contract dispute between Grange and his previous team, the NFL's Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. During the early 1920's, Grange was the star attraction for the Bears, in fact he was the greatest attraction in the history of football and his play had done a lot to promote the fledgling NFL. However Red's agent, Grange's services, his agent, C. C. "Cash and Carry" Pyle
C. C. Pyle
Charles C. "C. C." Pyle , often called Cash and Carry Pyle, was a Champaign, Illinois theater owner and sports agent who represented American football star Red Grange and French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen...
challenged the Bears owner George Halas
George Halas
George Stanley Halas, Sr. , nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was a player, coach, owner and pioneer in professional American football. He was the iconic longtime leader of the NFL's Chicago Bears...
in 1926, by stating that Red's contract was owned by himself, and not Halas. Pyle then approached Halas to demand for Grange a generous salary and one-third ownership of the Bears. Halas refused.
Pyle then took his quest for an NFL franchise to the NFL's 1926 winter meeting. There he showed to the other owners that he had the rights to Grange. As a result he wanted an NFL team of his own and he wanted it in New York City's
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...
Yankee Stadium. If he would be denied, Pyle threatened to start his own league. However a market in the New York market wasn't available. Tim Mara
Tim Mara
Timothy James "Tim" Mara was the founder and administrator for the New York Giants of the National Football League. The Giants', under Mara, would win NFL championships in 1934, 1938, and 1956 and divisional titles in 1933, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1946, 1958, 1959.-Early life:Mara was born into poverty...
held exclusive NFL rights to the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Mara had just struggled through his first year as an owner, and was saved from financial disaster ironically by Grange's exhibition appearance. Nearing the end of their first season, the Giants had gone largely unnoticed by New York fans and newspapers, and Giants' owner Tim Mara was deeply in the red. But Grange's appearance drew 73,000 people to the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
; in one afternoon Mara was in the black financially, and professional football had gained new respect among New York's influential sportswriters. Now Pyle wanted to take away half of Mara's market.
Brooklyn compromise
The other franchise owners backed Mara, however they didn't want to lose Grange and his drawing power. They were well aware of what a game against Grange could mean to their finances. They were also aware that Pyle might actually carry out a threat to start a new league if they refused his request. As a result, the league proposed a compromise. It was proposed that Pyle could have his "New York" franchise but it would be located in Brooklyn, which was a part of New York City. However Pyle had already gone ahead and rented Yankee Stadium, and that was where he intended to play. Rejecting the NFL's offer, he set out to make good on his threat. With his new New York Yankees franchise as its flagship, Pyle put together a league called the American Football League.1926 season
Once the league was under way, Grange lived up to his reputation and drew well wherever he played. 22,000 spectators turned out in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
to watch the Yankees play the Philadelphia Quakers
Philadelphia Quakers (AFL)
Not to be confused with the defunct Philadelphia Quakers team of the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia Quakers baseball team who became the Philadelphia Phillies in 1890 or the University of Pennsylvania athletics teams, the Pennsylvania Quakers....
. In comparison an NFL game a week later in the same stadium
Frankford Stadium
Frankford Stadium was a football field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was the home of the Frankford Yellow Jackets football team of the National Football League, which predated the Philadelphia Eagles. The stadium was also known as Yellow Jacket Field.The stadium, located at Frankford Avenue...
between the Frankford Yellow Jackets
Frankford Yellow Jackets
The Frankford Yellow Jackets were a professional American football team, part of the National Football League from 1924 to 1931, though its origin dates back to as early as 1899 with the Frankford Athletic Association. The Yellow Jackets won the NFL championship in 1926...
and the New York Giants drew only 10,000. However the league would still fold at the end of the season. However Pyle's Yankees were given the NFL franchise that was asked for in the first place.
NFL and decline
While the bulk of the AFL disappeared at the demise of the league, two members had an official existence after the 1926 season1926 American Football League season
The 1926 American Football League season is the only season of the existence of the first American Football League. It started with nine teams, with the initial game of the season being played in front of 22,000 fans in Cleveland, Ohio, but by the end of the season , only four teams were still in...
. Although the Brooklyn Horsemen
Brooklyn Horsemen
The Brooklyn Horsemen was a professional football team that competed in the American Football League during the 1926 season.On November 12, 1926, the team withdrew from the AFL and merged with Brooklyn Lions of the National Football League. The new team created by the merger was initially called...
disbanded after its last NFL game, the team's franchise was never withdrawn or cancelled by the league. New York Giants owner Tim Mara was awarded the Horsemen franchise in payment of a debt and proceeded to lease it to C. C. Pyle for his New York Yankees team. The agreement between the two rivals limited the number of home games that the Yankees were permitted to play in its namesake stadium (four in 1927) and forced to be primarily a road team
Traveling team
In professional team sports, a traveling team is a member of a professional league that never or rarely competes in its home arena or stadium. This differs from a barnstorming team in that the latter does not compete within a league or association framework...
displaying the talents of Red Grange. This arrangement lasted for two years: the Yankees were no more after the 1928 season. Grange played for the Yankees in 1927, however he sat out the season with a bad leg, and then returned to the Bears where he played until 1934. He then coached the Bears from 1942 until 1948.
Pro Football Hall of Famers
- Morris Badgro
- Ray FlahertyRay FlahertyRaymond Paul Flaherty was a professional football player in the National Football League from 1926-1935. He was the head coach of the Boston/Washington Redskins from 1936–1942, where he won four division titles and two NFL Championships . Flaherty served in the United States Navy until 1945...
- Harold "Red" Grange
- Mike MichalskeMike MichalskeAugust Mike Michalske was an American football player and coach. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964....
Season-by-season
| Year | W | L | T | Finish | Coach | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2nd | Ralph Scott Ralph Scott (American football) Ralph Vernon Scott was a professional football player in the first American Football League and the National Football League for the Chicago Staleys-Bears and the New York Yankees. Scott was a member of the 1921 Chicago Staleys APFA Championship team. In 1926 C. C. Pyle, began the AFL after a... |
AFL |
| Moved to National Football League | ||||||
| 1927 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 6th | Ralph Scott Ralph Scott (American football) Ralph Vernon Scott was a professional football player in the first American Football League and the National Football League for the Chicago Staleys-Bears and the New York Yankees. Scott was a member of the 1921 Chicago Staleys APFA Championship team. In 1926 C. C. Pyle, began the AFL after a... |
NFL |
| 1928 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 7th | Dick Rauch Dick Rauch Richard Harvie Rauch was an American football player and coach in the United States. Rauch attended Penn State University. He was a player-coach for the Boston Bulldogs, New York Yankees and the Maroons over the course of his four-year career. Rauch made his professional debut in the National... |
NFL |