Philadelphia Bell
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia Bell was a franchise in the World Football League
, which operated in 1974 and a portion of a season in 1975. The Bell played their home games at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia
. The team logo
was a representation of the Liberty Bell
.
The Bell was one of just two WFL teams that maintained the same ownership in both 1974 and 1975. The group was headed by John B. Kelly, Jr.
, a respected business and sportsman in Philadelphia and part of the well-known Kelly family, which included his sister Grace Kelly
, movie star turned Princess of Monaco
. The major money contributor behind the ownership group was John Bosacco, who came forward during the first season and took over the operations of the franchise. Bosacco believed that the WFL could survive as a league and he was instrumental in the removal of Gary Davidson as commissioner following the 1974 season. Ron Waller was hired as head coach in 1974. Waller was fired during training camp at Glassboro State University (now called Rowan University) in 1975. He was replaced by NFL Hall of Famer Willie Wood for the entirety of the 1975 season.
At first the team seemed to be one of the WFL's most popular teams. They announced a crowd of 55,534 for the home opener, and 64,719 for the second home game. However, when the Bell paid city taxes on the attendance figures two weeks later, it emerged that they had inflated the gate on a scale almost unprecedented in professional sports. Thousands of tickets for the first two games had been sold well below the advertised prices. It turned out that the actual paid attendance for the home opener was only 13,855, while the paid attendance for the second game was only 6,200. The Bell had sold block tickets to various Delaware Valley businesses at a discount, and the tax revenue was not reported. The "Papergate" scandal, as it was dubbed by the press, made the Bell and the WFL look foolish, and proved to be a humiliation from which neither recovered.
During the 1974 season, the Bell finished with a losing season, finishing 9–11. However, they still made the WFL playoffs due to the Charlotte Hornets
' financial problems. Although Charlotte finished a game ahead of Philadelphia at 10–10, the Hornets (who had moved from New York City
midway through the season) could not afford to travel to Orlando
for the game due to poor advance ticket sales, so the Bell advanced in their place. The Blazers defeated the Bell, 18-3.
Despite the Papergate fiasco, the Bell were reckoned as one of the WFL's stronger franchises. They were one of only three teams that met payroll for the entire season, and Bosacco was thought to be one of the only owners capable of fielding a team in 1975.
The Bell had a record of 4–7 in 1975 at the time of the league's dissolution.
Vince Papale
, the inspiration for the 2006 film Invincible
, played wide receiver for the Bell for two seasons prior to his two years with the Philadelphia Eagles
. The Bell's starting quarterback was King Corcoran
, who spent most of his career in the minor leagues due to his refusal to accept a backup quarterback position. Both Papale and Corcoran had recently played in the Seaboard Football League
, the minor league that was active at the time in the area.
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
, which operated in 1974 and a portion of a season in 1975. The Bell played their home games at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, 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,...
. The team logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
was a representation of the Liberty Bell
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House , the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack in 1752, and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY...
.
The Bell was one of just two WFL teams that maintained the same ownership in both 1974 and 1975. The group was headed by John B. Kelly, Jr.
John B. Kelly, Jr.
John Brendan Kelly, Jr. , also known as Kell Kelly or Jack Kelly, was an accomplished oarsman, a four-time Olympian, and an Olympic medal winner. He was also the son of triple Olympic gold medal winner John B. Kelly, Sr. In 1947, Kelly was awarded the James E...
, a respected business and sportsman in Philadelphia and part of the well-known Kelly family, which included his sister Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly
Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of...
, movie star turned Princess of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
. The major money contributor behind the ownership group was John Bosacco, who came forward during the first season and took over the operations of the franchise. Bosacco believed that the WFL could survive as a league and he was instrumental in the removal of Gary Davidson as commissioner following the 1974 season. Ron Waller was hired as head coach in 1974. Waller was fired during training camp at Glassboro State University (now called Rowan University) in 1975. He was replaced by NFL Hall of Famer Willie Wood for the entirety of the 1975 season.
At first the team seemed to be one of the WFL's most popular teams. They announced a crowd of 55,534 for the home opener, and 64,719 for the second home game. However, when the Bell paid city taxes on the attendance figures two weeks later, it emerged that they had inflated the gate on a scale almost unprecedented in professional sports. Thousands of tickets for the first two games had been sold well below the advertised prices. It turned out that the actual paid attendance for the home opener was only 13,855, while the paid attendance for the second game was only 6,200. The Bell had sold block tickets to various Delaware Valley businesses at a discount, and the tax revenue was not reported. The "Papergate" scandal, as it was dubbed by the press, made the Bell and the WFL look foolish, and proved to be a humiliation from which neither recovered.
During the 1974 season, the Bell finished with a losing season, finishing 9–11. However, they still made the WFL playoffs due to the Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (WFL)
The Charlotte Hornets were an American football team in the short-lived World Football League. They were relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, from New York City in the middle of the 1974 season.-History:...
' financial problems. Although Charlotte finished a game ahead of Philadelphia at 10–10, the Hornets (who had moved from 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...
midway through the season) could not afford to travel to Orlando
Orlando
Orlando is a major city in the U.S. state of Florida.Orlando may also refer to-Places:* in Florida** Orlando, a major city** Greater Orlando, the 27th-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
for the game due to poor advance ticket sales, so the Bell advanced in their place. The Blazers defeated the Bell, 18-3.
Despite the Papergate fiasco, the Bell were reckoned as one of the WFL's stronger franchises. They were one of only three teams that met payroll for the entire season, and Bosacco was thought to be one of the only owners capable of fielding a team in 1975.
The Bell had a record of 4–7 in 1975 at the time of the league's dissolution.
Vince Papale
Vince Papale
Vincent Francis Papale is a former professional American football player. He played three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League following two seasons with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League...
, the inspiration for the 2006 film Invincible
Invincible (2006 film)
Invincible is a 2006 family film directed by Ericson Core set in 1976. It is based on the true story of Vince Papale, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976–78. Mark Wahlberg portrays Papale and Greg Kinnear plays Papale's coach, Dick Vermeil...
, played wide receiver for the Bell for two seasons prior to his two years with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The Bell's starting quarterback was King Corcoran
King Corcoran
James Sean Patrick "King" Corcoran was an American football quarterback in the Atlantic Coast Football League, Seaboard Football League, World Football League, and briefly in the American Football League. Corcoran played college football, mostly as a back-up, for the Maryland Terrapins...
, who spent most of his career in the minor leagues due to his refusal to accept a backup quarterback position. Both Papale and Corcoran had recently played in the Seaboard Football League
Seaboard Football League
The Seaboard Football League was a minor American football league that operated from 1971 to 1974. It folded after the 1974 season as a result of the founding of the World Football League, which deprived the league of talent....
, the minor league that was active at the time in the area.