The Dolly Gray Impostor
Encyclopedia
The Dolly Gray Imposter was an unknown American football
player, who played under the alias of Jack "Dolly" Gray, an end from Princeton University
in 1922. He was rumored to be an All-American honoree in 1922
, however the only known person named Gray to be awarded consensus All-American honors at Princeton in 1922 was Howard "Howdy" Gray. Under the alias of Gray, the impostor played in the National Football League
in 1923 for the St. Louis All-Stars and the Green Bay Packers
.
In 1923, the impostor approached Ollie Kraehe
, the owner and player-coach
of the NFL's St. Louis All-Stars. Kraehe signed him to the All-Stars where the imposter played in three games. After witnessing the poor quality of play in the what he thought was Dolly Gray, an All-American football star at Princeton, Kraehe discovered that he was lied to and that the man claiming to be Dolly Gray was actually an impostor.
However Kraehe decided to pull the deception that had been pulled on him on another team. After a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians, Kraehe released the impostor to Curly Lambeau
and the Green Bay Packers in exchange for cash he desperately needed to keep his team operating. From Lambeau's perspective it appeared that he had gained the best player on the All-Stars roster. Two weeks later, the Packers played the All-Stars at Sportsman's Park
. The game ended in a 3-0 Packer victory. However after the game, Curly Lambeau cornered the St. Louis owner and questioned him about Dolly Gray. According to Lambeau, Gray played in just one game with the Packer and had played poorly. Then, after boarding the train for the team's game in St. Louis, he mysteriously disappeared. Kraehe then admitted to Lambeau that the deal between the two clubs regarding Gray, was a joke. He then explained how the con man deceived his way onto the All-Stars roster. Kraehe then thought that he would try to recycle the trick, on Lambeau, in good fun. And Kraehe finally stated that it had always been his intention to give Lambeau back the money he spent on the impostor.
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, who played under the alias of Jack "Dolly" Gray, an end from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1922. He was rumored to be an All-American honoree in 1922
1922 College Football All-America Team
The 1922 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations in 1922.-All-American selectors:...
, however the only known person named Gray to be awarded consensus All-American honors at Princeton in 1922 was Howard "Howdy" Gray. Under the alias of Gray, the impostor played in 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...
in 1923 for the St. Louis All-Stars and the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.
In 1923, the impostor approached Ollie Kraehe
Ollie Kraehe
Oliver Robert Kraehe was a professional football player for the Rock Island Independents in 1922. In 1923, he founded the St. Louis All Stars and served, not only as a player-coach, but as the team's manager and owner.-St...
, the owner and player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
of the NFL's St. Louis All-Stars. Kraehe signed him to the All-Stars where the imposter played in three games. After witnessing the poor quality of play in the what he thought was Dolly Gray, an All-American football star at Princeton, Kraehe discovered that he was lied to and that the man claiming to be Dolly Gray was actually an impostor.
However Kraehe decided to pull the deception that had been pulled on him on another team. After a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians, Kraehe released the impostor to Curly Lambeau
Curly Lambeau
Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau was founder, player, and first coach of the Green Bay Packers professional American football team...
and the Green Bay Packers in exchange for cash he desperately needed to keep his team operating. From Lambeau's perspective it appeared that he had gained the best player on the All-Stars roster. Two weeks later, the Packers played the All-Stars at Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
. The game ended in a 3-0 Packer victory. However after the game, Curly Lambeau cornered the St. Louis owner and questioned him about Dolly Gray. According to Lambeau, Gray played in just one game with the Packer and had played poorly. Then, after boarding the train for the team's game in St. Louis, he mysteriously disappeared. Kraehe then admitted to Lambeau that the deal between the two clubs regarding Gray, was a joke. He then explained how the con man deceived his way onto the All-Stars roster. Kraehe then thought that he would try to recycle the trick, on Lambeau, in good fun. And Kraehe finally stated that it had always been his intention to give Lambeau back the money he spent on the impostor.