The 1906 Scandal: Massillon v. Canton Scandals in Football History

In this edition of the Football History Scandals we discuss the Massillon Tigers and the Canton Athletic Club Scandal of 1906.

When we look back at the power houses in the mythical Ohio League of pro football in the early 20th-Century the team names of the Canton Bulldogs and the Massillon Tigers pop up regulary as contenders for being called the best pro team. We have talked about these two towns before and their very heated football rivalry that started at the professional level back in the day and has carried over to the high school level as well as the preservation of football history to this very day.

The boiling of controversy starts

According to a fantastic article by the Professional Football Researchers Association titled, Ohio Tiger trap and the Biggest Football Scandal Ever: 1906, the rivalry of these two Eastern Ohio towns started hitting new heights soon after the 1905 game between the two teams. A Cleveland Plain Dealer article in late 1905 stated that the Canton Athletic Club was darn near bankkrupt and had defaulted on paying its players their final salary payment for 1905. A man named George Williams who managed the Canton team denied the allegation and insisted all debts of the club team were paid in full and on time. Williams and others from Canton believed this was a dirty tactic to discredit the Bulldogs so that players would be reluctant to sign with them in the future for fear of not getting compensated. Now I use the term Bulldog in association with Canton very loosely here, The moniker was not directly put with the team until late in 1906. They were most ooften referred to in the papers as "the red and white" of the Canton A.C. Surely  the deed couldn't have been done by Massillon Manager JJ Wise as he was considered a very honorable man, even in Canton. All signs pointed to the Tigers Coach Edward J. Stewart who many considered just dastardly enough to pull off a stunt  like this, and who also had many connections in the world of newspaper journalism. It was asumed that Stewart brilliantly leaked this to a writer in nearby Cleveland to not only throw the scent off of himself and Massillon but to also get it in the largest publication around the area too.

The books of Canton supported the story of falling short on funds as the meager gate receipts were far less than the payroll reported. The same could be said for Massillon too but both towns had some very supportive business people that would often be known to kick in some cash to their hometown teams to keep the rivalry alive. As the PFRA article says:

"No matter what 1905 had cost, it wasn't so much that either side was ready to throw in the towel. Both planned to go whole hog in 1906. "

The paying of players might not have been their biggest problem going into the 1906 season though. That was the very same time when College Football was brought to its knees by the cries of many opponents stating that football was too rough of a game as injuries and deaths in 1905 were staggering according to reports of the day. However the the same action by President Theodore Roosevelt that save the collegiate level game save the pros as well and reform at all levels was mandated to tame the game, and reduce severe injuries and deaths. These were the shortening of the games to 60 minutes, eliminating mass momentum plays by requiring seven men on the offfensive line at the snap, establishing the neutral zone and finally to get offenses to open up the game encouraging running to the outside and even a new concept of a legal forward pass.

Pro Football 1906

Things got worse for the rivalry when it was announced the well respected Jacob Wise would be stepping down as manager of the Tigers to care for some personal matters and that Ed Stewart, considered to be underhanded and crooked, would serve as its manager of the team. Massillon was also suspicious of the Bulldogs when they learned that four former Tigers would be lining up on the Canton side of the ball this season. The Bulldogs had a shady character at the helm in the eyes of many, a guy we have talked about many times before, Blondy Wallace. The PFRA article states:

"Wallace convinced quarterback Jack Hayden, tackle Jack Lang, guard Herman Kerchoffe, and end Clark Schrontz that they'd be happier in
Canton. Schrontz had been the Tigers' field captain, Hayden and Lang were solid pros, and Kerchoffe was widely regarded as the world's greatest lineman."

Massillon was no slouch even after losing these four kep players to their rival. Bob Shiring solidified the middle of the line with his size and power and Tiny Maxwell, the man who's picture in the paper when he played for Swarthmore put Roosevelt into actively reforming the game, Ted Nesser from the famous Nesser brothers of Columbus, Walter P. East and a new quarterback George Peggy Parratt. Parratt played for Case University the year prior and was embroiled in another scandal we will talk about soon. Peggy had a secert weapon as he had been practicing tossing the ball forward when it was learned the rules would allow it. it is said that Parratt threw one of the first legal professional forward passses for Massillon that season. Walter East who showed great promise running the ball was preleased before the end of the season when the Tigers singed most of the 1905 University of Wisconsin backfield.

Both teams dominated all opponents they faced that season, and it is extremely unfortunate that the two sides never could agree to a scheduled meeting of their teams on the field of play in 1906. All reports say that they both needed the game or even two games with each other to help climb out of the hole of heavy payrolls. Then it finally happened, the Canton Morning News of October 22 posted this:

"This agreement made the 20th day of October, 1906, by and between C.E. Wallace, Jr., of Canton, Ohio, party of the first part, and the Massillon Athletic club (otherwise known as the Tiger Football team), unincorporated association of Massillon, Ohio, party of the second...  That the parties hereto agree that their regularly organized football teams shall play two games of football with each other ... and shall share equally the gate receipts."

It was game on, and more conscessions were made to ensure that the Canton versus Latrobe game would be played and not interfered with prior to the two scheduled Massillon  vs. Canton games were played in November. Also each team would post $3000 in guarantee money that they would each show up for the scheduled contests.

Blondy Wallace took his team to State College Pennsylvania to prepare for the games and even got some additional instruction from Penn States head Coach Tom Fennell on the use of the forward pass, including practice drills.  Massillon stayed at home and prepared diligently themselves. This was a big game and both sides appeared to be ready tangle. Even the press coverage was unprecedented as it was reported that the Bell Telephone company had hired extra men stationed at strategic places to wire developements of the game all around the country via telegraph. The first game lived up the all the hype as Canton won 10-5 with Massillon's only points coming from a Tiny Maxwell scoop and score of a Canton A.C. fumble. The second game would commence a week later.

Ed Stweart pronounced that he would play with the same men that had lost to Canton the week before despite rumors that the Tigers were recruting Willie Heston and Walter Eckersoll, two of the top players of the era. Stewart did however produce a ball manufatured by Victor that he wanted used in the game. Canton complained and wanted to use the ball used normally  in games made by Spalding. Stwewart would not come off of the use of the Victor ball and so the choice was presented to Blondy Wallace; either forfiet the game and the $3000 posted as a guarantee or play the game with the Victor ball. Stewart had set his trap and the Victor ball was at the heart of his strategy for game two. You see the Victor was a few ounces lighter than the Spalding model. He swapped Peggy Parratt to an end and shifted Homer Davidson to quarterback. it wasn't that Davidson was a better signal caller or even a passer but for the mere fact that he was a better punter than Parratt.

The combination of the lighter ball and Davidson's catapult leg proved to make a difference as he sailed six punts over the head of the Canton Safety Jack Hayden. Canton tried to counter by punting on first down but it was fruitless as Davidson had a much stronger leg than anyone on the Bulldog roster and thus Massillon gained field psotion everytime on this exchange. The other new strategy for Massillon in game two was that their offense attacked the edges instead of the middle like they did in game one. These tactics finally worked as the Tigers scored a first half touchdown to lead 5-0 at the half.

Canton made their halftime adjustments and raced down the field with the help of a rare completed pass and scored a TD with a successful extra point to take a 6-5 lead. Massillon again took control of the ball on a drive that went deep into Canton territiry, but lost a fumble near the goal line. As was customary in this era when a team was in the shadow of their own goal line, Canton wanted to punt themselves out of trouble. A powerful rush by Massillon on the play though knocked one of the bulldogs tackles into the path of the ball and the kick careened off of him back through the goal line for a safety, Massillon took the lead back 7-6. This was the breaking point for Canton, they gave up another Tiger touchdown and lost the State Title to Massillon by the tune of 13-6.

Of course as the case in most big ball games there were some high stake wagers won and lost on the contest. Tensions were high and there were even some altercations broke up by the police that evening at some local watering holes. The big fight though would start a couple of days later on Monday morning when in the Massillon Independent newspaper it was reported that  Ed Stewart charged that Blondy Wallace and others tried to bribe some of Massillon's players to throw the contest. When their attempts failed, it is speculated by many that Wallace instructed a few of his own players to throw the game and let Massillon win so as to capitalize on some lucrative bets they made on a Tigers victory. Distonguished historian, Dr. Harry March in his book  titled; Pro Football: Its "Ups" and "Downs", wrote this:

"After the second game, the Massillon Independent openly accused Wallace of trying to frame the games with the Massillon players and failing in this, had persuaded one Canton player to deliberately cross up his fellows and throw the game. When accused by his team-mates this player said he had simply obeyed orders as he was accustomed to do. At any rate he left town hurriedly, on the first train, in his playing togs -- his belongings following later -- maybe. Wallace sued the Massillon paper for libel but they had the evidence and the case was soon withdrawn, his own attorneys admitting the hopelessness of their contention."

Dr,. March would know too as he was there in Canton and involved with the football team of the Canton A.C. before he went on to help make the New York Giants franchise a viable franchise in the 1920s. March reaclled that End Eddie Wood left town in a hurry when it was learned that Wallace was the one  convinced to do the deeds that would ensure a Massillon victory at the orders of Blondy Wallace, while other members of the bulldogs were unaware of the treachory. Wallace was grilled by a mob of fans , t but he cool Wallace easily explained away all of the suspicious matters including the use of Wood at end instead of the reliable Gilchrist who as injured. The fans left seemingly satisfied with Blondy's explanations. 

What the throng of accusing fans had forgotten was that Stewart said that a few of his players had been approached to throw the game, and not theo other way around. Reports soon surfaced that Walter East had approached Bob Shiring and Tiny Maxwell and both Massillon players immediately reported the incident. This incident however took place in the first game and was repoted to have been nipped in the bud. This now explains better why Walter East may have been released by the club after having such a banner season.

The scandalous rumors ended up causing only a small crowd to show up for the previously scheduled Latrobe at Canton game. The Bulldogs lost the gate money they so despeately needed. Blondy Wallace was broke and in an effort to climb out of the hole he filed law suits for libel against the Massillon newspaper, Stewart and others to the tune of $25,000.

The Bulldog players had not been paid and many were stuck in canton without funds to return home. Many of the Massillon eleven went to Canton and helped put on a third benefit bowl to raise needed funding for these players but only about 500 fans showed up.

Then came a bombshell as Walter East returned to canton with a story that said it was Wightman, the coach of Massillon that approached East with the scheme to solicit Shiring and Maxwell to throw the game. it was not Wallace at all according to his account, and that Stewart released his made up version to the papers to saboutage the Latrobe vs. Canton game's gate to bankrupt Canton. Furthermore East provided a signed contract to the Akron Beacon where Wightman promised $4000 to have the game thrown and the signatures of  East, Wightman and an owner of the Akron baseball team John T. Windsor were on it. Windsor backed east's story and the tables were now turned. Windsoor said he had never even met Blondy Wallace before so how could he be a part of the scandal.

Stewart turned around and covered his coach by saying that the signed contract was part of the sting to catch East and Windsor and their attempted "fix."

Thus this controversial scandal and the subsequent accusations made it so that Canton and Massillon would not play against each on on the football field for almost a decade thereafter. Our friend Gregg Ficery has more on this interesting story with some undisclosed proof that gets to the heart of the scandal and whom was at the cuase of it all in his upcoming book Gridiron Legacy.

The picture in the banner above is from the Wikimedia Commons and shows the 1906 Canton Bulldogs.  (Back L-R) Jack Ernst, Clark Schrontz, Tom Thorpe, Dave Cure, Blondy Wallace, Ed Murphy, "Bullet" Riley and Townsend (Front L-R) Sheldon, Jack Lang, Reemsnyder, Vince Stevenson, "Pop" Sweet and Paul Steinberg.