Gridiron Finance

Explore a unique footnote in football history: the shift in ownership and financial leadership within the nascent AAFC.
May 28, 1946, marked a significant, albeit perhaps unexpected, shift in the early landscape of professional football with developments within the fledgling All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Sam Cordovano, a partial owner of the Buffalo Bisons franchise, announced his resignation from his ownership stake. Citing the growing demands of his construction business, Cordovano also relinquished his role as the treasurer of the AAFC itself. This decision signaled the challenges faced by some of the early investors in the new league as they balanced their football ventures with existing professional obligations.

In a surprising turn of events, the treasurer's position for the ambitious AAFC was then filled by Eleanor Gehrig, the widow of the legendary New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig. While not directly involved in the football operations, Eleanor Gehrig's assumption of such a key financial role brought a notable figure into the league's administrative structure. Her involvement added a touch of celebrity and perhaps a degree of financial oversight to the burgeoning conference as it sought to establish itself as a viable competitor to the established NFL in the post-World War II sporting landscape. This unique moment underscores the diverse backgrounds and unexpected connections that shaped the early years of professional football leagues in America.