winklogo200.png

The Portsmouth Spartans Were Sold...

1934 - From the archives of gridiron history, a pivotal moment captured in the Zanesville Signal's March...

Greatest Pro Team
Who was the MOST DOMINANT team in Pro Football History? We have the answer in the latest Pigskin Dispatch book

The World's Greatest Pro Gridiron Team

FREE Daily Sports History
You are only seconds away from receiving the Pigpen's Newsletter everyday filled with new items

SUBSCRIBE BY CLICKING _________________________  
We have placed some product links on this page. If you purchase by clicking on them, we will get a commission to use to help with operating costs.
Football History

"The Portsmouth Spartans Were Sold and Became the Detroit Lions"

Last updated 📅 2025-03-24

1934 - From the archives of gridiron history, a pivotal moment captured in the Zanesville Signal's March 25, 1934 edition: 'Portsmouth Spartans Sold to Detroit Syndicate.'

Image courtesy of "THECLIO.COM"

This headline heralds the events of March 24, 1934, a day that reshaped the NFL landscape. George Richards, a prominent Detroit radio magnate and owner of WJR, spearheaded a syndicate that acquired the struggling Portsmouth Spartans.

Seeking a larger stage, Richards relocated the franchise to the Motor City, transforming them into the Detroit Lions. As SportsTeamHistory.com recounts, the 'Lions' moniker was chosen to resonate with the city's beloved baseball team, the Tigers, marking the birth of a football legacy in Detroit.

  • TITLE: The Portsmouth Spartans Were Sold and Became the Detroit Lions
  • EVENTDAY: March 24
  • FOOTBALL TEAM: Detroit Lions

College HOF

"Elmer Layden From Football Horseman to NFL President"

Elmer Layden's football career can be summarized in three distinct chapters: his playing days as a bruising fullback for Notre Dame (1922-1925), As College Coach (1925-1941), and his later role as the executive of the NFL.
  • TITLE: Elmer Layden From Football Horseman to NFL President
  • FOOTBALL NAME: Elmer Layden, Four Horsemen of Notre Dame
  • FOOTBALL POSITION: NFL Commissioner
  • FOOTBALL TEAM: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
  • SPORTS: College Football, Football
Layden had an amazing career in football, covering almost every aspect of the sport on multiple levels. He had an impact and made a name for himself at almost every stop along the way...

EventDay

"March 24 Football History"

March, a month of burgeoning spring, also marks a crucial period in the chronicles of American football, a time when the echoes of past glories resonate. The 24th day, in particular, is unique in this narrative, a date interwoven with the threads of gridiron legacy. It's a moment to pause and reflect on the profound influence of those who shaped the sport.
  • TITLE: March 24 Football History
  • DOB: March 24
  • EVENTDAY: March 24
  • FOOTBALL MONTH: March History
Join us as we explore the legacies that define gridiron greatness. We'll commemorate the milestones and triumphs that solidified their place in football lore...

Proud to Support The Professional Football Researchers Association
To learn more about joining the go to The Official PFRA Website. _________________________

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer
We invite you to take a ride through 1920's sports history in the audio drama that takes the listener through the sounds and legendary events of the era through the eyes of a young newspaper journalist. You will feel like you were there! Brought to you by Number 80 Productions and Pigskin Dispatch _________________________

Sports Jersey Dispatch
If you like remembering players of the NFL by their numbers then you may also enjoy going uniform number by number in othre team sports as well. We have it for you on our other website in baseball, basketball, hockey and more on the Sports Jersey Dispatch. _________________________