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Scheduled 1919 Meeting to Organize...

Our Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the day is from the Akron-Beacon on July 15, 1919 with...

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.
EVENTDAY | July 14

"Scheduled 1919 Meeting to Organize Pro Football"

Last updated 📅 2025-07-13

Our Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the day is from the Akron-Beacon on July 15, 1919 with their headline of:

McGinnis Joins with Indians: One Professional Football Team will be put in the field in Akron
The article states that six cities were represented at a meeting of professional footballers in Canton, Ohio. Cleveland, Youngstown, Massillon, Columbus, Akron, and Canton were all represented, and intentions of participation were sent by teams from Toledo and Dayton who were unable to attend the Monday evening meeting. A second meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, in Akron to discuss scheduling games in the Ohio League. The article says this would be the first time that teams would play under scheduled games and that the winner of the Ohio League would be crowned World Champions.

Author Chris Willis, in his book The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr, contends that the second meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, never occurred, as after football had been interrupted due to World War I for a couple of seasons, the teams were just happy to be playing again.

The teams that were represented at this football meeting in Canton at the Courtland Hotel were the new owner of the Canton Bulldogs, auto dealer Ralph Hay, Mac Maginnis of the Akron Pros, Jack Donahue and Jack Whalen of the Massillon Tigers, Joe Dunn of the Minneapolis Marines, Walter H. Flanigan of the Rock Island Independents, Curly Lambeau of Green Bay, Hammond All-Stars and of course Joe Carr as the envoy of the Columbus Panhandles among others according to Chris Willis. The meeting was initially intended to garner interest in starting an official pro circuit league, but when teams could not even agree on the principles of salary restrictions, the meeting adjourned, and they all went their separate ways, scheduling teams that they could, independent from each other.

Though on the surface this meeting appeared to be a flop in organizing a formal league, it set the stage for the beginnings of the American Professional Football Association that would organize one year later. Yes, part of that being the September 17, 1920, meeting in Hay’s Hupmobile Showroom. For more on how to get a copy of Chris Willis' great book on Joe Carr click here.

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EventDay

"July 14 Gridiron History"

July 14th marks a pivotal date in gridiron history, showcasing groundbreaking technological advancements and significant franchise developments. From the very first color television sports broadcast setting a precedent for vivid game presentation to the formation of early professional football franchises, this day highlights football's constant evolution and its growing impact on American culture.
This mid-July date also celebrates the enduring legacies of several notable football figures. It marks the birthday of Robin Olds, a College Football Hall of Fame tackle for Army, renowned not only for his gridiron prowess but also his decorated military career. We also celebrate Riley Smith, a legendary quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide and later a professional star for the Washington Redskins, who showcased versatility by wearing multiple jersey numbers. Brad Rowland, a College Football Hall of Fame halfback from McMurry, and Bill Royce, a formidable defensive end for Ashland, also share this birthday, representing excellence at various levels of the sport. Beyond individual achievements, this day reflects broader trends in football's development. It touches upon the origins of what would become the NFL, with scheduled meetings that aimed to organize professional football in its earliest days...

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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. _________________________

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