World Football League Part 2

Author and historian Mark Speck visits the Pigpen to give us a historic walk down memory lane of the World Football League of the mid-1970s. This is part 2 of our chat where Mark shares the highlights of the WFL first season. Join us in this tremendous gridiron history lesson!

It is a privelage to have the opportunity to talk about the World Football League with guest Mark Speck, who has written numerous books on the league. Here is a list of some of the pieces that Mark has authored on the WFL with St Johann Press:

•  World Football League Encyclopedia along with co-writer Tod Maher
•  WIFFLE
•  Nothing But A Brand New Set of Flat Tires
•  …and a dollar short

As you can see, Mark is one of the foremost experts on the WFL and we are honored to have him share his knowledge with us from this interesting startup league of the mid-1970s in the podcast episode above.

Mark is also a fan of other sports including baseball. A few months back he was a guest in the Pigpen on the Sports Jersey Dispatch Podcast where he discussed a baseball publication that he enjoyed as a kid, check it out here Kessler Baseball Fans Guide.

1974 was played pretty much to schedule with the Birmingham club winning the World Bowl. There was a lot of discourse that took place and something needed to change for the league to commence further.

The WFL recognized that things needed to radically change so in stepped Chris Hemmeter, the franchise owner of the Hawaiians as the league's leader. Rplacing Davidson as the commissioner, the Hawaiians boss brought what was referred to as the Hemmeter Plan. This devised course was intended to bring a measure of fiscal stability to the floundering league. It restructured players' salaries to a $500 per game minimum with a profit sharing arrangement with the teams, and a fresh cash infusion from the team owners. These moneys were used to retool the rosters of the franchises with star players, many plucked from the NFL and some high prospect talent of college grads. Big name players such as: Jim Kiick, Bill Bergey, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, Daryle Lamonica, Calvin Hill, Anthony Davis , John Gilliam, Curly Culp, Danny White and more were signed to rosters and futures contracts across the WFL.

For the 1975 season, the WFL looked like this:

• Birmingham Vulcans
• Philadelphia Bell
• Hawaiians
• Memphis Southmen
• Jacksonville Express
• Portland Thunder
• Shreveport Steamers
• Southern California Sun
• Charlotte Hornets - This franchise was owned by our friend Upton Bell!
• Chicago Winds
• San Antonio Wings

Unfortunately after just a partial season of players not receiving funds and fan support dwindling the WFL folded.

The picture in the banner above is of Mark Speck's book on the World Football League, titled  World Football League Encyclopedia along with co-writer Tod Maher, published by St Johann Press.

Special thanks to Mark Speck and the wonderful knowledge he provided. We salute Mark for preserving football history especially the WFL.