Daily Football History

Football 100 Years Ago – October 18, 1926

By Pigskin Dispatch October 18, 2026 1 min read

An interesting little article from a century ago today pops up in the football records from Delaware. The archives also include fascinating details about football history from October 18, 1926, when new events followed the enforcement of the Blue Law. Apparently, a Blue Law from the days just after the Revolutionary War was enforced against some violators who held a football game on Sunday, October 17, 1926.

Wilmington, Delaware’s Defiance and St. Mary’s teams played a game to test the law, and the Delaware State Troopers arrested multiple individuals, who were taken before a magistrate.

It looks like the law focused on money exchanges for sporting events, since the people arrested were either selling tickets or distributing programs for a small fee. Hopefully, the game sold a lot of tickets and programs, since each offender had to pay a hefty $50 bill to reach bail.

Maryland Blue Law Causes Football Arrests Maryland Blue Law Causes Football Arrests Oct 18, 1926 The Daily Times (Salisbury, Maryland) Newspapers.com

Maryland Blue Law Causes Football Arrests Article from Oct 18, 1926 The Daily Times (Salisbury, Maryland)

You don’t have to worry about these anymore if you attend an NFL home game this season. Learn more on this article.

B/W Gemini AI created image of scene from 1926 where a ticket taker and a program salesman are arrested by Delaware State police at an American football game of the era.
Gemini AI created image of scene from 1926 where a ticket taker and a program salesman are arrested by Delaware State police at an American football game of the era.

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