The Cardinals that still exist in the NFL today are the same franchise that helped form organized professional football. We have the expert historian of Chicago football, Joe Ziemba to help us through this franchise's origin and rise to pro ball.
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original apfa teams
The first two seasons of the National Football League the organization was not the NFL. For 1920 and 1921 they flew the banner of the American Professional Football Association (APFA). Pro football's first successful attempt at organizing. Here are the original franchises of the organization.
A Look Back at the Chicago Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals, known for their scorching desert home, boast a rich history that began far from the cactus needles. Their roots trace back to 1898 in Chicago, Illinois, where they started as the amateur Morgan Athletic Club. Soon after, a shipment of faded maroon jerseys, nicknamed "Cardinal red," gave birth to their iconic moniker – the Chicago Cardinals.
The Cardinals became a founding member of the league that evolved into the National Football League (NFL) in 1920. They tasted early success, capturing the 1925 NFL championship. However, the following decades were a mixed bag. While they secured another championship in 1947 with their explosive "Dream Backfield," consistent success proved elusive. The shadow of the more popular Chicago Bears loomed large, making fan support a challenge.
Financial struggles in the late 1950s ultimately led to a move in 1960. St. Louis became their new home, where they remained for nearly three decades. Despite flashes of brilliance, including division titles in the 1970s, a championship remained out of reach.
In 1988, the Cardinals migrated once again, this time settling in Phoenix, Arizona. While they haven't yet replicated their early Chicago glory, they've experienced periods of strong play, reaching the Super Bowl in 2009. The franchise holds a unique distinction: the longest active championship drought in American professional sports, dating back to 1947.
Despite the lack of recent titles, the Cardinals' legacy is undeniable. They are the oldest continuously operating NFL franchise, carrying with them a rich history that began on the streets of Chicago. Their journey across cities reflects the evolution of professional football itself, reminding us of the changing landscape of the sport we love.
Joe Ziemba joins us to tell the origin story of the Chicago Cardinals.
The Cardinals became a founding member of the league that evolved into the National Football League (NFL) in 1920. They tasted early success, capturing the 1925 NFL championship. However, the following decades were a mixed bag. While they secured another championship in 1947 with their explosive "Dream Backfield," consistent success proved elusive. The shadow of the more popular Chicago Bears loomed large, making fan support a challenge.
Financial struggles in the late 1950s ultimately led to a move in 1960. St. Louis became their new home, where they remained for nearly three decades. Despite flashes of brilliance, including division titles in the 1970s, a championship remained out of reach.
In 1988, the Cardinals migrated once again, this time settling in Phoenix, Arizona. While they haven't yet replicated their early Chicago glory, they've experienced periods of strong play, reaching the Super Bowl in 2009. The franchise holds a unique distinction: the longest active championship drought in American professional sports, dating back to 1947.
Despite the lack of recent titles, the Cardinals' legacy is undeniable. They are the oldest continuously operating NFL franchise, carrying with them a rich history that began on the streets of Chicago. Their journey across cities reflects the evolution of professional football itself, reminding us of the changing landscape of the sport we love.
Joe Ziemba joins us to tell the origin story of the Chicago Cardinals.
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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!
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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 other 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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Author Gregg Ficery tells the story of the beginnings of Pro Football through the pro football career of his Great Grandfather, Bob Shiring
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Bears versus Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry
Author Joe Ziemba the master historian of football in Chicago has released another beauty. It is titled Bears versus Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry.
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