Yellow Jackets History by the Book

July 25, 1924 - Frankford Yellow Jackets franchise is established and plays in the NFL from 1924 through the 1931 season. And where is Frankford you may ask? It is in the northeastern section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The origin of the team actually can be traced back to 1899 as the Frankford Athletic Association. This early FAA had a membership fee of $10 per person., no small fee at that time when the average U.S. weekly wage was less than $13.00! The proceeds of the membership fee was to go to charity. Local charities such as the Frankford Hospital and the local Boy Scouts among others were known to receive donations from the Jackets. The Frankford team won the NFL Championship in 1926. But they were also a part of removing a championship from a rival a year earlier in 1925. The Yellow Jackets protested a non league game that the Pottsville Maroons had played in their territory, Philadelphia, against the Notre Dame All-Stars. This territorial rights issue was invesitgated by the League and the Maroons were found guilty of territory infringement thus they were suspended giving the Chicago Cardinals the 1925 title. Unfortunately in the early 1930's the Jackets slipped into deep financial woes and were sold in bankruptcy court. Our friend Upton Bell though told us in his February 25, 2021 interview that his parents Bert Bell and Francis Upton purchased the struggling franchise and renamed them the Philadelphia Eagles! Please look for information soon on a full story of the Frankford Yellow Jackets and their contributions, players and origins in our Early Pro Football Franchises series.