1927 New York Yankees (NFL) season

1927 New York Yankees season
Pyle in 1926
OwnerC.C. Pyle
Head coachRalph Scott
Home fieldYankee Stadium
Results
Record7–8–1
Division place6th NFL
Playoff finishNo playoffs until 1932

The 1927 New York Yankees season was their inaugural season in the National Football League (NFL). The team played just four of their 16 games at home in Yankee Stadium. The Yankees finished 7–8–1, good for sixth in the 12-team league.[1]

History

Star backs for the 1927 Yankees, "Red" Grange and "Wild Bill" Kelly. Grange's action during the year was limited.

C.C. "Charlie" Pyle was a theater operator in Champaign, Illinois who in 1925 entered the world of sports entertainment by promoting a exhibition games featuring a local sensation of his acquaintance, Illinois running back Red Grange. After acting as an agent to get Grange signed with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL), in 1926 Pyle established a team of his own, the New York Yankees, seeking admission to the NFL. When his application was rejected, Pyle sprung into action establishing a rival league, the American Football League in 1926. Sailing was not smooth and the league lasted one season before folding.

Pyle then successfully joined the NFL for the 1927 season, bringing aboard the popular Grange as a player and part owner of the team. In an effort to bolster the star-power of his team, in July he added a star passer to the roster, All-American University of Montana tailback Wild Bill Kelly.[2]

As one of only twelve teams in the league and in a position to split the lucrative New York City market with Tim Mara's fledgling New York Giants, Pyle had high expectations of financial success going into his first NFL year, telling one journalist that he hoped to clear $50,000 for his efforts.[3]

According to Pyle, Yankee linemen were paid somewhat better than the norm — $100 to $200 per game — while stars made more.[3] Pyle said that he carried 21 men on the roster, although only 18 were eligible in a given week due to league rules.[3] His expenses ran approximately $3,500 per week, he reckoned.[3]

To cover this cost there was a single revenue stream — the stadium gate. This ultimately proved inadequate, leading to the club's termination following the 1928 season.

Schedule

Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources
1 October 2 at Dayton Triangles W 6–3 1–0 Triangle Park 6,000+ Recap [4][5]
2 October 9 vs. Cleveland Bulldogs W 13–7 2–0 Dinan Field
(Detroit, Michigan) 		20,000 Recap [6][7]
3 October 12 at Buffalo Bisons W 19–8 3–0 Bison Stadium 3,500 Recap [8]
4 October 16 at Chicago Bears L 0–12 3–1 Wrigley Field 20,000 Recap
5 October 23 at Green Bay Packers L 0–13 3–2 City Stadium 11,000 Recap
6 October 30 at Chicago Cardinals W 7–6 4–2 Soldier Field 15,000 Recap
7 November 6 at Cleveland Bulldogs L 0–15 4–3 Luna Bowl 2,500 Recap
8 November 8 Chicago Bears W 26–6 5–3 Yankee Stadium 10,000 Recap
9 November 11 at Pottsville Maroons W 19–12 6–3 Minersville Park Recap [9][10]
10 November 13 Chicago Cardinals W 20–6 7–3 Yankee Stadium 24,000 [11] Recap [12]
11 November 24 Cleveland Bulldogs L 19–30 7–4 Yankee Stadium 15,000 Recap
12 November 27 at Providence Steam Roller L 7–14 7–5 Cycledrome 10,000 Recap
13 December 3 Providence Steam Roller L 0–9 7–6 Archbold Stadium 5,000 Recap
14 December 4 at New York Giants L 0–14 7–7 Polo Grounds 10,000 Recap
15 December 10 at Frankford Yellow Jackets T 6–6 7–7–1 Frankford Stadium 7,000 Recap [13]
16 December 11 New York Giants L 0–13 7–8–1 Yankee Stadium 5,000 [14] Recap [15][16]

Game summaries

Game 1: at Dayton Triangles

An all-time record crowd of more than 6,000 spectators assembled at Dayton's Triangle Park to see Red Grange and the New York Yankees open the 1927 NFL season of the Dayton Triangles.[4] A defensive battle ensued, in which "The Galloping Ghost" was held to just 8 total yards from scrimmage on the day.[4] Earl Britton of Dayton hit a 40-yard field goal in the second period to give the home team a 3–0 lead in the evenly-matched contest.[17] That proved insufficient however, as in the third quarter a 77-yard punt return down the sideline[4] by Yankee back Bullet Baker, who was pulled down on the 2-yard line, set up a series ending in a touchdown plunge by fullback Wes Fry.[5] This would prove to be the final score in a 6–3 New York victory.

Game 2: vs. Cleveland Bulldogs at Detroit

The meeting of legendary Illinois runner Red Grange and Michigan passing marvel Benny Friedman — future NFL Hall of Famers both — was eagerly anticipated as the New York Yankees traveled to Detroit to take on the Cleveland Bulldogs.[6] With the shuttering of the Detroit Panthers franchise after the 1926 season, this would be the only National League game held in the Motor City in 1927.[6] The second quarter was where the Yankees did their damage, scoring their first touchdown after a drive featuring several solid runs by Bo Molenda, consummated by Bullet Baker taking the ball the last 8 yards with two runs for the score.[7] A second TD followed when speedy Eddie Tryon scooped a Bulldog fumble on the Cleveland 20 and ran it back for six more points and a 13–0 halftime lead.[7] Cleveland answered as the second half opened, with Benny Friedman grabbing an interception of a long pass before connecting four times for 40 yards as part of the ensuing touchdown drive.[7] That ended the scoring, however, and New York escaped with a 13–7 victory.

Standings

The presence of Red Grange on the roster was an important draw for the 1927 New York Yankees.
NFL standings
W L T PCT PF PA STK
New York Giants 11 1 1 .917 197 20 W9
Green Bay Packers 7 2 1 .778 113 43 W1
Chicago Bears 9 3 2 .750 149 98 W2
Cleveland Bulldogs 8 4 1 .667 209 107 W5
Providence Steam Roller 8 5 1 .615 105 88 W3
New York Yankees 7 8 1 .467 142 174 L4
Frankford Yellow Jackets 6 9 3 .400 152 166 L1
Pottsville Maroons 5 8 0 .385 80 163 L1
Chicago Cardinals 3 7 1 .300 69 134 L1
Dayton Triangles 1 6 1 .143 15 57 L4
Duluth Eskimos 1 8 0 .111 68 134 L7
Buffalo Bisons 0 5 0 .000 8 123 L5
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References

  1. ^ 1927 New York Yankees
  2. ^ "Wild Bill Kelly to Play with Grange," Brooklyn Daily Times, July 15, 1927, p. 15.
  3. ^ a b c d Frank Getty, "Professional Football Has Paid Its Own Way," Brooklyn Daily Times, Nov. 7, 1927, p. 3A.
  4. ^ a b c d Bob Husted, "The Referee: Grid Immortals Meet Prior to Yankee Game at Dayton Triangles," Dayton Herald, Oct. 3, 1927, p. 14.
  5. ^ a b Simon Burick, "Six Thousand Fans Watch Good Pro Grid Game But Go Home Disappointed: Grange's Spectacular Dashes Are Missing as He is Stopped by Locals," Dayton Daily News, Oct. 3, 1927, p. 9.
  6. ^ a b c "Pro Football Teams Ready: Red Grange's Yankees and Benny Friedman's Bulldogs at Dinan Field Today," Detroit Free Press, Oct. 9, 1927, p. 22.
  7. ^ a b c d "Grange's Team Triumphs Over Bulldogs, 13–7: Benny Friedman and Illinois Star Flash Old Form in Professional Game," Detroit Free Press, Oct. 10, 1927, pp. 18, 20.
  8. ^ Alfred H. Cohen, "Local Pro Season Gets Underway Here Wednesday: Yankees and Bisons on Edge for Game," Buffalo News, Oct. 11, 1927, p. 30.
  9. ^ "Tryon's 78-Yard Run Gives Grange's Team Win Over Pottsville: Famous Redhead Plays Only Six Minutes in New York Yankees' 19–12 Victory," Reading Times, Nov. 12, 1927, p. 16.
  10. ^ "Yankees Held 19 to 12 Lead," Pottsville Republican, Nov. 12, 1927, p. 9.
  11. ^ Pro Football reference has the attendance at 10,000.
  12. ^ C.A. Lovett, "Grange Clan Downs Cards, 20–6: Eddie Tryon's Play Features Yankee Victory," New York Daily News, Nov. 14, 1927, p. 34.
  13. ^ "Frankford Ties with New York Yankees: Grangemen Tie by Last Period Score in Frigid Struggle," Philadelphia Inquirer, Dec. 11, 1927, sports p. 1-2.
  14. ^ Pro Football Reference has the attendance at 8,000.
  15. ^ "Yankees Plan Air Attack on Mara's Gridiron Giants: Hinkie Haines Will Do Passing for Champs," New York Daily News, Dec. 10, 1927, p. 26.
  16. ^ Will Murphy, "Grid Giants Beat Yanks: Haggerty's Return of Punts Leads to Two Touchdowns, 13–0," New York Daily News, Dec. 12, 1927, p. 32.
  17. ^ "New York Yankees at Dayton Triangles - October 2nd, 1927," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com