1936 American Football League season
Encyclopedia
The 1936 American Football League season is the first season of the second American Football League, the formation of which was announced by Harry March
, former personnel director of the NFL
's New York Giants
, on December 15, 1935. Fifteen cities bid for charter franchises; on April 11, 1936, franchises were awarded to eight cities: Boston, Cleveland, Jersey City, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, and Syracuse. By mid-summer, Jersey City, Philadelphia, and Providence withdrew; soon afterwards, Rochester was given a franchise, only to have it relocated to Brooklyn, despite the lack of availability of a home stadium at the time.
The league began its existence by raiding NFL rosters for its players, with a new New York Yankees
team signing members of the New York Giants
, the Cleveland Rams
taking Chicago Bears
star Damon Wetzel
as their coach, and the Pittsburgh Americans
snaring members of the crosstown Pirates. On the other hand, eventual AFL champions Boston Shamrocks
pretty much ignored the roster of the crosstown Boston Redskins, while the Brooklyn Tigers and Syracuse Braves
opted for "home grown" talent.
The race to the 1936 AFL championship quickly narrowed down to three teams (Boston, Cleveland, and New York) as the Syracuse team was moved to Rochester after a deafening lack of fan support while it lost almost every game. The former Syracuse Braves became the Rochester Braves in early October 1936 — and folded after their game on November 1. Two weeks later, the Brooklyn Tigers moved to Rochester and became the Rochester Tigers. The two Rochester teams finished in the bottom of the league standings.
In contrast to the following year
, the majority of the AFL had winning records in 1936 (the two Rochester teams had one win combined). The Pittsburgh Americans finished with a 3-2-1 record despite averaging only 2500 fans in the Forbes Field
stands; the Boston Shamrocks (8-3-0) won the title by defeating both the Cleveland Rams (5-2-2) and the New York Yankees (5-3-2) in the season's final weeks.
Harry March
Harry Addison March was an early football historian and promoter, as well as a medical doctor. He also helped organize the National Football League and well as the second American Football League. March is also credited with convincing Tim Mara to purchase an NFL franchise for New York City, which...
, former personnel director of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, on December 15, 1935. Fifteen cities bid for charter franchises; on April 11, 1936, franchises were awarded to eight cities: Boston, Cleveland, Jersey City, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, and Syracuse. By mid-summer, Jersey City, Philadelphia, and Providence withdrew; soon afterwards, Rochester was given a franchise, only to have it relocated to Brooklyn, despite the lack of availability of a home stadium at the time.
The league began its existence by raiding NFL rosters for its players, with a new New York Yankees
New York Yankees (1936 AFL)
The New York Yankees of the second American Football League was the second professional American football team competing under that name. It is unrelated to the Yankees of the first AFL , the Yankees of the third AFL, the Yankees of the American Association and the Yankees of the All America...
team signing members of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Cleveland Rams
Cleveland Rams
The Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League...
taking Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
star Damon Wetzel
Damon Wetzel
Damon "Buzz" Wetzel was a fullback for the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was also the first head coach of the Cleveland Rams when they played in the American Football League....
as their coach, and the Pittsburgh Americans
Pittsburgh Americans
The Pittsburgh Americans were a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1936 until 1937. The team was a member of the major-league American Football League. When plans for the league were announced on November 15, 1935, fifteen cities bid for charter franchises...
snaring members of the crosstown Pirates. On the other hand, eventual AFL champions Boston Shamrocks
Boston Shamrocks (AFL)
The Boston Shamrocks were a professional American football team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The team played in the second American Football League from 1936 to 1937, followed by at least one year as an independent in 1938...
pretty much ignored the roster of the crosstown Boston Redskins, while the Brooklyn Tigers and Syracuse Braves
Syracuse Braves
The Syracuse Braves were a professional American football team that competed in the second American Football League in 1936 and 1937. Coached by Don Irwin and Red Badgro, the Braves played in Municipal Stadium, which had a capacity of only about 10,000 people...
opted for "home grown" talent.
The race to the 1936 AFL championship quickly narrowed down to three teams (Boston, Cleveland, and New York) as the Syracuse team was moved to Rochester after a deafening lack of fan support while it lost almost every game. The former Syracuse Braves became the Rochester Braves in early October 1936 — and folded after their game on November 1. Two weeks later, the Brooklyn Tigers moved to Rochester and became the Rochester Tigers. The two Rochester teams finished in the bottom of the league standings.
In contrast to the following year
1937 American Football League season
The 1937 American Football League season is the second season of the second edition of the AFL. After the folding of the Syracuse/Rochester Braves in the 1936 season and the departure of the Cleveland Rams for the National Football League, the league added the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles...
, the majority of the AFL had winning records in 1936 (the two Rochester teams had one win combined). The Pittsburgh Americans finished with a 3-2-1 record despite averaging only 2500 fans in the Forbes Field
Forbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
stands; the Boston Shamrocks (8-3-0) won the title by defeating both the Cleveland Rams (5-2-2) and the New York Yankees (5-3-2) in the season's final weeks.
Final standings
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Shamrocks Boston Shamrocks (AFL) The Boston Shamrocks were a professional American football team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The team played in the second American Football League from 1936 to 1937, followed by at least one year as an independent in 1938... |
8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 133 | 97 | George Kenneally George Kenneally George Vincent "Gigi" Kenneally, Sr was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Pottsville Maroons, the Boston Bulldogs, the Chicago Cardinals, the Boston Braves, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He attended St... |
| Cleveland Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
5 | 2 | 2 | .714 | 123 | 77 | Damon Wetzel Damon Wetzel Damon "Buzz" Wetzel was a fullback for the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was also the first head coach of the Cleveland Rams when they played in the American Football League.... |
| New York Yankees New York Yankees (1936 AFL) The New York Yankees of the second American Football League was the second professional American football team competing under that name. It is unrelated to the Yankees of the first AFL , the Yankees of the third AFL, the Yankees of the American Association and the Yankees of the All America... |
5 | 3 | 2 | .625 | 75 | 74 | Jack McBride Jack McBride John F. McBride was an American football player who played the positions of halfback, fullback, and quarterback in the National Football League . He was born in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. McBride played collegiately at Syracuse University where he finished second in the nation in scoring in his... |
| Pittsburgh Americans Pittsburgh Americans The Pittsburgh Americans were a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1936 until 1937. The team was a member of the major-league American Football League. When plans for the league were announced on November 15, 1935, fifteen cities bid for charter franchises... |
3 | 2 | 1 | .600 | 78 | 65 | |
| Syracuse/Rochester Braves Syracuse Braves The Syracuse Braves were a professional American football team that competed in the second American Football League in 1936 and 1937. Coached by Don Irwin and Red Badgro, the Braves played in Municipal Stadium, which had a capacity of only about 10,000 people... |
1 | 6 | 0 | .147 | 41 | 113 | Don Irwin Don Irwin Donald Emerson Irwin was an American football running back in the National Football League for the Boston/Washington Redskins. He played college football at Colgate University and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1936 NFL Draft.... , Red Badgro Red Badgro Morris Hiram "Red" Badgro was a professional American football end in the National Football League for the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and the Brooklyn Dodgers... |
| Brooklyn/Rochester Tigers | 0 | 6 | 1 | .000 | 58 | 82 | Mike Palm Mike Palm (American football) Myron Herrick Palm was a professional football player in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He was also a player-coach in 1933 for the NFL's Cincinnati Reds. He was also the owner and head coach of the Brooklyn-Rochester Tigers of the second American Football League from 1936-1937... |
| Results of AFL games - 1936 season |
|---|
WEEK ONE 20 September, Municipal Stadium, Syracuse, New York: Boston Shamrocks 14, Syracuse Braves 3 WEEK TWO 27 September, Triborough Stadium, New York, New York: New York Yankees 13, Syracuse Braves 6 30 September, Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Shamrocks 7, New York Yankees 0 WEEK THREE 4 October, Municipal Stadium, Syracuse: Pittsburgh Americans 27, Syracuse Braves 16 7 October, Fenway Park, Boston: Boston Shamrocks 16, Pittsburgh Americans 7 WEEK FOUR 11 October, Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Rams 26, Syracuse Braves 0 11 October, Fenway Park, Boston: Boston Shamrocks 10, Brooklyn Tigers 6 14 October, Triborough Stadium, New York: New York Yankees 17, Brooklyn Tigers 6 WEEK FIVE 18 October, Municipal Stadium, Syracuse: New York Yankees 13, Syracuse Braves 0 18 October, Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Americans 17, Brooklyn Tigers 13 18 October, Municipal Stadium, Cleveland: Boston Shamrocks 9, Cleveland Rams 0 21 October, Yankee Stadium, New York: New York Yankees 7, Pittsburgh Americans 6 WEEK SIX 25 October, Municipal Stadium, Cleveland: Cleveland Rams 27, New York Yankees 0 25 October, Fenway Park, Boston: Syracuse Braves 16, Boston Shamrocks 7 28 October, Yankee Stadium, New York: Cleveland Rams 0, New York Yankees 0 (tie) WEEK SEVEN 1 November, Municipal Stadium, Cleveland: Pittsburgh Americans 0, Cleveland Rams 0 (tie) 1 November, Yankee Stadium, Brooklyn: New York Yankees 3, Brooklyn Tigers 3 (tie – game moved from Ebbets Field) 1 November, Silver Stadium, Rochester, New York: Boston Shamrocks 13, Rochester Braves 0 (Braves fold after game) WEEK EIGHT 8 November, Forbes Field, Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Americans 14, Boston Shamrocks 6 8 November, Municipal Stadium, Cleveland: Cleveland Rams 15, Brooklyn Tigers 14 11 November, Fenway Park, Boston: Cleveland Rams 34, Boston Shamrocks 26 WEEK NINE 15 November, Yankee Stadium, New York: Boston Shamrocks 12, New York Yankees 7 WEEK TEN 22 November, Municipal Stadium, Cleveland: New York Yankees 15, Cleveland Rams 7 22 November, Silver Stadium, Rochester, New York: Boston Shamrocks 13, Rochester Tigers 10 26 November, Silver Stadium, Rochester: Cleveland Rams 7, Rochester Tigers 6 |
See also
- 1936 NFL season1936 NFL seasonThe 1936 NFL season was the 17th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time since the league was founded, there were no team transactions; neither a club folded nor did a new one join the NFL. 1936 was also the first year in which all league teams played the same number of...
- 1936 Cleveland Rams season1936 Cleveland Rams seasonThe 1936 Cleveland Rams season was the team's only year with the American Football League and the first season in Cleveland.-Schedule:-Standings:...
- 1937 American Football League season1937 American Football League seasonThe 1937 American Football League season is the second season of the second edition of the AFL. After the folding of the Syracuse/Rochester Braves in the 1936 season and the departure of the Cleveland Rams for the National Football League, the league added the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles...