All-America Football Conference All-Star Game
Encyclopedia
The All-America Football Conference
(AAFC) All-Star Game
or Shamrock Bowl was an American football
game played in Houston's old Rice Stadium
on December 17, 1949, between the Cleveland Browns
(the 1949 AAFC Champions) and an all-star selection from the AAFC's other six teams. It was the AAFC's last match before it was merged into the National Football League
(NFL).
The "Shamrock Bowl" was promoted by Texas
oilman Glen McCarthy, who had been seeking a Houston franchise in either the AAFC or NFL. A disappointing crowd of 10,000 braved a rainstorm to watch the final AAFC game, in which the All-Stars defeat the Browns, 12-7.
league which rivaled the established National Football League
(NFL) from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL’s most formidable competitors, the AAFC attracted many of the nation’s best players, produced one of pro football’s greatest teams, and introduced many lasting innovations to the game. However, the AAFC was ultimately unable to sustain itself in competition with the NFL. A major factor in the league's demise was its domination by the Cleveland Browns, who compiled a four-year record of 52-4-3 and won all four AAFC titles.
Today, all-star games in pro football are a well-established tradition, as the NFL has played its Pro Bowl
after every season since 1950. In the late 1940s, however, such games were the exception and not the rule. The NFL played an all-star game following the 1938 through 1942 seasons, but abandoned the series in the midst of World War II
.
The AAFC did not play an all-star game during its relatively successful early years, but did play one following its troubled final season. It was played eight days after the NFL and AAFC agreed to peace terms. Red Strader
coached the All-Stars.
7
Dec. 17, 1949 at Rice Stadium
, Houston, Texas
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
(AAFC) All-Star Game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
or Shamrock Bowl was an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
game played in Houston's old Rice Stadium
Rice Track/Soccer Stadium
Rice Track/Soccer Stadium is a stadium in Houston, Texas. It is primarily used for track and field and soccer for the Rice University Owls. It sits on the location of Rice Field, Rice's old football stadium that was used prior to the opening of Rice Stadium in 1950. The venue held less than 37,000...
on December 17, 1949, between the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(the 1949 AAFC Champions) and an all-star selection from the AAFC's other six teams. It was the AAFC's last match before it was merged into the National Football League
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...
(NFL).
The "Shamrock Bowl" was promoted by Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
oilman Glen McCarthy, who had been seeking a Houston franchise in either the AAFC or NFL. A disappointing crowd of 10,000 braved a rainstorm to watch the final AAFC game, in which the All-Stars defeat the Browns, 12-7.
Background
The AAFC was an American footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
league which rivaled the established National Football League
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...
(NFL) from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL’s most formidable competitors, the AAFC attracted many of the nation’s best players, produced one of pro football’s greatest teams, and introduced many lasting innovations to the game. However, the AAFC was ultimately unable to sustain itself in competition with the NFL. A major factor in the league's demise was its domination by the Cleveland Browns, who compiled a four-year record of 52-4-3 and won all four AAFC titles.
Today, all-star games in pro football are a well-established tradition, as the NFL has played its Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
after every season since 1950. In the late 1940s, however, such games were the exception and not the rule. The NFL played an all-star game following the 1938 through 1942 seasons, but abandoned the series in the midst of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The AAFC did not play an all-star game during its relatively successful early years, but did play one following its troubled final season. It was played eight days after the NFL and AAFC agreed to peace terms. Red Strader
Red Strader
Norman "Red" Strader was a football player and coach who served in both capacities at the collegiate and professional levels. In the college ranks, he spent two years as head coach at St...
coached the All-Stars.
Box scores
AAFC All-Stars 12, Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
7
Dec. 17, 1949 at Rice Stadium
Rice Track/Soccer Stadium
Rice Track/Soccer Stadium is a stadium in Houston, Texas. It is primarily used for track and field and soccer for the Rice University Owls. It sits on the location of Rice Field, Rice's old football stadium that was used prior to the opening of Rice Stadium in 1950. The venue held less than 37,000...
, Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
- Scoring
- AAFC - MutrynChet MutrynChester A. Mutryn was a professional American football halfback and defensive back in the All-America Football Conference and the National Football League....
2 run (AlbertFrankie AlbertFrank Cullen "Frankie" Albert was an American football player. He played as a quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League...
kick failed) - CLE. - Dub Jones 40 pass from GrahamOtto GrahamOtto Everett Graham, Jr. was a professional American football and basketball player who played for the Cleveland Browns in both the All-America Football Conference and National Football League, as well as the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League.-Early life:Born in Waukegan,...
(GrozaLou GrozaLouis Roy Groza was an American football placekicker and offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns....
kick) - AAFC - BaldwinAl BaldwinAlton Baldwin was a professional American football end/defensive back who played in the All-America Football Conference, the National Football League and the Canadian Football League....
23 pass from AlbertFrankie AlbertFrank Cullen "Frankie" Albert was an American football player. He played as a quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League...
(Albert kick failed)
- AAFC - Mutryn