Glassport Odds
Encyclopedia
The Glassport Odds were a professional, later semi-professional football
team from Glassport, Pennsylvania
from 1913 until 1950.
After World War I
, from 1919 to 1921, Glassport Odds held a reputation for being one of the fastest teams in independent football. In 1925, the Odds were undefeated during the regular season, however the team then played the 27th Ward Traders for the independent championship of Western Pennsylvania
. The first game ended in a tie, while the second was won by the Traders by a score of 13-3.
In the 1930s, the Odds played against many of the early professional football teams from Pennsylvania, most notable the McKeesport Olympics
. In 1935, the Odds won the semi-professional Allegheny County League.
The Odds had two of their most formidable teams in 1940 and 1941. Prior to these successful seasons, a lack of interest by the people of Glassport and poor equipment almost caused the team to disband. However an earnest endeavor by coach Steve Zurenda and manager Joe Trunzo, with financial aid by Joe Witkowski, kept the team together. In 1942, the Odds had another successful year, posting a 9-2 record, while battling the Stowe-Rox Cadets to a scoreless tie.
Prior to the 1943 season, the entire squad of 22 players were drafted
into the United States military to fight in World War II
. Undaunted, the Odds were forced to field one of their youngest teams. However the team still recorded a successful season by posting a 6-1-1 record. The team's only loss in 1943 was to the Army Engineers of Carnegie Tech
, a team that consisted of several former college football
stars. In 1944, the Odds joined the Honus Wagner Conference. In 1947, the Odds merged, taking under its wing an infant of one season, the Glassport Semi-Pros.
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...
team from Glassport, Pennsylvania
Glassport, Pennsylvania
Glassport is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately south of Pittsburgh and the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers where they form the Ohio River...
from 1913 until 1950.
History
The Odds were organized in 1913 under the leadership of Victor Jaskolski, who coached, and Joseph Pazick, who managed the team. Over half of the players on the team were of Polish descent. One of the most well-known players for the Odds was Samuel Arthur Weiss.After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, from 1919 to 1921, Glassport Odds held a reputation for being one of the fastest teams in independent football. In 1925, the Odds were undefeated during the regular season, however the team then played the 27th Ward Traders for the independent championship of Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
. The first game ended in a tie, while the second was won by the Traders by a score of 13-3.
In the 1930s, the Odds played against many of the early professional football teams from Pennsylvania, most notable the McKeesport Olympics
McKeesport Olympics
The McKeesport Olympics were a professional football team from McKeesport, Pennsylvania from 1896 until around 1940. The Olympics were considered one of the top football teams in Pennsylvania from 1910 until 1919....
. In 1935, the Odds won the semi-professional Allegheny County League.
The Odds had two of their most formidable teams in 1940 and 1941. Prior to these successful seasons, a lack of interest by the people of Glassport and poor equipment almost caused the team to disband. However an earnest endeavor by coach Steve Zurenda and manager Joe Trunzo, with financial aid by Joe Witkowski, kept the team together. In 1942, the Odds had another successful year, posting a 9-2 record, while battling the Stowe-Rox Cadets to a scoreless tie.
Prior to the 1943 season, the entire squad of 22 players were drafted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
into the United States military to fight in 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...
. Undaunted, the Odds were forced to field one of their youngest teams. However the team still recorded a successful season by posting a 6-1-1 record. The team's only loss in 1943 was to the Army Engineers of Carnegie Tech
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
, a team that consisted of several former college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
stars. In 1944, the Odds joined the Honus Wagner Conference. In 1947, the Odds merged, taking under its wing an infant of one season, the Glassport Semi-Pros.