Harry Mattos
Encyclopedia
Harry Mattos nickname
d "The Horse" or "The Toe", was an American football
halfback
in the National Football League
(NFL) for the Green Bay Packers
and the Cleveland Rams
. He played college football
at the St. Mary's College of California. In 1934, Mattos threw for two touchdown
passes in a 14-9 win over Fordham University
.
teams. With the Braves, Mattos was used mainly as a passer, throwing for two touchdown
s in three games before a broken leg ended his season.
Mattos started the next year in the NFL, with the Green Bay Packers. However the Packers, with an already solid backfield, dropped him early in the season. As a result Mattos signed with the Cleveland Rams
, who were still members of the second American Football League, a competing major league. The Rams used Mattos as a running back and as a wide receiver and as a kicker, to leading the league in scoring. Mattos kicking ability earned him the nickname “The Toe.” He also caught two touchdown catches that season. Mattos helped the Rams battle the Boston Shamrocks
for first place in the league, however the Rams had to settle for a second place finish. However Mattos earned the respect of the media. A Boston sportswriter, used a different nickname each time he mentioned Mattos. One such nickname was Harry “Nothing” Mattos.
The Rams moved into the NFL and Mattos went with them. Even though the NFL confederation gave the membership to the same team owner, this NFL franchise officially became a detach entity because only four players of the team joined the NFL that was newly launched. No personnel of the team joined the NFL league. The four players were Mike Sebastian
, Stan Pincura
, Bud Cooper
and Harry Mattos.
However in midseason he went back to the AFL, where he finished the season with the Cincinnati Bengals
, doing most of his work as a passer. The AFL folded in the after the season.
. However, like with Green bay, their backfield was already too talented and he was waived just before the season started. Giants founder, Tim Mara
, however sent him to the Giants’ new farm team in Jersey City
, where he starred in the backfield with Ken Strong
as the Jersey City Giants swept to the American Association
title. Mattos was used as a running back, and led the league in touchdown passes and finished second to Strong in the balloting for the team’s MVP, however somehow failed to make the league all-star team.
A year later in 1939, another cut by the Giants resulted in Mattos being sent back to Jersey City. Mattos relinquished his role as a passer and played mostly as a running back. He then made the second all-league team as the Little Giants marched to a 7-3-1 record but failed to repeat as champions. In 1940 Jersey City found itself with an abundance running backs but short of passers. Mattos shifted his role from that of a rusher to a passer.
was igned by the team, there wasn’t much need for Mattos. As a result he was traded in midseason to the Paterson Panthers, where he led the team in a late drive that earned them second place, behind the Giants. He finished third in the league in passing yards and earned an honorable mention on the all-star team.
In 1941 Mattos played the full season with Paterson, and led the American Association in completions and passing yardage and made the first all-league team as the Panthers repeated their second-place finish of a year earlier. However manning shortages related to World War II
closed down the American Association. Paterson fielded an independent team in 1942, however Mattos wasn’t among those who turned out.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "The Horse" or "The Toe", 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...
halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
in 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) for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and the 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,...
. He played 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...
at the St. Mary's College of California. In 1934, Mattos threw for two touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
passes in a 14-9 win over Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
.
Hollywood Braves
After graduating from St. Mary’s in 1935, Mattos signed with the Hollywood Braves of the American Legion Football League, a league of area Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
teams. With the Braves, Mattos was used mainly as a passer, throwing for two touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s in three games before a broken leg ended his season.
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...
, who were still members of the second American Football League, a competing major league. The Rams used Mattos as a running back and as a wide receiver and as a kicker, to leading the league in scoring. Mattos kicking ability earned him the nickname “The Toe.” He also caught two touchdown catches that season. Mattos helped the Rams battle the Boston Shamrocks
Boston Shamrocks
The Boston Shamrocks can be:* , a Ladies Gaelic Football Team*Boston Shamrocks , an American football team*Boston Shamrocks , a basketball exhibition team...
for first place in the league, however the Rams had to settle for a second place finish. However Mattos earned the respect of the media. A Boston sportswriter, used a different nickname each time he mentioned Mattos. One such nickname was Harry “Nothing” Mattos.
The Rams moved into the NFL and Mattos went with them. Even though the NFL confederation gave the membership to the same team owner, this NFL franchise officially became a detach entity because only four players of the team joined the NFL that was newly launched. No personnel of the team joined the NFL league. The four players were Mike Sebastian
Mike Sebastian
Michael John "Lefty" Sebastian, aka Rose of Sharon was an American football halfback in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Cleveland Rams...
, Stan Pincura
Stan Pincura
Stan Pincura was an American football back in the National Football League for the Cleveland Rams. He played college football at the Ohio State University. Pincura was born in Lorain, Ohio. After high school, Pincura attended Ohio State...
, Bud Cooper
Bud Cooper
William Gordon Cooper played college football at Penn State. After college in 1936 he became a fullback in the National Football League for the Cleveland Rams, who the played in the second American Football League. When the Rams moved into the NFL in 1937, and Cooper went with them...
and Harry Mattos.
However in midseason he went back to the AFL, where he finished the season with the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals (AFL)
Cincinnati Bengals was the name of a short-lived professional football team that played in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is unrelated to the current Cincinnati Bengals. Originated by Hal Pennington , the team was formed as a member of the second American Football League in the 1937 season...
, doing most of his work as a passer. The AFL folded in the after the season.
Little Giants
Mattos then signed on with the New York GiantsNew 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...
. However, like with Green bay, their backfield was already too talented and he was waived just before the season started. Giants founder, Tim Mara
Tim Mara
Timothy James "Tim" Mara was the founder and administrator for the New York Giants of the National Football League. The Giants', under Mara, would win NFL championships in 1934, 1938, and 1956 and divisional titles in 1933, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1946, 1958, 1959.-Early life:Mara was born into poverty...
, however sent him to the Giants’ new farm team in Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, where he starred in the backfield with Ken Strong
Ken Strong
Elmer Kenneth Strong, Jr. was a college and professional American football player. After a college career as multi-year All-American at New York University, he went on to play professional football. As a halfback with a 14-year career he played from 1929–1937, 1939, 1944-1947...
as the Jersey City Giants swept to the American Association
American Association (football)
The American Association was a professional American football league based in New York City. Founded in 1936 as a minor league with teams in New York and New Jersey, the AA extended its reach to Providence, Rhode Island prior to the onset of World War II...
title. Mattos was used as a running back, and led the league in touchdown passes and finished second to Strong in the balloting for the team’s MVP, however somehow failed to make the league all-star team.
A year later in 1939, another cut by the Giants resulted in Mattos being sent back to Jersey City. Mattos relinquished his role as a passer and played mostly as a running back. He then made the second all-league team as the Little Giants marched to a 7-3-1 record but failed to repeat as champions. In 1940 Jersey City found itself with an abundance running backs but short of passers. Mattos shifted his role from that of a rusher to a passer.
Paterson Panthers
The Little Giants got off to a slow start in 1940, and when Ed DanowskiEd Danowski
Edward Frank Danowski was an American football player who played quarterback and halfback in the National Football League. Danowski played for the New York Giants for seven seasons and quarterbacked the team when they won the 1934 and 1938 NFL Championship Games...
was igned by the team, there wasn’t much need for Mattos. As a result he was traded in midseason to the Paterson Panthers, where he led the team in a late drive that earned them second place, behind the Giants. He finished third in the league in passing yards and earned an honorable mention on the all-star team.
In 1941 Mattos played the full season with Paterson, and led the American Association in completions and passing yardage and made the first all-league team as the Panthers repeated their second-place finish of a year earlier. However manning shortages related to 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...
closed down the American Association. Paterson fielded an independent team in 1942, however Mattos wasn’t among those who turned out.