Haven-Villa of Winter Haven
Encyclopedia
The Haven-Villa of Winter Haven was a professional football
team based in Winter Haven, Florida
in 1926. While the team originated as a successful local team. However the team was taken over by members of the Tampa Cardinals
, featuring Jim Thorpe
, and later the Millville Big Blue, a pro club from Millville, New Jersey
, when the teams played a series of exhibition games in the winter of 1926.
, it had scheduled a game against Haven-Villa. However the day of the game, Thorpe and several of the other Cardinals, fresh off of a loss against Red Grange
and the Chicago Bears
of the National Football League
, showed up in the Haven-Villa line-up. The game resulted in a lopsided 28-6 victory for Millville. The win, however, proved costly, as Gyp Downey, the team's star kicker, suffered a fractured collar bone, ending his season. The Millville newspapers reported prior to the game that Red Grange would be officiating the game, however there were no reports of Grange doing so. Jim Thorpe also did not play in the game, probably due to his age and health issues, however several of his old teammates from the NFL did play. Those players include Pete Calac
, Joe Little Twig
and Rube Ursella
.
to square-off against a local club known as the Palm Beach Evergladers led by Jim Kendrick
, a regular with the NFL's Buffalo All-Americans. Prior to the game, Palm Beach was reportedly undefeated in seven previous outings and touted as the Southern professional champions. However, Winter Haven still rolled to a 16-0 victory.
Two days later the Villas were on the road for the first in a two game series with the Tampa Cardinals, now called the St. Petersburg Cardinals. The team featured the same lineup as the “Tampa” Cardinals team that had originally been organized to play a New Years Day exhibition against Grange and the Bears. After a slow start both teams picked up the pace throughout the second half however those still the game ended a scoreless draw. The two teams faced each other again just a few days later, on the grounds of the high school at Winter Haven
. Although the Cards, started strong, neither team managed to put any points on the board during the first two quarters. However after in the third quarter, Ginny Gooch broke free on an end-around and quickly covered the sixty yards to the end-zone. That touchdown initiated a landslide of Haven-Villa scoring, as the team went on to a 38-0 win.
The very next day the two teams met for a third contest, this time at Adair Park
. The Cardinals were now playing under the banner of "Lena Vista," while the Millville-Haven-Villa team was billed as the "Eastern States All-Stars." The game was not much different than the previous afternoon's game. The Cardinals were clearly overmatched, as the All-Stars ran up 24 unanswered points en route to their second shutout victory in as many days. Following the game, everyone agreed that, that a break was needed from football after a long season that began in September 1925. The decision was made to disband the team and head home. Most of the players caught the train back to Philadelphia the following evening, although a few extended their stay to pursue some real estate investment opportunities.
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 based in Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
in 1926. While the team originated as a successful local team. However the team was taken over by members of the Tampa Cardinals
Tampa Cardinals
The Tampa Cardinals, was a football barnstorming team, that played pick-up games, led by future pro football hall of famer, Jim Thorpe in 1926. During the time, the team was also billed as the St. Petersburg Cardinals and as Lena Vistas,...
, featuring Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe
Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
, and later the Millville Big Blue, a pro club from Millville, New Jersey
Millville, New Jersey
Millville is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 26,847. Millville, Bridgeton and Vineland are the three principal New Jersey cities of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
, when the teams played a series of exhibition games in the winter of 1926.
Cardinals
When Milleville first came to FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, it had scheduled a game against Haven-Villa. However the day of the game, Thorpe and several of the other Cardinals, fresh off of a loss against Red Grange
Red Grange
Harold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", was a college and professional American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and for the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League...
and the 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...
of 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...
, showed up in the Haven-Villa line-up. The game resulted in a lopsided 28-6 victory for Millville. The win, however, proved costly, as Gyp Downey, the team's star kicker, suffered a fractured collar bone, ending his season. The Millville newspapers reported prior to the game that Red Grange would be officiating the game, however there were no reports of Grange doing so. Jim Thorpe also did not play in the game, probably due to his age and health issues, however several of his old teammates from the NFL did play. Those players include Pete Calac
Pete Calac
Pedro "Pete" Calac was a professional football player who played in the Ohio League and during the early years of the National Football League...
, Joe Little Twig
Joe Little Twig
Joseph Little Twig was a professional football player, who played during the early years of the National Football League.-Football:...
and Rube Ursella
Rube Ursella
Reuben J. Ursella was a professional football player-coach who played during the early years of the National Football League. During his NFL career Rube played for the Minneapolis Marines, Akron Indians, Hammond Pros, Minneapolis Red Jackets and the Rock Island Independents...
.
Big Blue
Shortly after the game it was announced that the Millville squad would, for the remainder of its stay in Florida, play under the Haven-Villa name. Art Bulger, a member of the old Haven-Villa lineup, was added to roster. Bob Daley took over as the team's manager. On January 11, the Haven-Villas headed to Palm BeachPalm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
to square-off against a local club known as the Palm Beach Evergladers led by Jim Kendrick
Jim Kendrick
James Marcellus Kendrick was a professional football player during the early years of the National Football League with the Toledo Maroons, Canton Bulldogs, Louisville Brecks, Chicago Bears, Hammond Pros, Buffalo Bisons, Rochester Jeffersons, Rock Island Independents, Buffalo Rangers and the New...
, a regular with the NFL's Buffalo All-Americans. Prior to the game, Palm Beach was reportedly undefeated in seven previous outings and touted as the Southern professional champions. However, Winter Haven still rolled to a 16-0 victory.
Two days later the Villas were on the road for the first in a two game series with the Tampa Cardinals, now called the St. Petersburg Cardinals. The team featured the same lineup as the “Tampa” Cardinals team that had originally been organized to play a New Years Day exhibition against Grange and the Bears. After a slow start both teams picked up the pace throughout the second half however those still the game ended a scoreless draw. The two teams faced each other again just a few days later, on the grounds of the high school at Winter Haven
Winter Haven High School
Winter Haven High School PrincipalGina WilliamsSchool typePublic Religious affiliationNoneFounded1890LocationPolk County, Florida, Winter Haven, FloridaEnrollment1761 students , Campus surroundingsUrbanContact...
. Although the Cards, started strong, neither team managed to put any points on the board during the first two quarters. However after in the third quarter, Ginny Gooch broke free on an end-around and quickly covered the sixty yards to the end-zone. That touchdown initiated a landslide of Haven-Villa scoring, as the team went on to a 38-0 win.
The very next day the two teams met for a third contest, this time at Adair Park
Adair Park
This article includes information collected from the National Park Service website, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.Adair Park is a residential neighborhood located southwest of downtown Atlanta...
. The Cardinals were now playing under the banner of "Lena Vista," while the Millville-Haven-Villa team was billed as the "Eastern States All-Stars." The game was not much different than the previous afternoon's game. The Cardinals were clearly overmatched, as the All-Stars ran up 24 unanswered points en route to their second shutout victory in as many days. Following the game, everyone agreed that, that a break was needed from football after a long season that began in September 1925. The decision was made to disband the team and head home. Most of the players caught the train back to Philadelphia the following evening, although a few extended their stay to pursue some real estate investment opportunities.