NFL Championship Game, 1934
Encyclopedia
The 1934
National Football League
Championship Game, also known as The Sneakers Game, was played at the Polo Grounds
in New York City
on December 9, 1934. The final score was New York Giants
30, Chicago Bears
13. It was the 2nd annual NFL championship game.
A freezing rain the night before the game froze the Polo Grounds field. After Ray Flaherty, a Giants end, made a remark to Giants' head coach Steve Owen
suggesting that sneakers would provide better footing on the frozen playing surface, Owen sent Abe Cohen to Manhattan College
to get some sneakers. Cohen arrived in the third quarter with nine pairs of basketball sneakers from the college.
The Bears were leading the Giants 13-3 when the Giants switched to the basketball sneakers. Giants quarterback
Ed Danowski
threw a touchdown pass to Ike Frankian
to make the score 13-10 (actually, the pass was intercepted at the Bears' 2-yard line, but Frankian then grabbed the ball out of the defender's hands). On the Giants next drive, running back
Ken Strong
scored on a 42-yard touchdown run. Later an 11-yard run by Strong was turned into another touchdown for the Giants. Finally the Giants closed it out with Danowski's 9-yard touchdown run. The game ended with the Giants ahead: 30-13.
Many of the participants have been interviewed since the game took place, most notably Bronko Nagurski
of the Bears and Mel Hein
of the Giants. Generally, players from both sides have attributed the Giants' second half dominance to their selection of footwear. A mini-documentary of the game, narrated by Pat Summerall
, can be seen in the 1987 video "Giants Among Men."
1934 NFL season
The 1934 NFL season was the 15th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, the Portsmouth Spartans moved to Detroit, Michigan and were renamed the Detroit Lions....
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...
Championship Game, also known as The Sneakers Game, was played at the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on December 9, 1934. The final score was 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...
30, 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...
13. It was the 2nd annual NFL championship game.
A freezing rain the night before the game froze the Polo Grounds field. After Ray Flaherty, a Giants end, made a remark to Giants' head coach Steve Owen
Steve Owen (football)
Stephen Joseph Owen was an American football player and coach who earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as head coach of the National Football League's New York Giants from 1930 to 1953...
suggesting that sneakers would provide better footing on the frozen playing surface, Owen sent Abe Cohen to Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
to get some sneakers. Cohen arrived in the third quarter with nine pairs of basketball sneakers from the college.
The Bears were leading the Giants 13-3 when the Giants switched to the basketball sneakers. Giants quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Ed Danowski
Ed 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...
threw a touchdown pass to Ike Frankian
Ike Frankian
Malcolm John Frankian was an American football end in the National Football League for the Boston Redskins and the New York Giants. He attended Saint Mary's College of California....
to make the score 13-10 (actually, the pass was intercepted at the Bears' 2-yard line, but Frankian then grabbed the ball out of the defender's hands). On the Giants next drive, running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
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...
scored on a 42-yard touchdown run. Later an 11-yard run by Strong was turned into another touchdown for the Giants. Finally the Giants closed it out with Danowski's 9-yard touchdown run. The game ended with the Giants ahead: 30-13.
Many of the participants have been interviewed since the game took place, most notably Bronko Nagurski
Bronko Nagurski
Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski was a Canadian-born American football player. He was also a successful professional wrestler, recognized as a multiple-time world heavyweight champion.-Youth and collegiate career:...
of the Bears and Mel Hein
Mel Hein
Melvin Jack Hein was an American Professional Football player for the New York Giants. Hein played fifteen seasons for the Giants and never missed a down due to injury...
of the Giants. Generally, players from both sides have attributed the Giants' second half dominance to their selection of footwear. A mini-documentary of the game, narrated by Pat Summerall
Pat Summerall
George Allen "Pat" Summerall is a former American football player and television sportscaster, having worked at CBS, Fox, and ESPN.Summerall is best known for his work with John Madden on NFL telecasts for CBS and Fox.-High school:...
, can be seen in the 1987 video "Giants Among Men."
Scoring summary
- NY - FG Strong 38 3-0 NYG
- CHI - NagurskiBronko NagurskiBronislau "Bronko" Nagurski was a Canadian-born American football player. He was also a successful professional wrestler, recognized as a multiple-time world heavyweight champion.-Youth and collegiate career:...
1 run (MandersJack MandersJack "Automatic Jack" Manders was a National Football League running back for the Chicago Bears from 1933 through 1940. He is the older brother of Clarence Manders....
kick) 7-3 CHI - CHI - FG Manders 17 10-3 CHI
- CHI - FG Manders 22 13-3 CHI
- NY - Frankian 28 pass from Danowski (Strong kick) 13-10 CHI
- NY - Strong 42 run (Strong kick) 17-13 NYG
- NY - Strong 11 run (kick failed) 23-13 NYG
- NY - Danowski 9 run (MolendaBo MolendaJohn Joseph "Bo" Molenda was an American football player, primarily a fullback, who played for the University of Michigan and nine seasons in the NFL...
kick) 30-13 NYG