New York Yankees (1936 AFL)
Encyclopedia
The New York Yankees of the second American Football League was the second professional American football
team competing under that name. It is unrelated to the Yankees
of the first AFL (and the National Football League
), the Yankees
of the third AFL, the Yankees
of the American Association
(then also called the American Football League) and the (later) Yankees
of the All America Football Conference. The Yankees played their home games in Yankee Stadium and Triborough Stadium in New York, New York. Jack McBride
was the team’s head coach throughout its existence; Yankees' president James Bush
served as president of the second American Football League in 1936.
Formed by signing National Football League
players, primarily New York Giants, the 1936 Yankees (including back Elmer Strong and tackle Jess Quatse
) battled the Boston Shamrocks
and the Cleveland Rams
for the league title (which Boston won). New York Giants-turned-Yankees also included end Les Borden and back Stu Clancy
. The 1937 edition of the Yankees was never truly in the running as league newcomers Los Angeles Bulldogs
were the only AFL team with a winning record as Los Angeles dominated the league with an unbeaten, untied 8-0-0 record (the Yankees finished in third place for the second straight year, this time with 2-3-1).
While there was no "official" all-AFL team declared for the 1936 season, guard Alex Drobnitch was the sole Yankee to be named to the All-League team in 1937. Other Yankees stars include Charlie Segal, Al Rose
, and Irv "King Kong" Klein.
The complete domination of the AFL by the Bulldogs decimated attendance in Yankee Stadium as LA played the second half of its season on the American West Coast
(while the Yankees averaged roughly 14,000 in attendance in 1936, the number was cut to about 5000 in 1937). With all the AFL clubs (except Los Angeles) deeply in the red, the second American Football League – and the Yankees – closed up shop at the end of the 1937 season.
) and the continuing existences of two other AFL II teams, the Cincinnati Bengals
(which also competed in the third AFL) and the Los Angeles Bulldogs
(which became a founding member of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League
in 1940 – after competing with Cincinnati in the American Professional Football League, which ironically called itself the American Football League in 1938). While circumstantial evidence hints at the Yankees having a similar continuation, there is no record of any Yankees games played in 1938 and 1939, and the 1940 Yankees team had different ownership/management from its 1937 namesakes, aside from their common head coach.
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 competing under that name. It is unrelated to the Yankees
New York Yankees (NFL)
The New York Yankees were a short-lived professional American football team from 1926 to 1928. The team was a member of the first American Football League in 1926, and later the National Football League from 1927-1928. They played their home games at Yankee Stadium...
of the first AFL (and 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...
), the Yankees
New York Yankees (1940 AFL)
The New York Yankees of the third American Football League was the third professional American football team competing under that name. It is unrelated to the Yankees of the first AFL , the Yankees of the second AFL, and the Yankees of the All America Football Conference...
of the third AFL, the Yankees
New York Yankees (1940 AFL)
The New York Yankees of the third American Football League was the third professional American football team competing under that name. It is unrelated to the Yankees of the first AFL , the Yankees of the second AFL, and the Yankees of the All America Football Conference...
of 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...
(then also called the American Football League) and the (later) Yankees
New York Yankees (AAFC)
The New York Yankees were a professional American football team that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949. The team played in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and often played in front of sold-out crowds . They were owned by Dan Topping, who brought many of his Brooklyn...
of the All America Football Conference. The Yankees played their home games in Yankee Stadium and Triborough Stadium in New York, New York. Jack McBride
Jack McBride
John F. McBride was an American football player who played the positions of halfback, fullback, and quarterback in the National Football League . He was born in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. McBride played collegiately at Syracuse University where he finished second in the nation in scoring in his...
was the team’s head coach throughout its existence; Yankees' president James Bush
James Bush
James Arthur Bush was an English sportsman who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and represented England at rugby union.-Family:...
served as president of the second American Football League in 1936.
Formed by signing 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...
players, primarily New York Giants, the 1936 Yankees (including back Elmer Strong and tackle Jess Quatse
Jess Quatse
Jesse Quatse was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the New York Giants. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.-External links:*...
) battled 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...
and the 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...
for the league title (which Boston won). New York Giants-turned-Yankees also included end Les Borden and back Stu Clancy
Stu Clancy
Stu Clancy was a quarterback who played in the NFL for the New York Giants from 1932 to 1935.-References:...
. The 1937 edition of the Yankees was never truly in the running as league newcomers Los Angeles Bulldogs
Los Angeles Bulldogs
The Los Angeles Bulldogs were a professional American football team that competed from 1936 to 1948...
were the only AFL team with a winning record as Los Angeles dominated the league with an unbeaten, untied 8-0-0 record (the Yankees finished in third place for the second straight year, this time with 2-3-1).
While there was no "official" all-AFL team declared for the 1936 season, guard Alex Drobnitch was the sole Yankee to be named to the All-League team in 1937. Other Yankees stars include Charlie Segal, Al Rose
Al Rose
Alfred Grady Rose was a tight end in the National Football League who played for the Providence Steam Roller and the Green Bay Packers. Rose played collegiate ball for the University of Texas before playing professionally for 7 seasons. He retired after the 1936 season...
, and Irv "King Kong" Klein.
The complete domination of the AFL by the Bulldogs decimated attendance in Yankee Stadium as LA played the second half of its season on the American West Coast
Pacific Coast
A country's Pacific coast is the part of its coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.-The Americas:Countries on the western side of the Americas have a Pacific coast as their western border.* Geography of Canada* Geography of Chile* Geography of Colombia...
(while the Yankees averaged roughly 14,000 in attendance in 1936, the number was cut to about 5000 in 1937). With all the AFL clubs (except Los Angeles) deeply in the red, the second American Football League – and the Yankees – closed up shop at the end of the 1937 season.
| Year | W | L | T | Finish | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 1936 American Football League season The 1936 American Football League season is the first season of the second American Football League, the formation of which was announced by Harry March, former personnel director of the NFL's New York Giants, on December 15, 1935... |
5 | 3 | 2 | 3rd (AFL) | Jack McBride Jack McBride John F. McBride was an American football player who played the positions of halfback, fullback, and quarterback in the National Football League . He was born in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. McBride played collegiately at Syracuse University where he finished second in the nation in scoring in his... |
| 1937 1937 American Football League season The 1937 American Football League season is the second season of the second edition of the AFL. After the folding of the Syracuse/Rochester Braves in the 1936 season and the departure of the Cleveland Rams for the National Football League, the league added the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles... |
2 | 3 | 1 | 3rd (AFL) | Jack McBride |
Link to AFL III Yankees?
Some sources indicate the Yankees of the third American Football League (1940) a continuation of the 1936-1937 Yankees, citing a common head coach (Jack McBrideJack McBride
John F. McBride was an American football player who played the positions of halfback, fullback, and quarterback in the National Football League . He was born in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. McBride played collegiately at Syracuse University where he finished second in the nation in scoring in his...
) and the continuing existences of two other AFL II teams, 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...
(which also competed in the third AFL) and the Los Angeles Bulldogs
Los Angeles Bulldogs
The Los Angeles Bulldogs were a professional American football team that competed from 1936 to 1948...
(which became a founding member of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League
Pacific Coast Professional Football League
The Pacific Coast Professional Football League , also known as the Pacific Coast Football League and Pacific Coast League was a professional American football league based in California, USA, and competed from 1940 through 1948 in sports...
in 1940 – after competing with Cincinnati in the American Professional Football League, which ironically called itself the American Football League in 1938). While circumstantial evidence hints at the Yankees having a similar continuation, there is no record of any Yankees games played in 1938 and 1939, and the 1940 Yankees team had different ownership/management from its 1937 namesakes, aside from their common head coach.