New York Yanks
Encyclopedia
The New York Yanks American football
team played in the National Football League
under that name in the 1950 and 1951 seasons. In 1949, Boston Yanks
owner Ted Collins had requested the NFL to fold his Boston team and give him a new one in New York City
. Collins' new team played as the New York Bulldogs and shared the Polo Grounds
with the New York Giants
during the 1949 season.
In 1950, Collins changed his franchise's name to the New York Yanks and moved to Yankee Stadium. Only four players from the 1949 Bulldogs (Joe Domnanovich
, Joe Golding
, John Nolan and John Rauch
) played for the Yanks in 1950. In contrast, there were 18 players from the New York Yankees
of the All-America Football Conference
(Bruce Alford
, George Brown, Brad Ecklund
, Don Garza, Sherman Howard
, Duke Iverson, Harvey Johnson
, Bob Kennedy
, Lou Kusseow, Pete Layden
, Paul Mitchell, Barney Poole
, Martin Ruby
, Jack Russell, Ed Sharkey
, Joe Signaigo
, John Wozniak and Buddy Young
). The Yanks finished the 1950 NFL season
with a winning record, however the team collapsed back to a single victory in 1951.
The franchise was reported to have been "sold back" to the league following the 1951 season, but it is more likely the franchise was revoked by the league and canceled by the NFL. A group in Texas
bought the rights to the franchise, whereupon the team was resurrected as the Dallas Texans
for 1952. For the 1953 season, what remained of the Dallas Texans organization was awarded to the city of Baltimore
to form the Baltimore Colts
. However, the NFL currently does not consider the Colts
(now based in Indianapolis
) to be a continuation of the franchise once known as the New York Yanks.
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 played 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...
under that name in the 1950 and 1951 seasons. In 1949, Boston Yanks
Boston Yanks
The Boston Yanks were a National Football League team based in Boston, Massachusetts that played from 1944 to 1948. The team played its home games at Fenway Park. Games that conflicted with the Boston Red Sox schedule were held at the Manning Bowl in Lynn, Massachusetts...
owner Ted Collins had requested the NFL to fold his Boston team and give him a new one 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...
. Collins' new team played as the New York Bulldogs and shared 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...
with the 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...
during the 1949 season.
In 1950, Collins changed his franchise's name to the New York Yanks and moved to Yankee Stadium. Only four players from the 1949 Bulldogs (Joe Domnanovich
Joe Domnanovich
Joseph John Domnanovich was a professional American football Center in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the Boston Yanks and the New York Bulldogs/Yanks . Prior to his professional career Domanovich played for Coach Frank Thomas at the University of Alabama from 1938-1942...
, Joe Golding
Joe Golding
Joseph Griffith Golding was a professional American Football halfback/defensive back in the National Football League. He played for the Boston Yanks and the New York Bulldogs/Yanks ....
, John Nolan and John Rauch
John Rauch
John "Johnny" Rauch was an American football player and coach. He was head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the team's loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II in 1968.-Early life:...
) played for the Yanks in 1950. In contrast, there were 18 players from the New York 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
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
(Bruce Alford
Bruce Alford, Sr.
Herbert Bruce Alford Sr. was an American football end in the National Football League for the New York Yanks. He also played football in the All-America Football Conference for the New York Yankees. Alford played college football at Texas Christian University...
, George Brown, Brad Ecklund
Brad Ecklund
Bradford Ecklund was a center in the AAFC and in the National Football League. He was chosen twice to play in the Pro Bowl. He was born in Los Angeles, California and died in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey....
, Don Garza, Sherman Howard
Sherman Howard (American football)
Sherman Howard is a former professional American football player who played running back for four seasons for the New York Yanks and Cleveland Browns....
, Duke Iverson, Harvey Johnson
Harvey Johnson (coach)
Harvey Paul Johnson was an American football coach. He served two separate stints as the head coach for the Buffalo Bills, first in the American Football League and then in the National Football League. He first took the reins in 1968, when Joe Collier was fired one game into the season...
, Bob Kennedy
Bob Kennedy (American football b. 1921)
Robert Henry Kennedy was a professional American football player who played running back for five seasons for the New York Yanks-References:*...
, Lou Kusseow, Pete Layden
Pete Layden
John Peter Layden, Jr. was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Browns...
, Paul Mitchell, Barney Poole
Barney Poole
George Barney Poole was an American football end in the National Football League for the New York Yanks, the Dallas Texans, the Baltimore Colts, and the New York Giants. Poole also played football in the All-America Football Conference for the New York Yankees...
, Martin Ruby
Martin Ruby
Martin Owen Ruby was an offensive tackle and defensive tackle for the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers in the All-America Football Conference, New York Yanks of the National Football League, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League...
, Jack Russell, Ed Sharkey
Ed Sharkey
Edward Joseph Sharkey is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Yanks, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers. He also played in the All America Football Conference for the New York Yankees...
, Joe Signaigo
Joe Signaigo
Joseph Salvatore "Joe" Signaigo was a professional American football guard in the All-America Football Conference and the National Football League . He played for the AAFC's New York Yankees and the NFL's New York Yanks .-External links:...
, John Wozniak and Buddy Young
Buddy Young
Claude "Buddy" Young was an American football player. A native of Chicago, the 5'4" Claude "Buddy" Young, also known as the "Bronze Bullet," had exceptional quickness and acceleration. He is one of the shortest men ever to play NFL football...
). The Yanks finished the 1950 NFL season
1950 NFL season
The 1950 NFL season was the 31st regular season of the National Football League. The merger with the All-America Football Conference expanded the league to 13 teams. Meanwhile, television brought a new era to the game. The Los Angeles Rams became the first NFL team to have all of its games – both...
with a winning record, however the team collapsed back to a single victory in 1951.
The franchise was reported to have been "sold back" to the league following the 1951 season, but it is more likely the franchise was revoked by the league and canceled by the NFL. A group in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
bought the rights to the franchise, whereupon the team was resurrected as the Dallas Texans
Dallas Texans (NFL)
The Dallas Texans played in the National Football League for one season, 1952, with a record of 1–11.-History:After the 1951 NFL season, the financially troubled New York Yanks franchise were put on the market. Ted Collins had founded that franchise in 1944 as the Boston Yanks, moved it to New...
for 1952. For the 1953 season, what remained of the Dallas Texans organization was awarded to the city of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
to form the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
. However, the NFL currently does not consider the Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
(now based in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
) to be a continuation of the franchise once known as the New York Yanks.
First round draft selections
- 19491949 NFL DraftThe 1949 National Football League Draft was held on December 21, 1948.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
Doak WalkerDoak WalkerEwell Doak Walker, Jr. was an American football player who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a teammate of Bobby Layne in high school and the NFL.-Early life:...
Back SMU - 19501950 NFL DraftThe 1950 National Football League Draft was held on January 20–21, 1950.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
None - 19511951 NFL DraftThe 1951 National Football League Draft was held on January 18–January 19, 1951. The Baltimore Colts folded after the 1950 season. The NFL placed their players in the 1951 NFL draft.-Player selections:-Round one:...
None
Pro Football Hall of Famers
- New York Bulldogs
- Bobby LayneBobby LayneRobert Lawrence "Bobby" Layne was an American football quarterback who played for 15 seasons in the National Football League. He played for the Chicago Bears in 1948, the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the Detroit Lions from 1950–1958, and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1958–1962...
- Bobby Layne
- New York Yanks
- Art DonovanArt DonovanArthur Donovan, Jr. is a former American football defensive tackle, better known as Art 'How much does dat guy weigh?' Donovan, who played for three National Football League teams, most notably the Baltimore Colts...
- Mike McCormack
- Art Donovan
Season-by-season
| Year | W | L | T | Finish | Coach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 1949 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 5th East | Charley Ewart |
| Yanks | 1950 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3rd National | Red Strader Red Strader Norman "Red" Strader was a football player and coach who served in both capacities at the collegiate and professional levels. In the college ranks, he spent two years as head coach at St... |
| 1951 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 6th National | Red Strader Red Strader Norman "Red" Strader was a football player and coach who served in both capacities at the collegiate and professional levels. In the college ranks, he spent two years as head coach at St... |