Paul Steinberg
Encyclopedia
Jacob Paul "Twister" Steinberg was a professional football
player in the early 1900s. As a member of the first National Football League, he played with the Philadelphia Athletics
in the first professional night game in history. He also won the first, and only, two series of the first World Series of Football
with the Syracuse Athletic Club and the Franklin Athletic Club
. Steinberg was also the first Jewish professional basketball
player. Harry March
, dubbed the "Father of Pro Football", referred to Steinberg as, "one of the most elusive, fastest, slickest, shrewdest, and clean backs of the century."
. While with Syracuse, Paul also played for the club's pro basketball team, making him the first Jewish basketball player. In 1902, Paul signed with Philadelphia Athletics baseball team, managed by Connie Mack
. He remained with the team from 1902–1904, however he never appeared in a major league
game. However in 1902 Mack organized and coached a professional football team also called the Philadelphia Athletics. Steinberg played halfback
for the Athletics, which won the Philadelphia city title, before losing the league championship to the Pittsburgh Stars
. After the season, he joined the Syracuse Athletic Club in the first World Series of Football. Syracuse won the tournament held at Madison Square Garden
.
Steinberg joined the Franklin Athletic Club
, located in Pennsylvania
. The team was backed by the head of the Carnegie Steel Company
was so good that they had difficulty finding opponents. That year Franklin went on to win the Pennsylvania state title. After their championship win Franklin, traveled to New York City
and won the second World Series of Football.
In 1905, Paul moved to Canton, Ohio
and played that year with the pre-National Football League
version of the Canton Bulldogs
, then known as the Canton Athletic Club. In canton, Steinberg experienced the huge rivalry between Canton and the Massillon Tigers
. In 1905, Massillon defeated Steinberg and Canton for the championship and Canton vowed to claim the title the following year. By 1906, Steinberg became known as the Bulldogs' best-known player and remained with Canton as one of the team's top backs. After both Canton and Massillon defeated their regular season opponents, a two-game championship was set up between the two teams. Canton won the first game, 10-5, for the team's biggest victory ever, but Massillon recovered to win the second game, 13-6, claiming the Ohio State Championship for the fourth consecutive year. After the games, however, rumors existed that some Canton players had thrown the game
. Disgusted by the allegations, Steinberg quit professional 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...
player in the early 1900s. As a member of the first National Football League, he played with the Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Athletics (NFL)
The Philadelphia Athletics were a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole "league" was a curious...
in the first professional night game in history. He also won the first, and only, two series of the first World Series of Football
World Series of Football (1902)
The World Series of Football was a series of football games played indoors at New York's Madison Square Garden in 1902 and 1903. It originally comprised five teams, four from New York state and one from New Jersey...
with the Syracuse Athletic Club and the Franklin Athletic Club
Franklin Athletic Club
The Franklin Athletic Club was an early professional football team based in Franklin, Pennsylvania. It was considered the top team in professional football in 1903, by becoming the becoming the US Football Champions and winning the 1903 World Series of Football, held after the 1903 season, at New...
. Steinberg was also the first Jewish professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. Harry March
Harry March
Harry Addison March was an early football historian and promoter, as well as a medical doctor. He also helped organize the National Football League and well as the second American Football League. March is also credited with convincing Tim Mara to purchase an NFL franchise for New York City, which...
, dubbed the "Father of Pro Football", referred to Steinberg as, "one of the most elusive, fastest, slickest, shrewdest, and clean backs of the century."
Biography
Steinberg's professional career began after he was discharged from the army in 1900. He first played pro football with the Syracuse Athletic AssociationSyracuse Pros
The Syracuse Pros, also sometimes referred to as the Syracuse Eleven, were a professional American football team from Syracuse, New York. It is suspected, though not known for sure, that the team joined the American Professional Football Association in 1921 and left the same year...
. While with Syracuse, Paul also played for the club's pro basketball team, making him the first Jewish basketball player. In 1902, Paul signed with Philadelphia Athletics baseball team, managed by Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
. He remained with the team from 1902–1904, however he never appeared in a major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
game. However in 1902 Mack organized and coached a professional football team also called the Philadelphia Athletics. Steinberg played 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...
for the Athletics, which won the Philadelphia city title, before losing the league championship to the Pittsburgh Stars
Pittsburgh Stars
The Pittsburgh Stars were a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole "league" was a curious mixture...
. After the season, he joined the Syracuse Athletic Club in the first World Series of Football. Syracuse won the tournament held at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
Steinberg joined the Franklin Athletic Club
Franklin Athletic Club
The Franklin Athletic Club was an early professional football team based in Franklin, Pennsylvania. It was considered the top team in professional football in 1903, by becoming the becoming the US Football Champions and winning the 1903 World Series of Football, held after the 1903 season, at New...
, located in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The team was backed by the head of the Carnegie Steel Company
Carnegie Steel Company
Carnegie Steel Company was a steel producing company created by Andrew Carnegie to manage business at his steel mills in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area in the late 19th century.-Creation:...
was so good that they had difficulty finding opponents. That year Franklin went on to win the Pennsylvania state title. After their championship win Franklin, traveled to 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...
and won the second World Series of Football.
In 1905, Paul moved to Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and played that year with the pre-National Football League
Ohio League
The Ohio League was an informal and loose association of American football clubs active between 1903 and 1919 that competed for the Ohio Independent Championship . As the name implied, its teams were based in Ohio...
version of the Canton Bulldogs
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and its successor, the National Football League, from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs would go on to win the 1917, 1918...
, then known as the Canton Athletic Club. In canton, Steinberg experienced the huge rivalry between Canton and the Massillon Tigers
Massillon Tigers
The Massillon Tigers were an early professional football team from Massillon, Ohio. Playing in the "Ohio League", the team was a rival to the pre-National Football League version of the Canton Bulldogs. The Tigers won Ohio League championships in 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906, then merged to become...
. In 1905, Massillon defeated Steinberg and Canton for the championship and Canton vowed to claim the title the following year. By 1906, Steinberg became known as the Bulldogs' best-known player and remained with Canton as one of the team's top backs. After both Canton and Massillon defeated their regular season opponents, a two-game championship was set up between the two teams. Canton won the first game, 10-5, for the team's biggest victory ever, but Massillon recovered to win the second game, 13-6, claiming the Ohio State Championship for the fourth consecutive year. After the games, however, rumors existed that some Canton players had thrown the game
Canton Bulldogs-Massillon Tigers Betting Scandal
The Canton Bulldogs–Massillon Tigers betting scandal was the first major scandal in professional football in the United States. It refers to a series of allegations made by a Massillon newspaper charging the Canton Bulldogs coach, Blondy Wallace, and Massillon Tigers end, Walter East, of conspiring...
. Disgusted by the allegations, Steinberg quit professional football.