Syracuse Braves
Encyclopedia
The Syracuse Braves were a professional American football
team that competed in the second American Football League
in 1936 and 1937. Coached by Don Irwin
and Red Badgro
, the Braves played in Municipal Stadium, which had a capacity of only about 10,000 people. The team was not a strong draw as it lost its first five games, prompting a search for a new home, including Providence, Rhode Island
, before settling upon a move to Rochester.
On October 25, 1936, a 16-7 victory over the Boston Shamrocks
in Fenway Park
provided the franchise its first win in its last game as the Syracuse Braves. The following week would see the newly-renamed Rochester Braves face the Shamrocks in a rematch in Silver Stadium. The second half was delayed 40 minutes by Braves players demanding back pay. The game was finished; the Braves lost, 13-0; the franchise folded immediately afterward. Coach Don Irwin joined the New York Yankees
, while co-coach Red Badgro returned to the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers
to finish the season.
Two weeks later, another AFL team made the trek to Silver Stadium to call it home: the Brooklyn Tigers, having spent most of the 1936 season as a traveling team
, became Rochester's second professional football team and continued as the Rochester Tigers in 1937.
* 0-1 as Rochester Braves in 1936
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 that competed in the second American Football League
American Football League (1936)
Sometimes called AFL II, the second American Football League was a professional American football league that operated in 1936 and 1937. The AFL operated in direct competition with the more established National Football League throughout its existence...
in 1936 and 1937. Coached by Don Irwin
Don Irwin
Donald Emerson Irwin was an American football running back in the National Football League for the Boston/Washington Redskins. He played college football at Colgate University and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1936 NFL Draft....
and Red Badgro
Red Badgro
Morris Hiram "Red" Badgro was a professional American football end in the National Football League for the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and the Brooklyn Dodgers...
, the Braves played in Municipal Stadium, which had a capacity of only about 10,000 people. The team was not a strong draw as it lost its first five games, prompting a search for a new home, including Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, before settling upon a move to Rochester.
On October 25, 1936, a 16-7 victory over 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...
in Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
provided the franchise its first win in its last game as the Syracuse Braves. The following week would see the newly-renamed Rochester Braves face the Shamrocks in a rematch in Silver Stadium. The second half was delayed 40 minutes by Braves players demanding back pay. The game was finished; the Braves lost, 13-0; the franchise folded immediately afterward. Coach Don Irwin joined the New York Yankees
New York Yankees (1936 AFL)
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 , the Yankees of the third AFL, the Yankees of the American Association and the Yankees of the All America...
, while co-coach Red Badgro returned to the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers
Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)
The Brooklyn Dodgers were an American football team that played in the National Football League from 1930 to 1943, and in 1944 as the Brooklyn Tigers. The team played its home games at Ebbets Field. In 1945, because of financial difficulties, the team was merged with the Boston Yanks...
to finish the season.
Two weeks later, another AFL team made the trek to Silver Stadium to call it home: the Brooklyn Tigers, having spent most of the 1936 season as a traveling team
Traveling team
In professional team sports, a traveling team is a member of a professional league that never or rarely competes in its home arena or stadium. This differs from a barnstorming team in that the latter does not compete within a league or association framework...
, became Rochester's second professional football team and continued as the Rochester Tigers in 1937.
| Team | Year | W | L | T | Finish | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse Braves* | 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... |
1 | 6 | 0 | 6th (AFL) | Don Irwin Don Irwin Donald Emerson Irwin was an American football running back in the National Football League for the Boston/Washington Redskins. He played college football at Colgate University and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1936 NFL Draft.... , Red Badgro Red Badgro Morris Hiram "Red" Badgro was a professional American football end in the National Football League for the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and the Brooklyn Dodgers... |
* 0-1 as Rochester Braves in 1936