1923 Cleveland Indians (NFL) season

National Football League team season March 2026 November 2013 Cleveland Bulldogs Cleveland Indians 1923 3–1–3 5th NFL Sam H. Deutsch Cap Edwards Dunn Field none true The 1923 Cleveland Indians season was their first in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished with a record of 3–1–3, fifth in the league by winning percentage.1923 Cleveland Indians The team also canceled one home game with the Toledo Maroons due to poor attendance, with just 400 fans paying admission. Team owner Sam H. Deutsch declaring that if he had allowed the two squads to take the field, he would have lost $7,500 due to salaries, guarantees to the visiting team, park rental fees, and other incidentals. Cleveland was not forced to absorb a forfeit for their failure to play, despite the fact that both teams were present and ready to take the field. Deutsch asserted that he still lost $2,500 on the day despite having stopped the contest. Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 October 7 at Rock Island Independents T 0–0 0–0–1 Douglas Park 3,500 Another estimate has this crowd pegged at "more than 4,000." Recap Art Williams, "Tigers Fight Sies' Team to Scoreless Tie: Independents Threatened by Hard Plunging Ohioans," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 8, 1923, p. 12.Herb Wilson, "Center Smashes Bring 0–0 Score for Cleveland Team: Weakness of Center of Rock Island Line Keeps the Independents on the Defensive Large Share of Game," Davenport Daily Times, Oct. 8, 1923, p. 16.Bob Marion, "Islanders Hold Panhandlers to 0 to 0 Verdict: Cleveland Gains Most Ground But Lacks Punch to Cross Line," Moline Dispatch, Oct. 8, 1923, p. 14. — October 14 Toledo Maroons canceled by Cleveland owner to avert financial loss "Crowd Waits in Rain — Indians Do Not Play: Owner Deutsch Refuses to Send Team on Gridiron Against Toledo Because of Financial Loss," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 15, 1923, p. 17. 2 October 21 St. Louis All-Stars W 6–0 1–0–1 Dunn Field 7,000 Recap 3 October 28 Oorang Indians W 27–0 2–0–1 Dunn Field "modest crowd"Chris Willis, Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians, p. 161. Recap Merrick M. Hill, "Cleveland Indians Romp to 27–0 Triumph Over Thorpe's Oorang Redskins: Jim's Lengthy Kicks Avail Little as His Eleven Are Defeated," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 29, 1923, p. 16."Cleveland in 27–0 Victory Over Indians," Davenport Democrat and Leader, Oct. 29, 1923, p. 8."Thorpe Fails at Cleveland," Dayton Daily News, Oct. 29, 1923, p. 11. 4 November 4 at Buffalo All-Americans T 0–0 2–0–2 Buffalo Baseball Park 3,000 Recap "All-Americans Outplay Invaders on Muddy Field But Lack Scoring Punch," Buffalo Courier, Nov. 5, 1923, p. 11."All-Americans and Cleveland Fail to Score: Thrilling Gridiron is Furnished by Pros on Ferry Street Field," Buffalo Post, Nov. 5, 1923, p. 10. 5 November 11 Dayton Triangles T 0–0 2–0–3 Dunn Field 11,000 Recap 6 November 18 Columbus Tigers W 9–3 3–0–3 Dunn Field 6,000 Recap 7 November 25 Canton Bulldogs L 10–46 3–1–3 Dunn Field 17,000 Recap Standings References 35em Category:Cleveland Bulldogs seasons Cleveland Indians Cleveland Bulldogs