1920 Hammond Pros season

Sports season March 2026 November 2013 Hammond Pros 1920 2–5 overall 0–3 APFA T–11th APFA Doc Young Hank Gillo Traveling team The 1920 Hammond Pros season was the franchise's inaugural season in the American Professional Football Association (APFA) and second as an American football team. The Pros entered 1920 coming off a 4-win, 2-loss, 3-tie (4–2–3) record in 1919 as an independent team. Several representatives from another professional football league, the Ohio League, wanted to form a new national league, and thus the APFA was created. The Pros opened the 1920 season with a 26–0 loss to the Rock Island Independents. The team did not score a point until their third game, and ended the season with a 2–5 record, which placed it tied for 11th place in the final standings. The sportswriter Bruce Copeland compiled the 1920 All-Pro list, but no players from the Pros were on it. As of 2025, no player from the 1920 Hammond Pros roster has been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Offseason The Hammond Pros, who were named the Hammond All-Stars, finished 4–2–3 in their 1919 season as an independent team.https://www.profootballarchives.com/1919hama.html 1919 Hammond All-Stars The Pro Football Archives Maher Sports Media October 29, 2012 The All-Stars disbanded, and three teams were created from those players: the Chicago Tigers, the Decatur Staleys, and the Pros.Maher 1993 4 After the 1919 season, representatives of four Ohio League, a professional football league based in Ohio, teams—the Canton Bulldogs, the Cleveland Tigers, the Dayton Triangles, and the Akron Pros—called a meeting on August 20, 1920, to discuss the formation of a new professional league. At the meeting, they tentatively agreed on a salary cap and pledged not to sign college players or players already under contract with other teams. They also agreed on a name for the circuit: the American Professional Football Conference.PFRA Research 1980 3–4Siwoff Zimmber Marini 2010 352–353 They then invited other professional teams to a second meeting on September 17. At that meeting, held at Bulldogs owner Ralph Hay's Hupmobile showroom in Canton, representatives of the Rock Island Independents, the Muncie Flyers, the Decatur Staleys, the Racine Cardinals, the Massillon Tigers, and the Hammond Pros agreed to join the league. Representatives of the Buffalo All-Americans and Rochester Jeffersons could not attend the meeting but sent letters to Hay asking to be included in the league.PFRA Research 1980 4 Team representatives changed the league's name slightly to the American Professional Football Association and elected officers, installing Jim Thorpe as president.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/09/19/113313269.pdf Thorpe Made President The New York Times September 19, 1920 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f8MWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OiEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3568,5105560&dq=gridders&hl=en https://archive.today/20120711044518/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f8MWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OiEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3568,5105560&dq=gridders&hl=en dead July 11, 2012 Organize Pro Gridders; Choose Thorpe, Prexy The Milwaukee Journal September 19, 1920 24 Under the new league structure, teams created their schedules dynamically as the season progressed, so there were no minimum or maximum number of games needed to be played.Peterson 1997 74Davis 2005 59 Also, representatives of each team voted to determine the winner of the APFA trophy.Price Mark April 25, 2011 http://www.ohio.com/news/searching-for-lost-trophy-1.204246 Searching for Lost Trophy Akron Beacon-Journal June 23, 2012 Schedule The Pros, who did not have a scheduled home game, were a traveling team. Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 October 10 at Rock Island Independents L 0–26 0–1 Douglas Park 2,554 Recap 2 October 17 at Dayton Triangles L 0–44 0–2 Triangle Park 2,000 Recap — Bye 3 October 31 at Logan Squares W 14–9 1–2 Logan Square Park 3,000 Recap 4 November 7 at Pullman Original Thorns W 14–13 2–2 Pullman, Illinois "a good crowd" Recap "Hammond Wins Over the Thorns," Hammond Times, Nov. 8, 1920, p. 6. 5 November 14 at Gary Elks L 6–7 2–3 Gleason Field 2,000 Recap 6 November 21 at Decatur Staleys L 7–28 2–4 Staley Field 3,000 Recap 7 November 25 at Chicago Boosters L 0–27 2–5 DePaul Field Recap Note: Non-APFA teams in italics. Thanksgiving Day: November 25. Standings Game summaries Game 1: at Rock Island Independents Pros 0 0 0 0 Independents 0 13 0 13 October 10, 1920, at Douglas Park The Pros started their season with a game against the Rock Island Independents. The Independents already played two games and were undefeated.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rii/1920.htm 1920 Rock Island Independents Pro-Football-Reference.com Sports Reference October 29, 2012 There were no scores by either team in the first or third quarters, but the Independents scored 13 points in the second and fourth.Herrera Simon http://www.rockislandindependents.com/NFL_scores/1920/1920week3box.htm Independents Outplayed and Outclass Beefy 'Stars RockIslandIndependents.com October 29, 2012 Running backs Fred Chicken, Ray Kuehl, and Gerald Mansfield accounting for four touchdowns throughout the game. Quarterback Pudge Wyman throw two touchdowns—a 35-yard one to Kuehl and a 20-yard one to Mansfield.May 2020 Hammond started to purposely injure their opponents during the game because they realized the Independents were a much greater team. As a result, Rube Ursella suffered a twisted knee. Duey Lyle was kicked in the face and required seven stitches. Lastly, Ed Healey was kicked in the face needed five stitches in the cheek. Game 2: at Dayton Triangles Pros 0 0 0 0 Triangles 7 20 3 14 October 17, 1920, at Triangle Park The Dayton Triangles were the Pros' next opponent. For a second week in a row, the Pros did not score a point. In the first quarter, Triangle back Al Mahrt had a one-yard rushing touchdown. The Triangles scored three touchdowns in the second quarter: a 50-yard receiving touchdown from Mahrt, a 35-yard receiving touchdown from end Dave Reese, and a rushing touchdown from back Lou Partlow. The extra point was missed after the first touchdown. In the next quarter, back George Roudebush kicked a 35-yard field goal. The last score of the game was a receiving touchdown from back Norb Sacksteder. The final score of the game was 44–0 before a crowd of 2,000.October 18, 1920 Hammond Pros. Snowed Under Pile 7 Hammond Lake County Times https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/indiana/hammond/hammond-lake-county-times/1920/10-18/page-7 August 20, 2023 Game 3: at Logan Squares 1234 TotalPros????14Squares????9 October 31, 1920, at Logan Square Park After two losses, the Pros decided to not schedule a game in week five and challenge a non-APFA team in week six. Their next opponent, the Logan Squares from Chicago, were on a two-game winning streak.https://www.profootballarchives.com/1920chilog.html 1920 Chicago Logan Square AC The Pro Football Archives Maher Sports Media October 29, 2012 The scoring summary is unavailable, but the Pros defeated the Squares 14–9 in front of 3,000 attendees.May 2020 Game 4: at Pullman Thorns 1234 TotalPros????14Thorns????13 November 7, 1920, in Chicago, Illinois The Pros next challenged the Pullman Thorns, a non-APFA team. The Thorns were undefeated going into this game with a record of 3–0.https://www.profootballarchives.com/1920chipu.html 1920 Chicago Pullman Original Thorns The Pro Football Archives Maher Sports Media December 9, 2012 The scoring summary is unknown.May 2020 For the Pros, Hank Gillo and Mace Roberts both scored rushing touchdowns; for the Thorns, LaForest had two rushing touchdowns. The Pros converted two extra points, while the Thorns only converted one. The final score of the game was a 14–13 victory for the Pros.May 2020 Game 5: at Gary Elks Pros 6 0 0 0 Elks 0 0 0 7 November 14, 1920, at Gleason Field After a two-game winning streak, the Pros played the Gary Elks, a non-APFA team, at Gleason Field, with 2,000 people in attendance.May 2020 The Elks game into the game with an undefeated 5–0–1 record.https://www.profootballarchives.com/1920gary.html 1920 Gary Elks The Pro Football Archives Maher Sports Media December 9, 2012 The Pros were the first team to score when Gilo had a 20-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter; the extra point was missed, however.May 2020 The score would stay 6–0 until Smeltzer of the Elks caught a pass from Leverette in the fourth quarter. The extra point was made, and the final score of the game was a 7–6 loss for the Pros.May 2020 Game 6: at Decatur Staleys Pros 0 0 7 0 Staleys 7 14 0 7 November 21, 1920, at Staley Field On November 21st, the Pros battled the Decatur Staleys in front of 3,000 fans.https://www.profootballarchives.com/1920apfaham.html 1920 Hammond Pros (APFA) The Pro Football Archives Maher Sports Media November 4, 2012 In the first quarter, Staley back Ralph Lanum scored a 23-yard rushing touchdown.May 2020 This touchdown was Lanum's only score of the entire 1920 season.http://www.profootballarchives.com/lanu00200.html Ralph Lanum) The Pro Football Archives Maher Sports Media November 4, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20141202023422/http://www.profootballarchives.com/lanu00200.html December 2, 2014 dead mdy-all Ed Sternaman of the Staleys scored a 10-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. Also, George Halas caught a 15-yard receiving touchdown from Jimmy Conzelman to have the game 21–0 going into halftime.May 2020 In the third quarter, the Staleys did not score, but the Pros put points on the board. Wally Hess caught a 15-yard pass from Emmett Specht for a touchdown.May 2020 In the final quarter, Halas scored a 26-yard receiving touchdown, and the game ended 28–7.May 2020 Game 7: at Chicago Boosters 1234 TotalPros00000Boosters????27 November 25, 1920, at DePaul Field In their final game of the 1920 season, the Pros played the Chicago Boosters, a non-APFA team. The Boosters came into the game with an undefeated record of 3–0–4."1920 Chicago Boosters". The Pro Football Archives. Maher Sports Media. Retrieved December 8, 2012. The scoring summary is unknown, but four players of the Boosters—Annan, Bond, Reilly, Applehans—scored a touchdown. The final score of the game was a 27–0 loss for the Pros.May 2020 Postseason With a losing record, the Pros could not contend for the APFA Championship. After the season was over, the team hired Max Hicks to be the coach for the following season.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ham/1921.htm 1921 Hammond Pros Pro-Football-Reference.com Sports Reference December 10, 2012 The Pros' 1920 record of 2–5–2 would be their best outing until 1924; the team folded two years later.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ham/ Hammond Pros Franchise Encyclopedia Pro-Football-Reference.com Sports Reference December 10, 2012 Sportswriter Bruce Copeland compiled the 1920 All Pro team, but no player made the list.Hogrogian John 1984 http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/06-01-173.pdf 1920 All-Pros The Coffin Corner Professional Football Researchers Association 6 1 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101127052153/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/06-01-173.pdf November 27, 2010 As of 2012, no players from the 1920 Hammond Pros were enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/alphabetical.aspx Alphabetically Pro Football Hall of Fame July 16, 2012 Roster Mose Bashaw (Tackle) Tony Catalano Cole (End) Edward Davis (Guard) Guil Falcon Hank Gillo (Fullback) Wilbur Henderson Wally Hess Max Hicks Carol Johnson (Tackle) George H. "Dutch" Kohl (Center) Klinks Meyers (End) Matthews (Halfback) Oldts (Guard) Pulaski (Halfback) Mace Roberts (Halfback) Emmett Specht (Halfback) Ward (Quarterback) Warren (Quarterback) References 35em Further reading Davis Jeff Papa Bear, The Life and Legacy of George Halas McGraw-Hill 2005 0-07-146054-3 https://archive.org/details/papabear00jeff Maher Tod 1993 http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/15-03-520.pdf In the Beginning The Coffin Corner Professional Football Researchers Association 15 3 March 1, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120428082301/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/15-03-520.pdf April 28, 2012 Peterson Robert 1997 Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football Oxford University Press 0-19-507607-9 https://archive.org/details/pigskinearlyyear00pete_0 PFRA Research 1980 http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/02-08-038.pdf Happy Birthday NFL? The Coffin Corner Professional Football Researchers Association 2 8 October 29, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120311103645/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/02-08-038.pdf March 11, 2012 Siwoff Seymour Zimmber Jon Marini Matt 2010 The Official NFL Record and Fact Book 2010 National Football League 978-1-60320-833-8 Vecchione Joseph 1992 Book of Sports Legends Simon and Schuster 978-0-671-76039-7 https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780671760397 Category:Hammond Pros seasons Hammond Pros Category:1920 in sports in Indiana Category:1920 APFA season