1922 Racine Legion season

Sports season March 2026 November 2013 Racine Legion 1922 6–4–1 6th in NFL Babe Ruetz Horlick Field none true Although organized in the previous year, the 1922 Horlick-Racine Legion season marked the club's inaugural season in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished 6–4–1, good for sixth place in the 18-team league.1922 Racine Legion Background Racine Legion thumb|right|200px|Hank Gillo was organizer, coach, and star of the Racine Legion football team in the fall of 1921. The Racine Legion football team did not suddenly spring from the soil in 1922. The club was first formed by the Racine post of the American Legion in the summer of 1921."Racine Legion Grid Men Get Acquainted," Racine Journal Times, Aug. 29, 1921, p. 8. Having already sponsored teams in other sports' the team's initial goal seemed modest: to make the team the best in Racine. Assisting in the creation was William Horlick, president of his family's eponymous malted milk company, a profitable firm of the day. Horlick was a financial angel and provided use of his company's employee ball yard, Horlick Athletic Field, for home games. The football club was officially named Horlick-Racine Legion in recognition of this dual sponsorship. The team was sometimes referred to as "The Horlicks" in the contemporary press. It remained a project of the local American Legion post, however, and it was the post which accrued the team's financial losses, which were significant in 1922 and 1923."Football Fans Launch Plan to Save Legion Team: Milt Knoblock Father of Idea," Racine News-Times, Dec. 17, 1923, pp. 12-13. The post solicited donations from local fans and hosted fundraising event in an effort to offset this negative cash flow. Schedule thumb|right|200px|Early NFL teams made use of local talent. Elmer "Swede" Rhenstrom was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and went to school at Beloit. Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 October 1 Chicago Bears L 0–6 0–1 Horlick Field 4,000 The special correspondent of the Chicago Tribune had the crowd at 5,000. Recap "Horlick-Legion Team Wins Victory in Defeat: Classy Visitors Are Held to Few Counters," Racine Journal-News, Oct. 2, 1922, p. 8."Field Goals by Sternaman Give Bears 6 to 0 Win," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 2, 1922, p. 16. 2 October 8 at Green Bay Packers W 10–6 1–1 Hagemeister Park 8,000 Recap 3 October 15 at Milwaukee Badgers L 0–20 1–2 Athletic Park 6,000 Recap "Badgers Upset Racines, 20–0: Pollard and Robeson are Stars of Game for the Milwaukee Team," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 16, 1922, p. 12. 4 October 22 Toledo Maroons L 0–7 1–3 Horlick Field 3,500 Recap 5 October 29 Rochester Jeffersons W 9–0 2–3 Horlick Field Recap "Racine Horlick Legion Defeats Rochester, 9–0," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 30, 1922, p. 18. 6 November 5 Louisville Brecks W 57–0 3–3 Horlick Field Recap 7 November 11 Columbus Panhandles W 34–0 4–3 Horlick Field "not up to expectations" Recap "Pro Grid Game Originators Licked by Legion: Panhandles are Easy for Locals," Racine Journal Times, Nov. 13, 1922, p. 11. 8 November 19 Green Bay Packers T 3–3 4–3–1 Horlick Field 3,000 Recap Cal, "Gillo's Place Kick Saves Racine from Defeat: Legion Fullback Boots One Between Uprights in Final Seconds of Pigskin Fracas," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Nov. 20, 1922, p. 11."Gillo Boots Legion into Tie with Packers: Chuck Dressen's Headwork Pulls Game Out of Fire," Racine Journal-News, Nov. 20, 1922, p. 11."Green Bay and Racine Tie," Rock Island Argus, Nov. 20, 1922, p. 12. 9 November 26 Hammond Pros W 6–0 5–3–1 Horlick Field 1,034 Recap "Horlick-Legion Team Humbles Hammond, 6–0: Pass Puts Ball Over the Line," Racine Journal-News, Nov. 27, 1922, p. 10. 10 November 30 Milwaukee Badgers W 3–0 6–3–1 Horlick Field 3,500 Recap 11 December 3 Green Bay Packers L 0–14 6–4–1 Horlick Field 4,500 Recap Note: Armistice Day: November 11. Thanksgiving Day: November 30. Standings Roster The following individuals played at least one NFL game for the Horlick-Racine Legion football team in 1922."1922 Racine Legion Roster & Players," Pro Football Reference, https://www.pro-football-reference.com The total number of NFL game appearances in 1922 follows in parentheses. While no player on the 1922 Racine roster made the Pro Football Hall of Fame, quarterback Chuck Dressen went on to have a 50 year career as a player and manager in Major League Baseball. Linemen thumb|right|240px|After playing three games for the Canton Bulldogs, Raymond "Candy" Miller came over to Racine, where he started 8 games at right tackle. Buddy Baumann (4) George Berry (2) Art Braman (8) Bob Foster (10) Carl George (3) Norm Glockson (1) Earl Gorman (11) Norbert Hayes (11) Jack Hueller (9) Frank Linnan (3) George McGill (3) Ray "Candy" Miller (8) Jack Mintun (7) Jab Murray (8) Don Murry (4) Elmer "Swede" Rhenstrom (6) Fritz Roeseler (11) Vincent Shekleton (3) Whitey Woodin (4) Backs Moxie Dalton (5) Chuck Dressen (7) Al Elliott (11) Hank Gillo (11) Fritz Heinisch (5) Jerry Johnson (3) Irv Langhoff (11) Dudley Pearson (4) Wally Sieb (2) References 35em Category:Racine Legion seasons Racine Legion Racine Legion