1921 Cleveland Tigers season

Sports season March 2026 November 2013 Cleveland Tigers (NFL) Cleveland Tigers 1921 3–5 APFA(3–5–1 overall) 11th APFA Jim O'Donnell Jim Thorpe Dunn Field true The 1921 Cleveland Tigers season was their second completed in the young American Professional Football Association (APFA), soon to be renamed the National Football League. The team improved on their previous record of 2–4–2, winning three games.1921 Cleveland Indians They finished eleventh in the league.1921 Cleveland Tigers (APFA) The 1921 team, remembered by some as the Cleveland Indians,Listed as such by Pro Football Reference, although papers of the day almost universally used the "Tigers" moniker. featured legendary player-coach Jim Thorpe at halfback and two other Native-American football stars in the backfield — "Indian Joe" Guyon and fullback Pete Calac, both of whom played with Thorpe on the 1920 Canton Bulldogs."Trio of Indian Grid Stars Face Staleys," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 20, 1921, p. 27. In all, six members of the 1921 Cleveland Tigers team played on the Canton Bulldogs the previous season. The 34-year old Thorpe — ancient in football years — used himself sparingly but was still effective enough that the Cleveland Plain Dealer could write good-naturedly of his season-opening performance against the Columbus Panhandles: "Poor Jim Thorpe. He has become so old and decrepit that the best he could do yesterday was run eighty yards for a touchdown, shaking off half a dozen tacklers and dodging three or four others. His arm has become so weak he cannot throw the football more than forty or fifty yards in executing forward passes. Poor Jim. The first thing we know he will have to quit the game in ten years or so."Henry P. Edwards, "Cleveland Tiger Eleven Trims Columbus Panhandles by 35 to 9 Score: Thorpe's Famous Backfield Gives Great Exhibition," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 17, 1921, p. 16. Schedule thumb|right|200px|Tiny display advertisement promoting the first Cleveland Tigers game of the 1921 season. Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 October 16 Columbus Panhandles W 35–9 1–0 Dunn Field "several thousand" Recap "Thorpe's Pro Grid Outfit Will Open Its Season Today: Tackles Columbus Panhandles, with Famous Nessers, at Dunn Field," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 16, 1921, p. 16."Jim Thorpe's Indians Down Panhandles," Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Oct. 17, 1921, p. 8. 2 October 23 Cincinnati Celts W 28–0 2–0 Dunn Field Recap "Thorpe's Pros in Fine Fettle for Cincinnati Celts: Expect Victory Over Outfit Made Up of Marietta, Miami, Heidelberg and Other College Stars at Dunn Field This Afternoon," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 23, 1921, p. 22."Cleveland Tigers Dispose of Cincinnati Celts by Count of 28 to 0: Jim Thorpe Hurt When Tackled As He Catches Pass," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 24, 1921, p. 16."Thorpe's Team Beats Celts: Cleveland Tigers Trim Cincinnati Eleven — Score 28 to 0," Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 24, 1921, p. 9. 3 October 30 at Dayton Triangles L 2–3 2–1 Triangle Park 4,000 Recap "Triangles Get Heavy End of 3 to 2 Count: Dropkick Brings a One Point Margin Over Jim Thorpe's Cleveland Tigers," Rock island Argus, Oct. 31, 1921, p. 17. 4 November 6 at Buffalo All-Americans L 6–10 2–2 Canisius Villa 7,000 Recap "All-Americans Defeat Cleveland After Being Scored Upon: Jim Thorpe's Cleveland Tigers Drew First Blood But Lose 10 to 6," Buffalo Times, Nov. 7, 1921, p. 16."All-Americans Beat Cleveland in Hard Game: Thorpe's Tigers Gave Buffalo Merry Battle — Touchdown by Visitors Not Allowed," Buffalo Enquirer, Nov. 7, 1921, p. 6. 5 November 13 Canton Bulldogs L 0–7 2–3 Dunn Field < 3,500 Recap Francis J. Powers, "Cleveland Tigers Fail to Score as They Lose to Canton Bulldog Warriors," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Nov. 14, 1921, p. 14."Canton Downs Cleveland in Stubborn Game: Carroll Scores Lone Touchdown, Thorpe Gets In," Pittsburgh Post, Nov. 14, 1921, p. 6. 6 November 20 at Chicago Staleys L 7–22 2–4 Cubs Park 10,000 Recap "Staleys Thump Pros of Cleveland, 22–7," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 21, 1921, p. 16."Record Crowd Sees Staleys Humble Cleveland, 22–7: Stinchcomb Runs 80 Yards Through Tiger Team for First Score," Decatur Herald, Nov. 21, 1921, p. 4."Staley Eleven Puts Tigers to Rout, Score 22–7: Stinchcomb Stars as Decatur Team Wallops Clevelanders," Davenport Democrat and Leader, Nov. 21, 1921, p. 7."Thorpe's Tigers Prove Easy for Decatur Staleys: Pete Stinchcomb Races Over Field for Two Touchdowns and is Factor in Scoring of Third; Jim Thorpe Fails to Play," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Nov. 21, 1921, p. 17. – November 27 (open date) — — 7 December 3 at New York Brickley Giants W 17–0 3–4 Polo Grounds 3,000 Recap – December 10 at Richmond Athletic Club T 0–0 — 8 December 11 at Washington Senators L 0–7 3–5 American League Park 5,000 Recap Note: Games in italics indicate a non-league opponent. Standings thumb|right|400px|Cleveland fullback Pete Calac gains ground through the Columbus line in the October 16 season-opener. References 35em Category:Cleveland Indians (NFL) seasons Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians (NFL)