The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr

by Chris Willis

  Shortly after the opening of the past season, your President received a letter, after an exchange of much correspondence, from the General Manager of the Associated Press, in which he stated that he felt the National Football League had kept faith with the public in all matters, and that beginning with that date the Associated Press would carry the results of our games and the League standings on its trunk wire, giving us publicity throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, and we had won a place that we had been striving for since the League was organized.

  With increased attendance as recorded above, and with much publicity, both were augmented when Mr. Grange elected to become a professional and play on one of the teams in the National Football League. Much discussion followed the entry of this most talked of athlete of modem times into our League, but I am firmly convinced that the net result has been all in favor of our organization.

  Thousands upon thousands of people were attracted to their first game of Professional football through a curiosity to see Grange in action, and many of these newcomers became profound advocates of the Professional game. I quote one of the New York's writers, who said, "I have always been an advocate of Professional Football. Last Sunday I went to the Polo Grounds to see Red Grange. I was invited to sit on the bench of the New York Club. Never in my long experience have I ever seen so much spirit, so much perfect play, so sure tackling, and I came away from the game an avowed advocate of the Professional game, and you may expect to see me on the bench at every game the Giants play next season." This is only one of the many, many who have spoken in the same vein.

  Just when it seemed that our organization had gone fairly well toward its goal last season, two events happened that threatened to tear the very foundation from under our League. First Milwaukee and the Chicago Cardinals engaged in a game of football at Chicago, in which four high school boys were permitted to play with the Milwaukee club. Then over the positive orders of the President of the League, and against all of its rules and regulations, the Pottsville team invaded the territory of another club in the League and played a game with a team that was not a member of the League.

  In the case of the Chicago Cardinals and the Milwaukee club, I made a very thoro [sic] investigation and at its conclusion I fined the Milwaukee Club the sum of $500.00, and gave the management ninety days in which to dispose of its assets at Milwaukee, after which he must retire from the League. The Cardinal management was fined the sum of $1,000.00 and placed on probation for one year.

  I could not find where the management of the Cardinal team had guilty knowledge of the status of the boys who played until after the game had been played.

  In the case of Pottsville, I had been appraised through reports from League members and the Press that the Pottsville team intended to play a game at Philadelphia on Saturday, December 12. I immediately notified the management of the Pottsville club that the game should not be played under all penalties that the League could inflict. The Pottsville management wired me that they had signed a contract and that they desired the League to insure them against a damage suit. I advised that the League would give them every protection possible and again forbade them to play in the protected territory of another club, and with a team which was not a member of our organization. Three different notices forbidding the Pottsville club to play were given and the management elected to play regardless. Hence I fined the club the sum of $500.00, and suspended them from all rights and privileges, and declared their franchise forfeited in the League.

  All of the foregoing were acts and penalties assessed by me against men whom I have come to know and mingle with as friends and still have the kindliest feeling toward all of them. However, as your President pledged to both the members of this organization and the public to sustain both the rules of the League and play fair with the public, and do my plain duty as I saw it, the penalties were imposed in keeping with the rules and regulations of our League.

  As I have stated before in this report, while the penalties that were imposed on those who violated our rules sound severe, nevertheless I felt that in many cases in our League, immense sums of money have been invested and still greater sums will be expended. The only protection this money has is the protection your officers give it through the enforcement of the rules, and if clubs feel that the rule may be broken with impunity and are permitted to do it, then the history of the National Football League is already written.

  Dr. Striegel of the Pottsville club and his brother called at my home after notification of the penalties as recorded previously in this report. They contended that they had been punished without a hearing. I contended that having been forewarned, no hearing was necessary, but in a spirit of fairness I would be glad to have them come before the League and state their case. However, I advised them that under no consideration would I retract from the penalties that had been imposed, unless instructed to do so by the League, and if it is the pleasure of the organization before we adjourn, the Pottsville club will be given a hearing and also the facts re-stated by your President and it will then be up to the organization to either sustain the President or give the Pottsville team a mitigation of sentence.

  In closing, I again state that I have tried to do my duty as I saw it, and I feel that every act of mine will stand the strictest scrutiny of the public, Press and the courts if necessary, and I will gladly invite discussion of this report and will be glad to give additional information that any member may desire.'

  Carr's report and all his decisions were then approved by all of the owners. His powerful words finally put to rest the Pottsville issue and reiterated that no player, team, or owner was above the rules and regulations that he was trying to establish. Although the bylaws weren't perfect (the league was still only six years old), Carr knew that the rules had to be followed in order for the league to progress and move forward. The owners continued to see that Carr was going to be the man with the answers, and he was the right person for the job.

  The owners then reelected Carr as their president, as well as John Dunn as vice president and Carl Storck as treasurer. After putting 1925 behind them, Carr then presented a new resolution that would put the eligibility of college players coming into the NFL in a more clear and concise manner. With help from James Dooley (lawyer) and Charlie Coppen of the Providence Steam Roller the resolution was presented to the other owners.

  That the National Football League, assembled in annual Meeting at Detroit, Michigan, this 6th day of February, 1926, hereby places itself on record as unalterably opposed to any encroachment upon college football, and hereby pledges its hearty support to college authorities in maintaining and advancing the interest in college football and in preserving the amateur standing of all college athletes.

  We believe there is a public demand for professional football as has been clearly demonstrated by the wide interest manifested notably thruout [sic] the past season, and, to the end that this League may not jeopardize the amateur standing of any college player, it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that every member of the National Football League be positively prohibited from inducing or attempting to induce any college player to engage in professional football until his class at college shall have graduated, and any member violating this rule shall be fined not less that One Thousand Dollars, or loss of its franchise or both.

  The President of this League is hereby authorized and directed to appoint a committee of League members to confer with a Committee from the InterCollegiate Athletic Association, with a view to carrying out the purpose set forth in this Resolution.'

  The resolution was passed and Carr nominated George Halas to be chairman of the committee to confer with the college officials to present the resolution. After six years, Carr and the owners finally got the specific wording correct, and it seemed that the new resolution would be ironclad. After the meeting, Carr spoke to the press about the resolution.

  What more could we do to prove our regard for college football than rule that a lad who matricul
ates in any institution of learning cannot play in our league until his class has graduated? This means that if a boy enters the University of Pennsylvania, say, this fall, joins the freshman squad, and quits college two weeks after he matriculates, he cannot play football in the National League until 1930. That may work a hardship on some boys. I could cite several cases where it has appeared to be a little harsh already. But it is the only way we can prove to the college men that we are not going to do anything to weaken amateur athletics as the recreational part of higher education.5

  The rule became one of the NFL's proudest badges of altruism. The league always took pride in its "class-has-graduated" rule as an example of how it protected both college football and student athletes. Sixty years later, some student-athletes would challenge that rule in the courts as a violation of their right to earn a living.

  Just when it looked like the NFL was feeling good about itself, another war was about to start. C. C. Pyle (with his star player Red Grange at his side) had arrived in Detroit to apply for an NFL franchise. But Pyle never did anything by the books. He took the floor and announced that he and Red had just secured a five-year lease on Yankee Stadium for all the Sundays and holiday dates from October 15 to December 31. "1 have the biggest star in football and I have the lease on the biggest stadium in the country and I am going into your league whether you like it or not," Pyle boldly announced. He proposed running his own franchise right in New York City. Pyle painted a convincing picture: with the biggest stadium in the country and the biggest star in football playing in it, all the league members stood to profit greatly. All but one.6

  Pyle didn't discuss his idea with Tim Mara, who just a year ago purchased his Giants franchise with the thought he was buying an exclusive franchise in New York. Wasn't that the purpose of a franchise? In the name of profit, would the league set aside Mara's rights and allow a new franchise in Yankee Stadium across the Harlem River, less than a thousand yards from the Polo Grounds? A couple of owners didn't think twice before jumping on the Grange bandwagon. A. H. Bowlby of Rock Island bubbled over, Dutch Sternaman went for it, and Halas was noncommittal, knowing that Grange in the league would only help the NFL. But as much as the other owners wanted Grange in the NFL, he couldn't be in New York unless Mara said it was okay. The NFL's territorial rights rule gave him the power.

  Mara didn't care for the way Pyle moved into his territory and assumed the league would just give him a franchise. He told Pyle no way. That evening a couple of the owners attempted a compromise. Perhaps Mara would be willing to countenance a team with Grange in Brooklyn. Perhaps Pyle would be willing to back off and go to Ebbets Field some ten miles from the Polo Grounds. Pyle dug in for a fight, saying to Grange, "No blasted Irishman is going to keep me out of New York!

  After roughly five hours of discussions, a meeting was arranged between Mara and Pyle. It was doomed. Mara had developed a dislike for Pyle's arrogance, and now C. C. was treating him as a tiresome obstacle to more "riches." According to one witness, Mara came close to punching C. C. In the end it looked like Mara would get his wish with no NFL franchise for Pyle-Grange. Mara's decision to not allow Pyle a team in his territory was well within his rights, and Carr backed his owner 100 percent. He, like Mara, didn't care for the way Pyle did business, assuming he could have any franchise in any city he wanted. Everyone knew that Pyle was only capitalizing on Red's fame, something that every man in the room was anxious to do. The only difference was that, unlike the others, Pyle was determined Grange would receive the biggest share of the capitalization, which in turn would put more money in Pyle's pockets. Carr couldn't bankrupt his league so Pyle could become rich. Everybody in the league had to follow the same rules, right?

  That Mara's refusal to be bulldozed was fueled by self-interest goes without saying. He saw no profit in allowing his Giants to become New York's "second" team. But beyond that, he could think of long-term profits as opposed to quick riches. If the league caved in this time, what would happen when next year's "Grange" came along and wanted a slice of Chicago? And the year after that; would Philadelphia be given away to another college star? Mara, Carr, and the others owners had to ask, who was running this show anyway-the league or the stars? This was a battle worth fighting.

  The first day of the winter meetings ended with C. C. Pyle being shut out of the NFL. Pyle and Grange knew the door was pretty much closed, so Pyle did the only thing he knew how to do and that was think big. Pyle slowly got the word out he was going to organize his own league with Grange's team playing in New York at Yankee Stadium. The entire dynamic of professional football was about to change, and Carr's NFL was about to face a war against what historians have called the "Grange League."

  After a restless night for everyone, the second day started at 1:15 p.m. with Carr and the NFL owners increasing the roster limit from sixteen players to eighteen, helping teams who had suffered late-season injuries. The owners also approved raising the guarantee fee from $1,000 to $1,500, and the application fee was increased from $500 to $2,500. This was done to reduce the number of applications coming into the NFL. Then to wrap up the very eventful meeting, one more curveball was thrown. The league awarded the 1925 NFL championship to the Chicago Cardinals and their owner Chris O'Brien. But O'Brien declined the title, saying that "the Chicago club wanted only a title won on the playing field," although they were the NFL's champions for the 1925 season on the basis of having the best record.8

  Just like Mara and his decision to block Pyle in New York, O'Brien was well within his right to decline. But the bottom line was the Cardinals were still the NFL's champions in 1925 based on Carr's ruling that made Pottsville ineligible. The owners voted the Cardinals champions regardless of O'Brien's choice, and Carr's proper ruling regarding Pottsville has remained correct for nearly eighty-five years. The way it should be. The evidence in the Pottsville case is simple. The owner of the Maroons was warned repeatedly by the president of the NFL about not playing the game. He broke a league rule and paid the price.'

  The meeting ended, and while heading home Carr must have thought about what a hectic two days he had just spent in Detroit. To be honest, it was a crazy nine months since he left for New York to seek an owner for an NFL franchise-a franchise nobody wanted. Now he had two rich moguls, and the sport's biggest star, all fighting over which would survive in the Big Apple. Carr thought the publicity and attention the sport was getting was positive, but he also knew this was just the beginning of a financial battle. How would his league survive?

  In the beginning of this conflict, Carr fully, and silently, supported one of his owners. But Tim Mara began the struggle with a war of words.

  I didn't make enough money last year to stuff a hat brim. I remember one game where our net profits were something like $105, which was absurd compared to what the players got. Of course, we expect to do better next year but it's a cinch the revenue won't increase to the point where there will be room for two clubs. Under those conditions, all of Jake Ruppert's [owner of the New York Yankees baseball team] money hardly could save Grange from going broke.

  I can see that brand new bankroll of his melting right away. If he attempts to go it alone here, he will have the same chance of an independent running against a solid organization, to wit: None.

  If he tries to organize a rival league, he will find the player market low, even if he could locate adequate grounds in paying cities which I doubt. The thing would mean the lining up of 150 players for eight clubs and I don't think there is anything like that many good ones available. Of course he might get the services of a few stars. So did the Federal League in baseball and most of the backers lost plenty. The playing strength would remain with us, knowing from experience that we can meet our obligation.

  Incidentally, I'm far from alone in my stand against an invasion of New York territory. President Carr has telephoned me with the assurance that the league is behind me to a man. As for the report that Grange and his manager, Pyle, might persuade the Chicago Bears t
o desert in a body, I am pleased to say that they have told me they are with the New York Giants one hundred per cent.

  If Grange carries out his threat to promote a team in New York and conflicts with our Sunday dates, neither one of us will make a nickel. But we are in a better position to survive as we are in an organized league and any other team that invades our territory without a franchise will have to play as an outlaw.10

  Mara didn't hold back, but his right hand man-Dr. Harry March-was a little more diplomatic saying, "Competition is the backbone of all sports, and the New York Football Giants welcome the coming of a new league in this city."" President Carr was definitely in Maras corner, and speaking to Don Maxwell of the Chicago Tribune, he explained the history of making money in professional football.

  0, it's a great game-this pro football. But it's never been a great money making game. Take that old team we called the Columbus Panhandles. I organized that bunch 20 years and more ago. We made some money, but I didn't get rich. Nobody has in this pro grid game. A lot of us have gone broke thinking we would. I managed those Nesser boys and the rest of the Panhandles because I got a kick out of it. Of course I wanted to make money. But money wasn't all of it-you get what I mean?

  We kept on playing pro football and getting fun out of it and then in 1921 some of the other professional promoters got me to come down to Akron and they made me president of a new league. They called it the National Professional Football League. Chris O'Brien, the boss of your Cardinals, was one of them.

  Five years-that's the life of the league. We started with a loose organization-no bylaws, no constitution, just a sort of gentleman's agreement to play the game square and let the colleges alone. I believe pro football has a big future. I believe that games in New York and Chicago will be drawing crowds rivaling baseball attandances-not next year, or the next, but in five years.