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

by Chris Willis

  Brooklyn-green and white

  Chicago Bears-orange and white

  Chicago Cardinals-cardinal red

  Cincinnati-crimson red

  Green Bay-navy blue

  New York-red, white, and blue

  Philadelphia-light blue and yellow

  Pittsburgh-black and gold

  Portsmouth-purple37

  Some of the NFL's pioneering franchises did start with some unusual color schemes-notably Green Bay with its navy blue and Philadelphia's light blue and yellow pattern that has been recycled recently with the NFL's throwback collection. But in 1933 no team was worried about jersey sales; they were worried about just being able to afford jerseys.

  On the second day, the owners were now ready to make history. At 1:00 p.m. on July 9, Carr presented the schedule for the season and it was quickly approved. After a couple months' work, Carr was satisfied with the process of putting together the league's schedule, and the owners seemed to agree. For years the owners had bounced around the idea of splitting the NFL into divisions, similar to baseball's American and National leagues. Now was the time to take that leap. According to the league minutes, George Preston Marshall made a motion suggesting that

  for the purpose of creating a new system of compiling and publishing the official standings of clubs in the League that Eastern and Western divisions be created and that the official standings for the coming season be divided into an eastern and western group:

  The Eastern group to consist of Boston, Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

  The Western group to consist of Chicago Bears, Chicago Cardinals, Cincinnati, Green Bay and Portsmouth.38

  But Marshall wasn't done with his idea of how the new NFL should look, bringing up another motion:

  That under the direction of the President and the Executive Committee the champions of the respective eastern and western groups shall meet at the conclusion of the season and play one game, the winner of which shall be designated as League champion and champion of the world; such game to be played at such time and place and under such rules and conditions as may be designated by the President and the Exec. Committee, including the division of receipts, part of which are to go to the players, part to the respective club owners whose teams are participating, and part to the league treasury.39

  It was about time. For nearly a dozen years the NFL hierarchy had talked about arranging itself into two divisions so it could have a seasonending championship game. A championship game would do away with unseemly postseason arguments over which team had actually won the title. Disputes had erupted in 1921, 1924, 1925, and 1931. In 1932 the Spartans and Bears tied at season's end, and the NFL couldn't expect two teams to tie at the end of every year. This new setup would give the league a "second" pennant race. In theory you only had to be good in your division. Plus, the championship game at the end of the season would bring in more money and publicity. The NFL now had its version of baseball's World Series.

  Both of Marshall's motions were carried. The meeting adjourned with all ten franchises, a vice president, and one president very enthusiastic about the upcoming season. The entire group could see the potential of what they had just set up, and they couldn't wait for the season to start. But before they would get going, two teams changed ownership. The Brooklyn Dodgers were sold by Bill Dwyer to two players-Chris Cagle and John "Shipwreck" Kelly-for a price that was "between $25,000 and $50,000."40

  In Chicago, Dr. David Jones sold his Cardinals to Charlie Bidwill, who had to give up his small share of the Chicago Bears to get the team. Despite losing a good friend who helped him financially, George Halas was happy for Bidwill. "Dr. David Jones was losing interest in football. He saw a dark financial future for football and his Cardinals. Undesirable characters again sniffed about [to buy the team]. I favored my old friend Charlie Bidwill," recalled Halas 41 After meeting with Jones on his boat, Bidwill made him an offer to buy the franchise for a reported $50,000. Charlie Bidwill was a Chicago native who graduated with a law degree from Loyola (Illinois) University. After serving in World War I he become a corporate counsel and then gradually became involved in sports around the Windy City.

  Bidwill was labeled a "creative genius" as a manager for many varied sporting activities. He was president of the Chicago Stadium Operating Company, promoting every event for the arena. He was also director of the American Turf Association and proprietor of a racing stable. In his spare time he was president of the Bentley, Murray Printing Company. His sports connections and businesses made the thirty-eight-year-old Bidwill a wealthy man and a perfect owner for one of Carr's big city franchises. He also could see the big picture for the NFL.

  "In brief the success of professional football depends in no small measure upon its ability to draw the workaday sports fans who either have been ignored by the colleges or who can't get away to attend Saturday games. Professional football supplies that need."42

  On the eve of the season's opening weekend, Carr spoke to the press about what they should expect to see on NFL gridirons.

  We had our best year in 1932, despite general conditions. We have a stronger organization than ever and look for an even bigger season this fall. I may sound optimistic, and I intend to. I have seen the popularity of the professional game grow slowly but steadily. It is here to stay because it is giving the fans what they want.

  Professional teams are well coached, practice daily, and offer superlative football at prices less than those charged for college games. These have been the factors in the growth of attendance. We confidently expect our greatest season this fall.43

  On the opening weekend President Carr traveled to Portsmouth to watch the Cincinnati Reds play the Spartans in their inaugural League contest. Carr's special guest that day was his son Joe Carr Jr. As a reward for graduating high school, papa Carr allowed his seventeen-year-old son to travel with him for the first time to attend an NFL game. Father and son sat in the box on the forty-five yard line, and Carr was introduced to cheers from the crowd of 5,000, but didn't give a speech. The Spartans spoiled the Reds' debut with a 21-0 whipping.

  Three days later Carr took a train east to witness the debut of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Because the Blue Laws of Pennsylvania weren't repealed until November 7, the Pirates (as well as Philadelphia) played their first few home games on Wednesday nights. In their first game, the Pirates had a very inexperienced lineup facing the veteran New York Giants. In front of a nice crowd of 20,000 fans, the Giants showed the Steel City squad what an NFL team should look like. The Giants dominated on both sides, winning easily 23-2. Carr saw some potential in the Pirates-especially the rather large crowd that showed up-as he chatted with head coach Jap Douds after the game. "You're not going to win any championships, but you have a fine foundation to build on." Following the game Rooney wrote in his diary, "Our fans didn't get their money's worth."45 Fielding a team with mostly players from the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne, and Washington and Jefferson, the Pirates finished their first season with a 3-6-2 record.

  One of the players on the Pirates' team would be one of the last black players to play in an NFL game for a long time. Ray Kemp joined Joe Lillard as the only two black players in the league in 1933. Kemp had played college ball at Duquesne and was then recruited by Art Rooney to play for his J. P. Rooney's. When Rooney joined the NFL, he signed Kemp to play tackle for sixty dollars a game. "I can recall it as if it were yesterday, the tremendous ovation I received when they announced I was going in at tackle, " remembered Ray Kemp about his first NFL game 46

  "When we were traveling I ran into a lot of problems. A lot of my teammates didn't really do much about it except for one or two guys. When we were away from home, a couple of guys would come around to make sure I was alright. That sort of sustained me because there were times when it helped to know that they were standing in your corner," Kemp revealed in a 1981 interview for Black Sports in Pittsburgh. Kemp would play five games for the Steelers in 1933 before Douds didn't need
him anymore. He was released by Rooney.47

  "I received a letter saying that I had been dropped from the roster. I talked with Art Rooney and I can recall his exact words. He said 'Ray, I feel you are as good a ballplayer as we have on the club but I am not going over the head of the coach. You know how I feel about you personally," remembered Kemp. Rooney gave his coaches all the power when it came time to make roster decisions. Kemp never resented Rooney for his being released but definitely thought it showed a weakness in Rooney as the team's president. "Art gave his coaches a free hand. He didn't interfere. That's where he made his mistake for years," remembered Kemp.48

  Rooney would agree with Kemp's assessment. "I think that was my whole mistake, letting the coaches have a free hand," recalled Art Rooney." In the team's first ten years (1933-1942), Rooney had seven different head coaches. The more important issue was that he released one of only two black players in the league at the time. Before the next NFL season started, Carr's league would have no black players participating.

  While Carr took road trips to games in Portsmouth (September 24) and Chicago (October 1 and October 29), he received a nice birthday note from his loving daughter, Mary. On his fifty-fourth birthday, Carr was given a short hand-written letter by his eldest child wishing him a happy birthday.

  Dearest of All Dads,

  Here's wishing the best and dearest Dad in the world the happiest and best birthday our Lord and the Blessed Virgin could give a wonderful father like you. I think you know by this time a little bit how grand, how swell, how wonderful you are. And you also know that this is not flattering it comes from the heart.

  I offered my Rosary in Church for you this morning to our Blessed Mother, your favorite patroness to always guide you as right and make you as successful as you are today.

  I won't even try to thank you for all the things you have done for me-and the unlimited happiness and joy you have brought me-ever since the moment I was born.

  So here wishing you again-all the luck & every blessing possible to be blessed from the Almighty.

  Always,

  Your Lamb

  (may you always be as proud of me as you are today)"

  Mary Carr's love and devotion to her father was very obvious to the family and anyone who came into contact with her. Although he was gone most of the time traveling, Carr was definitely a father who had his children's love. Whether it was receiving a note from his "Lamb" or watching "Buddy" graduate from high school, he (as well as his wife, Josie) was raising his children the right way. Family, faith, and friends were being instilled in the Carr home as well as within his football league.

  As for the NFL's first two-division race, the drama was kept to a minimum, as the Bears (Western) and the Giants (Eastern) won their respective divisions easily. But the new format did do its proper job-the NFL's two best teams were going to meet for the title in the league's first-ever NFL Championship Game. After winning the NFL title in 1932, George Halas didn't sit quietly basking in his glory. Before the season started, he replaced the great Ralph Jones (who resigned to go back to his old job as athletic director at Lake Forest Academy) with, of all people, himself. Then he went about restocking his squad.

  Coach Halas signed former college stars halfback-kicker Jack Manders (Minnesota), end Bill Karr (West Virginia), and six feet two, 257-pound guard George Musso, from tiny Milliken College (Illinois). Musso went on to play twelve years with the Bears and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Every member of this rookie class would contribute to the Bears finishing with a Western-best 10-2-1 record. Out of the group Manders probably had the most impact in 1933 as he took advantage of the NFL's new rules. With the goal post moved to the front of the end zone, "Automatic Jack" led the NFL in field goals (six) and extra points (fourteen). His six field goals in 1933 matched the entire NFL's total in 1932.

  While the Bears controlled the West, the New York Giants revamped themselves into the beast of the East, and they started with the search for a new signal caller. "What we needed was a quarterback. The quarterback we wanted was Harry Newman. He could throw and run, he was smart and he could be coached," says Wellington Mara, son of Tim Mara 51 The Giants signed the Michigan All-American, who would give the Giants offense a much-needed spark since the departure of Benny Friedman. Adding to the offensive firepower was the addition of Ken Strong. After his release from the Stapletons, Strong signed with the Giants and in 1933 Steve Owen's squad scored a league-high 244 points (the Packers were second with 170).

  With two games remaining, both the Bears and Giants had clinched their divisions. A week later on December 5, Carr announced that the first NFL Championship Game would take place on Sunday, December 17, at the home field of the division winner with the highest winning percentage. That meant if the Bears defeated the Packers in their season finale, they would host the game at Wrigley Field; if they lost and the Giants won, the game would be at the Polo Grounds.

  To get ready for the historic game, Carr invited George Halas and Jack Mara to Columbus so they could discuss the details of the first ever title game. Both team presidents arrived in the capital city on Thursday, December 7 and headed up to the eleventh floor of the building at 16 East Broad Street. After reaching Carr's office, the two football moguls were met by Carr's secretary, Kathleen Rubadue, who led the gentlemen into the small office of President Carr.52

  All three men were in a fantastic mood as they were about to make NFL history in putting together the league's first official championship game. The trio agreed to play the game at the home of the team with the best winning percentage; they also agreed that 60 percent of the net gate receipts of the championship game would be placed in a pool for the play ers, the winning club to get 60 percent of the pool and the losing club 40 percent. Carr told the two owners that he would need the roster of each team by the Thursday before the game.

  After the arrangements were completed, Carr took his two special guests across the street to the statehouse to meet the governor of Ohio. Governor George White-who was a big football fan-shook hands with Halas and Mara and chatted with the group about the upcoming matchup. The Ohio State journal-with a tip provided by Carr-showed up with a photographer and snapped a photo of Halas shaking hands with White. The governor wished the two men good luck in the championship game and went back to work. Carr had one final conversation with his friends and wished them well in returning home 5"

  After the meeting, newspapers around the country ran headlines claiming that the three men had just "Arranged Pro Football's World Series." The title game was set and when the Bears defeated the Packers (7-6) on December 10, it was determined that the NFL's first championship game would be played at Wrigley Field. The week leading up the title contest was busy for the whole NFL family. Dr. Harry March of the NFL's executive committee wrote an article about the popularity and history of professional football that appeared in Literary Digest. It was just the beginning for March as he was actually in the middle of writing a book about the history of the "postgraduate" game 54

  As Carr was making his traveling plans to get to Chicago, he announced the officials to work the all-important game. He selected Tommy Hughitt (referee), Bobbie Cahn (umpire), Bob Karch (field judge), and Dan Tehan (head linesman). "Although I was the youngest [twenty-six years old] official in the league I was assigned to help handle the [NFL's] first title game," recalled Dan Tehan. "[I] was paid $30.00" (up from his regular salary of $25.00 per game). Wanting to avoid ending the game in darkness, Carr told the teams and the press that the game would kickoff at 1:45 p.m. (Central Standard Time), instead of the original 2:00 p.m. kickoff-which was the time on the game tickets that Halas had printed up. Carr also sent out notice that there would be a special league meeting on the day before the title game to discuss a few things for next season.55

  The Bears were a 7-to-5 favorites to retain the championship. The game was expected to have a sellout crowd and favorable weather. On the Saturday (December 16) before the game, Carr set
up shop at the Hotel Sherman to prepare for the biggest game in the fourteen-year history of the NFL. At 3:00 p.m. Carr called his special meeting with seven of the ten teams present (absent were Boston, Brooklyn, and Pittsburgh), including George Halas, Tim Mara, and Jack Mara, who must have been so anxious for the game to start that this get-together could have been considered a distraction.56

  Carr called the meeting to discuss several general topics, one being to start the NFL season earlier so that the championship game could have the best possible weather. This was something Carr couldn't control, but he took action. "It has been proposed that we open the 1934 season just as early as possible and close it the first Sunday in December to insure playable weather for the championship game," Carr said to the press. After adjourning the meeting the whole NFL was now ready to witness history."

  On the afternoon of December 17 the two teams arrived at Wrigley Field to feel a cool and damp Chicago day-perfect football weather. Programs were being sold for ten cents, and the few remaining tickets went up for sale for two dollars each at the ticket office. The press box was filled to capacity with sportswriters, and the game would be broadcast locally on radio by WGN. Although the field was soft and slippery, with a stiff wind coming out of the northwest, it wouldn't hinder the offensive fireworks that were about to happen 58

  President Carr arrived with several of the other owners and took his front row seat in box 42, tier 2, seat 8. Also at the game were college coaches Bob Zuppke (Illinois), Dick Hanley (Northwestern), and Hunk Anderson (Notre Dame). The rest of Wrigley Field was jam-packed with 26,000 fans who had no idea that what they were about to witness would keep them talking for years to come .51

  At kickoff fog hung low over the field as the Bears took an early 3-0 lead on a Jack Manders sixteen-yard field goal. As the second quarter began Manders kicked a forty-yard field goal (thanks for moving the goal posts up) to give the Bears a 6-0 lead. Then Harry Newman got the Giants' high-scoring offense on the board. Throwing passes through the mist, Newman connected on a twenty-nine-yard touchdown pass to Red Badgro to score the first touchdown in NFL Championship Game history and give the Giants a 7-6 halftime lead.