Latrobe Athletic Association facts for kids

The Latrobe Athletic Association was an early professional football team. They were based in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and played from 1895 to 1909. This team was part of the unofficial Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit. They are famous for being the first football team to play a whole season with only professional players.

In 1895, the team's quarterback, John Brallier, made history. He became the first football player to openly say he was paid to play. He received $10 plus travel costs to play for Latrobe against the Jeannette Athletic Club.

How the Team Started

In 1895, the local Latrobe YMCA decided to form a football team. They planned a full schedule of games. Russell Aukerman, a former halfback from Gettysburg College, became the team's player-coach.

David Berry, who ran a local newspaper, was chosen as the team's manager. Harry Ryan, a former tackle from West Virginia University, was elected team captain. The team started practicing daily in early August. Players who worked different shifts could attend evening practices. Practices were held on a vacant lot and lit by a street light at night.

First Openly Paid Football Player

John Brallier, the first football player to openly admit he was paid.

Just before the season began, Latrobe's quarterback, Eddie Blair, had a problem. He also played baseball in nearby Greensburg. His first football game clashed with a baseball game. Manager Dave Berry needed to find a replacement quickly.

Berry heard about John Brallier, a quarterback from Indiana Normal. He offered Brallier money and travel costs to play for Latrobe. Brallier was hesitant because he was about to play for Washington & Jefferson College. So, Berry offered him $10 plus expenses for the game against Jeannette, and promised more games. Brallier accepted. He became the first player to openly admit he was paid to play football.

For many years, John Brallier was thought to be the first professional football player. However, after his death in 1960, it was found that he was just the first to openly admit it. William "Pudge" Heffelfinger is now known as the very first professional player.

Early Years of Latrobe Football

1895 Season Highlights

The Latrobe team in 1895.

Latrobe's first game of the 1895 season was on September 3, 1895. Before the game, a parade marched down Ligonier Street. Both the Latrobe and Jeannette teams were in full uniform. Latrobe's team colors, orange and maroon, were displayed everywhere. Stores closed, and local mines and factories gave workers a half-holiday for the event.

Latrobe won the game against Jeannette with a score of 12–0. Coach Russell Auckerman scored two touchdowns. Back then, a touchdown was worth four points. John Brallier kicked two extra points, which were worth two points each.

After this game, Brallier played one more game for Latrobe. Then he went to Washington & Jefferson for college. The 1895 Latrobe YMCA team played 11 games. They finished with a record of 7 wins and 4 losses.

1896 Season

Latrobe had a team for a second season in 1896. Many players from the previous year returned. John Brallier came back as the team's quarterback and coach.

The team started strong with several wins. They beat the Pittsburgh Imperials, Jeannette Indians, Altoona, and Western University of Pennsylvania. Their first loss was to the Greensburg Athletic Association. Latrobe finished the season with 7 wins and 3 losses.

First All-Professional Team

The 1897 Latrobe team, the first all-professional football team to play a full season.

The 1897 Latrobe team made history. It was the first football team to be made up entirely of professional players. Manager Dave Berry signed many college players from across the country. Walter Okeson, a former All-American end from Lehigh University, became the team's coach.

The team started the season with 7 wins and 1 tie. They remained undefeated for a while. Later, they faced the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club and lost. However, they bounced back with more wins. A football expert from Pittsburgh chose an all-western Pennsylvania team. Three Latrobe players were picked: Walter Okeson, Harry Ryan, and Ed Abbaticchio.

All-Star Team and Quiet Years (1898–1902)

Latrobe's manager, David J. Berry.

The Latrobe team stayed strong for the next few seasons. However, they didn't win the western Pennsylvania championship. The 1898 team started with 7 wins in a row. But they lost their last three games.

After the 1898 season, Latrobe manager Dave Berry formed the first all-star team in professional football history. This team was made of top players from several local teams. They played against the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club. Duquesne won the game 16–0. This game is considered the very first all-star game in professional football.

The next season was Latrobe's first undefeated season, though they only played four games. In 1898, 1899, and 1900, Latrobe had a very interesting player named Charles Barney. Off the field, he was known for entertaining crowds. He could lift and hold a piano while someone played it!

The 1901 season was quieter. The team played only three games, winning two. But this period helped develop players for future success.

Looking Forward to "Next Year"

John Brallier returned as player-coach for the 1902 season. Latrobe played only four games that fall. They had two ties and two wins. At the end of the season, everyone was hopeful for the future. Most of Brallier’s players were young, around 17–18 years old. They were eager to learn and practiced hard. People in Latrobe were saying, "wait until next year!"

Undefeated Seasons

1903 Season

In 1903, the Latrobe YMCA helped organize the football team. Many players from the 1902 team joined. John Brallier was again the player-coach. A fence was built around the Latrobe Steel Athletic Grounds. New uniforms were bought with money from local businesses. Some older players from the 1890s also rejoined the team.

Latrobe had an undefeated season and was called the western Pennsylvania champion. The team was made up entirely of amateur players this year. Brallier later said that the 1903 Latrobe backfield was the best he had ever played with. Despite their winning season, the team was losing money because not many people came to the games.

1904 Season

In June 1904, Brallier was again chosen as the team's coach and manager. Harry Ryan was elected captain. The 1904 season was another undefeated year for Latrobe. To save money, the team reportedly used only nine footballs all season. After paying all costs, the 16 players shared about $500 in profits.

Sadly, tragedy struck after the season. Paul Blair, a Latrobe player and Eddie Blair's brother, was killed by a train. Latrobe players Harry Ryan and John Brallier were pallbearers at the funeral. The team sent a floral wreath with the words "Latrobe Football Team, 1904."

1905 Season

By 1905, Latrobe had not lost a game in three years. The 1905 season started with great hope. Several new college players joined the team. The community even helped some players find jobs to keep them in Latrobe. It was hard to schedule games because many teams either refused to play Latrobe or asked for too much money. Still, the team managed to get an 8–0 record without letting opponents score any points!

During this season, Latrobe played a big game against the Canton Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were a famous professional team from the unofficial "Ohio League". They later became a founding member of the National Football League. Canton was a very strong team. Latrobe defeated the Bulldogs 6–0, even with some injured players.

At the end of 1905, the Latrobe Bulletin celebrated the team's three-year record of 26 wins and 0 losses. The Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph named five Latrobe players to their all-star teams. There were talks of forming a Football Association with teams from Pennsylvania and Ohio, but this plan never happened.

Team's Decline

1906 Season

The 1906 season marked the start of professional football's decline in Latrobe. Many players still wanted to play for Latrobe. However, efforts to raise money to pay players failed.

On November 29, 1906, Latrobe lost to Canton 16–0. This was their first loss in four years. Latrobe was supposed to get $1,500 for the game, but Canton's manager couldn't pay. This was due to a famous betting scandal between Massillon and Canton. Canton's fans were upset, and their players weren't paid either. To help Latrobe, money was raised locally to cover their expenses.

1907 Season

By October 1907, people in Latrobe wanted the football team to be made up of local men, not players from out of town. Despite this change, the 1907 season was still pretty good, with 5 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties. Harry Ryan had retired. John Brallier mostly coached. Leo Gibson was elected Latrobe's captain.

California YMCA Game

During the 1907 season, the California (Pennsylvania) YMCA team came to Latrobe for a game. They were kicked out of their hotel rooms for bad behavior. Latrobe went on to win the game 38–0. It was said that the California YMCA team was not actually connected to the Young Men's Christian Association.

1908–1909 Seasons

Community interest in the team decreased. The team changed from a professional club to a local amateur team. This also happened around John Brallier's last year as a player, though he kept helping coach local teams. Some players continued with the amateur teams in 1908 and 1909. However, the out-of-town players and the old rivalries mostly disappeared.

Latrobe's Football Legacy

Many important players from the early Latrobe professional football teams lived in Latrobe for many years. These included Brallier, Ryan, Abbaticchio, and Peck Lawson. Ed Abbaticchio also played baseball in the National League for teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was even part of the Pirates' 1909 World Series team. John Brallier became a dentist in Latrobe. He also served as a school director for 20 years. In 1979, John Brallier was named one of the "Best Pros Not in the Hall of Fame."

After World War II, there were plans for a football hall of fame, like the Baseball Hall of Fame. At that time, the National Football League recognized Latrobe as the birthplace of professional football. John Brallier was given a lifetime pass to NFL games. The Hall of Fame was eventually built in Canton, Ohio. But Latrobe's importance was honored when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers played a game there on August 29, 1952.

Today, Latrobe is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp, located at Saint Vincent College.

Team Colors

Latrobe's first team colors were maroon and orange. However, these colors changed several times over the years. According to researcher Robert B. Van Atta, the team wore red and blue in 1897, 1898, and 1900. From 1903 to 1907, their colors were red and green.