Pottsville Maroons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Pottsville Maroons
Boston Bulldogs

Founded	1920
Folded	1929
Based in	Pottsville, Pennsylvania (1920–1928) Boston, Massachusetts (1929) United States
League	Independent (1920–1923) Anthracite League (1924) National Football League (1925–1929)
Team history	Pottsville Eleven (1920–1924) Pottsville Maroons (1924–1929) Boston Bulldogs (1929)
Team colors	Maroon, gold, white
Head coaches	Dick Rauch (1925–1927, 1929) Pete Henry (1928)
Owner(s)	Yorkville Hose Company (1920–1922) Kingsbury, Heinz & Schoeneman (1923) John G. Streigel (1924–1928) George Kenneally (1929)
NFL Championship wins	None (1925 NFL title claimed by Pottsville Not recognized by NFL)
Other League Championship wins	1924 Anthracite League title
Home field(s)	Minersville Park

The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team from Pottsville, Pennsylvania. They started playing in 1920. From 1925 to 1928, they were part of the National Football League (NFL).

In 1929, the team moved to Boston. There, they played for one season as the Boston Bulldogs before the team stopped playing. The Maroons are famous for a big argument about the 1925 NFL Championship. Many people believe they should have won it.

History of the Maroons

How the Team Started

Like many towns in Pennsylvania, Pottsville had football teams since the 1910s. The team that became the Maroons began in 1920. It was first called the Pottsville Eleven. Many players were firemen from a local company.

At first, the team played against other local teams. They were not part of any league. In 1922, some businessmen started to support the team. They brought in talented professional players. But the team also kept many local players from Pottsville. This helped them win many games and attract large crowds.

Joining the Anthracite League

In 1924, a doctor named John G. "Doc" Striegel bought the Pottsville Eleven. That same year, local teams decided to form a league. It was called the Anthracite League. This was also when the team got its "Maroons" name. The story says they ordered new jerseys. The color wasn't important, so they got maroon ones.

During the 1924 season, the Maroons added some great players. These players came from the NFL's 1923 Canton Bulldogs championship team. One of them was Wilbur "Pete" Henry, who later became a Hall of Famer. The NFL President was not happy about this. But he could not do much unless Pottsville joined the NFL.

The Maroons had a great season in the Anthracite League. They won the league title in November. After winning, they challenged other top teams. They even played the Rochester Jeffersons from the NFL. The Maroons lost that game, but it was their only loss of the season. They finished 1924 with a record of 12 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie.

Playing in the NFL

First NFL Season (1925)

The Anthracite League ended after the 1924 season. But Doc Striegel and the Maroons wanted to keep playing. They applied to join the NFL and were accepted. This was a bit unusual because their home field, Minersville Park, was small. But it was close to the Frankford Yellow Jackets in Philadelphia. This made it easy for visiting teams to play both teams on a weekend.

Many Maroons players went back to their old NFL teams in 1925. So, the Maroons found new talented players. These included Walter French and Jack Ernst. The team's coach, Dick Rauch, made his players live in Pottsville. This was different from most teams back then. It meant they could practice regularly.

The Maroons won their first NFL game 28–0. They had a great start to the season. They even played against the Chicago Bears and their famous player, Red Grange. The Maroons were tough! They beat the Yellow Jackets 49–0 in one game.

By the end of the season, the Maroons and the Chicago Cardinals were the top teams. The NFL Championship went to the team with the best record. The Maroons played the Cardinals in Chicago. They won 21–7 in snowy conditions. This put the Maroons ahead in the championship race.

The 1925 Championship Controversy

After beating the Cardinals, the Maroons were set to win the 1925 NFL Championship. But then, a problem happened. The Maroons had played an exhibition game in Philadelphia. This was against NFL rules because another team, the Frankford Yellow Jackets, had special rights to play games there.

The NFL decided to suspend the Maroons. They also took away their championship title. The Chicago Cardinals were then named the champions instead. Many people in Pottsville felt this was unfair. This decision is still talked about today.

Return to the NFL (1926-1928)

The NFL let the Maroons back into the league for the next season. The league was worried the Maroons might join a new rival league. In 1926, the Maroons played well again. They finished with a 10–2–1 record and came in third place. But the team started to have money problems.

In the 1927 season, the team's performance got worse. Many star players left, and others were getting older. They finished with a losing record. For the 1928 season, some players took over running the team. Pete Henry became the coach. But the team kept losing. They finished with a very bad record. This was their last season playing in Pottsville.

The Boston Bulldogs

After the 1928 season, the team was sold. The new owners moved the team to Boston. For the 1929 season, the team was renamed the Boston Bulldogs. This was one of the first tries to have an NFL team in Boston.

Six players from the Maroons moved with the team. Dick Rauch also came back as head coach. The Bulldogs played some games in Boston. But they also played two games back in their old home, winning both. The team stopped playing after the 1929 season.

The Maroons Today

The story of the 1925 Pottsville Maroons is still important today. In 1963, the NFL looked into the 1925 controversy. But the team owners voted to keep the championship with the Cardinals. That same year, the surviving Maroons players made their own championship trophy out of coal. You can see it at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The 1925 Maroons are still honored in Pottsville. There are places named after the team. A picture of the 1925 "World Champion" team is in the high school football locker room.

In 2003, the NFL voted again on the 1925 championship. They voted not to reopen the case. So, the Cardinals are still listed as the 1925 champions. But the people of Pottsville still work to keep the Maroons' legacy alive. The Pottsville Maroons Memorial Committee works to remember the team.

Many people have supported the Maroons' claim. This includes famous NFL owners like George Halas and Art Rooney. Even Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and U.S. President George W. Bush spoke about the case. But the NFL owners have continued to vote against giving the title to Pottsville.

In 2006, a book called Breaker Boys was written about the team. In 2008, a statistician analyzed the 1925 teams. His results showed the Maroons were the better team that year.

Pro Football Hall of Famers

Season by Season Records

Images for kids

• 

  A robot for kids.

See also

In Spanish: Pottsville Maroons para niños