Staten Island Stapletons facts for kids

The Staten Island Stapletons were a professional American football team. They were also called the Staten Island Stapes. The team started in 1915 and played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1929 to 1932. They were based in the Stapleton area of Staten Island, a part of New York City. For their last two seasons, they used the shorter name "Stapes". A player named Jack Shapiro, who blocked for the team, was the shortest player ever in NFL history.

How the Stapletons Began

Starting as a Neighborhood Team

The Staten Island Stapletons team began in 1915. It was a local neighborhood team. Dan Blaine helped organize the team. He also played as a halfback for them. Later, Blaine became very rich. He built a chain of restaurants.

The Stapletons played against other local semi-professional teams. These teams were from the New York City area. In these early years, the Stapes played mostly for fun. Not many people came to watch their games. Players earned about $10 for each game. The team won several local titles before World War I.

Returning After the War

The team did not play in 1918. This was because Dan Blaine served in the military during the war. But the team started playing again in 1919. By then, Blaine was the only owner of the team. He stopped playing in 1924. However, he kept working as the owner and manager.

The Stapletons, often called the Stapes, found a permanent home field. It was called Thompson Stadium. This stadium was a small park in the neighborhood. Today, houses stand where the stadium used to be. Before Thompson Stadium, the team played at two other local parks. These were Stapleton Field and East Shore Oval.

Facing New York Rivals

In 1923 and 1924, Daniel Daley managed the Stapes. He said the team was the best in the New York area. They beat many strong independent pro teams. But in 1925, Tim Mara started the New York Giants. The Giants moved into the Polo Grounds stadium.

The Giants became very popular in New York. This made it harder for the Stapes to get attention. Especially when Red Grange and the Chicago Bears played the Giants. That game on December 6, 1925, sold out. The Giants and Stapes started their rivalry on Thanksgiving Day in 1925. The Giants won that first game 7–0.

Becoming a Stronger Team

Taking Over Newark Players

For the next few seasons, the Stapes played exhibition games. They played against professional teams from the NFL and other leagues. On November 14, 1926, the Newark Bears beat the Stapes 33–0. The Bears were part of the American Football League. This league was a competitor to the NFL in 1926.

Dan Blaine was not happy about the loss. He quickly hired most of the Newark players. The Newark owner had money problems and owed his players money. So, the Newark Bears team stopped playing. The Stapletons became stronger because they got many of Newark's good players. In 1928, Blaine made the team even better. He signed some players from New York University.

Before Joining the NFL

In 1927, the Stapes used their new players from the Newark Bears. But Doug Wycoff, a star player, signed with the Giants. The Giants won the 1927 NFL championship. They also beat the Stapes twice in non-league games. The scores were 19–0 and 18–0.

However, the Stapes did beat the NFL's Duluth Eskimos 7–6. This game was on November 27, 1927. The Eskimos had a famous player named Ernie Nevers. By 1928, Blaine wanted the Stapes to join the NFL. He brought back Doug Wycoff as a player and coach. He also signed six players who had just graduated from New York University. The Stapes had their best season ever. They won 10 games, lost 1, and tied 1. They even beat NFL teams three times out of four games. They also beat the Giants 7–0 on Thanksgiving Day.

Playing in the NFL

Joining the League

After their great 1928 season, Blaine asked to join the NFL in 1929. He needed permission from Tim Mara, the Giants' owner. This was because Staten Island was in Mara's special area. But Mara had an extra team spot. It used to belong to the Brooklyn Lions. Mara got it when the Lions closed down in 1927.

Mara had let the New York Yankees use this spot. The Yankees were owned by C. C. Pyle, Red Grange's manager. The Yankees moved from the old AFL to the NFL. But they stopped playing after the 1928 season. So, the team spot went back to Mara. He then gave it to Staten Island.

Blaine quickly hired Ken Strong. Strong became a Hall of Famer for the Stapletons. He was an All-American player at New York University. Strong was a very fast and strong runner. He was also one of the best kickers of his time.

Seasons in the NFL

The Stapletons never had a winning season in the NFL. In their first NFL season in 1929, they won 3 games, lost 4, and tied 3. They beat the Dayton Triangles, Boston Bulldogs, and the Minneapolis Red Jackets. They also tied the Frankford Yellow Jackets once and the Orange Tornadoes twice.

The team got a little better in 1930. They had a record of 5 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties. That season, the Stapes beat their rivals, the New York Giants, 7–6. Doug Wycoff scored a touchdown, and Strong kicked an extra point.

In July 1931, the team's official name changed. It went from Stapleton Football Club, Inc., to Staten Island Stapes. At this time, Doug Wycoff left to play for the Giants again. Blaine needed a coach. He hired Hinkey Haines, who had played for the Stapes in 1929. The Stapes won their first home game 9–7 against the Dodgers. About 7,000 fans watched. But a week later, the Dodgers won 18–6. They caught 3 of the Stapes' passes. The team finished 1931 with 4 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie. They beat the Giants once, the Dodgers twice, and the Cleveland Indians.

The Team's End

Decline and Final Seasons

In 1932, the Stapes finished last in the NFL. They only beat the Giants and the Chicago Cardinals. The NFL allowed Blaine to stop playing in the league for the 1933 season. The team kept losing money in 1933. They lost games against the Giants, Dodgers, Portsmouth Spartans, and Green Bay Packers. But they did manage to beat the new Philadelphia Eagles team.

Doug Wycoff and Bob Campiglio stayed with the Stapes in 1933. But their star player, Ken Strong, signed with the Giants. Strong helped the Giants win their division in 1933. He also helped them win the NFL championship in 1934.

Blaine officially got permission from the NFL to stop playing in the league for the 1934 season. The team played one more season of semi-pro football in 1934. Then, they quietly closed down a year later. In June 1935, Blaine's team spot in the NFL was officially taken away.

The team failed for a few reasons. The Great Depression made it hard for people to afford tickets. Also, their stadium was too small. It could not hold enough fans to make the team profitable. So, the Stapes could not sell enough tickets to keep the team going.

Pro Football Hall of Famers

Season-by-season

See also

In Spanish: Staten Island Stapletons para niños