- Cleveland Tigers (NFL)
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This article is about the first Cleveland Indians National Football League football team. For the second Cleveland Indians NFL team (1923), see Cleveland Bulldogs. For the third Cleveland Indians NFL team (1931), see Cleveland Indians (NFL 1931).
Cleveland Tigers/Indians Founded 1916 Folded 1921 Based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States League Ohio League (1916-1919)
National Football League (1920-1922)Team History Cleveland Indians (1916-1919)
Cleveland Tigers (1919-1920)
Cleveland Indians (1921-1922)Team Colors Red, White
Head coaches Peggy Parratt (1916)
Stan Cofall, Al Pierotti (1920)
Jim Thorpe (1921)General managers Stan Cofall Owner(s) Peggy Parratt (1916)
Jimmy O'Donnell (1920-1922)Named for Akron Indians (1916)
Massillon Tigers (1920)
Double entendre (1921)Home field(s) League Park The Cleveland Tigers were the first Cleveland, Ohio team franchise in what became the National Football League. The Tigers played in the "Ohio League" before joining the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football League in 1922) during the 1920 and 1921 seasons.
Contents
History
The Cleveland Indians football team was originally established in 1916 and played in the Ohio League. The team was formed after the Massillon Tigers raid the Akron Indians roster in 1915 and took away many of their star players. That year Peggy Parratt, the Akron Indians player-coach formed the Cleveland Indians with several former ex-Akron Indians players and a few new ex-college players. Despite a winning record, the 1916 Indians season was disappointing, losing twice to the Canton Bulldogs, who were led by Jim Thorpe, and splitting a pair of games with the Columbus Panhandles.
In 1920, when owners of professional teams organized a more structured league, Jimmy O'Donnell, a local sports promoter, obtained the Cleveland franchise. O'Donnell, also the owner of a semi-pro baseball team called the Tigers, was aided in his football venture by Stan Cofall, a football star at Notre Dame from 1914 to 1916, and with the Massillon Tigers. Cofall helped re-organize the Cleveland team in 1919 and, along with O'Donnell attended the September 1920 meeting in Canton, Ohio that founded the American Professional Football Association, which became the NFL the following year. For the first half of the 1920 season, Cofall was the Tigers' player-coach; he was also elected vice-president of the new league.
In their first season, the Cleveland Tigers scored only 2 touchdowns and lost 3 games by 7–0 scores, compiling a record of 1–4–2. For the 1921 season, the name of the team was changed to the Indians, partly because it was a stock name in Cleveland (a baseball team had also used the name since 1915) but more because three Native Americans were signed away from the Canton Bulldogs. In 1921 the Tigers returned with two future Hall of Famers, Joe Guyon and player-coach Jim Thorpe. The team won its first two games. However during the team's second game, Thorpe injured his ribs and was lost for the season. The Tigers then narrowly lost the next four games. When Thorpe returned to action in a postseason game against the New York Brickley Giants in December, the Tigers were again victorious.
Early in 1922, O'Donnell received league permission to suspend operations for a year, but when he was unable to post the $1,000 annual guarantee the NFL required, his franchise was canceled. Guyon and Thorpe went off to LaRue, Ohio to form the Oorang Indians. An new Indians franchise was later purchased by Samuel Deutsch who operated the team as the in 1923. He then relocated the Canton Bulldogs to Cleveland in 1924 and merged them with his Indians team. An third, unrelated Indians team also played in the NFL in 1931.
Pro Football Hall of Famers
Season-by-season
W L T Finish Coach Cleveland Tigers 1920 2 4 2 10th Stan Cofall, Al Pierotti Cleveland Indians 1921 3 5 0 11th Jim Thorpe Totals 5 9 2 External links
- Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
- Roberts, Milt (1979). "Peggy Parratt MVP". Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 1 (6): 1–5. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/01-06-008.pdf.
- Cusack, Jack (1987). "Pioneer in Pro Football". Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) (8): 1–18. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/09-An-320.pdf.
Cleveland Tigers/Indians Defunct National Football League club 1919-1922 • Based in Cleveland, Ohio The Franchise History • Tigers Players • Indians playersStadia Pro Football Hall of Famers Head Coaches Peggy Parratt • Stan Cofall • Al Pierotti • Jim ThorpeOwners Jimmy O'DonnellUnrelated Cleveland Indians NFL franchises League Affiliations Ohio League (1919) • National Football League (1920-1921)Notable players George Brickley • Pete Calac • Bruno Haas • Bull LoweSeasons 1916 • 1919 • 1920 • 1921Cleveland Tigers/Indians head coaches Peggy Parratt (1916) • Stan Cofall & Al Pierotti (1920) • Jim Thorpe (1921)
Cleveland Tigers/Indians seasons 1916 • 1919 • 1920 • 1921National Football League Charter Members Akron Pros • Buffalo All-Americans • Canton Bulldogs • Chicago (Racine) Cardinals • Cleveland Tigers • Columbus Panhandles • Dayton Triangles • Decatur Staleys • Hammond Pros • Massillon Tigers • Muncie Flyers • Rochester Jeffersons • Rock Island IndependentsCleveland Indians-Bulldogs Defunct National Football League club 1923-1927 • Based in Cleveland, Ohio The Franchise History • Indians players • Bulldogs playersNFL Championships (1) Stadia Pro Football Hall of Famers Rivalries Franchise ties Canton Bulldogs • Detroit Wolverines • Kansas City Cowboys • New York GiantsHead Coaches Owners Samuel DeutschSeasons 1923 • 1924 • 1925 • 1927League Affiliations National Football League (1923-1927)Unrelated Cleveland Indians NFL franchises Cleveland Indians (1921) • Cleveland Indians (1931)Cleveland Indians (NFL 1931) Defunct National Football League club 1931 • Based in Cleveland, Ohio The Franchise History • PlayersHead Coaches Al Cornsweet • Hoge WorkmanOwner Notable players Doc Elliott • Al Jolley • Al NesserSeasons 1931Unrelated Cleveland Indians NFL franchises Cleveland Indians (1921) • Cleveland Indians (1923)League Affiliations National Football League (1931)Ohio League Teams Akron East Ends • Akron Indians • Canton Bulldogs • Cincinnati Celts • Cleveland Panthers • Cleveland Tigers • Coleman Athletic Club • Columbus Panhandles • Dayton Triangles • Detroit Heralds • Elyria Athletics • Franklin Athletic Club of Cleveland • Ironton Tanks • Massillon Tigers • Shelby Blues • Shelby Tigers • Toledo Maroons • Youngstown PatriciansStadia Armory Park • Idora Park • Indianola Park • League Field • League Park • League Park • Luna Bowl • Swayne Field • Tank Stadium • Triangle ParkRelated topics Canton Bulldogs–Massillon Tigers betting scandal • Nesser BrothersCategories:- Sports clubs established in 1916
- Sports clubs disestablished in 1921
- Defunct National Football League teams
- Ohio League teams
- Sports in Cleveland, Ohio
- Cleveland Tigers
- Cleveland Indians (NFL)
- Early professional American football teams in Ohio
- American football teams in Cleveland, Ohio
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