Philadelphia Bell

The Philadelphia Bell was a franchise of the World Football League, which operated in 1974 and for a portion of a season in 1975. It played its home games in JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. The team logo consisted of a representation of the Liberty Bell. At first the team seemed to be one of the WFL's most successful, however, it soon became known that the relatively large (especially by WFL standards) crowds that the Bell were drawing were mostly the result of the distribution of free tickets, on a scale apparently almost unprecedented in the history of professional sports. Although the Bell continued in operation until the league folded, it never seemed to regain much credibility afterwards with either the media or fans.

The Bell was one of just two WFL teams that maintained the same ownerships in both 1974 and 1975. The group was headed by John B. Kelly, Jr., a respected business and sportsman in Philadelphia and part of the well-known Kelly family, which included his sister Grace Kelly, movie star turned Princess of Monaco. The major money contributor behind the ownership group was John Bosacco who would come forward during the course of the first season and took over the operations of the franchise. Bosacco believed that the WFL could survive as a league and was instrumental in the removal of Gary Davidson as commissioner following the 1974 season.

Vince Papale, the inspiration for the 2006 film "Invincible", played wide receiver for the Bell for two seasons prior to his three years with the Philadelphia Eagles. [ [http://www.vincepapale.com/ Vince Papale website] ] [ [http://www.geocities.com/wflphiladelphiabell/74bellphotopages/7-17-74gamephotos.html # 83 Vince Papale of the Bell grabs a pass] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/wflphiladelphiabell/ The Philadelphia Bell WFL Football Page]