- Staley Field
Staley Field in
Decatur, Illinois was the home of the Decatur Staleys club of the American Professional Football Association in 1920, coached and managed by the youngGeorge Halas . Modern convention has tended to label this club the "Decatur Staleys".The team was owned by the A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company, for which Staley Field was the company athletic field. According to Michael Benson's "Ballparks of North America", the field was located at Eldorado and 22nd Streets. In fact, the Staley company's own address is 2200 East Eldorado Street, so presumably Staley Field occupied a piece of the company's grounds. It was also used by the Decatur entry in the
Three-I League in 1915.The Staley company sold the team to Halas and his partners, who transferred the team to
Wrigley Field inChicago, Illinois in 1921. As part of the deal, they operated under the "Staley" name for one more season. They proceeded to win the APFA championship that season. For 1922, they renamed themselves theChicago Bears in order to associate themselves with their landlords. The APFA was also renamed that year, to theNational Football League .External links
* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1920.htm Decatur 1920 record]
* [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=10&Lon=-88.92626262&Lat=39.84665767&Alon=-88.92626262&Alat=39.84665767&w=1&opt=0&addr=2200+E+Eldorado+St%2c+Decatur%2c+IL+62521&qs=2200+east+eldorado%7cDECATUR%7cIL%7c USGS aerial of 2200 East Eldorado]succession box
title = Home of theChicago Bears
years = 1920
before = first stadium
after =Wrigley Field
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