The 1920 APFA season was the inaugural regular season of the National Football League which was called the American Professional Football Association in 1920 and 1921. The league was formed at the Jordan and Hupmobile auto showroom in Canton, Ohio on August 20 by four independent professional American football teams from Ohio: Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Tigers, and Dayton Triangles. The four parties had played against each other unofficially as the "Ohio League" since 1903, complete with "championships," but it wasn't until 1920 that the league was formalized. At the meeting, they first called their new league the "American Professional Football Conference."
A second organizational meeting was held in Canton on September 17, adding more teams to the league: the Hammond Pros and the Muncie Flyers from Indiana; the Rochester Jeffersons from the New York Pro Football League; and the Rock Island Independents, the Decatur Staleys, and the Racine Cardinals from Illinois. At the meeting, the league was given a new name: American Professional Football Association (It would not be changed to National Football League until 1922).
Four other teams also joined the Association during the year: Buffalo All-Americans (also from the NYPFL), Chicago Tigers, Columbus Panhandles, and Detroit Heralds. Meanwhile, Jim Thorpe of the Canton Bulldogs was named the APFA's first president, but continued to play for the team.
However, the scheduling was left up to each team. There were wide variations, both in the overall number of games played and in the number played against other Association members. Thus, no official standings were maintained. In addition, football teams in the APFA also faced independent football teams not associated with the league. For instance, the Rochester Jeffersons played a schedule consisting mostly of local teams from their local sandlot circuit and the NYPFL, not the APFA.
The Akron Pros ended up being the only undefeated team in the Association. Despite this, two one-loss teams (the Decatur Staleys and Buffalo All-Americans), who both tied Akron that year, also made cases for a co-championship. At the league meetings in Akron on April 30, 1921, the Pros were awarded the Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup for the 1920 season, the only year the trophy was used, at the motion of Columbus Panhandles manager Joe Carr, who would be elected as league president at the meeting.
According to modern NFL tie-breaking rules, the 1920 Buffalo All-Americans would be co-champions. They would be tied with the Akron Pros in win percentage, 9½ wins to 1½ losses (.864), both teams beating out the Decatur Staleys, who would have a season that counted 11 wins to 2 losses (.846).
[edit] Schedule
| Week 1 |
| September 26, 1920 |
| Visitor |
Score |
Home |
Score |
Location |
| St. Paul Ideals (0–1–0) |
0 |
Rock Island Independents (1–0–0) |
48 |
Douglas Park |
| Week 2 |
| October 3, 1920 |
| Wheeling Stogies (0–1–0) |
0 |
Akron Pros (1–0–0) |
43 |
Akron League Park |
| West Buffalo (0–1–0) |
6 |
Buffalo All-Americans (1–0–0) |
32 |
Canisius Field |
| Pitcairn Quakers (0–1–0) |
0 |
Canton Bulldogs (1–0–0) |
48 |
Lakeside Park |
| Columbus Panhandles (0–1–0) |
0 |
Dayton Triangles (1–0–0) |
14 |
Triangle Park |
| Moline Universal Tractors (0–1–0) |
0 |
Decatur Staleys (1–0–0) |
20 |
Staley Field |
| Muncie Flyers (0–1–0) |
0 |
Rock Island Independents (2–0–0) |
45 |
Douglas Park |
| All-Buffalo (0–1–0) |
0 |
Rochester Jeffersons (1–0–0) |
10 |
Rochester Baseball Park |
| Week 3 |
| October 10, 1920 |
| Columbus Panhandles (0–2–0) |
0 |
Akron Pros (2–0–0) |
37 |
Akron League Park |
| All-Buffalo (0–2–0) |
0 |
Buffalo All-Americans (2–0–0) |
51 |
Canisius Field |
| Toledo Maroons (0–1–0) |
0 |
Canton Bulldogs (2–0–0) |
42 |
Lakeside Park |
| Chicago Cardinals (0–0–1) |
0 |
Chicago Tigers (0–0–1) |
0 |
Cubs Park |
| Cleveland Tigers (0–0–1) |
0 |
Dayton Triangles (1–0–1) |
0 |
Triangle Park |
| Kewanee Walworths (0–1–0) |
7 |
Decatur Staleys (2–0–0) |
25 |
Staley Field |
| Cleveland Panthers (0–1–0) |
14 |
Detroit Heralds (1–0–0) |
40 |
Mack Park |
| Hammond Pros (0–1–0) |
0 |
Rock Island Independents (3–0–0) |
26 |
Douglas Park |
| Fort Porter (0–1–0) |
0 |
Rochester Jeffersons (2–0–0) |
66 |
Rochester Baseball Park |
| Week 4 |
| October 17, 1920 |
| Cincinnati Celts (0–1–0) |
0 |
Akron Pros (3–0–0) |
13 |
Akron League Park |
| McKeesport Olympics (0–1–0) |
7 |
Buffalo All-Americans (3–0–0) |
28 |
Canisius Field |
| Cleveland Tigers (0–1–1) |
0 |
Canton Bulldogs (3–0–0) |
7 |
Lakeside Park |
| Moline Universal Tractors (0–2–0) |
3 |
Chicago Cardinals (1–0–1) |
33 |
St. Rita's Field |
| Detroit Heralds (1–1–0) |
0 |
Chicago Tigers (1–0–1) |
12 |
Cubs Park |
| Columbus Panhandles (0–3–0) |
0 |
Fort Wayne Friars (1–0–0) |
14 |
Fort Wayne League Park |
| Hammond Pros (0–2–0) |
0 |
Dayton Triangles (2–0–1) |
44 |
Triangle Park |
| Decatur Staleys (3–0–0) |
7 |
Rock Island Independents (3–1–0) |
0 |
Douglas Park |
| Utica Knights of Columbus (0–0–1) |
0 |
Rochester Jeffersons (2–0–1) |
0 |
Rochester Baseball Park |
| Week 5 |
| October 24, 1920 |
| Cleveland Tigers (0–2–1) |
0 |
Akron Pros (4–0–0) |
7 |
Akron League Park |
| Toledo Maroons (0–2–0) |
0 |
Buffalo All-Americans (4–0–0) |
38 |
Canisius Field |
| Canton Bulldogs (3–0–1) |
20 |
Dayton Triangles (2–0–2) |
20 |
Triangle Park |
| Chicago Cardinals (1–1–1) |
0 |
Rock Island Independents (4–1–0) |
7 |
Douglas Park |
| Decatur Staleys (4–0–0) |
10 |
Chicago Tigers (1–1–1) |
0 |
Cubs Park |
| Columbus Panhandles (0–4–0) |
0 |
Detroit Heralds (2–1–0) |
6 |
Mack Park |
| Syracuse Stars (0–1–0) |
7 |
Rochester Jeffersons (3–0–1) |
21 |
Rochester Baseball Park |
| Week 6 |
| October 31, 1920 |
| Akron Pros (5–0–0) |
10 |
Canton Bulldogs (3–1–1) |
0 |
Lakeside Park |
| Rochester Jeffersons (3–1–1) |
6 |
Buffalo All-Americans (5–0–0) |
17 |
Canisius Field |
| Detroit Heralds (2–2–0) |
0 |
Chicago Cardinals (2–1–1) |
21 |
Cubs Park |
| Chicago Tigers (1–2–1) |
7 |
Rock Island Independents (5–1–0) |
20 |
Douglas Park |
| Columbus Panhandles (0–5–0) |
0 |
Cleveland Tigers (1–2–1) |
7 |
Dunn Field |
| Cincinnati Celts (0–2–0) |
7 |
Dayton Triangles (3–0–2) |
23 |
Triangle Park |
| Decatur Staleys (5–0–0) |
29 |
Rockford A.C. (0–1–0) |
0 |
Kishwaukee Park |
| Hammond Pros (1–2–0) |
14 |
Logan Square (0–1–0) |
9 |
Logan Square Park |
| Week 7 |
| November 7, 1920 |
| All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks (0–1–0) |
0 |
Buffalo All-Americans (6–0–0) |
35 |
Canisius Field |
| Canton Bulldogs (4–1–1) |
18 |
Cleveland Tigers (1–3–1) |
0 |
Dunn Field |
| Chicago Cardinals (3–1–1) |
6 |
Chicago Tigers (1–3–1) |
3 |
Cubs Park |
| Columbus Panhandles (1–5–0) |
10 |
Zanesville Mark Grays (0–1–0) |
0 |
Zanesville, Ohio |
| Decatur Staleys (5–0–1) |
0 |
Rock Island Independents (5–1–1) |
0 |
Douglas Park |
| Hammond Pros (2–2–0) |
14 |
Pullman Thorns (0–1–0) |
13 |
Chicago, Illinois |
| Utica Knights of Columbus (0–1–1) |
7 |
Rochester Jeffersons (4–1–1) |
27 |
Rochester Baseball Park |
| Week 8 |
| November 11, 1920 |
| Decatur Staleys (6–0–1) |
20 |
Champaign Legion (0–1–0) |
0 |
Champaign, Illinois |
| Rock Island Independents (5–1–2) |
7 |
Thorn Tornadoes (0–0–1) |
7 |
Monmouth, Illinois |
| November 14, 1920 |
| Akron Pros (5–0–1) |
7 |
Cleveland Tigers (1–3–2) |
7 |
Dunn Field |
| Columbus Panhandles (1–6–0) |
7 |
Buffalo All-Americans (7–0–0) |
43 |
Canisius Field |
| Chicago Tigers (1–4–1) |
0 |
Canton Bulldogs (5–1–1) |
21 |
Lakeside Park |
| Cincinnati Celts (0–3–0) |
0 |
Chicago Cardinals (4–1–1) |
21 |
Chicago, Illinois |
| Dayton Triangles (4–0–2) |
21 |
Rock Island Independents (5–2–2) |
0 |
Douglas Park |
| Decatur Staleys (7–0–1) |
3 |
Minneapolis Marines (0–1–0) |
0 |
Nicollet Park |
| Detroit Heralds (2–2–1) |
0 |
Fort Wayne Friars (1–0–1) |
0 |
Fort Wayne League Park |
| Hammond Pros (2–3–0) |
6 |
Gary Elks (1–0–0) |
7 |
Gleason Field |
| All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks (1–1–0) |
6 |
Rochester Jeffersons (4–2–1) |
0 |
Rochester Baseball Park |
| Week 9 |
| November 21, 1920 |
| Dayton Triangles (4–1–2) |
0 |
Akron Pros (6–0–1) |
13 |
Akron League Park |
| Canton Bulldogs (6–1–1) |
3 |
Buffalo All-Americans (7–1–0) |
0 |
Canisius Field |
| Lansing Oldsmobile (0–1–0) |
0 |
Chicago Cardinals (5–1–1) |
14 |
Chicago, Illinois |
| Toledo Maroons (0–3–0) |
0 |
Cleveland Tigers (2–3–2) |
14 |
Dunn Field |
| Columbus Panhandles (1–6–1) |
0 |
Zanesville Mark Grays (0–1–1) |
0 |
Zanesville, Ohio |
| Hammond Pros (2–4–0) |
7 |
Decatur Staleys (8–0–1) |
28 |
Staley Field |
| Rochester Scalpers (0–1–0) |
0 |
Rochester Jeffersons (5–2–1) |
16 |
Rochester Baseball Park |
| Week 10 |
| November 25, 1920 |
| Canton Bulldogs (6–2–1) |
0 |
Akron Pros (7–0–1) |
7 |
Akron League Park |
| Decatur Staleys (9–0–1) |
6 |
Chicago Tigers (1–5–1) |
0 |
Chicago Cub Park |
| Columbus Panhandles (1–6–2) |
0 |
Elyria Athletics (0–0–1) |
0 |
Lorain, Ohio |
| Detroit Heralds (2–3–1) |
0 |
Dayton Triangles (5–1–2) |
28 |
Triangle Park |
| Hammond Pros (2–5–0) |
0 |
Chicago Boosters (1–0–0) |
27 |
DePaul Field |
| All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks (2–1–0) |
14 |
Rochester Jeffersons (5–3–1) |
3 |
Rochester Baseball Park |
| November 28, 1920 |
| Akron Pros (8–0–1) |
14 |
Dayton Triangles (5–2–2) |
0 |
Triangle Park |
| Cleveland Tigers (2–4–2) |
0 |
Buffalo All-Americans (8–1–0) |
7 |
Buffalo Baseball Park |
| Decatur Staleys (9–1–1) |
6 |
Chicago Cardinals (6–1–1) |
7 |
Normal Park |
| Thorn Tornadoes (0–1–1) |
0 |
Chicago Tigers (2–5–1) |
27 |
Cubs Park |
| Lansing Oldsmobile (0–1–1) |
0 |
Detroit Heralds (2–3–2) |
0 |
Mack Park |
| Rochester Scalpers (0–2–0) |
6 |
Rochester Jeffersons (6–3–1) |
7 |
Rochester Baseball Park |
| Pittsburgh All-Collegians (0–1–0) |
7 |
Rock Island Independents (6–2–2) |
48 |
Douglas Park |
| Week 11 |
| December 4, 1920 |
| Canton Bulldogs (6–3–1) |
3 |
Buffalo All-Americans (9–1–0) |
7 |
New York Polo Grounds |
| December 5, 1920 |
| Akron Pros (8–0–2) |
0 |
Buffalo All-Americans (9–1–1) |
0 |
Buffalo Baseball Park |
| Canton Bulldogs (6–3–2) |
0 |
Washington Glee Club |
0 |
New Haven, Connecticut |
| Chicago Cardinals (6–2–1) |
0 |
Decatur Staleys (10–1–1) |
10 |
Cubs Park |
| Columbus Wagner Pirates (0–1) |
0 |
Columbus Panhandles (2–6–2) |
24 |
Neil Park |
| Detroit Maroons (0–0–1) |
7 |
Detroit Heralds (2–3–3) |
7 |
Mack Park |
| Rochester Scalpers (0–2–1) |
0 |
Rochester Jeffersons (6–3–2) |
0 |
Exposition Park |
| Week 12 |
| December 11, 1920 |
| Canton Bulldogs (6–4–2) |
7 |
Union Club of Phoenixville (1–0–0) |
13 |
Phillies Park |
| December 12, 1920 |
| Akron Pros (8–0–3) |
0 |
Decatur Staleys (10–1–2) |
0 |
Cubs Park |
| Week 13 |
| December 18, 1920 |
| Canton Bulldogs (7–4–2) |
39 |
Richmond Athletics (0–1–0) |
0 |
Boulevard Field |
[edit] Unofficial final standings
Records of independent football teams are not included, but games by members against such teams are. Tie games were not counted mathematically in the standings until 1972.[1]
[edit] Unofficial league leaders
[edit] Scoring
[edit] Rushing touchdowns
| Name |
Team |
TDs |
| Dutch Sternaman |
Decatur |
11 |
| Ockie Anderson |
Buffalo |
8 |
| Tommy Hughitt |
Buffalo |
8 |
| Bob Argus |
Rochester |
6 |
| Fritz Pollard |
Akron |
5 |
| Joe Guyon |
Canton |
5 |
[edit] Receiving touchdowns
| Name |
Team |
TDs |
| Norb Sacksteder |
Dayton |
3 |
| Dave Reese |
Dayton |
2 |
| Bunny Corcoran |
Canton |
2 |
| George Halas |
Decatur |
2 |
[edit] Return touchdowns
| Name |
Team |
TDs |
| Arnie Wyman |
Rock Island |
3 |
| Ockie Anderson |
Buffalo |
3 |
| Al Nesser |
Akron |
3 |
| Frank Bacon |
Dayton |
2 |
| Swede Youngstrom |
Buffalo |
2 |
| Lenny Sachs |
Chicago C |
2 |
| Leo Chappell |
Chicago C |
2 |
[edit] References
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Early era
(1920–1969) |
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Modern era
(1970–present) |
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