1940 National Football League All-Star Game (December)

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1940 NFL All-Star Game (December)
1234 Total
Chicago Bears 7777 28
NFL All-Stars 01400 14
DateDecember 29, 1940
StadiumGilmore Stadium, Los Angeles, California
MVPnone selected
RefereeJohn Olds
Attendance21,000
TV in the United States
Networknot televised

The 1940 National Football League All-star Game (December) was the professional football league's third all-star game. The game pitted the Chicago Bears, the league's champion for the 1940 season, against a team of all-stars. The game was played on Sunday, December 29, 1940, at Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles, California before an overflow crowd of 21,000,[1] with members of the Stanford and Nebraska football teams also in attendance; the two were scheduled to play in the Rose Bowl, with Nebraska using the All-Star Game to research the Bears' T formation, which was being used by Stanford head coach and former Bears assistant Clark Shaughnessy.[2] The Bears defeated the All-Stars by a score of 28–14.[1]

The Bears were an 8–5 favorite over the All-Stars after crushing the Washington Redskins 73–0 in the championship game a few weeks earlier.[3] Luke Johnsos coached the Bears in place of George Halas, who was hospitalized following an appendectomy.[4] The All-Stars were coached by Ray Flaherty of the Washington Redskins.[3] John Olds was the referee for the game.[4]

Quarterback Ace Parker of the Brooklyn Dodgers was voted into the game, but declined participation due to ankle and shoulder injuries he suffered during the season. His decision sparked a clash with NFL President Carl Storck, who warned him of potential expulsion from the league should he not play until Dodgers owner Dan Topping successfully pulled him out without consequence.[5] Rather than the All-Star Game, Parker decided to play two charity games in Virginia over the following weeks.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Chicago Bears Defeat Pro All-Stars, 28 to 14". Milwaukee Journal. AP. December 30, 1940. p. L-5. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  2. ^ "Pro Gridmen Meet In Bowl Clash Today". The Baltimore Sun. Associated Press. December 29, 1940. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Conklin, Ed (December 29, 1940). "Chicago Bears Face All-Stars on Coast". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 10 (3rd section). Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "18,500 to See Stars, Bears". Milwaukee Journal. AP. December 29, 1940. p. 3 (Section III). Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  5. ^ "Parker is Excused". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Associated Press. December 16, 1940. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Ace Parker Excused From All-Star Game". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. December 15, 1940. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.