imported>OcularZombie: /* Game 5: at Chicago Tigers */

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Game 5: at Chicago Tigers

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{{Short description|American Professional Football Association's Cardinals' inauguration}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox NFL season
| team = Chicago Cardinals
| year = 1920
| logo = Chicago Cardinals 1920.jpeg
| record = 3–2–1 APFA (6–2–2 overall)
| league_place = 4th APFA
| owner = [[Chris O'Brien (American football)|Chris O'Brien]]
| coach = [[Paddy Driscoll]]
| stadium = [[Normal Park]]
| playoffs =
| previous = ''none''
| no_prevseason = true
| shortnavlink = Cardinals seasons
}}

The '''[[1920 APFA season|1920]] Chicago Cardinals season''' was the teams' inaugural season in the American Professional Football Association (soon to be the [[National Football League]]). Although the Cardinals' existence traced back as far as 1899, this was their first season as a member of the American Professional Football Association.

The team was also known as the '''Racine Cardinals''' in this period, a name borrowed from Racine Avenue, location of [[Normal Park]] in Chicago, where the team played its home games. In an effort to reduce confusion and capitalize on the name of a major metropolis, the name of the team was officially changed to "Chicago Cardinals" by owner [[Chris O'Brien (American football)|Chris O'Brien]] on October 20, 1920, however.<ref>Joe Ziemba, ''Bears vs. Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry.'' Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2022; p. 73.</ref>

Their final two games of the season against the [[Chicago Stayms Foresters]] were played after the APFA season was officially over and did not count towards the standings.

The last remaining active member of the 1920 Chicago Cardinals was [[Paddy Driscoll]], who retired after the [[1929 NFL season|1929 season]].

== Background ==
The Chicago Cardinals finished 4–3-0 in their [[1919 Racine Cardinals season|1919 season]] in the Chicago Football league<ref>Ziemba, ''When Football Was Football,'' p. 64.</ref> Following the 1919 season, representatives of four Ohio League teams—the [[Canton Bulldogs]], the [[Cleveland Tigers (NFL)|Cleveland Tigers]], the [[Dayton Triangles]], and the [[Akron Pros]]—called a meeting on August 20, 1920, to discuss the formation of a new league. At the meeting, they tentatively agreed on a [[salary cap]] and pledged not to sign college players or players already under contract with other teams. They also agreed on a name for the circuit: the American Professional Football Conference.<ref name="pfra1980-3-4">{{Harvnb|PFRA Research|1980|pp=3–4}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Siwoff|Zimmber|Marini|2010|pp=352–353}}</ref> Then they contacted other major professional teams and invited them to a meeting for September 17.<ref name="pfra1980-3">{{Harvnb|PFRA Research|1980|p=3}}</ref>

At that meeting, held at Bulldogs owner [[Ralph Hay]]'s [[Hupmobile]] showroom in Canton, representatives of the [[Rock Island Independents]], the [[Muncie Flyers]], the [[Decatur Staleys]], the [[Massillon Tigers]], the Cardinals, and the [[Hammond Pros]] agreed to join the league. Representatives of the [[Buffalo All-Americans]] and [[Rochester Jeffersons]] could not attend the meeting, but sent letters to Hay asking to be included in the league.<ref name="nflbday4">{{Harvnb|PFRA Research|1980|p=4}}</ref> Team representatives changed the league's name slightly to the American Professional Football Association and elected officers, installing Jim Thorpe as president.<ref name="nflbday4" /><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/09/19/113313269.pdf | title=Thorpe Made President | newspaper=The New York Times| date=September 19, 1920 | format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f8MWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OiEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3568,5105560&dq=gridders&hl=en | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711044518/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f8MWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OiEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3568,5105560&dq=gridders&hl=en | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 11, 2012 | title=Organize Pro Gridders; Choose Thorpe, Prexy | newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Journal]] | date=September 19, 1920 | page=24 }}</ref> Under the new league structure, teams created their schedules dynamically as the season progressed,<ref>{{harvnb|Peterson|1997|p=74}}</ref><ref name="Davis2005">{{Harvnb|Davis|2005|p=59}}</ref> and representatives of each team voted to determine the winner of the APFA trophy.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Price | first=Mark | date=April 25, 2011 | url=http://www.ohio.com/news/searching-for-lost-trophy-1.204246 | title=Searching for Lost Trophy | newspaper=[[Akron Beacon-Journal]] | access-date=June 23, 2012}}</ref>

After joining the league, Cardinals owner [[Chris O'Brien (American football)|Chris O'Brien]] signed former [[Northwestern Wildcats football|Northwestern]] star halfback [[Paddy Driscoll|John "Paddy" Driscoll]] to a contract paying him $300 per game, with a guarantee of 10 games.<ref name=When74>Ziemba, ''When Football Was Football,'' p. 74.</ref> The deal made the highly-skilled Driscoll among the best compensated players in the fledgling league. More than just a runner or a passer, Driscoll could also score via the [[drop kick]]. Driscoll still holds several NFL dropkicking records, including most successful drop kicks in one game (4), in a career (49), and longest drop kick converted (50 yards, twice).<ref name=When74 />

== Schedule ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Cardinals|year=1920|border=2}}"| Game
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Cardinals|year=1920|border=2}}"| Date
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Cardinals|year=1920|border=2}}"| Opponent
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Cardinals|year=1920|border=2}}"| Result
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Cardinals|year=1920|border=2}}"| Record
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Cardinals|year=1920|border=2}}"| Venue
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Cardinals|year=1920|border=2}}"| Attendance
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Cardinals|year=1920|border=2}}"| Recap
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Chicago Cardinals|year=1920|border=2}}"| Sources
|-style="background:#ffc"
! 1
| October 10
| at [[1920 Chicago Tigers season|Chicago Tigers]]
| '''T''' 0–0
| 0–0–1
| [[Wrigley Field|Cubs Park]]
| 7,500+
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192010100cht.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-racine-cardinals-and-chicago-t/162801326/ "Racine–Tigers Scoreless Tie,"] ''Hammond [IN] Times,'' Oct. 11, 1920, p. 6.</ref>
|-
! —
| October 17
| at ''[[Moline Universal Tractors|Moline Athletics]]'' 
| '''W''' 33–3
| —
| [[St. Rita's Field]]
|
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192010170crd.htm Recap]
| <ref name=Athletics>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-cardinals-trim-athletics-3/162807339/ "Cardinals Trim Athletics, 33–3: Second Quarter Waterloo for Moline Players When Four Touchdowns Are Made,"] ''Moline Dispatch,'' Oct. 18, 1920, p. 14.</ref><ref name=Tractors>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-racine-cardinals-beat-mo/162804247/ "Racine Cardinals Beat Moline by 33 to 3 Count,"] ''Chicago Tribune,'' Oct. 18, 1920, p. 19.</ref>
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 2
| October 24
| at [[1920 Rock Island Independents season|Rock Island Independents]]
| '''L''' 0–7
| 0–1–1
| [[Douglas Park (Rock Island)|Douglas Park]]
| 4,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192010240rii.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-rock-island-independents-wi/162808719/ "Rock Island Independents Win by 7 Points: Driscoll Proves His Reputation is Deserved by Nearly Trimming Entire Islander Team,"] ''Moline Dispatch,'' Oct. 25, 1920, p. 14.</ref>
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 3
| October 31
| [[1920 Detroit Heralds season|Detroit Heralds]]
| '''W''' 21–0
| 1–1–1
| Cubs Park
| 3,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192010310crd.htm Recap]
|
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 4
| November 7
| at [[1920 Chicago Tigers season|Chicago Tigers]]
| '''W''' 6–3
| 2–1–1
| Cubs Park
| 7,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192011070cht.htm Recap]
|
|-
! —
| November 14
| ''[[Cincinnati Celts]]''
| '''W''' 20–0
| —
| [[Normal Park]]
| 5,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192011140crd.htm Recap]
| —
|-
! —
| November 21
| ''[[Lansing Oldsmobiles]]''
| '''W''' 14–0
| —
| Normal Park
| 3,500
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192011210crd.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-lansing-oldsmobile/162832838/ "Lansing Easy for Cardinals: Long Run by Driscoll Feature of Game; Automobile Men Wage Bitter Fight,"] ''Rock Island [IL] Argus,'' Nov. 22 1920, p. 13.</ref>
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 5
| November 28
| [[1920 Decatur Staleys season|Decatur Staleys]]
| '''W''' 7–6
| 3–1–1
| Normal Park
| 5,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192011280crd.htm Recap]
|
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 6
| December 5
| [[1920 Decatur Staleys season|Decatur Staleys]]
| '''L''' 0–10
| 3–2–1
| Cubs Park
| 11,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192012050crd.htm Recap]
|
|-
! —
| December 19
| at ''[[Chicago Stayms]]''
| '''T''' 14–14
| —
| [[Pyott Field]]
|
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192012050crd.htm Recap]
| —
|-
! —
| January 9, 1921
| ''[[Chicago Stayms]]''
| '''W''' 6–0
| —
| Normal Park
| 3,000
| —
|
|-
| colspan="10" | '''Note:''' Non-APFA teams in ''italics.''
|}

== Standings ==
{{1920 APFA standings}}

== Game summaries ==
=== Game 1: at Chicago Tigers ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cardinals
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0
|Home=Tigers
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0
}}
''October 10, 1920, at Cubs Park''

The Chicago Tigers hosted the Chicago Cardinals at Cubs Park in a scoreless 0-0 tie. While much of what happened in the quiet affair is unknown, it would eventually set the precedent for another, more important game in Week 7 that year.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== Game 2: vs. Moline Athletics ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Athletics
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=3|R4=0
|Home='''Cardinals'''
|H1=0|H2=27|H3=6|H4=0
}}
''October 17, 1920, at St. Rita's Stadium''

The Cardinals improved their record to 1-0-1 on the season with a resounding victory over the semi-pro team from [[Moline, Illinois]]. A massive four touchdown second quarter spelled demise for Moline,<ref name=Athletics /> with the Cardinals' putting up long runs by star halfback Paddy Driscoll and his backfield mate, [[Harry Curran (American football)|Harry Curran]].<ref name=Tractors /> Chicago's defense was stifling, forcing Moline to settle for a third quarter field goal to avert a shutout.<ref name=Athletics />

=== Game 3: at Rock Island Independents ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cardinals
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0
|Home='''Independents'''
|H1=0|H2=7|H3=0|H4=0
}}
''October 24, 1920, at Douglas Park''

The Rock Island Independents hosted the Cardinals at Douglas Park, with the Cardinals losing 7-0 in front of 4,000 spectators. Their record fell to 1-1-1 as a result. The only touchdown in the game was a 6-yard pass from Sid Nichols to Arnie Wyman in the second quarter. Nichols also kicked the extra point.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== Game 4: vs. Detroit Heralds ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Heralds
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0
|Home='''Cardinals'''
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=21|H4=0
}}
''October 31, 1920, at Cubs Park''

In a 21-0 rout of the Heralds with 3,000 fans in attendance, the Cardinals improved to 2-1-1 on the season. All of the touchdowns scored were in the third quarter, two of which were blocked punts returned to the end zone by Lenny Sachs and Leo Chappell. The third touchdown was a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Paddy Driscoll, who also kicked each extra point.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== Game 5: at Chicago Tigers ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road='''Cardinals'''
|R1=0|R2=6|R3=0|R4=0
|Home=Tigers
|H1=3|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0
}}
''November 7, 1920, at Cubs Park''

In front of 7,000 fans, the Tigers hosted the Cardinals in a game that, according to legend, decided the fate of both teams, with the loser required to fold their team. Responding to the Tigers' 27-yard field goal by Johnny Barrett in the first quarter, Paddy Driscoll ran for 40 yards to score the game-winning touchdown for the Cardinals in the second quarter. The extra point was no good. While neither team ended their season on the spot, and the Tigers and Cardinals fell and rose to 1-3-1 and 3-1-1, respectively, the Tigers would fold at the end of the 1920 season.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== Game 6: vs. Cincinnati Celts ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Celts
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0
|Home='''Cardinals'''
|H1=6|H2=14|H3=0|H4=0
}}
''November 14, 1920, at Normal Park''

In a 20-0 shutout victory, the Cardinals hosted the Cincinnati Celts. Two of the three touchdowns came from Nick McInerney and Paddy Driscoll running the ball in from unknown distances. Leo Chappell recovered a fumble and ran another in as well. Driscoll was 2-for-3 in extra point attempts, seemingly missing after McInerney's touchdown.

=== Game 7: vs. Lansing Oldsmobiles ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Oldsmobiles
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0
|Home='''Cardinals'''
|H1=0|H2=7|H3=7|H4=0
}}
''November 21, 1920, at Normal Park''

The Cardinals hosted the Lansing Oldsmobiles in a 14-0 win. The pair of scores came from two rushing touchdowns from Harry Curran and Paddy Driscoll in the second and third quarters, respectively.
Driscoll also kicked both extra points.

=== Game 8: vs. Decatur Staleys ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Staleys
|R1=6|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0
|Home='''Cardinals'''
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=7|H4=0
}}
''November 28, 1920, at Normal Park''

In the first of two matchups, the Cardinals won 7-6 against the Decatur Staleys in front of a crowd of 5,000 fans. The two major scores of the game were a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Bob Koehler for Decatur and a 20-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Lenny Sachs for the Cardinals. Paddy Driscoll kicked the extra point as well.
{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== Game 9: vs. Decatur Staleys ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road='''Staleys'''
|R1=0|R2=7|R3=0|R4=3
|Home=Cardinals
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0
}}
''December 5, 1920, at Cubs Park''

In a back-to-back rematch, the Staleys struck back with a 10-0 shutout win over the Cardinals. The only two scores of the game were a Bob Koehler 2-yard rushing touchdown and a Dutch Sternaman field goal from an unknown distance. Sternaman also kicked the extra point after the touchdown by Koehler.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== Game 10: at Chicago Stayms ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cardinals
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=8|R4=6
|Home=Stayms
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=8|H4=6
}}
''December 19, 1920, at Pyott's Park''

The Chicago Stayms hosted the Cardinals in a 14-14 tie. Only parts of this game survived in detail, with a supposed rushing touchdown scored by Nick McInerney for the Cardinals and a blocked punt recovered and scored by an unknown Staym. The other eight points apiece were scored by unknown means. This game, along with a supposed second matchup, did not count towards the 1920 APFA season, as it had ended. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== Post-season: vs. Chicago Stayms ===
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=Cardinals
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0
|Home=Stayms
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0
}}
'' January ??, 1921, at ????''

Any information about this game, or if it even occurred, is unknown.

==Roster==
[[File:Chicago Cardinals 1920.jpeg|thumb|left|600px|Team photo of the 1920 Chicago Cardinals. '''Top row:''' Kantenberger , unknown, unknown, O'Brian (owner); '''3rd row:''' Smith, Curran, Knight, Gillies, Clark, Halstrom, O'Conner; '''2nd row:''' LaRosa, Carey, McInerney, Paddy Driscoll (with ball ) Florence, Brennan, Chappell; '''Front row:''' Whalen, Zoia, Plunkett, Sachs]]
{{clear}}
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background-color= #870619; color: maroon; text-align: center;"|Chicago Cardinals 1920 roster (game appearances in parentheses)
|-
|
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"|
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" |
'''Linemen'''
* [[Willis Brennan]] (9)
* [[Joe Carey (American football)|Joe Carey]] (7)
* [[Leo Chappell]] (8)
* [[Bill Clark (guard)|Bill Clark]] (3)
* [[Paul Florence]] (9)
* [[Bill Fortune]] (1)
* [[Fred Gillies]] (9)
* [[Charlie Knight (American football)|Charlie Knight]] (6)
* [[George Knight (American football)|George Knight]] (2)
* [[Louie Kolls]] (1)
* [[Paul LaRosa]] (9)
* [[Red O'Connor]] (3)
* [[Lenny Sachs]] (8)
* [[Bill Whalen]] (6)
* [[Clyde Zoia]] (8)

| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size:95%; vertical-align:top;"|
'''Backs'''
* [[Len Charpier]] (1)
* [[Harry Curran (American football)|Harry Curran]] (9)
* [[Paddy Driscoll]] (9)
* [[Dick Egan (American football)|Dick Egan]] (7)
* [[Bernie Halstrom]] (8)
* [[Nick McInerney]] (8)
* [[Joseph Plunkett]] (1)
* [[Pete Schultz]] (1)
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|35em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book | last=Davis | first=Jeff | title=Papa Bear, The Life and Legacy of George Halas | publisher=McGraw-Hill | year=2005 | isbn=0-07-146054-3 | url=https://archive.org/details/papabear00jeff }}
* {{Cite book | last=Peterson | first=Robert | year=1997 | title=Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | location=New York | isbn=0-19-507607-9 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/pigskinearlyyear00pete_0 }}
* {{Cite journal|author=PFRA Research |year=1980 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/02-08-038.pdf |title=Happy Birthday NFL? |publisher=[[Professional Football Researchers Association]] |access-date=June 10, 2011 |journal=[[The Coffin Corner]] |volume=2 |issue=8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817020602/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/02-08-038.pdf |archive-date=August 17, 2011 }}
* {{Cite book | last1=Siwoff | first1=Seymour | last2=Zimmber | first2=Jon | last3=Marini | first3=Matt | year=2010 | title=The Official NFL Record and Fact Book 2010 | publisher=[[National Football League]] | isbn=978-1-60320-833-8 }}
* Ziemba, Joe (2022). ''Bears vs. Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry.'' Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co.
* {{Cite book | last=Ziemba | first=Joe | year=1999 | title=When Football Was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL | publisher=Triumph Books | isbn=978-1572433175}}

{{1920 APFA season by team}}
{{1920 Chicago Cardinals}}
{{Arizona Cardinals}}
{{Arizona Cardinals seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1920 Chicago Cardinals Season}}
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals seasons]]
[[Category:1920 APFA season by team|Chicago Cardinals]]
[[Category:1920 in sports in Illinois|Chicago Card]]
[[Category:1920 in Chicago]]

1920 Chicago Cardinals season - Revision history

imported>OcularZombie: /* Game 5: at Chicago Tigers */