imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:1921 American Professional Football Association season by team to :Category:1921 APFA season by team per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

2025-03-20T23:13:08Z

Moving Category:1921 American Professional Football Association season by team to Category:1921 APFA season by team per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

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{{short description|Sports season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox NFL season
| team = Cleveland Tigers (NFL)
| year = 1921
| record = 3–5 [[NFL|APFA]]<br>(3–5–1 overall)
| league_place = 11th APFA
| owner = [[Jim O'Donnell (American football)|Jim O'Donnell]]
| coach = [[Jim Thorpe]]
| stadium = [[League Park|Dunn Field]]
| playoffs =
| next = N/A
}}

The '''[[1921 NFL season|1921]] [[Cleveland Tigers (NFL)|Cleveland Tigers]] season''' was their second completed in the young [[American Professional Football Association]] (APFA), soon to be renamed the [[National Football League]]. The team improved on their [[1920 Cleveland Tigers season|previous record]] of 2–4–2, winning three games.<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cti/1921.htm 1921 Cleveland Indians]</ref> They finished eleventh in the league.<ref>[http://www.profootballarchives.com/1921apfacle.html 1921 Cleveland Tigers (APFA)]</ref>

The 1921 team, remembered by some as the '''Cleveland Indians''',<ref>Listed as such by Pro Football Reference, although papers of the day almost universally used the "Tigers" moniker.</ref> featured legendary player-coach [[Jim Thorpe]] at [[halfback (gridiron football)|halfback]] and two other Native-American football stars in the backfield — [[Joe Guyon|"Indian Joe" Guyon]] and fullback [[Pete Calac]], both of whom played with Thorpe on the [[1920 Canton Bulldogs season|1920 Canton Bulldogs]].<ref name=Trio>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-trio-of-indian-grid-star/163285604/ "Trio of Indian Grid Stars Face Staleys,"] ''Chicago Tribune,'' Nov. 20, 1921, p. 27.</ref> In all, six members of the 1921 Cleveland Tigers team played on the Canton Bulldogs the previous season.<ref name=Trio />

The 34-year old Thorpe — ancient in football years — used himself sparingly but was still effective enough that the ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'' could write good-naturedly of his season-opening performance against the [[Columbus Panhandles]]:
<blockquote>"Poor Jim Thorpe. He has become so old and decrepit that the best he could do yesterday was run eighty yards for a touchdown, shaking off half a dozen tacklers and dodging three or four others. His arm has become so weak he cannot throw the football more than forty or fifty yards in executing forward passes. Poor Jim. The first thing we know he will have to quit the game in ten years or so."<ref name=Columbus>Henry P. Edwards, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-cleveland-tiger-eleven/163181170/ "Cleveland Tiger Eleven Trims Columbus Panhandles by 35 to 9 Score: Thorpe's Famous Backfield Gives Great Exhibition,"] ''Cleveland Plain Dealer,'' Oct. 17, 1921, p. 16.</ref></blockquote>

==Schedule==
[[File:211016-Cleveland-Tigers-ad.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Tiny display advertisement promoting the first Cleveland Tigers game of the 1921 season.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Tigers|year=1921|border=2}}"| Game
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Tigers|year=1921|border=2}}"| Date
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Tigers|year=1921|border=2}}"| Opponent
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Tigers|year=1921|border=2}}"| Result
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Tigers|year=1921|border=2}}"| Record
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Tigers|year=1921|border=2}}"| Venue
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Tigers|year=1921|border=2}}"| Attendance
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Tigers|year=1921|border=2}}"| Recap
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cleveland Tigers|year=1921|border=2}}"| Sources
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 1
| October 16
| [[1921 Columbus Panhandles season|Columbus Panhandles]]
| '''W''' 35–9
| 1–0
| [[League Park|Dunn Field]]
| <small>"several thousand"</small>
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192110160cti.htm Recap]
| <ref name=Columbus /><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-thorpes-pro-grid-outfi/163185011/ "Thorpe's Pro Grid Outfit Will Open Its Season Today: Tackles Columbus Panhandles, with Famous Nessers, at Dunn Field,"] ''Cleveland Plain Dealer,'' Oct. 16, 1921, p. 16.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-jim-thorpes-ind/164634775/ "Jim Thorpe's Indians Down Panhandles,"] ''Pittsburgh Gazette Times,'' Oct. 17, 1921, p. 8.</ref>
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 2
| October 23
| [[1921 Cincinnati Celts season|Cincinnati Celts]]
| '''W''' 28–0
| 2–0
| [[League Park|Dunn Field]]
|
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192110230cti.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-thorpes-pros-in-fine-f/163219604/ "Thorpe's Pros in Fine Fettle for Cincinnati Celts: Expect Victory Over Outfit Made Up of Marietta, Miami, Heidelberg and Other College Stars at Dunn Field This Afternoon,"] ''Cleveland Plain Dealer,'' Oct. 23, 1921, p. 22.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-cleveland-tigers-dispos/163219824/ "Cleveland Tigers Dispose of Cincinnati Celts by Count of 28 to 0: Jim Thorpe Hurt When Tackled As He Catches Pass,"] ''Cleveland Plain Dealer,'' Oct. 24, 1921, p. 16.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-thorpes-team-be/163220308/ "Thorpe's Team Beats Celts: Cleveland Tigers Trim Cincinnati Eleven — Score 28 to 0,"] ''Cincinnati Enquirer,'' Oct. 24, 1921, p. 9.</ref>
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 3
| October 30
| at [[1921 Dayton Triangles season|Dayton Triangles]]
| '''L''' 2–3
| 2–1
| [[Triangle Park (Dayton)|Triangle Park]]
| 4,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192110300day.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-triangles-get-heav/163223809/ "Triangles Get Heavy End of 3 to 2 Count: Dropkick Brings a One Point Margin Over Jim Thorpe's Cleveland Tigers,"] ''Rock island Argus,'' Oct. 31, 1921, p. 17.</ref>
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 4
| November 6
| at [[1921 Buffalo All-Americans season|Buffalo All-Americans]]
| '''L''' 6–10
| 2–2
| [[Canisius University|Canisius Villa]]
| 7,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192111060bff.htm Recap]
| <ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-times-all-americans-defeat-c/162931152/ "All-Americans Defeat Cleveland After Being Scored Upon: Jim Thorpe's Cleveland Tigers Drew First Blood But Lose 10 to 6,"] ''Buffalo Times,'' Nov. 7, 1921, p. 16.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-enquirer-all-americans-beat/162931080/ "All-Americans Beat Cleveland in Hard Game: Thorpe's Tigers Gave Buffalo Merry Battle — Touchdown by Visitors Not Allowed,"] ''Buffalo Enquirer,'' Nov. 7, 1921, p. 6.</ref>
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 5
| November 13
| [[1921 Canton Bulldogs season|Canton Bulldogs]]
| '''L''' 0–7
| 2–3
| [[League Park|Dunn Field]]
| < 3,500
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192111130cti.htm Recap]
| <ref>Francis J. Powers, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-cleveland-tigers-fail-t/163265031/ "Cleveland Tigers Fail to Score as They Lose to Canton Bulldog Warriors,"] ''Cleveland Plain Dealer,'' Nov. 14, 1921, p. 14.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-post-canton-downs-clevela/163265358/ "Canton Downs Cleveland in Stubborn Game: Carroll Scores Lone Touchdown, Thorpe Gets In,"] ''Pittsburgh Post,'' Nov. 14, 1921, p. 6.</ref>
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 6
| November 20
| at [[1921 Chicago Staleys|Chicago Staleys]]
| '''L''' 7–22
| 2–4
| [[Wrigley Field|Cubs Park]]
| 10,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192111200chi.htm Recap]
| <ref name=Trio /><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-staleys-thump-pros-of-cl/163286173/ "Staleys Thump Pros of Cleveland, 22–7,"] ''Chicago Tribune,'' Nov. 21, 1921, p. 16.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-record-crowd-sees-stal/163286359/ "Record Crowd Sees Staleys Humble Cleveland, 22–7: Stinchcomb Runs 80 Yards Through Tiger Team for First Score,"] ''Decatur Herald,'' Nov. 21, 1921, p. 4.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-staley-eleven-puts-tiger/163286535/ "Staley Eleven Puts Tigers to Rout, Score 22–7: Stinchcomb Stars as Decatur Team Wallops Clevelanders,"] ''Davenport Democrat and Leader,'' Nov. 21, 1921, p. 7.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-thorpes-tigers-prove-e/163286726/ "Thorpe's Tigers Prove Easy for Decatur Staleys: Pete Stinchcomb Races Over Field for Two Touchdowns and is Factor in Scoring of Third; Jim Thorpe Fails to Play,"] ''Cleveland Plain Dealer,'' Nov. 21, 1921, p. 17.</ref>
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 7
| December 3
| at [[1921 New York Brickley Giants season|New York Brickley Giants]]
| '''W''' 17–0
| 3–4
| [[Polo Grounds]]
| 3,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192112030ng1.htm Recap]
|
|-
! –
| December 10
| ''at Richmond Athletic Club''
| '''T''' 0–0
| —
|
|
|
|
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 8
| December 11
| at [[1921 Washington Senators (NFL) season|Washington Senators]]
| '''L''' 0–7
| 3–5
| [[American League Park]]
| 5,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/192112110sen.htm Recap]
|
|-
|colspan="10"| '''Note:''' Games in ''italics'' indicate a non-league opponent.
|}

==Standings==
[[File:Calac-Pete-cleveland-211016.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Cleveland fullback Pete Calac gains ground through the Columbus line in the October 16 season-opener.]]
{{1921 APFA standings}}

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

{{1921 APFA season by team}}
{{Cleveland Tigers}}
{{Cleveland Tigers-Indians seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1921 Cleveland Indians (Nfl) Season}}
[[Category:Cleveland Indians (NFL) seasons]]
[[Category:1921 APFA season by team|Cleveland Indians]]
[[Category:1921 in sports in Ohio|Cleveland Indians (NFL)]]

1921 Cleveland Tigers season - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:1921 American Professional Football Association season by team to :Category:1921 APFA season by team per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy