imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Defunct Pittsburgh sports teams to :Category:Defunct sports clubs and teams in Pittsburgh per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

2023-06-09T20:50:03Z

Moving Category:Defunct Pittsburgh sports teams to Category:Defunct sports clubs and teams in Pittsburgh per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

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{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox Pre-modern NFL team
| name = Pittsburgh Americans
| bgcolor = Blue
| fontcolor = white
| helmet =
| logo =
| founded = 1936
| suspended =
| folded = 1937
| relocated =
| location = [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], United States
| field = [[Forbes Field]]
| league = [[American Football League (1936)|American Football League II]]
| conference =
| division =
| colors = Red, White, Blue
{{color box|red}} {{color box|white}} {{color box|blue}}
| history = '''Pittsburgh Americans (1936–37)'''
| nickname =
| coach = [[Jess Quatse]] (1937)<br>[[Rudy Comstock]] (1936)
| manager =
| owner = Richard Guy
| championships =
| AFL 1 championships =
| AFL 2 championships =
| AFL 3 championships =
| AAFC championships =
| PCPFL championships =
| Other League championships =
| named for =
| mascot =
| website =
}}

The '''Pittsburgh Americans''' or '''Pittsburgh Amerks''' were a professional [[American football]] team based in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] from 1936 until 1937. The team was a member of the major-league [[American Football League (1936)|American Football League]] and participated in the league's [[1936 American Football League season|1936]] and [[1937 American Football League season|1937]] seasons.

==History==
When plans for the league were announced on November 12, 1935, fifteen cities bid for charter franchises for the new league.<ref>{{cite news|title=Plan New 'Pro' Football League for New Season |newspaper=[[The Morning Call]] |location=[[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown, PA]] |date=November 13, 1935 |agency=Associated Press |page=19 }}</ref> On April 11, 1936, Pittsburgh and seven other cities were awarded franchises.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pro League Ready to Go |newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Press]] |date=April 12, 1936 |page=Sports-1 }}</ref> The Americans were organized by Dick Guy, a sports editor and business manager for the then-[[Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]] of the [[National Football League]]. [[Rudy Comstock]] who played for five teams in the NFL, was then named the team's coach. The Amerks played all of their home games at Pittsburgh's [[Forbes Field]]. The team was to have played at [[Duquesne University]]; however, the deal to lease the school's facilities fell through. The Amerks were able to purchase a lighting system from a circus.<ref name="Sell">{{cite news|last=Sell|first=Jack|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EEgNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LWwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1595,1864764&dq=pittsburgh+americans+football+quatse&hl=en|date=October 11, 1963|title=The Pittsburgh Amerks}}</ref>

The Amerks' first-ever league game was played on October 4, 1936 against the [[Syracuse Braves]] at [[MacArthur Stadium]]. Pittsburgh rallied to win the game 27-16.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sell|first=Jack|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o8FRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3mkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3004,1935816&dq=pittsburgh+americans+football+quatse&hl=en|date=October 5, 1936|title=Amerks' Strong Finish Beats Syracuse, 17-16}}</ref> The team's first season resulted in a winning record and a fourth-place finish for the Americans with a record of 3-2-1. The Americans were also not without stars: they signed former [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL)|Pittsburgh Pirates']] [[Ben Smith (end)|Ben Smith]] and [[Loran Ribble]]. However, the team's performance on the field didn't mirror that of ticket sales and attendance. The Americans finished last in the league for attendance, averaging only 2500 spectators in attendance for home games at Forbes Field. However, the team drew large crowds on the road against the [[New York Yankees (1936 AFL)|New York Yankees]], [[Rochester Tigers]] and [[Boston Shamrocks (AFL)|Boston Shamrocks]].<ref name="Sell"/>

While the Americans survived their first season, the team was folded after the third game of the [[1937 American Football League season|1937 season]]. The team played its first game at Forbes Field against the [[Los Angeles Bulldogs]], which resulted in a 21-0 Bulldogs win. [[Jess Quatse]], a former stand-out for the [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pitt Panthers]], served as the team's coach.<ref name="Sell"/> The rest of the league would cease operations at the end of season.

==See also==
*[[1936 Pittsburgh Americans season]]
*[[1937 Pittsburgh Americans season]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{AFL II}}
{{Early PA football}}
{{Defunct Pennsylvania sports teams}}
{{Pittsburgh sports}}

[[Category:Pittsburgh Americans| ]]
[[Category:Defunct sports clubs and teams in Pittsburgh|Americans]]
[[Category:Defunct American football teams in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American football teams in Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 1936]]
[[Category:American football teams disestablished in 1937]]
[[Category:1936 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1937 disestablishments in Pennsylvania]]

Pittsburgh Americans - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Defunct Pittsburgh sports teams to :Category:Defunct sports clubs and teams in Pittsburgh per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy