LOOKING BACK
By Chris Willis, NFL Films
By Chris Willis, NFL Films
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| Game Program for Red Grange's Pro Debut on Nov. 26, 1925 |
On this day - November 26th - back in 1925 Harold "Red" Grange made his professional debut at Cubs Park in Chicago. Just four days earlier he left the University of Illinois to play pro football with the Chicago Bears. On Thanksgiving Day he played against the Chicago Cardinals and begin a barnstorming Tour that would change pro football and the NFL forever.
Over the next month or so PFJ will take a look back at one of the NFL's greatest events with articles on the famous Red Grange-Chicago Bears barnstorming tour. First will look at Red's pro debut.
Red Grange played his last collegiate game in Columbus, Ohio against Ohio State. After the game he took a train overnight to Chicago to sign with the Chicago Bears and play pro football.
On Sunday morning (Nov. 22nd) Red would make his way to the Morrison Hotel. Located downtown in the Loop, the Morrison was a high-rise hotel at the corner of Madison and Clark. The recent expansion of the hotel was just completed in 1925 to give the hotel a 46-story high-rise and nearly 2,000 rooms. It was just the stylish hotel that made the perfect headquarters for C. C. Pyle. In rooms 1739-1941 “Cash and Carry” was ready for the morning show. Red, wearing a light-colored suit and vest, a striped tie, white collard dress shirt, and his auburn hair slicked back and parted down the middle, knocked on the door of room 1739. Red entered the suite and greeted Halas and Sternaman for the first time. Red was quickly impressed by George Halas.
“I was impressed with him because he did everything himself. George was a one-man gang. He was his own press agent, his own coach, he played right end, he ran the ball park, looked out for security, he signed the players, he did his own scouting, he did everything there was to do around the football team.”
After a few pleasantries Pyle got the circus going. The eager promoter brought in the press and photographers. The moment everybody was waiting for, had arrived. In the suite the four men sat down at a round glass table. The contracts and several pens were sitting there ready to make history. Red, sitting in the middle, had Pyle to his left and Halas to his right, with Sternaman sitting next to Halas. The foursome posed as Red held pen in hand ready to sign his first pro contract. Through a haze of smoke, following a broadside of flashlight powder from photographer’s cameras, Red signed his name. With the press surrounding him, Red said a few words:
“Why I can’t see that there is any difference between the game as it is played on college gridirons or on the fields used by men who turn their attention to the sport for financial rewards. I am at a loss to comprehend all the fuss that has been made in my case simply because I propose to capitalize on such success as I have attained while playing at the University of Illinois.
There are scores of baseball players who were mighty good men on college diamonds who upon leaving their universities have entered professional baseball and are now earning comfortable livelihoods through their skill at pitching, fielding or batting. No one ever criticized those fellows for signing pro baseball contracts.
I have always loved football and when I play the game I want to play with and against the best teams possible. The closer the battle and better I like it. There isn’t any particular thrill in taking part in a one-sided contest. I have associated with the best men in the Western Conference for three years and learned much about football. In the professional circuit I expect to be pitted against seasonal players- the best men the various clubs offer. Here the competition should be of a keen order.”
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| Red Grange signs pro contract with Bears. L-to-R, Dutch Sternaman, George Halas, Grange, and Pyle. |
“Yesterday I played my last college football game. Today, I am looking forward to my future. I alone must determine my career of tomorrow. No longer can I turn my eyes to those sterling American gentlemen and sportsmen, Huff and Zuppke, for the assistance they contributed so wholeheartedly in my development as a football player. My teammates who stood by me in the thick of conflict are now separated. No longer can they join with me with their splendid cooperation in the execution of the play as they did when we held aloft the colors of our beloved University of Illinois. No more will the liberal and generous press feature my deeds as a college football player. The plaudits of the student body and the public can no longer acclaim me for exploits upon the campus.
No one will gainsay I did my best on the football field. I put forth every ounce of energy into my playing and I feel as though I have now discharged a part of my obligation to the University of Illinois, to the student body, and to the traditions of that splendid institution. I say I have discharged in part my obligations. It will never be possible for me to repay in full measure all my obligations to that institution and its students.
There remains uncharged my obligation to my father. Possessed of a scant supply of this world’s goods, he has given me an opportunity for an education at a great sacrifice. Then there is still imposed upon him the burden of my brother’s education.
In what manner can I best perform my duty to my father and my brother? This is the question I have been turning over in my mind and seeking for an answer in my conscience for many days.
Trained and developed in the game of football and achieving some success as a player, there is where my best talent has been revealed.
I have received many alluring offers to enter fields of enterprise in which I have had no training or experience. But I believe the public will be better satisfied with my honesty and good motive, if I turn my efforts to that field in which I have been most useful, in order to reap the reward which will keep the homes fires burning.
There are countless thousands interested in football who seldom have an opportunity to see a college game. These devotees of the sport cannot take Saturday off and make a long trip to Champaign or some other point, in order to witness a college game. Many are excluded from college games, too, because of the limited number of tickets available to the public. These people in order to satisfy their desires must perforce attend professional football games which are held on Sundays, when and where it is convenient for them to go.
Therefore, I have resolved that I will play professional football. I will play with the Bears because they are a Chicago team, many Zuppke trained at Illinois University- some of them predecessors as captains of the team.
I signed a contract today to play with the Bears on Thanksgiving and other days. This is the first contract I have ever signed to play professional football. I preserved my amateur standing spotless until my college career as a football player ended.
Mr. Pyle has acted within the recent few weeks as my good friend and adviser. Today he is my manager. Owing to the need of sufficient time in which to catch up with my studies, I am leaving college, temporarily, but will return later.
To Messers. Huff and Zuppke and my teammates, to the student body and alumni, to the public and to the press I give my thanks out of the depths of a grateful heart for the splendid support and encouragement extended to me throughout my college football career.”
Simultaneously with the Grange’s statement Manager Pyle issued a few words of his own:
“Considerable speculation and misinformation have been going the rounds during the past several days as to my relations with Harold Grange. As his friend, I undertook to act for him as an advisor and emissary.
With all the numerous offers being made to Mr. Grange, it was necessary to reduce them to a sensible selection. Recognizing this need, I visited the managers of professional football teams in Florida advised with promoters and schemers, as well as bona fide producers of motion pictures, interviewing them by scores, ascertained their offers and ability to make good and in every way I attempted to ferret out the good prospects from the worthless ones.
I traveled a great deal, spent much time and defrayed all my own expenses, in order to make this investigation. After considerable work and examination, I came to certain conclusions as to what Harold Grange’s future course should be. I laid my conclusions before him and he is now making his decision in respect to them.
He has appointed me his manager. Today we have entered into several contracts for professional football to be played in Chicago and other cities.
Mr. Grange has at no time sullied his pure amateur standing by any act of professionalism. He waited until his last game was played and today the contracts for his future services were drafted and entered into. I believe Harold Grange has made a wise decision in following up his splendid spectacular college career by engaging in professional football while his popularity is at its zenith.
There is a large body of the public clamoring for an opportunity to see him play, who never had a chance during his college days.
Joining the Chicago Bears, Mr. Grange will be continuing to play under the same teaching he received at the University of Illinois. He will give the lovers of the professional football game the same sterling efforts he gave to the followers of the college game. He is destined to be great as a success in his newly chosen field as he was in the one just brought to a very successful conclusion.”
Both Red’s and Pyle’s full statements would be used by newspapers all across the country.
The photo of Red sitting next to Pyle (with Halas and Sternaman) at the Morrison Hotel signing his pro contract was featured in newspapers across the country, usually with a bold headline announcing the big news. The Chicago Herald-Examiner headline read “Red Grange Signs Fat ‘Pro’ Contract.”
But there wasn’t much they could do about Red’s decision. He recalled:
“You see, all the college coaches and athletic directors, they were 100 percent against professional football. They thought anybody connected with it was going to hell, you might say. When I joined the Chicago Bears, as far as the University of Illinois was concerned, I would have been more popular if I had joined the (Al) Capone mob.”
Red heard all the criticism about his decision to turn pro. Sensitive to the talk he knew deep down he made the best decision for himself, as he had to live with his choice. The only person he had to answer too, was his best friend- his father. Lyle Grange trusted his son to make a good decision and was relieved his son had finally accepted one of the lucrative offers made to him. But he wasn’t happy with the choice of a business manager that he chose to help guide him. Speaking to the Chicago Herald-Examiner, Lyle was quoted as saying:
“I’d rather that my boy had turned to something that would have allowed him to stay in school, if that was possible…I want to say here and now, though, that I want my boy to have nothing to do with that Pyle, and you can go as strong as you like about that.”
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| Right before playing his pro debut Red spent time with his father Lyle, in Wheaton. |
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| Grange at first Bears practice at Cubs Park. L-to-R; Verne Mullen, Grange, Duke Hanny |
The Bears made sure a number 77 jersey was
ready for him to wear. “Seventy-seven was
awfully good to me in college and I do not wish to change my luck at this
time,” said Red to the press. Harold Johnson attended the practice for the Chicago American, reporting that “Red was usually frisky and consumed with
learning and mastering all the plays and formations.” Halas was pleased
with how quickly Red was picking up everything. “Gee, he is a wonder at mastering plays,” said Halas to Johnson
after Red grabbed a pass from Joey Sternaman. “Let me explain this to you in detail,” suggested Halas to Red
during one play from scrimmage. “That’s
all right George, I got it the first time,” responded Red. After running
the play again, Red swept through the play in perfect fashion.
All of the major Chicago daily newspapers covered Red’s first practice. In the afternoon edition of the Chicago Daily News the paper recapped practice, as well as publishing three photos: Red in full football uniform (no helmet); Red posing with the whole Bears offense; and a posed shot of Red in a huddle with Halas and Sternaman. The Chicago American ran an exclusive photo of Red as a ball carrier behind lead blocking by Dutch Sternaman and Laurie Walquist, with Joey Sternaman calling the signals, and George Trafton who had just snapped the ball to Red, while the Chicago Evening Post wrote:
“Red absorbed some of the Bears signals and plays today and went thru a snappy workout. In passing the ball around the players, there were plenty of comments on the heaving of Grange…Grange went at his new job as if he meant business.”
Ever since Red announced he was signing with the Chicago Bears, tickets to his debut game against the Chicago Cardinals on Thanksgiving Day were a hot commodity. Tickets were sold at Cubs Park and A. G. Spalding’s & Company sporting goods store at South State and Adams Streets. The Bears owners decided not to raise ticket prices, which turned out to be a smart move. From the start they sold like hot cakes. Prices were $1.75 for a reserved seat and $2.00 for a box seat. Standing room seats started to sell too.
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| Game Ticket, Cardinals at Bears, Nov. 26, 1925 |
That Monday fans lined up for blocks to get
their ticket to see the Galloping Ghost. As the Daily Illini wrote, “Nobody
wanted a ticket because it was the Bears or Cardinals playing- they all wanted
tickets for ‘the Grange game’.” Fifteen police officers were called in to calm
“the riot” as reported by the Chicago Herald & Examiner. Jimmy
Corcoran of the American wrote: “The panic is on! Pandemonium has broken
loose. The town has gone NUTS in Harold Redhead Grange, the flaming phantom of
the greensward. Everybody wants tickets, tickets, TICKETS!” The Herald-Examiner ran on the front page of
the paper (not just the sports section) the big bold headline: “RIOT FOR GRANGE GAME SEATS: Ticket Line
Fights Keep Police Busy.” Within the first three hours all 20,000 tickets
were sold. Halas got busy printing more tickets.
Red turned his focus to prepare for his first pro game. He had the support of his Bears teammates. “We want the redhead to go, and you can bet every last one of us will see that he gets every chance.” declared Bears tackle Ed Healey to the Chicago Daily Journal. As game day approached scalpers were having a field day. News reports came out that the $1.75 grandstands seats were fetching up to twenty dollars. The crowd at Cubs Park was looking to be a record-breaking crowd for a pro football game. The city assigned nearly 300 police officer and 100 private detectives to help with the massive turnout. Automobiles were parked for ten blocks in every direction of Cubs Park.
On the day of the game Irving Vaughn of the Chicago Tribune wrote that “Grange is the man who has stood the town on its beam end as no other athlete ever had done and he’s the man those 35,000, most of whom have never cast eye on him, want to watch.” The Tribune also wrote:
“No previous sporting event in the history of the Midwest has stirred up a city as Chicago has been stirred since the roaming red head broadcast word that he had hung up his hat alongside those of other stars who had deemed it fitting to turn their varsity fame and ability to the making of an honest dollar…No event here ever caused a ticket turmoil such as broke loose when Red was formally received into the ranks of those who draw pay for their play.”
The whole city of Chicago, and the sold-out
crowd at Cubs Park, was now ready to see Red Grange. The gates opened at 9:00
a.m., with kickoff at 11:00 a.m. Fans filled the park by the thousands, while outside
programs, featuring Red smiling in his Bears uniform on the cover, were sold
for ten cents. In the press box was all the big Chicago sportswriters,
including Irving Vaughn (Tribune),
Harry MacNamara (Herald & Examiner),
W. V. Morgenstern (Herald & Examiner),
Robert McBroom (Evening Post), Harold
Johnson and Jimmy Corcoran (American).
Newspaper accounts reported a crowd of 36,000 to 40,000.
Wearing his famous number “77” jersey Red Grange jogged out onto the field at Cubs Park as a member of the Chicago Bears for the first time. He would be starting at left halfback with Laurie Walquist at right halfback, Dutch Sternaman at fullback and Joey Sternaman at quarterback. On the line would be Frank Hanny (LE), Ed Healey (LT), Bill Fleckenstein (LG), All-Pro George Trafton (C), Jim McMillian (RG), Don Murry (RT) and George Halas (RE).
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| Red Grange sits on bench of his pro debut vs Cardinals. From R-to-L; CC Pyle, Grange, Murry, George Halas. |
As for the game, it was nothing to write home about, but tons of sportswriters tried their best in describing the action. The five major Chicago daily newspapers- American, Daily Journal, Daily News, Herald-Examiner and Tribune- wrote plenty of Red’s daily actions to their nearly two million readers in 1925. The game quickly became a defensive battle, with neither team giving an inch. Red was able to have a few good kick returns, three of them going for more than twenty yards, but that was all of his highlights for the game. Throughout the contest when Red retired to the bench, he took a seat next to Pyle who was trying to stay warm bundled up in his overcoat and fedora. You could see, several times, Red and Pyle chatting away. In the Chicago Tribune the next day a photo was published in the sports page of the two talking below the caption “Were They Counting The Crowd?” Maybe for Pyle, but not Grange. He was focused on the game.
In the third quarter the usually reliable Paddy Driscoll missed two field goals from 43 and 50 yards. Red continues to plug along with few chances to succeed. This day he wouldn’t give the fans a big reason to cheer. He did have an interception in the red zone to help stop a Cardinals drive. The game ended in a 0-0 tie. While leaving the field Red was surrounded by a huge rush of fans. “He was almost carried off his feet by the rush after the final whistle, and it took a flying wedge of bluecoats (police) to get him off the field.”
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| Red Grange, ball carrier, against the Cardinals in pro debut. To the left on the ground is George Halas. |
Red finally arrived at the Bears locker
room, only to be greeted by newspapermen. Sporting a large red bump under his
left eye Red was exhausted as he talked to the press: “They are two great teams, the Bears and Cardinals. They are better
than any college team I ever played against…this was the hardest game that I
was ever in, but it was clean. It was much cleaner than most college games. I
got this bump when I ran into a player. Red was then asked about the
interference he was giving by his teammates:
“The best I ever got. The Bears did all they could for me today, but
it’s different blocking out these players than it is in college. It is a lot
harder to do. I knew what this game was
when I went into it, and it was just about as I expected. But I like it, as I
expected to like it, and I intend to keep on going.”
The main storyline in most game recaps was Driscoll’s decision to punt away from Red. The future Hall of Famer became the villain. Jimmy Corcoran of the Chicago American wrote, “Paddy Kicks’ Em O.K. but Not Towards Red- Head; Paddy Driscoll- shame on you!” Fans might’ve been disappointed in the play of Grange and Driscoll in the scoreless tie, but none of that mattered to one spectator at Cubs Park- C. C. Pyle. He was overjoyed with seeing a sold-out crowd. “Charlie Pyle, after a while, saw a fella coming through the gate with the gate around his neck, and he said, ‘I knew we’d sold out. They broke the gates to get in’,” recalled Red in a 1978 interview.
As for the Chicago Bears, Dutch Sternaman was in charge of supplying the Red-Pyle group the exact box office statements. He would provide the figures to them on typed-up stationery, whether it was in Chicago or on the road. These statements- as well as the game contracts- Sternaman kept his entire life. The documents were eventually donated by the Sternaman family to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
Although Red might not have been a success on the field, he sure was a winner at the gate. Pyle, Red, Coolley, and Moore received a typed-up letter on Chicago National League Ball Club stationery with the gate numbers for Red’s pro debut against the Cardinals. The numbers were staggering:
(Tickets) (Gate Receipts) (War Tax)
9,237 @ 1.61 16,718.97 1,755.03
13,503 @ 1.59 21,469.77 2,160.46
8,440 @ 1.36 11,478.40 1,181.60
Ex 5 @ .45 2.25 .25
= 31,180 49,669.39 5,097.36
Cubs 20% 9,933.88
39,735.51
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| Bears expense sheet from Red's pro debut, from Dutch Sternaman Collection (Pro Football Hall of Fame) |
Red ($4,500)
Pyle ($2,250)
Coolley ($1,125)
Moore ($1,125)
Halas was also ecstatic. “There had never been such evidence of public interest since our professional league began in 1920. I knew then and there that pro football was destined to be a big-time sport,” Halas recalled. The attendance figure was a record for a pro football game. The record wouldn’t last very long. The only person who was a loser in the money department after the game was Cardinals owner Chris O’Brien. Not expecting the massive crowd O’Brien decided to take the ($1,200 guarantee) instead of a piece of the gate. A move that backfired big time.
Shortly after the game Red sat down with Harold Johnson of the Chicago American to give him an exclusive interview on his opinion of his first pro game.
The Bears certainly are swell fellows and tried all through the game to help me along. I thought I had mastered most of the play they had taught me during the limited time I had to practice with them, but believe I will be able to give the boys a better performance in the next game.
There wasn’t a single bit of unnecessary roughness on either side, despite the traditional rivalry between these two teams. Of course I felt a bit strange in there during the first quarter, but soon shook off that nervousness and was just as much at home as if I were playing with my old mates at Illinois.
I am sorry some of the rooters criticized Paddy Driscoll as they did because of his kicking. It was the first time I had the pleasure of playing against him and he impressed me as one of the greatest men I ever saw on the gridiron.
It was the hardest, toughest game in which I have played in my career…It was a clean game from start to finish, and this beautiful bump under my eye is just one of the tokens of battle. There wasn’t any rough stuff and no attempt was shown to get me.”
On this day (Nov. 26th) Red Grange made his professional debut and pro football was never the same.
NEXT: Red Grange and the Chicago Bears Embark on Football's Greatest Barnstorming Tour
Dec. 2nd - Bears at St. Louis All-Stars
