APFA 1920

Die APFA-Saison 1920 war die erste Saison der US-amerikanischen Footballliga „American Professional Football Association“ (APFA), welche zwei Jahre später in die heute bekannte National Football League (NFL) umbenannt wurde. Das erste Spiel fand am 26. September 1920, das letzte Spiel am 19. Dezember 1920 statt. Meister der Liga wurden die Akron Pros.

NFL-Saison 1920
Regular Season
Saison	26. September 1920 – 19. Dezember 1920
NFL Champion	Akron Pros
NFL Saison   1921 >

Organisation und Teams

Obwohl in der Moderne als offiziell erste Saison ausgegeben, war die APFA 1920 nur wenig organisiert. Allen Mannschaften gemeinsam war nur die Verwendung eines einheitlichen Briefkopfes.^[1] Dennoch verständigte man sich darauf, Jim Thorpe zum ersten Präsidenten zu ernennen. Dies geschah jedoch nicht wegen seiner administrativen Fähigkeiten, sondern viel eher, um die Bekanntheit von Thorpe für die neue Vereinigung zu nutzen.^[1]

Von den an dieser Meisterschaft teilnehmenden Mannschaften sind mit den Chicago Cardinals (jetzt Arizona Cardinals) und den Decatur Staleys (jetzt Chicago Bears) auch 100 Jahre später noch zwei Teams in der NFL aktiv.

APFA 1920 (USA 48) A. Pros Staleys All-Americans Cardinals Independents Triangles Jeffersons Bulldogs Heralds Cl. Tigers Ch. Tigers H. Pros Panhandles Flyers

Teilnehmende Mannschaften an der APFA 1920

Modus

Es gab weder einen einheitlichen Spielplan, noch eine gemeinsame Mindestanzahl an Spielen. Die Gegner wurden wie im Zeitraum zuvor ausschließlich aufgrund finanzieller Erwägungen ausgesucht und waren mitunter auch von außerhalb der APFA. Aus diesem Grund vermied man die Verwendung des Begriffes Liga (engl. League) und es wurde von der APFA auch keine Tabelle geführt. Lange Zeit vertrat die NFL die Ansicht, es wäre auch kein Meister für diese Saison gekürt worden, jedoch fanden Historiker heraus, dass beim offiziellen Treffen der Besitzer am 30. April 1921 beiläufig bei der Besprechung der Lage der Teams die Meisterschaft an die Pros vergeben wurde.^[2]

Tabelle

Team	S	N	U	SQ	P+	P−
Akron Pros	8	0	3	1,000	151	7
Decatur Staleys	10	1	2	0,909	164	21
Buffalo All-Americans	9	1	1	0,900	258	32
Chicago Cardinals	6	2	2	0,750	115	43
Rock Island Independents	6	2	2	0,750	201	49
Dayton Triangles	5	2	2	0,714	150	54
Rochester Jeffersons	6	3	2	0,667	156	57
Canton Bulldogs	7	4	2	0,636	208	57
Detroit Heralds	2	3	3	0,400	53	82
Cleveland Tigers	2	4	2	0,333	28	46
Chicago Tigers	2	5	1	0,286	49	63
Hammond Pros	2	5	0	0,286	41	154
Columbus Panhandles	2	6	2	0,250	41	121
Muncie Flyers	0	1	0	0,000	0	45

Spiele

Woche 1
26. September 1920
Gast	Punkte	Heim	Punkte	Spielort
St. Paul Ideals	0	Rock Island Independents (1–0–0)	48	Douglas Park
Woche 2
3. Oktober 1920
Wheeling Stogies	0	Akron Pros (1–0–0)	43	Akron League Park
West Buffalo	6	Buffalo All-Americans (1–0–0)	32	Canisius Field
Pitcairn Quakers	0	Canton Bulldogs (1–0–0)	48	Lakeside Park
Columbus Panhandles (0–1–0)	0	Dayton Triangles (1–0–0)	14	Triangle Park
Moline Universal Tractors	0	Decatur Staleys (1–0–0)	20	Staley Field
Muncie Flyers (0–1–0)	0	Rock Island Independents (2–0–0)	45	Douglas Park
All-Buffalo	0	Rochester Jeffersons (1–0–0)	10	Rochester Baseball Park
Woche 3
10. Oktober 1920
Columbus Panhandles (0–2–0)	0	Akron Pros (2–0–0)	37	Akron League Park
All-Buffalo (0–2–0)	0	Buffalo All-Americans (2–0–0)	51	Canisius Field
Toledo Maroons	0	Canton Bulldogs (2–0–0)	42	Lakeside Park
Chicago Cardinals (0–0–1)	0	Chicago Tigers (0–0–1)	0	Cubs Park
Cleveland Tigers (0–0–1)	0	Dayton Triangles (1–0–1)	0	Triangle Park
Kewanee Walworths	7	Decatur Staleys (2–0–0)	25	Staley Field
Cleveland Panthers	14	Detroit Heralds (1–0–0)	40	Mack Park
Hammond Pros (0–1–0)	0	Rock Island Independents (3–0–0)	26	Douglas Park
Fort Porter	0	Rochester Jeffersons (2–0–0)	66	Rochester Baseball Park
Woche 4
17. Oktober 1920
Cincinnati Celts	0	Akron Pros (3–0–0)	13	Akron League Park
McKeesport Olympics	7	Buffalo All-Americans (3–0–0)	28	Canisius Field
Cleveland Tigers (0–1–1)	0	Canton Bulldogs (3–0–0)	7	Lakeside Park
Moline Universal Tractors (0–2–0)	3	Chicago Cardinals (1–0–1)	33	St. Rita's Field
Detroit Heralds (1–1–0)	0	Chicago Tigers (1–0–1)	12	Cubs Park
Columbus Panhandles (0–3–0)	0	Fort Wayne Friars (1–0–0)	14	Fort Wayne League Park
Hammond Pros (0–2–0)	0	Dayton Triangles (2–0–1)	44	Triangle Park
Decatur Staleys (3–0–0)	7	Rock Island Independents (3–1–0)	0	Douglas Park
Utica Knights of Columbus	0	Rochester Jeffersons (2–0–1)	0	Rochester Baseball Park
Woche 5
24. Oktober 1920
Cleveland Tigers (0–2–1)	0	Akron Pros (4–0–0)	7	Akron League Park
Toledo Maroons (0–2–0)	0	Buffalo All-Americans (4–0–0)	38	Canisius Field
Canton Bulldogs (3–0–1)	20	Dayton Triangles (2–0–2)	20	Triangle Park
Chicago Cardinals (1–1–1)	0	Rock Island Independents (4–1–0)	7	Douglas Park
Decatur Staleys (4–0–0)	10	Chicago Tigers (1–1–1)	0	Cubs Park
Columbus Panhandles (0–4–0)	0	Detroit Heralds (2–1–0)	6	Mack Park
Syracuse Stars	7	Rochester Jeffersons (3–0–1)	21	Rochester Baseball Park
Woche 6
31. Oktober 1920
Akron Pros (5–0–0)	10	Canton Bulldogs (3–1–1)	0	Lakeside Park
Rochester Jeffersons (3–1–1)	6	Buffalo All-Americans (5–0–0)	17	Canisius Field
Detroit Heralds (2–2–0)	0	Chicago Cardinals (2–1–1)	21	Cubs Park
Chicago Tigers (1–2–1)	7	Rock Island Independents (5–1–0)	20	Douglas Park
Columbus Panhandles (0–5–0)	0	Cleveland Tigers (1–2–1)	7	Dunn Field
Cincinnati Celts (0–2–0)	7	Dayton Triangles (3–0–2)	23	Triangle Park
Decatur Staleys (5–0–0)	29	Rockford A.C.	0	Kishwaukee Park
Hammond Pros (1–2–0)	14	Logan Square	9	Logan Square Park
Woche 7
7. November 1920
All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks	0	Buffalo All-Americans (6–0–0)	35	Canisius Field
Canton Bulldogs (4–1–1)	18	Cleveland Tigers (1–3–1)	0	Dunn Field
Chicago Cardinals (3–1–1)	6	Chicago Tigers (1–3–1)	3	Cubs Park
Columbus Panhandles (1–5–0)	10	Zanesville Mark Grays	0	Zanesville, Ohio
Decatur Staleys (5–0–1)	0	Rock Island Independents (5–1–1)	0	Douglas Park
Hammond Pros (2–2–0)	14	Pullman Thorns	13	Chicago, Illinois
Utica Knights of Columbus	7	Rochester Jeffersons (4–1–1)	27	Rochester Baseball Park
Woche 8
11. November 1920
Decatur Staleys (6–0–1)	20	Champaign Legion	0	Champaign, Illinois
Rock Island Independents (5–1–2)	7	Thorn Tornadoes	7	Monmouth, Illinois
14. November 1920
Akron Pros (5–0–1)	7	Cleveland Tigers (1–3–2)	7	Dunn Field
Columbus Panhandles (1–6–0)	7	Buffalo All-Americans (7–0–0)	43	Canisius Field
Chicago Tigers (1–4–1)	0	Canton Bulldogs (5–1–1)	21	Lakeside Park
Cincinnati Celts (0–3–0)	0	Chicago Cardinals (4–1–1)	21	Chicago, Illinois
Dayton Triangles (4–0–2)	21	Rock Island Independents (5–2–2)	0	Douglas Park
Decatur Staleys (7–0–1)	3	Minneapolis Marines	0	Nicollet Park
Detroit Heralds (2–2–1)	0	Fort Wayne Friars	0	Fort Wayne League Park
Hammond Pros (2–3–0)	6	Gary Elks (1–0–0)	7	Gleason Field
All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks (1–1–0)	6	Rochester Jeffersons (4–2–1)	0	Rochester Baseball Park
Woche 9
21. November 1920
Dayton Triangles (4–1–2)	0	Akron Pros (6–0–1)	13	Akron League Park
Canton Bulldogs (6–1–1)	3	Buffalo All-Americans (7–1–0)	0	Canisius Field
Lansing Oldsmobile	0	Chicago Cardinals (5–1–1)	14	Chicago, Illinois
Toledo Maroons (0–3–0)	0	Cleveland Tigers (2–3–2)	14	Dunn Field
Columbus Panhandles (1–6–1)	0	Zanesville Mark Grays	0	Zanesville, Ohio
Hammond Pros (2–4–0)	7	Decatur Staleys (8–0–1)	28	Staley Field
Rochester Scalpers	0	Rochester Jeffersons (5–2–1)	16	Rochester Baseball Park
Woche 10
25. November 1920
Canton Bulldogs (6–2–1)	0	Akron Pros (7–0–1)	7	Akron League Park
Decatur Staleys (9–0–1)	6	Chicago Tigers (1–5–1)	0	Chicago Cub Park
Columbus Panhandles (1–6–2)	0	Elyria Athletics	0	Lorain, Ohio
Detroit Heralds (2–3–1)	0	Dayton Triangles (5–1–2)	28	Triangle Park
Hammond Pros (2–5–0)	0	Chicago Boosters (1–0–0)	27	DePaul Field
All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks (2–1–0)	14	Rochester Jeffersons (5–3–1)	3	Rochester Baseball Park
28. November 1920
Akron Pros (8–0–1)	14	Dayton Triangles (5–2–2)	0	Triangle Park
Cleveland Tigers (2–4–2)	0	Buffalo All-Americans (8–1–0)	7	Buffalo Baseball Park
Decatur Staleys (9–1–1)	6	Chicago Cardinals (6–1–1)	7	Normal Park
Thorn Tornadoes	0	Chicago Tigers (2–5–1)	27	Cubs Park
Lansing Oldsmobile	0	Detroit Heralds (2–3–2)	0	Mack Park
Rochester Scalpers (0–2–0)	6	Rochester Jeffersons (6–3–1)	7	Rochester Baseball Park
Washington and Jeffe Collegians	7	Rock Island Independents (6–2–2)	48	Douglas Park
Woche 11
4. Dezember 1920
Canton Bulldogs (6–3–1)	3	Buffalo All-Americans (9–1–0)	7	New York Polo Grounds
5. Dezember 1920
Akron Pros (8–0–2)	0	Buffalo All-Americans (9–1–1)	0	Buffalo Baseball Park
Canton Bulldogs (6–3–2)	0	Washington Glee Club	0	New Haven, Connecticut
Chicago Cardinals (6–2–1)	0	Decatur Staleys (10–1–1)	10	Cubs Park
Columbus Wagner Pirates	0	Columbus Panhandles (2–6–2)	24	Neil Park
Detroit Maroons	7	Detroit Heralds (2–3–3)	7	Mack Park
Rochester Scalpers (0–2–1)	0	Rochester Jeffersons (6–3–2)	0	Exposition Park
Woche 12
11. Dezember 1920
Canton Bulldogs (6–4–2)	7	Union Club of Phoenixville (1–0–0)	13	Phillies Park
12. Dezember 1920
Akron Pros (8–0–3)	0	Decatur Staleys (10–1–2)	0	Cubs Park
Woche 13
18. Dezember 1920
Canton Bulldogs (7–4–2)	39	Richmond Athletics	0	Boulevard Field
19. Dezember 1920
Chicago Cardinals (6–2–2)	14	Chicago Stayms	14	Pyott Field

Inoffizielle Liga-Bestleistungen

Punkte

Name	Team	Punkte
Dutch Sternaman	Decatur	86
Ockie Anderson	Buffalo	71
Tommy Hughitt	Buffalo	53
Fritz Pollard	Akron	42
Bodie Weldon	Buffalo	41

Rushing Touchdowns

Name	Team	TDs
Dutch Sternaman	Decatur	11
Ockie Anderson	Buffalo	8
Tommy Hughitt	Buffalo	8
Bob Argus	Rochester	6
Fritz Pollard	Akron	5
Joe Guyon	Canton	5

Receiving Touchdowns

Name	Team	TDs
Norb Sacksteder	Dayton	3
Dave Reese	Dayton	2
Bunny Corcoran	Canton	2
George Halas	Decatur	2

Return Touchdowns

Name	Team	TDs
Arnie Wyman	Rock Island	3
Ockie Anderson	Buffalo	3
Al Nesser	Akron	3
Frank Bacon	Dayton	2
Swede Youngstrom	Buffalo	2
Lenny Sachs	Chicago C	2
Leo Chappell	Chicago C	2

Literatur

• National Football League: 2005 NFL Record & Fact Book. Sports Illustrated, 2005, ISBN 1-932994-36-X.