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1923 Duluth Kelleys season

National Football League team season

1923 Duluth Kelleys season

National Football League team season

FieldValue
teamDuluth Kelleys
year1923
record4–3 (NFL)
(8–3 overall)
league_place7th NFL
ownerMarshall C. Gebert
Dewey Scanlon
Joey Sternaman
Dan "Doc" Williams
coachJoey Sternaman
stadiumAthletic Park
playoffs
previousnone
no_prevseasontrue

(8–3 overall) Dewey Scanlon Joey Sternaman Dan "Doc" Williams

The 1923 Duluth Kelleys season was their inaugural season in the National Football League (NFL). The team — typically referred to by their official name, Kelley–Duluth, in the press of the day — finished 4–3, seventh place in the 17-team league.

The team was captained by a former and future Chicago Bear, Joey Sternaman, younger brother of that team's co-owner and leading offensive star, Dutch Sternaman.

Background

The Hotel Sherman in Chicago, site of the January 1923 meeting that accepted Kelley-Duluth into the NFL.

Sometime in 1922, representatives of what would become the Kelley-Duluth football team made application to the National Football League (NFL) for a franchise. This effort paid dividends in January 1923, when the club was invited to send a representative to the league's annual scheduling meeting, held at the Hotel Sherman in Chicago. Joining Duluth's representative would be the delegates of professional clubs from four other cities: St. Louis, Detroit, and Cleveland.

Four individuals acted in partnership to gain an NFL team for Duluth, each putting up $250 to cover the league's franchise fee. These were Marshall C. Gebert, the manager of Kelley's Hardware of Duluth — a frequent sponsor of sports teams; Dewey Scanlon, a former collegiate quarterback at Valparaiso University; Dan "Doc" Williams, a center from St. Cloud, Minnesota; and Joey Sternaman, a diminutive star quarterback from the University of Illinois.

Membership in the "big time" NFL was seen as a means of increasing the level of competition and interest in local football games. Team manager Dewey Scanlon expressed hope that games could be scheduled with the major professional teams of the region, including the Milwaukee Badgers, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Canton Bulldogs. "At least five big games will be played here" with Duluth's admission into the league, it was confidently predicted.

Kelley Hardware became the primary sponsor of the team, providing red-and-white jerseys emblazoned "Kelley Duluth," the formal name of the team.

More than 100 gridiron hopefuls from the Minnesota and Wisconsin area turned up for tryouts for the Kelley-Duluth team.

Schedule

Duluth Kelleysyear=1923border=2}}"GameDuluth Kelleysyear=1923border=2}}"DateDuluth Kelleysyear=1923border=2}}"OpponentDuluth Kelleysyear=1923border=2}}"ResultDuluth Kelleysyear=1923border=2}}"RecordDuluth Kelleysyear=1923border=2}}"VenueDuluth Kelleysyear=1923border=2}}"AttendanceDuluth Kelleysyear=1923border=2}}"RecapDuluth Kelleysyear=1923border=2}}"Sources——12—34—567
September 16Ironwood LegionW 7–0—Duluth Athletic Park3,000—
September 23Bessemer LegionW 15–0—Duluth Athletic Park3,000—
September 30Akron ProsW 10–71–0Duluth Athletic Park3,000Recap
October 7at Minneapolis MarinesW 10–02–0Nicollet Park2,500Recap
October 14Hibbing RangersW 6–0—Duluth Athletic Park"largest crowd of season"—
October 21Hammond ProsW 3–03–0Duluth Athletic Park4,000Recap
October 28Minneapolis MarinesW 9–04–0Duluth Athletic Park3,000Recap
November 4at Ironwood LegionW 9–7—Ironwood Ball Park"record crowd"—
November 11at Milwaukee BadgersL 3–64–1Athletic Park5,000Recap
November 18at Chicago CardinalsL 0–104–2Comiskey Park5,500Recap
November 25at Green Bay PackersL 0–104–3Bellevue Park3,000Recap
Note: Games in italics indicate a non-NFL opponent.

Standings

Halfback Wally Gilbert's punting ability was a field possession weapon for Kelley–Duluth.

Roster

Duluth end Dick O'Donnell was named a third team NFL All-Pro in 1923 by a vote of 15 sportswriters from NFL cities.

The 1923 Kelleys featured Joe Sternaman, younger brother of Dutch Sternaman — co-owner and offensive star of the Chicago Bears. The following individuals played at least one game with Kelley-Duluth during the 1923 season. The total number of NFL league games played during the year follows in parentheses.

Linemen

  • Roddy Dunn (2)
  • Ike Haaven (3)
  • Art Johnson (7)
  • Howard Kiley (7) †
  • Lake
  • Louchs †
  • John Madigan (7) †
  • Red Morse (1)
  • Dick O'Donnell (7) †
  • Joe Rooney (7) †
  • Bill Stein (6)
  • Whitmore †
  • Doc Williams (6) †

Backs

  • Wally Gilbert (7) †
  • Ken Harris (6) †
  • Mickey MacDonnell (1)
  • Russ Method (7) †
  • Bill Rooney (5)
  • Joey Sternaman - captain (7) †

: †- Designates a starter in the non-league season opener against Ironwood, Michigan.

References

References

  1. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dul/1923.htm "1923 Duluth Kelleys,"] Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com
  2. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-duluth-after-ber/163842530/ "Duluth After Berth in Football League: Kelley-Duluth Eleven May be in 'Big Time',"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Jan. 18, 1923, p. 7.
  3. Chuck Frederick, ''Leatherheads of the North: The True Story of Ernie Nevers and the Duluth Eskimos.'' Duluth, MN: X-Communications, 2007; p. 11.
  4. Frederick, ''Leatherheads of the North,'' p. 12.
  5. Louis H. Gollop, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-duluth-opens-foo/163845693/ "Duluth Opens Football Year with Victory Over Ironwood; Milwaukee Comes Here Next,"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Sept. 17, 1923, p. 7.
  6. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/ironwood-daily-globe-minus-services-of-n/163849708/ "Minus Services of Novak, Ironwood Loses to Kelley-Duluth, 7 to 0: Sternaman Scores Lone Touchdown First Period,"] ''Ironwood Daily Globe,'' Sept. 17, 1923, p. 8.
  7. Louis H. Gollop, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-joe-sternaman-b/163850032/ "Joe Sternaman, Bill Rooney Star in Football Win: Duluth Eleven Scores Victory in Grid Contest,"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Sept. 24, 1923, p. 7.
  8. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/ironwood-daily-globe-bessemer-legion-fal/163850463/ "Bessemer Legion Falls Before Kelley Duluth Squad Sunday, 15 to 0: Lacked Fresh Men to Spare Off Heat Weary,"] ''Ironwood Daily Globe,'' Sept. 17, 1923, pp. 8-[https://www.newspapers.com/article/ironwood-daily-globe-bessemer-squad-fall/163850658/ 9].
  9. Louis H. Gollop, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-sternamans-drop/163854005/ "Sternaman's Drop Kick Defeats Akron Eleven: Duluth Opens League Season with 10-to-7 Victory Over Ohio Eleven; Local Backfield Stars,"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Oct. 1, 1923, p. 7.
  10. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-akron-takes-bea/163854496/ "Akron Takes Beating in First Game,"] ''Akron Beacon Journal,'' Oct. 1, 1923, p. 15.
  11. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-duluth-continues/163733147/ "Duluth Continues on Way to National Grid Title: Marines Downed by 10–0 Count; Line Stonewall,"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Oct. 8, 1923, p. 7.
  12. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-thorpes-team-faces/163731187/ "Thorpe's Team Faces Marines in Next Game: Redskins Make Second Appearance at Nicollet Park Sunday,"] ''Minneapolis Star,'' Oct. 8, 1923, p. 9.
  13. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-last-half-rally-enables-dul/163732954/ "Last Half Rally Enables Duluth to Beat Marines: Long Pass Scores Touchdown in Third Period — Sternaman Adds Three Points with Dropkick,"] ''Minneapolis Tribune,'' Oct. 8, 1923, p. 8.
  14. Louis H. Gollop, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-aerial-attack-gi/163854813/ "Aerial Attack Gives Duluth Hibbing Win: Rangers Outplay Local Eleven But Fail to Make Good in Pinches; Final 6-to-0,"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Oct. 15, 1923, p. 9.
  15. Louis H. Gollop, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-duluth-retains-n/163856138/ "Duluth Retains National Football League Leadership: Joe Sternaman Boots Dropkick for 3–0 Victory,"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Oct. 22, 1923, p. 7.
  16. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-duluth-3-hammond-0/163855521/ "Duluth 3, Hammond 0,"] ''Hammond Times,'' Oct. 22, 1923, p. 8.
  17. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-kelley-duluth-eleven-bumps/163732726/ "Kelley-Duluth Eleven Bumps Marines, 9 to 0: Upstate Team Robs Millers of Score with Sterling Defense Inches From Goal,"] ''Minneapolis Journal,'' Oct. 28, 1923, p. 8.
  18. Louis H. Gollop, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-duluth-eleven-ke/163732062/ "Duluth Eleven Keeps Slate Clean by Defeating Marines: Stonewall LIne Proves Too Much for Minneapolis,"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Oct. 29, 1923, p. 7.
  19. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-marines-back-dulut/163731934/ "Marines Back; Duluth Wins Second Game: Weather Conditions Hurt Local Eleven,"] ''Minneapolis Star,'' Oct. 29, 1923, p. 10.
  20. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal-marines-lose-to/163732568/ "Marines Lose to Duluth Team, 9–0: Minneapolis Eleven Loses Two Opportunities to Score Early in Contest,"] ''Minneapolis Journal,'' Oct. 29, 1923, p. 23.
  21. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/ironwood-daily-globe-kelleys-trim-legion/163734514/ "Kelleys Trim Legion Squad, 9 to 7: Joe Sternaman's Toe Saves Kelley–Duluth,"] ''Ironwood Daily Globe,'' Nov. 5, 1923, pp. 5, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/ironwood-daily-globe-joe-sternamans-toe/163734351/ 9].
  22. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-duluth-noses-out-i/163734036/ "Duluth Noses Out Ironwood: Joe Sternaman's Dropkick in Second Quarter Brings His Team 9 to 7 Victory,"] ''Rock Island Argus,'' Nov. 5, 1923, p. 14.
  23. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-sternamans-toe/163733681/ "Sternaman's Toe Gives Duluth Close Victory at Ironwood: Michigan Team Downed After Thrilling Go,"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Nov. 5, 1923, p. 7.
  24. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-milwaukee-beats/163694402/ "Milwaukee Beats Duluth,"] ''Green Bay Press-Gazette,'' Nov. 12, 1923, p. 12.
  25. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-milwaukee-defeat/163694140/ "Milwaukee Defeats Duluth Eleven by 6 to 3 Score: Gilbert Missed as Dropkicks Defeat Locals,"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Nov. 12, 1923, p. 7.
  26. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-aerial-attack-gi/163862135/ "Aerial Attack Gives Green Bay Win Over Duluth: Stubborn Game by Both Teams Thrills 3,000,"] ''Duluth News Tribune,'' Nov. 26, 1923, p. 27.
  27. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-packers-win-nort/163860932/ "Packers Win Northwest Title, Defeat Duluth 10–0: Mills Gets Touchdown on Pass from Lambeau; Buck Kicks Another Field Goal,"] ''Green Bay Press-Gazette,'' Nov. 26, 1923, pp. 12-[https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-duluth-is-beaten/163861168/ 13].
  28. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dul/1923_roster.htm "1923 Duluth Kelleys Roster & Players,"] Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com
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