Sports History Network

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

With the NFL about to begin its 107th season, I have a question for my followers. Among the 32 teams, which would you say has had the most success? I'm not asking which team had the best single season, the best decade, or the best dynasty. I'm talking about going all the way back to each team's first season and judging how well or poorly they have performed overall.

There are many ways to calculate it, but I chose to keep it simple by basing it solely on the number of championships each team has won. The Green Bay Packers have won more titles than any other NFC team. They have won eleven NFL titles, three NFC titles, and four Super Bowl titles. Pretty impressive! But before you Packers fans start bragging, remember that your team has played 105 seasons and has not won a title in the past 25 years.

The New England Patriots have won more titles than any other AFC team. They have won twelve AFC titles and six Super Bowl titles. However, unlike the Packers, they have existed for only 66 years.

If we're going to be fair about this, we need to take into account how many years a team has existed and compare that to the number of titles it has won. We also need to determine what counts as a title and what doesn't.

I had a difficult time deciding whether to count titles won between 1920 and 1932. I wasn’t going to at first, for two reasons. #1 — There wasn’t a title game during those thirteen seasons. The title was awarded to the team with the best record. #2 — Most of the teams that played during that time didn’t last long. The Akron Pros, who won the first NFL title (then called the American Professional Football Association), lasted only seven seasons before folding. The Canton Bulldogs, who won the NFL title in 1922 and 1923, folded after six seasons. The 1924 Champion Cleveland Bulldogs lasted only four seasons. The 1926 Champion Frankford Yellow Jackets disbanded after eight seasons. The Providence Steam Roller lasted seven seasons and won the NFL title in 1928.

Ultimately, I changed my mind and decided to include the titles awarded from 1920 to 1932. I am also including the Cleveland Browns' four All-American Football Conference titles won between 1946 and 1949. Some may think those titles should not be included, but I disagree. The Browns proved those titles were legitimate by reaching the NFL title game for the next six seasons, winning three of them. I will also include all AFL titles won between 1960 and 1969, and all NFL titles won between 1933 and 1969. All AFC and NFC titles will also be included. Every title, other than the Super Bowl, will count as one point. All Super Bowl victories count as two points. This is because it is more difficult to win a Super Bowl than the aforementioned titles. I will then take the total number of points and divide it by the number of years the team has existed.

I considered awarding a quarter or half a point for each appearance in a title game, but decided it would make things more complicated than necessary.

I will start at #34 and work my way down to #1. How did I get 34, you ask? I am counting the current Cleveland Browns and the original Browns as two separate teams. I am also counting the Baltimore Ravens as two separate teams, one that began in 1996 and the original Cleveland Browns.

You can read the full blog post here.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND

Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

In 1954, New York Giants outfielder Willie Mays made 'the catch' in game one of the World Series.

In 1935, Cleveland's Joe Vosmik entered the day with a four point lead for the batting title. He lost by one point.

In 2001, Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki picked up his 234th hit in his rookie season to pass Shoeless Joe Jackson for most hits for a rookie.

In 1987, New York Yankee Don Mattingly hit his sixth grand slam of the season, setting a new record for 4 RBI four-baggers.

Pop Warner predicted the single wing would return and that the T formation would disappear, and we open by examining that claim from his 1950 interview. I speak with historian Timothy P. Brown to place Warner’s forecast in historical context and to explain how his innovations, including early use of the forward pass, influenced the game. We describe how Warner built his schemes around singular athletes like Jim Thorpe and Ernie Nevers and why many teams could not sustain those formations. I acknowledge that the T formation instead became dominant for decades, yet note that modern schemes such as the Wildcat, zone read, and RPO show echoes of single wing concepts. We invite listeners to explore footballarchaeology.com for more research and to consider how older strategies reappear in new forms.

The conversation is based on Tim's recent article titled: Pop Warner Looks Forward and Back - https://www.footballarchaeology.com/p/todays-tidbit-pop-warner-looks-forward

⏰ Timecodes ⏰

00:11 Pop Warner's Bold Prediction: The T Formation's Future

00:23 Digging into the Gridiron Archives — Timothy Brown on Pop Warner

03:43 Pop Warner — Innovator of the Forward Pass and Single Wing

07:17 Warner, Grantland Rice, and the Single-Wing Revival

09:15 Evolution of the Quarterback: From Drop-Back Stars to Mobile Playmakers

12:41 Antiquated Offenses and Where to Find Tim's Tidbits

Do you want more football history? Grab a copy of our Award-Winning book, "The World's Greatest Pro Gridiron Team: The 1903 Franklin All-Stars" at https://amzn.to/4rG6uVe

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Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.

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Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.

Contact us directly at [email protected]

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Every sports fan has an era that defines what their favorite team means to them. In this episode of the Historically Speaking Sports Podcast, Dana Auguster and Charles Combs take a trip back through the greatest eras of their favorite NFL teams. Dana makes the case for the San Diego Chargers’ Air Coryell era from 1978–1984, while Charles takes us through the New Orleans Saints’ Sean Payton and Drew Brees era from 2006 through their Super Bowl XLIV championship in February 2010.

Dana revisits the explosive Chargers offenses led by Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner, John Jefferson and Don Coryell, examining how Air Coryell helped revolutionize the passing game and produced some of the most memorable offensive performances and playoff games of the era. Charles looks at the transformation of the Saints under Sean Payton and Drew Brees, from the franchise's turnaround in 2006 to the emotional journey through the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and ultimately the Saints' first Super Bowl championship.

But what actually makes an era the greatest in franchise history? Is it championships, legendary players, innovative coaching, unforgettable games, cultural impact—or the memories created for generations of fans? Dana and Charles explore those questions while celebrating two very different eras that left lasting marks on NFL history. From Air Coryell in San Diego to Who Dat in New Orleans, this episode is a celebration of the greatest eras of our favorite teams.

To contact the show, e-mail us at [email protected].

In 1941, Ted Williams scoffed at sitting out the final two games of the year to preserve his .400 average, went 6-8 and finished the year hitting .406.

In 1960, Ted Williams homered in his final Major League at-bat.

In 1938, Chicago Cub player/manager Gabby Hartnett homered in the dark to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5.

In 1951, LA Ram QB Norm Van Brocklin threw for 554 yards and 5 TDs in a 54-14 win over the New York Yanks. His 554 yards is still the NFL record for passing yards in a game.

The first Super Bowl was held 60 years ago between the NFL's Green Bay Packers and the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs. It was the culmination of a long war between the two leagues, and served as one of the crowning achievements of Vince Lombardi's career. The game featured numerous future Hall of Famers including Len Dawson, Bart Starr, Jim Taylor, Buck Buchanan, Johnny Robinson, and Willie Wood. But they were all outshone by a hungover veteran receiver named Max McGee. Join us as we travel back in time to relive this historic game.

Books to complement this episode:

"The 1966 Green Bay Packers"

"The Team That History Forgot"

"The American Football League: A Year by Year History"

"Run to Win" (Jerry Kramer)

"When Pride Still Mattered"

Hello Old Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear. Contact the show at [email protected] and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HelloOldSports

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

This week in NDN All-Stars History takes us from early professional football and championship boxing to unforgettable moments in baseball, lacrosse, hockey, golf, and more.

Bucky Dent delivers one of the most famous home runs in baseball history. Jim Thorpe leads the all-Native Oorang Indians into their first NFL game. Johnny Bench and Willie Stargell each close legendary Major League careers with hits in their final plate appearances.

We also look back at Charles Bender clinching a pennant, Jack Jacobs doing just about everything on a football field, Virgil Hill returning to the top of the boxing world, Janee’ Kassanavoid celebrating a historic season back home with the Comanche Nation, Ryan Helsley setting a Cardinals saves record, and much more.

SUPPORT NDN ALL-STARS

If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the past and present, please take a look at our NDN All-Stars Shop. Proceeds from every purchase help us continue to retell these stories. Also, if you would like to donate to this effort, please visit our Patreon page.

NDN ALL-STARS BACKGROUND

Hey there—I'm Bill Black, and welcome to the NDN All-Stars Podcast. If this is your first time hearing about us, let me tell you what we’re all about.

This podcast is where Native sports history comes alive. Each episode shines a spotlight on the great Native American athletes you should know—past and present. From Hall of Famers to hometown heroes, we tell the stories of Native athletes who made their mark—on the field, on the court, and in history.

We keep it real. No sugar-coating. No museum talk. Just straight-up stories told with pride and purpose—because representation matters, and these All-Stars deserve to be remembered right.

Some episodes are deep dives into a single athlete’s life. Others bring on guests—historians, authors, even the athletes themselves—who help us connect the dots between culture, identity, and achievement.

Whether you’re Native, a sports fan, a history buff, or just curious—this podcast will give you a new perspective on what greatness really looks like.

So if you're ready to learn, laugh, and maybe even get a little fired up—hit that follow button and join the team.

You can find more stories, merch, and updates at NDNAllStars.com. And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube—just search for NDN All-Stars and you’ll find us.

NDN All-Stars – Promoting Great Native Athletes – Past & Present!

Mentioned in this episode:

Sports History Network Theme Song

This theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz

In 1968, St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Bob Gibson pitched a complete game, scattered 6 hits, struck out 11, walked none to close out the most dominant season by a pitcher in modern MLB history.

In 1930, golfer Bobby Jones won the US Amateur to give him all four recognized major golf titles.

In 1998, the Prairie View football team snapped their 90-game losing streak.

In 1991, the NHL played its first outdoor hockey game in Las Vegas. It was not a complete disaster but pretty close.

Total Sports Recall (TSR) is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

TOTAL SPORTS RECALL HOMEPAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

CORRECTION! Lou Abraham’s father was incorrectly identified as Lou but his real name is Abe. Lou was also identified as Lou Jr. and he is not a junior. T.S.R. extends its apology to Lou for any disrespect when none was intended.

Harv interviews Lou Abraham, Visa Hall of Fans Award winner for the Cleveland Browns as they discuss Browns history and the legacy of Lou's famous father, "The Man in the Brown Suit."

TOTAL SPORTS RECALL BACKGROUND

Host Harv Aronson brings you an array of sports history topics recalling great moments and athletes from sports yesteryear.

No sport is left alone with an emphasis on football and baseball but there will be reflections on past boxing, mixed martial arts, basketball, golf, and an occasional hockey memory.

Harv Aronson has been an established sportswriter with one published book under his wing and brings with him nearly 55 years of sports knowledge and exposure to sports as a fan.

With a degree in communications and journalism, Harv will be using his radio voice to entertain listeners with popular stories and events from the past as well as some surprises. Some podcasts will bring interviews with a sports personality and perhaps the opportunity for listeners to join in on the show.

HOSTS - HARV ARONSON

Harv Aronson was born and raised in Pittsburgh but now lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his beautiful wife Melissa. You can listen to Harv’s Total Sports Recall Podcast, which is also available on Spotify, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. He currently writes for AbstractSports.com, the Sports History Network, and the magazine Gridiron Greats.

Harv wrote the published book "Pro Football's Most Passionate Fans" and as a professional writer has had articles published in an array of sports publications. Harv loves all sports but football and baseball are at the top of his interest. His passion is for sports history. Visit Harv’s portfolio at https://www.clippings.me/totalsportsrecall.

If you would like to be added to the podcast mailing list send an email to Harv at [email protected] with the subject line to read Podcast mailing list.

Leave a voice message for the Total Sports Recall podcast to be aired at a later date.

In 2020, #8 Texas rallied from a 15-point deficit against Texas Tech to win in OT.

In 1981, #1 USC scored in the final seconds to beat #2 Oklahoma 28-24.

In 2021, Jacksonville Jaguar Jamal Agnew returned a missed FG 109-yards for a TD, tying the NFL record.

In 2010, Jim Furyk won the FedEx Championship with a $39 bargain bin putter in his bag.

Mentioned in this episode:

Stirling Roastery - This DiSH