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 1946, Yogi Berra made his major league debut, homering in his second at-bat.

In 1974, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos played the first official sudden death OT in NFL history. The game still ended in a tie.

In 1990, Illinois' RB Howard Griffith scored 8 TDs in a 56-21 win over Southern Illinois.

In 1927, Jack Dempsey knocked the heavyweight champ, Gene Tunney, to the mat in the seventh round but he didn't retreat to a neutral corner quick enough, giving Tunney an additional five seconds.

We highlight Army’s back-to-back Heisman winners, Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, as the central subject. We explain how their teams dominated college football during World War II and in the immediate postwar years. We note that the 1944 team went 9-0 and won a national title while holding opponents to seven points or fewer, and that the 1945 team produced lopsided wins such as 48-0 over Notre Dame and 61-0 over Penn. We describe their complementary styles, with Davis running a quick sweep and Blanchard using a counter out of a full house T. We credit Colonel Earl H. Blake as their coach and explain how Army’s service academy status helped attract talent during the war. We point listeners to footballarchaeology.com for play diagrams and further detail. We invite readers to visit pigskindispatch.com for more positive football history.

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

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

Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

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

*OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

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.

In 1986, Miami's Dan Marino and New York Jet Ken O'Brien combined for 884 yards passing and 10 TDs. Jets WR Wesley Walker caught 4 TDs with New York beating Miami 51-45 in OT.

In 1982, the NFL players went on strike. It lasted 57 days.

In 1985, New York Yankee manager Billy Martin got into a bar fight with Ed Whitson, one of his own players.

In 1969, St. Louis Blue Wayne Maki and Boston's 'Terrible Ted' Green got into an on-ice altercation that led to assault charges being filed.

In 2025, Bernie Parent died at the age of 80.

We state the central fact: Army beat Navy 23 to 7 on December 2, 1944, ending Navy’s five‑year streak and cementing Army’s dominance in the wartime years. We describe how Army, led by Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, outscored opponents 504 to 35 and began a 32‑game unbeaten run. We note the game’s wartime setting in Baltimore, where ticket sales required war bonds and raised over $58.6 million for the war effort. We recall the national weight of the moment and the telegram from General MacArthur that declared the nation paused to celebrate the team’s success. We conclude that the victory showed both an unusually strong roster and a team that rose to the test in a decisive fourth quarter.

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

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

Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

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

*OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

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.

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

EPISODE SUMMARY

Native athletes helped shape the world of sports, and this week brings another packed chapter of NDN All-Stars history.

Joe Louis delivers knockout wins over Bob Pastor, Al Ettore and Max Baer. Jack Dempsey steps into the legendary “Long Count Fight” against Gene Tunney and adds two more bouts to his remarkable career. Henry Armstrong scores a pair of early-round knockouts, while Orville Moody wins his second straight Korea Open golf title.

We also revisit Sonny Sixkiller signing with the Philadelphia Bell, Wes Welker’s huge games for New England, Ryan Helsley throwing 104 miles per hour and tying the Cardinals’ single-season saves record, Jim Thorpe playing his final Major League Baseball game, Lyle Thompson going first overall in the National Lacrosse League Draft, and Marvin Camel adding two more victories to his boxing career.

Then, on September 26, Madison Hammond makes professional soccer history with OL Reign, becoming the first Indigenous player to appear in the National Women’s Soccer League.

From boxing and football to baseball, golf, lacrosse, auto racing and soccer, it’s another week of great Native athletes making sports history.

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 1913, Francis Ouimet beat British pros Harry Vardon and Ted Ray to win the US Open Golf Championship, becoming the first amateur to win it. It led to the first golf boom in the US.

In 1998, Cal Ripken pulled himself out of the starting lineup, ending his consecutive games streak at 2632.

In 1987, Chicago Bears RB Walter Payton scored his 107th career rushing TD, passing Jim Brown on the all-time list.

In 1973, Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the made-for-TV 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match in the Houston Astrodome.

In 1965, a linesman was added to the NFL ref crew specifically to keep an eye on QBs crossing the line of scrimmage before throwing a pass.

In 2020, golfer Danny Lee took 6 putts to hole out from four feet, carded a 9 on the 18th hole of his third round at the US Open. He withdrew a few minutes later.

In 1959, golfer Jack Nicklaus won the US Amateur as a 19 year old.

In 1963, the New York Mets played the final MLB game at New York's Polo Grounds.

In 2024, LA Dodger Shohei Ohtani became the first 50/50 guy in MLB history.

In 1999, 35-year old Jim Morris made his MLB debut against the Texas Rangers. His story was turned into a Disney movie called 'The Rookie.'

In 1978, Baltimore Colt running back Joe Washington had a TD pass, TD reception, and a 90 yd kickoff return for TD in a 34-27 win over New England.

In 1996, Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens struck out 20 in a nine inning game for the second time in his career. The Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 4-0.

And in 1982, in a father vs. son battle, Jack Elway coached his San Jose State Spartans to a 35-31 win over his son John’s Stanford Cardinal.

Historian Scott Perry joins us and recounts that the Denver Broncos underwent a decisive transformation into a winning franchise. Scott frames the conversation around his book, NFL Since 1970, which provides a visual record of franchise standings.

The transformation began in 1976, a pivotal turning point. The team struggled in the 1960s and early 1970s, with frequent losses and few major achievements. I describe how the franchise rose to prominence by winning the AFC Championship in 1977 and later claiming Super Bowl victories, including back-to-back titles under John Elway.

He emphasizes the franchise’s sustained success across decades and notes that Denver ranked eighth or better in every completed decade from 1970 through 2019. I place the Broncos’ rise within the larger context of the AFL–NFL merger and the evolving structure of the league. We invite listeners to consult the show notes for a link to my book, which provides the full narrative and the statistics that underpin these conclusions.

Make sure to check out Scott's web pages at https://nflsince1970.com/

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

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

Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

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

*OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

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.