Sports History Network

Gridiron America is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode we celebrate the return of the NFL and the real start of the college football season. But first! We break down the week that was in the CFL. After which, Dave and Mike do a deep dive on week 1 of college football. Lastly, we talk a bit about what our expectations are for our favorites NFL teams, during which we unfortunately learn that Mike is a Packers fan :-(.

GRIDIRON AMERICA BACKGROUND

Gridiron America (formerly, the From the 55 Yardline podcast), is anchored by former sports executive David Cieslinski, former international professional football player Mike Tackett, and football nerd Greg St. James.

All three are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen or tabletop.

Gridiron America Radio is dedicated to both current and historical American football talk, including the “what if” questions that all sports fans ask and try to answer with the help of statistics, math and computer modeling provided by SportsMaster Simulation Games www.SportsMaster-Simulation.games. In addition to the gridiron game, the team will on occasion look at other sports through the same eyes of that of grown men who still remember their childhood and the thrill of rolling the dice or picking up a joystick.

The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose sports writing can be found at www.Adamsonmedia.com.

David, Mike and Greg, can be contacted directly via the podcast’s website at www.GridironAmerica.net, as well as:

On X at https://x.com/GridironAMRadio

On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GridironAmerica/

On Threads at https://www.threads.com/@gridironamerica

On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gridironamerica

Links referenced in this episode:

• sportshistorynetwork.com
• x@SportsFheroes
• facebook.com
• instagram.com

Takeaways:

• This podcast episode delves into the remarkable career of quarterback Charlie Connerly, who was drafted in the 13th round of the 1945 NFL Draft.
• Connerly played a pivotal role in leading the New York Giants to four championship games during his illustrious 14-season career from 1948 to 1961.
• The episode emphasizes the often-overlooked achievements of Connerly, including his unique approach to observing defenses before entering games.
• Listeners gain insight into the dynamics of the Giants' team during the 1950s, highlighting how Connerly's leadership and character contributed to their success.
• Connerly's legacy is discussed, particularly his inclusion in a conversation about the most underrated quarterbacks of his era.
• The podcast concludes with reflections on how history has neglected Connerly's contributions to the NFL, despite his impressive statistics and accolades.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Washington Redskins
• New York Giants
• Baltimore Colts
• Chicago Bears
• Ole Miss
• NFL

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)

Gridiron Greats Magazine podcast is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

With Special Guest Football Historian Card and Memorabilia Collector, Former owner of MSB Sportscards and BST Auctions, Andy Becker

GRIDIRON GREATS MAGAZINE BACKGROUND

Gridiron Greats covers 150+ years of North American football history and memorabilia. It was founded in 2002 and published by Franklin Rose who then turned over to Bob Swick and Swick Enterprises starting with Issue 23.

Editor and publisher, Bob Swick has been collecting football cards since 1965. He has written about football cards and memorabilia since 1990 for several major sports collecting publications including Sports Collectors Digest and had his own column, Turning The Pages.

He self-published Bob Swick’s Football Times in the 1990s; he has been interviewed in Tuff Stuff, the Giants Report, the Packers Report, and the Beckett Football Monthly magazine. He has also been a contributor to the Beckett Annual Football Price Guide. Bob also collects programs, yearbooks, media guides, ticket stubs, pocket schedules, and team photos of the Green Bay Packers, of which he is a shareholder.

He is also a member of The Professional Football Researchers Association. Bob brings his expertise to the magazine in the form of his love of all things football-related. His BA in journalism and MS in Economics brings a unique focus to the niche of football memorabilia and history.

We want to thank everyone who takes the time to subscribe to and support Gridiron Greats Magazine. Besides our knowledgeable, generous contributors and most talented illustrator, Jared Kraus, all administrative activities are performed by Bob Swick and his wife, Brenda. Thank you all for your support. We are ever so grateful.

See our Contributors page for a bio on some of our fantastic writers. Without them, this magazine would not exist. We are grateful for their continuing support.

If you would like to be a contributing writer, or subscriber or want to advertise in Gridiron Greats, please contact the Publisher via the information above. Portions of the material presented are the opinion of the contributing writers and not necessarily those of Swick Enterprises, LLC.

CONTACT US If you are interested in any particular football topic that you would like to either see featured in Gridiron Greats or would like to write about, and if you have a Super Collection you want to be considered for an upcoming publication please feel free to contact Bob via email.

This episode delves into the intriguing intersection of football history and innovation, specifically exploring the contributions of Walter Eckersall and Joe Lipp. We examine the lesser-known aspects of their collaboration, particularly the development of the "Eckie-Lipp" down marking system, which aimed to enhance the accuracy of officiating in the game. Timothy P. Brown, our guest, illuminates the evolution of these innovations and the impact they had on the sport, shedding light on the significance of timing in both football and other athletic competitions. Furthermore, we reflect on the broader context of football officiating, discussing how advancements in equipment and techniques have shaped the contemporary game. Join us as we uncover the layers of this narrative, revealing how historical figures like Eckersall and Lip have left an indelible mark on the fabric of football.

The conversation is based on Tim's recent article titled: Joe Lipp, Walter Eckersall, and Innovations…- https://www.footballarchaeology.com/p/joe-lipp-walter-eckersall-and-innovations

⏰ Timecodes ⏰

00:00 The Legend of Walter Eckersall

01:37 The Story of Joe Lipp: Innovations in Sports Timing

08:14 The Evolution of Down Markers in Football

08:27 Understanding the Chain Gang in Football

11:25 Recapping Football History and Looking Ahead

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

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.

A profound exploration into the storied legacy of Walter Eckersall, a pivotal figure in the annals of Chicago Maroons football, unfolds through the lens of Timothy P. Brown, an esteemed football archaeologist. As the podcast delves into Eckersall's multifaceted contributions to the sport, we are invited to examine not only his celebrated feats but also the controversies that may have marred his illustrious career. Brown's insights reveal the complexities of Eckersall's persona, shedding light on how his fame was both a catalyst for innovation and a potential source of scandal. The discussion further navigates the intricate relationships between key figures in football history, illustrating how their collective endeavors shaped the game's evolution. This episode serves as a compelling reminder of the layered narratives that populate sports history, encouraging listeners to appreciate the nuances that define our understanding of athletic legacies.

There are moments in sports that you remember because of what happened. There are moments you remember because of where you were when they happened. And then there are moments where the voice of the announcer becomes part of the moment itself.

You don't just remember the play... You remember the call.

You remember the excitement in the announcer's voice.

The change in their tone.

The anticipation.

The disbelief.

And sometimes, that one unforgettable phrase that gets permanently burned into your sports memory.

Because sometimes the announcer makes the moment even bigger!

In this episode of Historically Speaking Sports Co-Hosts Dana Auguster and Charles Combs are stepping into the broadcast booth and revisiting some of their all-time favorite announcer calls in sports history. They're talking about the calls that didn't just describe what happened...They became part of what happened.

And they're not just talking about the plays, they're talking about the voices, the personalities the excitement., the drama, and those calls that, decades later, you can still hear perfectly in your head.

Because that's the magic of sports broadcasting.

A great announcer doesn't simply tell you what you're watching.

They help you remember it.

Speaking of announcers, coming up later in the show we will send a shout out to a Hall of Fame basketball announcer that was so much of a homer for his team, he became the embodiment of that franchise for close to 40 years.

We have all that coming up on this edition of the Historically Speaking Sports, a member of the Sports History Network.

In 1896, the first automobile race on a closed-circuit race was run at the Rhode Island State Fair in Cranston, RI.

In 1993, St. Louis Cardinal Mark Whitten hit an MLB record tying 4 HRs and 13 RBI.

In 1975, Spain's Manuel Orentes beat Jimmy Connors in the US Open final to win his only Grand Slam title.

In 2024, Northern Illinois upset #5 Notre Dame.

In 1980, Chester Marcol's game-winning FG was blocked but the ball landed in his hands and he ran 25-yards for the game-winning TD instead.

Walter Eckersall, heralded as college football's inaugural superstar, epitomized the duality of athletic prowess and moral ambiguity in early 20th-century sports. This discourse delves into Eckersall's meteoric rise as a quarterback at the University of Chicago, where he achieved remarkable accolades yet was ultimately expelled under dubious circumstances that marred his legacy. We uncover how the very architects of college football conspired to safeguard their national championship while Eckersall, despite his celebrated status, engaged in ethically questionable practices that included fixing games. Accompanied by insights from historians Chris Serb and Timothy Brown, we navigate the complexities of Eckersall’s life, revealing the darker undercurrents that shaped his narrative and the sport itself. As we explore this multifaceted figure, we aim to present not merely a chronicle of triumph but a cautionary tale of the perils of idolization in athletics.

Special thanks to the experts from our archives who helped tell this story, along with our Amazon Associate link to their amazing books, which gets you the book and provides a slight commission to Pigskin Dispatch operating costs to help the consumer, author, and the Pig Pen! Win, Win, Win!

Chris Serb's book "Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports" (2025)

Jennifer Taylor Hall (2021) is the author of a comprehensive biography on Coach Stagg, titled "Amos Alonzo Stagg: College Football's Man in Motion."

Timothy P. Brown of FootballArchaeology.com, who visits here every Tuesday, is the author of "How Football Became Football."

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.

The illustrious journey of Walter Eckersall, regarded as the first iconic figure in American college football, is laden with both triumph and controversy. Emerging from the Chicago sports scene at the turn of the 20th century, Eckersall epitomized the prowess and potential of collegiate athletics. His remarkable high school tenure, marked by an impressive victory margin of 105-0 in a national championship game, ignited fervent interest from prominent coaches such as Fielding Yost of Michigan and Alonzo Stagg of the University of Chicago. Stagg's decisive intervention at a train station, where he persuaded Eckersall not to sign with rival Michigan, illustrates the fierce competition and strategic maneuverings prevalent in the early days of college football. Upon joining the University of Chicago, Eckersall's exceptional talent as a quarterback garnered accolades, leading his team to an undefeated season and a retroactively awarded national championship in 1905. However, beneath the surface of his athletic achievements lay a troubling reality of academic neglect and eventual expulsion for misconduct, which would shadow his legacy.

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 the earliest days of professional baseball to the modern WNBA.

Louis Sockalexis completes his final full professional season. Jack Dempsey fights Willie Meehan to a second consecutive draw. Henry Armstrong delivers three knockouts across three different years. Jim Thorpe earns a special place on the National Football League’s Fiftieth Anniversary All-Time Team, while Jim Plunkett appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

We also celebrate two Hall of Fame honors for record-setting speed skier Ross Anderson, a dominant pitching performance by Bobby Madritsch, Aaliyah Nye’s first WNBA start, Vallie Eaves’ complete-game Major League debut and Wes Welker’s record-tying ninety-nine-yard touchdown.

TOPICS COVERED

• Louis Sockalexis completes his lone season with the Lowell Tigers and his final full season in professional baseball.

• Jack Dempsey fights Willie Meehan to another four-round draw in San Francisco.

• Henry Armstrong records knockout victories over Joe Sanchez, Dommy Ganzon and Charley Burns, along with a technical knockout of Johnny Taylor.

• Jim Thorpe is selected for the National Football League’s Fiftieth Anniversary All-Time Team in a special Legend category.

• Jim Plunkett appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s professional football issue.

• Jacoby Ellsbury steals three bases in one game and ties the Lowell Spinners’ team record.

• Ross Anderson enters the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame and is recognized by the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame.

• Bobby Madritsch holds the Boston Red Sox scoreless for eight innings.

• Aaliyah Nye receives the first starting assignment of her WNBA career.

• Jack Dempsey appears on the cover of TIME Magazine before his historic title defense against Luis Ángel Firpo.

• Joe Louis defeats Al Delaney by technical knockout.

• Angel Goodrich scores eleven points and provides five assists for the Seattle Storm.

• Sam Bradford throws for three hundred forty-six yards and three touchdowns on Monday Night Football.

• Vallie Eaves pitches a complete-game seven-hitter in his Major League debut.

• Wes Welker catches a record-tying ninety-nine-yard touchdown pass.

• Dexter Stacey races inside the top ten at Flamboro Speedway before an engine failure ends his night.

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 1995, Cal Ripken played in his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking the record set by Lou Gehrig.

In 1976, LA Dodger catcher Steve Yaeger nearly died after a bat shard impaled his neck.

In 1975, Martina Navratilova defected to the US after playing at the US Open.

In 1978, Adolf Dassler, the maker of Adidas shoes, died at the age of 77.