Hammond Pros
Paul Parduhn and Dr. Alva Young established the Hammond Pros in 1920, building upon a foundation laid by earlier semi-professional squads. Young had previously operated the Hammond Clabby Athletic Association from 1915 to 1917 as both doctor and trainer. He then presided over the Hammond All-Stars starting in 1918, which played against teams that would eventually form the American Professional Football Association. Young attended the historic meeting in Canton, Ohio where the APFA was formed in 1920. A game between Hammond and Canton on Thanksgiving Day 1919 drew some 12,000 spectators in Chicago. This crowd size convinced team owners that a league would be viable.
George Halas starred at wide receiver for the Hammond Bobcats during 1919 before leaving for the Decatur Staleys the following year. Contemporary reports identified this high-spending $20,000 team as a separate entity from Young's Hammond Pros. The team played all its home games in Chicago and was eventually admitted as the Chicago Tigers. Halas remained with the Decatur franchise as player, coach, and owner until his death in 1983. Hall of Fame records list Halas as playing end for the Pros in 1919 before he moved on to found what became the Chicago Bears. His brief tenure with the Pros preceded his legendary status in professional football history.
Six African-American players appeared on the roster despite the team being little more than a semi-professional outfit. Fritz Pollard served as head coach in both 1923 and 1925, becoming the first Black head coach in NFL history. Mayo Ink Williams worked as a successful music producer while also playing for the squad. Of the nine African-American players in the league during those years, six chose to play for the Pros. Pollard received induction into the Hall of Fame in 2005 after his tenure ended. These players represented a significant portion of the league's Black talent pool during the early 1920s.
The town stadium known as A. Murray Turner Field seated only a few thousand people and was built for baseball. The Pros played only two regular-season NFL games in Hammond over their seven years in the league. They used Cubs Park in Chicago as an unofficial home stadium instead. Most players held full-time jobs and could not practice much because they were locals from the area. This lack of local infrastructure forced the team to operate primarily as a traveling squad. Young kept the team going in the NFL for seven years and 34 games despite these logistical challenges.
The combined record across seven seasons stood at five wins, twenty-six losses, and four ties. In 1920 the team finished twelfth with Hank Gillo coaching them to two wins and five losses. Max Hicks led the squad in 1921 to one win and three losses before finishing thirteenth. Wally Hess coached the 1922 season resulting in zero wins and five losses while placing fifteenth. The 1923 campaign saw one win and five losses under Pollard's first stint as coach. The 1924 season improved slightly to two wins and two losses ending tenth overall. Fritz Pollard and Doc Young shared coaching duties in 1925 leading to one win and four losses. The final 1926 season ended with zero wins and four losses placing them twenty-first.
After winning the 1926 battle with the American Football League, the NFL decided to scale down operations. The league reduced its number of teams to twelve total franchises. This decision resulted in getting rid of many smaller franchises including the Pros. The Hammond Pros folded shortly after this contraction occurred. They had played 34 games over seven years but could not survive the league's reduction strategy. Young kept the team going until the league made the choice to eliminate their spot. The franchise ceased operations following the 1926 season without any further activity.
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Common questions
Who founded the Hammond Pros football team and when was it established?
Paul Parduhn and Dr. Alva Young established the Hammond Pros in 1920. They built upon a foundation laid by earlier semi-professional squads that Young had operated from 1915 to 1917 as both doctor and trainer.
Where did the Hammond Pros play their home games during their existence?
The Hammond Pros played all its home games in Chicago instead of at A. Murray Turner Field in Hammond. The team used Cubs Park in Chicago as an unofficial home stadium because the local town stadium seated only a few thousand people and was built for baseball.
When did Fritz Pollard become the first Black head coach in NFL history with the Hammond Pros?
Fritz Pollard served as head coach for the Hammond Pros in 1923 and again in 1925, becoming the first Black head coach in NFL history. He received induction into the Hall of Fame in 2005 after his tenure ended.
What was the final record of the Hammond Pros across seven seasons in the league?
The combined record across seven seasons stood at five wins, twenty-six losses, and four ties. The franchise ceased operations following the 1926 season without any further activity after playing 34 games over seven years.
Why did the Hammond Pros fold after the 1926 season?
The Hammond Pros folded shortly after the NFL decided to scale down operations and reduce its number of teams to twelve total franchises in 1927. This decision resulted in getting rid of many smaller franchises including the Pros who could not survive the league's reduction strategy.