Timeline of the National Central Football League: Difference between revisions
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== | == 1933–1947: Start of Championship Game and Original 7 era == | ||
=== 1933-1937 === | === 1933-1937 === | ||
The league split into Eastern and Western Divisions with the winner of each division playing in the Championship Game. | The league split into Eastern and Western Divisions with the winner of each division playing in the Championship Game. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|+1933- | |+1933-1937 NCFL | ||
!'''Eastern Division''' | !'''Eastern Division''' | ||
!'''Western Division''' | !'''Western Division''' | ||
| Line 512: | Line 512: | ||
|} | |} | ||
=== 1937-1941 === | === 1937-1941 === | ||
The Detroit Tigers folded at the end of the 1937 season, leaving only 7 teams. Beginning of the Original 7 era. | The Detroit Tigers folded at the end of the 1937 season, leaving only 7 teams. The demise of the Tigers led to financial restructuring throughout the NCFL, and its teams. Beginning of the Original 7 era. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| Line 535: | Line 535: | ||
|Toronto Lakers | |Toronto Lakers | ||
|Washington Elephants | |Washington Elephants | ||
|- | |||
|} | |||
=== 1941-1947 === | |||
The Original 7 remained mostly unchanged between 1937 until 1947, bar the change in the Elephants name. Financial and roster concerns due to {{wp|World War II}}, ensured the league remain committed to 7 teams in uneven divisions. Only after the end of the war, did the NCFL seriously consider expansion again. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ 1941 name changes | |||
! 1940 team name | |||
! 1941 team name | |||
|- | |||
|Washington Elephants||DC Elephants | |||
|- | |||
|} | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+1941-1947 NCFL | |||
!'''Eastern Division''' | |||
!'''Western Division''' | |||
|- | |||
|Boston Meerkats | |||
|Chicago Giants | |||
|- | |||
|New York Dragons | |||
|DC Elephants | |||
|- | |||
|Philadelphia Hammers | |||
|Pittsburgh Falcons | |||
|- | |||
|Toronto Lakers | |||
| | |||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
Revision as of 19:57, 14 December 2023
This timeline of the National Central Football League (NCFL) tracks the history of each of the league's 36 current franchises from the early days of the league, through its merger with the National Football Association (NFA), and the International Football Association (IFA). The history of franchises that began as independent teams, other defunct leagues are shown as well.
1920-1933 Birth of the NCFL
1920
The National Central Football League is formed September 17, 1920, at Canton, Ohio. The fourteen teams were mainly drawn from the Ontario-Quebec State League, New York professional League, and other leagues. A $100 membership fee was charged. The Chicago Giants folded after the season.
| Team folded this season ^ |
| Albany All-Pros | Detroit Tigers | |
| Boston Hammers | Montreal Blues | |
| Brooklyn Steel | New York Dragons | |
| Buffalo Warthogs | Ontario Lakers | |
| Chicago Giants^ | Philadelphia Renegades | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Rochester Americans | |
| Cleveland Lions | Toronto Wolves |
1921
With the low entry barrier of a $100 membership fee, the number of teams balloons to 20. Four of these franchises would last only one season, with the Chicago Chippers only making it through a single game. Two other franchises folded mid-season.
| 1920 team name | 1921 team name |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Steel | Brooklyn Steelers |
| First season in NCFL * | Team folded this season ^ | Only season in the league *^ |
| Albany All-Pros | Indianapolis Indians* | |
| Baltimore Cannon*^ | Louisville Reds* | |
| Boston Hammers | Mississauga Millers*^ | |
| Brooklyn Steelers | Montreal Blues | |
| Buffalo Warthogs | New York Dragons | |
| Chicago Chippers*^ | Ontario Lakers | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Philadelphia Renegades^ | |
| Cleveland Lions | Rochester Americans | |
| Detroit Tigers | St. Louis Triangles* | |
| Hartford Whaling Ships*^ | Toronto Wolves^ |
1922
Two Franchises were awarded. While two disbanded.
| 1921 team name | 1922 team name |
|---|---|
| Indianapolis Indians | Indiana Indians |
| First season in NCFL * | Team folded this season ^ | Only season in the league *^ |
| Albany All-Pros | Louisville Reds^ | |
| Boston Hammers | Montreal Blues | |
| Brooklyn Steelers^ | New York Dragons | |
| Chicago Centrals*^ | Ontario Lakers | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Rochester Americans | |
| Cleveland Lions | Rockford Rail Kings* | |
| Detroit Tigers | St. Louis Triangles | |
| Indiana Indians | Syracuse Spartans* |
1923
Two new franchises were awarded
| First season in NCFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
| Albany All-Pros | Montreal Blues | |
| Boston Hammers | New York Dragons | |
| Buffalo Warthogs | Ontario Lakers | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Rochester Americans | |
| Cleveland Lions | Rockford Rail Kings^ | |
| Detroit Tigers | St. Louis Triangles | |
| Indiana Indians | Syracuse Spartans | |
| Massachusetts Meerkats* | Washington Presidents* |
1924
Two new times were franchised, while the Cleveland Lions folded mid-season.
| 1923 team name | 1924 team name |
|---|---|
| St. Louis Triangles | Missouri Chiefs |
| First season in NCFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
| Akron All-Stars* | Missouri Chiefs | |
| Albany All-Pros | Montreal Blues | |
| Boston Hammers | New York Dragons | |
| Buffalo Warthogs | Ontario Lakers | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Providence Minutemen* | |
| Cleveland Lions^ | Rochester Americans | |
| Detroit Tigers | Syracuse Spartans | |
| Indiana Indians | Washington Presidents | |
| Massachusetts Meerkats |
1925
The Boston Hammers relocated from Boston to Chicago, to become the Chicago Hammers. The Rochester Americans and the Albany All-Pros merged into the Albany Americans, at the end of the season.
| 1924 team name | 1925 team name |
|---|---|
| Boston Hammers | Chicago Hammers |
| First season in NCFL * | Team folded this season ^ | Team merged into another ^^ |
| Akron All-Stars | Missouri Chiefs | |
| Albany All-Pros | Montreal Blues^ | |
| Baltimore Braves* | New York Dragons | |
| Buffalo Warthogs | Ontario Lakers | |
| Chicago Hammers | Pittsburgh Hawks* | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Portland Islanders* | |
| Detroit Tigers | Providence Minutemen | |
| Indiana Indians | Rochester Americans^^ | |
| Massachusetts Meerkats | Syracuse Spartans | |
| Milwaukee Redskins | Washington Presidents |
1926
One team was franchised, while the Milwaukee Redskins folded.
| 1925 team name | 1926 team name |
|---|---|
| Albany All-Pros | Albany Americans |
| First season in NCFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
| Akron All-Stars | Milwaukee Redskins^ | |
| Albany Americans | Missouri Chiefs | |
| Baltimore Braves | New York Dragons | |
| Buffalo Warthogs | Ontario Lakers | |
| Chicago Hammers | Pittsburgh Hawks | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Portland Islanders | |
| Detroit Tigers | Providence Minutemen | |
| Indiana Indians | Syracuse Spartans | |
| Kalamazoo Kangaroos* | Washington Presidents | |
| Massachusetts Meerkats |
1927
Two franchises the Brooklyn Rangers and the Philadelphia Phillies were franchised, while the Washington Presidents folded.
| First season in NCFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
| Akron All-Stars | Massachusetts Meerkats | |
| Albany Americans | Missouri Chiefs | |
| Baltimore Braves | New York Dragons | |
| Brooklyn Rangers* | Ontario Lakers | |
| Buffalo Warthogs | Philadelphia Phillies* | |
| Chicago Hammers | Pittsburgh Hawks | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Portland Islanders | |
| Detroit Tigers | Providence Minutemen | |
| Indiana Indians | Syracuse Spartans | |
| Kalamazoo Kangaroos | Washington Presidents^ |
1928
Two teams were added to the league, the Lancaster Lancers, and the New York Giants. This was the first year that no team folded. The Ontario Lakers changed their name to the Toronto Lakers.
| 1927 team name | 1928 team name |
|---|---|
| Ontario Lakers | Toronto Lakers |
| First season in NCFL * |
| Akron All-Stars | Lancaster Lancers* | |
| Albany Americans | Massachusetts Meerkats | |
| Baltimore Braves | Missouri Chiefs | |
| Brooklyn Rangers | New York Dragons | |
| Buffalo Warthogs | Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Chicago Giants* | Pittsburgh Hawks | |
| Chicago Hammers | Portland Islanders | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Providence Minutemen | |
| Detroit Tigers | Syracuse Spartans | |
| Indiana Indians | Toronto Lakers | |
| Kalamazoo Kangaroos |
1929
A team was franchised, and another folded. The 22 team high of the NCFL would not be matched until 1970.
| First season in NCFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
| Akron All-Stars | Lancaster Lancers | |
| Albany Americans | Massachusetts Meerkats | |
| Baltimore Braves | Missouri Chiefs | |
| Brooklyn Rangers | New York Dragons | |
| Buffalo Warthogs | Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Chicago Giants | Pittsburgh Hawks | |
| Chicago Hammers | Portland Islanders^ | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Providence Minutemen | |
| Detroit Tigers | Syracuse Spartans | |
| Indiana Indians | Toronto Lakers | |
| Kalamazoo Kangaroos | Washington Elephants* |
1930
The Great Depression resulted in the folding of 8 teams, including two during the season, the Providence Minutemen and Syracuse Spartans. The Kalamazoo Kangaroos moved to Milwaukee, as the Greens.
| 1929 team name | 1930 team name |
|---|---|
| Kalamazoo Kangaroos | Milwaukee Greens |
| Team folded this season ^ |
| Akron All-Stars^ | Massachusetts Meerkats | |
| Albany Americans | Milwaukee Greens | |
| Baltimore Braves^ | Missouri Chiefs | |
| Brooklyn Rangers^ | New York Dragons | |
| Buffalo Warthogs | Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Chicago Giants | Pittsburgh Hawks^ | |
| Chicago Hammers | Providence Minutemen^ | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Syracuse Spartans^ | |
| Detroit Tigers | Toronto Lakers | |
| Indiana Indians^ | Washington Elephants | |
| Lancaster Lancers^ |
1931
The Great Depression resulted in the folding of 8 teams, including two during the season, the Providence Minutemen and Syracuse Spartans. The Kalamazoo Kangaroos moved to Milwaukee, as the Greens.
| 1930 team name | 1931 team name |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Meerkats | Boston Meerkats |
| Team folded this season ^ |
| Albany Americans | Milwaukee Greens^ | |
| Boston Meerkats | Missouri Chiefs^ | |
| Buffalo Warthogs^ | New York Dragons | |
| Chicago Giants | Philadelphia Phillies^ | |
| Chicago Hammers | Toronto Lakers | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles | Washington Elephants | |
| Detroit Tigers |
1932
Last new team in the NCFL until XXXXXX. NCFL reduced to its 8 team configuration.
| 1931 team name | 1932 team name |
|---|---|
| Chicago Hammers | Philadelphia Hammers |
| First season in NCFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
| Albany Americans^ | New York Dragons | |
| Boston Meerkats | Philadelphia Hammers | |
| Chicago Giants | Pittsburgh Falcons* | |
| Cincinnati Fighting Eagles^ | Toronto Lakers | |
| Detroit Tigers | Washington Elephants |
1933–1947: Start of Championship Game and Original 7 era
1933-1937
The league split into Eastern and Western Divisions with the winner of each division playing in the Championship Game.
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Meerkats | Chicago Giants |
| New York Dragons | Detroit Tigers |
| Philadelphia Hammers | Pittsburgh Falcons |
| Toronto Lakers | Washington Elephants |
1937-1941
The Detroit Tigers folded at the end of the 1937 season, leaving only 7 teams. The demise of the Tigers led to financial restructuring throughout the NCFL, and its teams. Beginning of the Original 7 era.
| Team folded this season ^ |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Meerkats | Chicago Giants |
| New York Dragons | Detroit Tigers^ |
| Philadelphia Hammers | Pittsburgh Falcons |
| Toronto Lakers | Washington Elephants |
1941-1947
The Original 7 remained mostly unchanged between 1937 until 1947, bar the change in the Elephants name. Financial and roster concerns due to World War II, ensured the league remain committed to 7 teams in uneven divisions. Only after the end of the war, did the NCFL seriously consider expansion again.
| 1940 team name | 1941 team name |
|---|---|
| Washington Elephants | DC Elephants |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Meerkats | Chicago Giants |
| New York Dragons | DC Elephants |
| Philadelphia Hammers | Pittsburgh Falcons |
| Toronto Lakers |
The 2000's
2014-Present
| NAFA | North | Central | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Meerkats | Cincinnati Bears | Chicago Giants | |
| New York Eagles | Philadelphia Penguins | Indianapolis Phantoms | |
| Quebec Sharks | Detroit Raptors | Nashville Elephants | |
| Toronto Lancers | Pittsburgh Falcons | St. Louis Warriors | |
| NFA | North | Central | West |
| XXXXXX | XXXXXX | XXXXXX | |
| XXXXXX | XXXXXX | XXXXXX | |
| XXXXXX | XXXXXX | XXXXXX | |
| XXXXXX | XXXXXX | XXXXXX | |
| IFA | North | Central | West |
| XXXXX | XXXXX | XXXXX | |
| XXXXX | XXXXX | XXXXX | |
| XXXXX | XXXXX | XXXXX | |
| XXXXX | XXXXX | XXXXX |