Steagles

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1943 Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Eagles-Steelers season
Head Coach Greasy Neale, Walt Kiesling
Home Field Shibe Park, Forbes Field
Results
Record 5-4-1
Place 3rd Eastern Division
Playoff Finish none
Timeline
Previous Season Next Season
1942 Eagles
1942 Steelers		 1944 Eagles
Card-Pitt

"Steagles" is the popular nickname for the team created by the temporary merger of two National Football League (NFL) teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, during the 1943 season. The teams were forced to merge because both had lost many players to military service due to World War II.

Officially the team was known simply as the Eagles (without a city designation), the Eagles-Steelers, or the Steelers-Eagles. (The NFL never even registered "Steagles" as a trademark.) However, the official NFL record book refers to the team as "Phil-Pitt."

The "Steagles" finished the season with a record of 5-4-1, the first winning season in the history of the Philadelphia franchise and just the second in the history of the Pittsburgh franchise. The merger had a slight lean in favor of Philadelphia, as the team played four home games at Shibe Park and two home games at Forbes Field. The team also wore the Eagles uniforms, which officially marked the only time in the Steelers history that the team colors were something other than black and gold. In addition, Eagles head coach Greasy Neale served as the offensive coordinator while Steelers head coach Walt Kiesling served as the defensive coordinator, with both coaches splitting head coaching duties.

The merger was dissolved the day the season ended, as it was not intended to be permanent. The Eagles, now having enough players back from the war, resumed their traditional operation. The Steelers, still short of players, merged with the Chicago Cardinals for the 1944 season, creating a team known as Card-Pitt (pronounced as "carpet").

A book by Matthew Algeo on the history of the team, called Last Team Standing: How the Steelers and the Eagles—"The Steagles"—Saved Pro Football During World War II (ISBN 0-306-81472-2), was published by Da Capo Press on September 30, 2006.

The 1971 film "The Steagle" starring Richard Benjamin takes its name from the Steagles football team. In the opening scene, the protagonist of the film, a bookish college professor, explains the history and meaning of the term to a pair of loudly arguing sports fans on a commuter train, and draws an admiring look from an attractive Asian woman who is a fellow passenger. The film concerns the personality change which overcomes the protagonist during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, and the film's title impliedly references the transient nature of the Steagles team, existing for only one brief season during a national crisis.


Contents

[edit] Regular season

[edit] Schedule

[edit] Game Summaries

[edit] Week 3 (Saturday October 2, 1943): Brooklyn Dodgers

1 2 3 4 Total
Dodgers 0 0 0 0 0
Steagles 10 7 0 0 17

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 11,131
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

[edit] Week 4 (Saturday, October 9, 1943): New York Giants

1 2 3 4 Total
Giants 14 0 0 0 14
Steagles 0 7 0 21 28

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 15,340
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

[edit] Week 5 (Sunday October 17, 1943): Chicago Bears

1 2 3 4 Total
Steagles 7 0 0 14 21
Bears 7 28 7 6 48

at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 21,744
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Steele 60 pass from Zimmerman (Zimmerman kick)
  • Chicago - Magnani 96 kick return (Snyder kick)
  • Chicago - Wilson 16 pass from Luckman (Snyder kick)
  • Chicago - Magnani 13 run (Snyder kick)
  • Chicago - Nolting 3 run (Snyder kick)
  • Chicago - McEnulty 10 pass from Luckman (Snyder kick)
  • Chicago - Clark 81 fumble run (Snyder kick)
  • Chicago - Pool 17 pass from Luckman (kick failed)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Bova 51 pass from Zimmerman (Zimmerman kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Butler 1 run (Zimmerman kick)

[edit] Week 6 (Sunday October 24, 1943): New York Giants

1 2 3 4 Total
Steagles 0 0 0 14 14
Giants 14 14 14 0 42

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 42,681
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • New York - Adams 34 blocked punt return (Cuff kick)
  • New York - Walls 31 pass from Nix (Cuff kick)
  • New York - Paschal 4 run (Cuff kick)
  • New York - Liebel 6 pass from Leemans (Cuff kick)
  • New York - Blozis 35 blocked punt return (Cuff kick)
  • New York - Paschal 1 run (Cuff kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Kish 4 pass from Sherman (Laux kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Wukits 2 fumble run (Laux kick)

[edit] Week 7 (Sunday October 31, 1943): Chicago Cardinals

1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 13 0 0 13
Steagles 21 0 0 13 34

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 16,351
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Kish 86 Interception (Zimmerman kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Bova 31 pass from Zimmerman (Zimmerman kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Hinkle fumble recovery in end zone (Zimmerman kick)
  • Chicago Cardinals - Currivan 35 pass from Masters (kick failed)
  • Chicago Cardinals - Hall 67 pass from Cahill (Stokes kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Thurbon 3 run (kick failed)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Bova 26 pass from Zimmerman (Zimmerman kick)

[edit] Week 8 (Sunday November 7, 1943): Washington Redskins

1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 0 0 7 7 14
Steagles 0 0 7 7 14

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 28,893
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Cabrelli 24 interception (Zimmerman kick)
  • Washington - Moore 25 pass from Baugh
  • Washington - Rymkus 4 blocked punt return (Masterson kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Steele 35 pass from Zimmerman (Zimmerman kick)

[edit] Week 9 (Sunday November 14, 1943): Brooklyn Dodgers

1 2 3 4 Total
Steagles 7 0 0 0 7
Dodgers 0 7 6 0 13

at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 7,614
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Thurbon 3 run (Paschka kick)
  • Brooklyn -Manders 2 run (Kinard kick)
  • Brooklyn - Condit 65 pass from Heineman (kick failed)

[edit] Week 10 (Sunday November 21, 1943): Detroit Lions

1 2 3 4 Total
Lions 0 13 7 14 34
Steagles 7 7 7 14 35

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 23,338
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Butler 4 run (Zimmerman kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Hinkle 1 run (Zimmerman kick)
  • Detroit - Mathews 98 kick return (Lio kick)
  • Detroit - Hopp 88 run (kick failed)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Thurbon 2 run (Zimmerman kick)
  • Detroit - Hackney 7 run (Lio kick)
  • Detroit - Hopp 88 lateral from Mathews (Lio kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Cabrelli 7 pass from Zimmerman (Zimmerman kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Zimmerman 2 run (Zimmerman kick)
  • Detroit - Van Tone 71 pass from Fenenbock (Lio kick)

[edit] Week 11 (Sunday November 28, 1943): Washington Redskins

1 2 3 4 Total
Steagles 7 0 7 13 27
Washington 0 0 7 7 14

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 38,826
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Thurbon 6 run (Zimmerman kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Thurbon 5 run (Zimmerman kick)
  • Washington - Masterson 4 pass from Baugh
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Steele 47 run (kick failed)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Hinkle 1 run (Zimmerman kick)
  • Washington - Aguirre 12 pass from Baugh (Aguirre kick)

[edit] Week 12 (Sunday December 5, 1943): Green Bay Packers

1 2 3 4 Total
Packers 14 3 7 14 38
Steagles 14 0 0 14 28

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 34,294
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Green Bay - Canadeo 35 run (Hutson kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Hinkle 38 run (Zimmerman kick)
  • Green Bay - Canadeo 13 pass from Brock (Hutson kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Bova 48 pass from Zimmerman (Zimmerman kick)
  • Green Bay - FG Hutson 25
  • Green Bay - Comp 4 run (Hutson kick)
  • Green Bay - Hutson 12 pass from Comp (Hutson kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Bova 13 pass from Sherman (Zimmerman kick)
  • Philadelphia-Pittsburgh - Steele 4 run (Zimmerman kick)
  • Green Bay - Hutson 23 pass from Comp (Hutson kick)

[edit] References

v • d • e
Pittsburgh Steelers/Pirates
The Franchise
Stadiums
Culture
Lore
Head Coaches
Douds • DiMelio • Bach • McNally • Kiesling • Bell • Donelli • Kiesling • Leonard • Sutherland • Michelosen • Bach • Kiesling • Parker • Nixon • Austin • Noll • Cowher • Tomlin
Division Championships (18)
Super Bowl Appearances (6)
IX • X • XIII • XIV • XXX • XL
League Championships (5)
1974 • 1975 • 1978 • 1979 • 2005
Hall of Fame Members
Players - Blount • Bradshaw • Dudley • Greene • Ham • Harris • Johnson • Lambert • Layne • Stallworth • Stautner • Swann • Webster
Coaches and Administration - Bell • Kiesling • Noll • Art Rooney • Dan Rooney
Seasons
1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 • 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008
Current League Affiliations
v • d • e
Philadelphia Eagles
Franchise
Stadiums
Culture
Lore
Head Coaches
Wray • Bell • Neale • McMillin • Millner • Trimble • Devore • Shaw • Skorich • Kuharich • Williams • Khayat • McCormack • Vermeil • Campbell • Bruney • Ryan • Kotite • Rhodes • Reid
Starting Quarterbacks
O'Brien • Thompson • Zimmerman • Burk • Thomason • Van Brocklin • Jurgensen • Hill • Snead • Liske • Arrington • Reaves • Gabriel • Boryla • Jaworski • Cunningham • Brister • O'Brien • Peete • Detmer • Hoying • Detmer • Pederson • McNabb • McMahon • Garcia • Feeley
Retired Numbers
15, 40, 44, 60, 70, 92, 99
Division Championships (11)
1947, 1948, 1949, 1960, 1980, 1988, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Super Bowl Appearances (2)
XV • XXXIX
League Championships (3)
Seasons
1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 • 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009
Current League Affiliations
1943 NFL Season
v • d • e
Eastern Division Western Division
Brooklyn Chicago Bears
New York Chicago Cardinals
Phil-Pitt Detroit
Washington Green Bay
1943 NFL Draft • NFL Championship