The 1926 Tampa Cardinals

Red Grange

Even before his collegiate career at the University of Illinois was over, Red Grange announced he would arrange a team to go on a barnstorming tour in Florida. “I will organize my own team and both myself and (fellow Illinois teammate Earl) Britton will drop out of school at the Illinois University. I haven’t signed contracts for anything and nobody is backing me. I am organizing the team and financing it myself. I don’t know who else will play on it besides myself and Britton. We will play at Miami on Christmas Day and at Tampa on New Year’s Day.”

Red Grange had an amazing collegiate career. In 1923, he scored three touchdowns in his first game and the following year he scored four TDs in the first quarter against Michigan. In a 20 game college career, Grange rushed for 3,362 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. Only his number 77, and the number 50 worn by Dick Butkus, have been retired by the school. Two days after his college career was over, Grange signed to finish the 1925 season with the Chicago Bears before going on his planned southern tour.

The Bears were owned by George Halas and Ed “Dutch” Sternaman, both also played at Illinois and were playing for the Bears. Grange first played for the Bears on Thanksgiving Day at Cubs Parks against the Chicago Cardinals, an estimated 39,000 showed up to see a 0-0 tie. Over 70,000 saw the Bears beat the Giants at the Polo Grounds, by far the largest crowd to see a professional football game at the time, and the gate receipts were enough to save the financially troubled New York franchise

Jim Thorpe

“Pop” Warner was the first to recognize Jim Thorpe’s ability at Carlisle Indian Industrial School. In a 1911 upset over Harvard, Thorpe played running back, defense back, place kicker and punter. Thorpe scored all his teams points, four field goals and a touchdown, in that 18-15 victory. In a 1912 victory over Army, Thorpe's had a 92-yard touchdown nullified by penalty, so he ran 97 yards for a score on the next play. Future President Dwight Eisenhower injured his knee in that game trying to tackle Thorpe.

Thorpe played just about every sport and won the pentathlon and decathlon gold medals at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. There was some controversy as to whether Thorpe had played professional baseball and he was stripped of the medals. 30 years after his death, the Olympic Committee would reinstate his awards.

Thorpe played professional baseball for six seasons (1913-1919) and played pro football with the Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians, Rock Island Independents, New York Giants and Chicago Cardinals. In 1920, Thorpe was the first NFL president, while the league was still called the American Professional Football Association (APFA).

He was the first big name athlete to play pro football and was voted the top American athlete of first half of 20th century. His mere presence moved pro football a giant step forward in the public’s estimation. Thorpe never played for an NFL championship team and retired from professional football at the age of 41, having played 52 NFL games for six different teams from 1920 to 1928.

The Game

In late December, the teams arrived in Florida for the much publicized New Year's Day exhibition. The Bears had come off a 9-5-3 season, while many of the Cardinals played for the 5-3-3 Rock Island Independents. Tickets cost from $2.20 to $9.90, still 8,000 fans filled the Plant Field stands.

Red Grange had 3 carries for 6 yards in first quarter and tossed a 30 yard pass to Dutch Sternaman. Grange was replaced early in second by University of Illinois star Larry Walquist. A Jim Thorpe fumble set up the only first quarter score, a 30 yard drop-kick by Dutch Sternaman. The game would stay that way until the Cardinals answered in the third quarter with a 30 yard drop-kick by Rube Ursella. Tampa halfback Roddy Lamb had numerous carries and got a good round of applause when left the game in fourth quarter with a broken rib.

Red Grange returned to action in the fourth quarter. He brought the crowd to its feet by shaking off a number of tacklers on a 70 yard scoring run. Dutch Sternaman kicked the point after, scored a 5 yard TD run later in the period, and booted a second PAT. The Chicago Bears defeated the Tampa Cardinals 17-3.

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Chicago Bears	3	0	0	14	17
Tampa Cardinals	0	0	3	0	3

Jim Thorpe would play several more games in Florida, including a game in St. Petersburg on January 14th. The first professional football game in St. Petersburg was played in the middle of the track at the St. Petersburg Kennel Club. Organizers were hoping for as many as 7,000 people to attend, however, just 300 paid to see the contest. The now St. Petersburg Cardinals played a hard fought scoreless draw against a team called Haven-Villa. Sponsored by the Haven Villa corporation, this Winter Haven based team was lead by Thorpe’s old Canton Bulldogs teammate Guy Chamberlin. Newspapers reported Thorpe showed plenty of speed and accurate passing in the 0-0 game.

There were reports that Jim Thorpe would retire from football after the St. Petersburg game, however he played until 1928. Red Grange played until 1934. They are both members of the College and NFL Halls of Fame.

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