Toledo Maroons

Toledo Maroons
Founded 1902
Folded 1923 (Unofficially[1] transferred to Kenosha)
Based in Toledo, Ohio , United States
League Ohio League (1902-1921)
National Football League (1922-1923)
Team History Toledo Athletic Association (1902-1906)
Toledo Maroons (1906-23)
Team Colors Maroon, White

         
Head coaches Guil Falcon
Home field(s) Armory Park (1908-1923)
Swayne Field (1902-1908, 1922)

The Toledo Maroons were a professional American football team based in Toledo, Ohio in the National Football League in 1922 and 1923. Prior to joining the NFL, the Maroons played in the unofficial "Ohio League" from 1902 until 1921.

Contents

History

Origins

The Maroons originated as a semi-pro football team known as the Toledo Athletic Association, in 1902. The Association formed the Toledo Maroons in 1906 as a farm team for teenagers who could later move up to playing for the Association's senior team. However in 1908, the Association was forced to disband the owners of Armory Park, where the team played, no longer wanted the field torn up by cleats. Despite the setback, the Maroons kept playing on other fields. By 1909, the former teenagers were adults, still playing organized football, and they began to play against numerous amateur and semi-pro opponents from outside the area.

Beginning in 1915, the Maroons were playing some very strong opposition, including such future NFL teams as the Columbus Panhandles, the Dayton Gym Cadets (later known as the Dayton Triangles), and the Cincinnati Celts.

NFL

When the American Professional Football Association was organized in 1920, Toledo chose to remain an independent team. However in 1922, the Maroons joined the league, now renamed the National Football League.

The Maroons finished fourth with a 5-2-2 record that season, then dropped to 3-3-2 in 1923. Attendance was poor in Toledo, so the franchise moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and dropped out of the league after an 0-4-1 record in 1924. The Maroons ran up a 5-2-2 record in their initial 1922 season. However the level of competition was suspect. Their opponents' combined mark was only 7-23-2. The Maroons scheduled easy opponents again in 1923 and finished this season at 3-3-2. However, when they were blasted 28-0 in the last game of the season by the Canton Bulldogs, the Toledo squad played its last game.

After the 1923 season ended, the league ordered the team to either transfer or suspend operations. The team's players and personnel did eventually move to Kenosha, Wisconsin to play as the Kenosha Maroons for the 1924 season. However no conclusive evidence exists that the Toledo franchise was officially transferred to Kenosha.[1]

Season-by-season

Year W L T Finish Coach
1910 4 1 0 9th Ohio
1911 7 2 1 6th Ohio
1912 4 3 0 7th Ohio
1913 8 1 1 3rd Ohio
1914 7 2 0 4th Ohio
1915 7 2 2 5th Ohio
1916 8 3 1 7th Ohio
1917 3 7 0 7th Ohio
1918 0 2 0 2nd Ohio
1919 4 2 2 5th Ohio
1920 1 3 0  ?
1922 5 2 2 4th Guil Falcon
1923 3 3 2 11th Guil Falcon

References

  1. ^ a b Carroll, Bob; Gershman, Michael; Neft, David et al., eds (1997). Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. Harper Collins. p. 96. "It appears, though no conclusive evidence exists, that the Toledo Franchise was transferred to Kenosha" 
Toledo Maroons
Defunct National Football League club 1922–1923 • Founded in 1902  · Based in Toledo, Ohio • Became the Kenosha Maroons in 1924
The Franchise
Toledo Maroons  · Players
Stadiums
Lore
Head Coaches
NFL Seasons
1922  · 1923
Toledo Maroons seasons
Kenosha Maroons
Defunct National Football League club in 1924 • Originally founded in 1902 as the Toledo Maroons  · Based in Kenosha, Wisconsin
The Franchise
Stadiums
Notable Players
Lore
Toledo Maroons  · Toledo Maroons Players
Owner
Seasons
Teams
Stadia
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