Dan Blaine

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Dan Blaine
Career information
Date of birth:	1891
Place of birth:	Stapleton, Staten Island, New York, United States
Date of death:	1958
Position(s):	Halfback
College:	None
Organizations
As owner:
1919-1934	Staten Island Stapletons
As player:
1915-1924	Staten Island Stapletons
Military service
Allegiance:	United States
Service/branch:	U.S. Army
Years of service:	1918-1919
Battles/wars:	World War I

Daniel Blaine (1891–1958) was a professional football player for the Staten Island Stapletons from 1915 until 1924. In 1915 he, along with three other players, formed the team to play other semi-pro teams from New York and New Jersey. He suspended his football career in 1918 to serve in the United States military during World War I. Once the war ended, Blaine took over sole ownership of the Stapletons. He stayed in the Stapleton lineup at halfback until ending his playing career in 1924 at age 33. After his retirement from football, Blaine focused solely on owning and managing the team.

After a November 14, 1926 33–0 loss to the Newark Bears, Blaine promptly hired most of the Newark players, including star rookie Doug Wycoff, who were still owed money because the Newark owner was having financial problems. As a result, the Bears went out of business while the Stapletons benefited from Newark's folding. By 1929, the Stapletons became engulfed in a rivalry with the New York Giants. That same year saw the team became members of the National Football League after the New York Yankees folded. While the Stapletons never had a winning season in the NFL, they did manage to defeat (or tie) some of the teams that are still in existence today.

Blaine went through the formality of getting NFL permission to suspend league operations for the 1934 season. The team played one more season of semi-pro football in 1934 before quietly folding. In June 1935, Blaine's franchise was finally declared forfeit. A combination of the Great Depression and having too small of a stadium that could have never accommodated enough fans to make the team profitable. Stapes fans couldn't afford enough tickets to make a team possible.

Restaurants

He also owned several restaurants in Staten Island. However it is rumored that these restaurants were really speakeasies, that served alcohol during the period of United States history known as Prohibition in the United States. Blaine owned a restaurant next to the Stapletons home field Thompson Stadium.

References

Hogrogian, John (1985). "The Staten Island Stapletons". Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 7 (6): 1–9.
Gill, Bob (1994). "Just Staten Out On The Island". Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 16 (3): 1–11.

v t e Staten Island Stapletons

Defunct National Football League club (1929-1932) Based in Staten Island, New York

The Franchise	Staten Island Stapletons Players

Stadia	Thompson Stadium

Owner	Dan Blaine

Head Coaches	Al Neushaeffer Hal Hanson Doug Wycoff Hinkey Haines Marty Brill Hal Hanson

Notable alumni	Ken Strong Jack Shapiro

NFL Seasons	1929 1930 1931 1932

Lore	Newark Bears

Rivalries	New York Giants Brooklyn Dodgers

Persondata
Name	Blaine, Dan
Alternative names
Short description	American football executive
Date of birth	1891
Place of birth	Stapleton, Staten Island, New York, United States
Date of death	1958
Place of death

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