The Conference Title Decider – the Green Machine vs the Tubers
Pittsburgh Press photo taken before the title deciderOriginal black and white photo and lineup can be found here>>>
The Olympics manager, Fred Iverson, was confident of victory over the Majestics, but the Pittsburgh Press had a different view:
On the North Side and many other sandlot followers, Majestics are favored to win because of their effective ball carriers. Mose Kelsch, Harp Vaughn, “Little Sleepy” Glenn and squirming, hard to down “Tootie” Sweeney.
The Irish also have a rock bound line, including Paul Karcis, Marc O’Malley and “Doc” Skender. The Irish are rated to win but must also substantiate such fan confidence.
Majestics will depend mostly upon their throwing and kicking, brilliant quarterback Jimmy Rooney. Besides him, the Irish have the line buckling and end slashing Mose Kelsch, with Karcis outstanding in the line and Guarino paired with Lantz at the wings.
Olympics will be hard to down, if at all, particularly in their own back yard. Majestics have sparkling ends, but Tubers also have three lads in McCurdy, English and Rice who are clever. Andy Sapp, Minnick and Kaltez are a mighty trio in the line. Tubers are weak in the backfield. Of that quartet, only “Boots Klinzing must be feared for his forward pass catching skill, off-tackle plunges or end skirts.And if need be, he can kick and pass. Barnes is Olympics’ kicker and passer, but he is likely to see a superior hurler and booter in Jimmy Rooney, the Conference’s best bet.
The Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph predicted a record crowd and highlighted the players that would make an impact on the outcome.
“For the Majestics, Jimmy Rooney will be calling signals, Levey and Glenn will be at halfbacks, and the veteran Mose Kelsch at fullback.
Lantz and Guardino at ends with the Majestics and Tom McCurdy and English at end for the Tubers will give students of all-star teams a treat. McCurdy is without doubt one of the greatest money players in the district. It is in games that means the most that McCurdy does his stuff while followers of the Majestic team are raving over Lantz’s work.”
Both teams added extra workouts in the days leading up to the game. The importance of winning the first official independent football title was not lost on either set of players. The game was played December 21 at West View Park for the Honus Wagner trophy.
The Majestics dominated the exchanges with the Tubers failing to make a first down.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette singled out Mose Kelsch for praise in their game report:
“Standing out in the glare of the Majestic dash was the veteran Mose Kelsch, who tore the Olympic line into ribbons with his plunges, carrying the battle into Olympic territory time and again. Starring with Kelsch was ‘Sleepy’ Glenn who scored the first two touchdowns.
The Olympic backfield was helpless on offense, but outstanding in the defensive play was Boots Klinzing, Sweet and Andy Sapp. This trio did what little stopping was done.
Jim Rooney punted in his usual great fashion. Rooney also tossed the few forward passes that the Majestics completed. With Kelsch and Glenn showing the way toward the enemy goal line, Lantz, O’Malley and Karcis were big numbers on the Majestic line. Red Whitmore was ejected from the fray early in the game when he and Klinzing tangled.
With the Olympics rushing the ball in the first period to within the shadow of the Majestics’ goal before they were stopped, the game started out with fans knowing that both teams meant to play their hardest.
As the first quarter drew to a close, Rooney got off a long punt that Klinzing fumbled and the Majestics recovered. This started the Majestics from almost midfield on a drive that found Kelsch and Glenn functioning perfectly and the drive ended with Glenn wiggling his way through the Olympic line for seven yards and a touchdown at the start of the second period.
In the third period, Fyock fumbled one of Rooney’s twisters and it looked as if Lantz recovered the fumble on his own 40-yard line. From there the Northsiders started another drive that sent them onto another touchdown with the extra point added after an Olympic player was offside on Rooney’s first attempt that went wide.
In the final period another Majestic drive took them to the Olympics’ four-yard line from where they bucked it over on three attempts with Sweeney carrying the ball Rooney missed the try for point.”
It was a dominate display by the Majestics at the Rainbow Gardens with the Post-Gazette suggesting the Tubers were outclassed. Depending which newspaper you read, the crowd was estimated to be from 5,000 to 7,500. Whoever was present though would have witnessed an impressive Art Rooney team.
There was little time for the team to enjoy the win as they still had the outstanding game with the Mystics to play. A win or a tie for the Majestics would finally confirm them as the conference champions.
Art Rooney made a magnificent gesture before the final game by announcing he would present some of the proceeds from the contest to the unemployed relief fund.
The Mystics winless record would indicate the Majestics would be too good for them, but their manager P J Caul was keen to spring an upset. He drilled his team the days before the game to ensure his players were in great shape for the contest.
The few hundred fans, who turned out on a bitterly cold winter day, were probably disappointed with the 0-0 tie. Playing a title decider on a snow-covered slippery field at West View Park didn’t prove ideal for good football.
In the raw conditions, it was fumblitis that defined the game. When the teams realized that running the ball on snow was futile, a punting duel between the teams became the only way to move the ball. Passing also proved fruitless. Most pass attempts fell incomplete or into the hands of an opponent. The few that were completed gain scant yardage to make any difference to the stalemate.
Final standings
Majestics 5-1-4 Olympics 5-1-3 Burns 4-3-2 West View 2-2-5 Firemen 2-4-3 Mystics 0-6-3 Disastrous Season for Sandlot Teams
As their first season finished, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette printed a review of the success of the Conference with the above headline. The newspaper concluded it was the leanest season in years for the owners. When it was first conceived, the conference was hailed as the salvation of semi-pro football, but the season finished with the teams losing money.
The newspaper estimated the losses ran close to $2,000 for some of the promoters, which would be $38,000 in today’s terms.
It may have been an enjoyable and exciting season for the Majestic fans, but for the team owners, it wasn't a success.
