Ghosts of the Gridiron - Virtual Scrapbook Library

Vol. 1: Union Quakers of 1921

In 1920 Bert Bell and Bill Hollenback, two former University of Pennsylvania All-Americans, joined with fellow Penn alumnus Leo Conway to organize a "first class" professional football team in Philadelphia.  At the core of their team were Penn's "Three Musketeers" -- Lou Little, Heinie Miller and Lud Wray.  The new team soon gained the backing of the Union Club of Phoenixville, and went on to a highly successful season that climaxed with a 13-7 victory over Jim Thorpe's Canton Bulldogs.  That same season Little, Miller and Wray, along with several other members of the Union Club eleven, also played for an Upstate New York team known as the Buffalo All-Americans.  Most of these players continued this pulling double-duty into the next season, a fact that would later impact the future of both teams.  In 1921 the Union Club decided to move its football program in a less expensive direction, and opted not to renew its sponsorship of the same team.  Undeterred, several prominent players decided to sponsor the team themselves, and so formed the Union Athletic Association of Philadelphia.  Later, to avoid confusion, that name was changed to the Union Quakers.  In the press, however, the team was often referred to as the Philadelphia Quakers.  Fielding what was essentially the same line-up as the previous season, the Quakers embarked on another successful grid campaign.  A mid-season dispute with Buffalo, over the rights to players, postponed a much anticipated contest with the Canton Bulldogs.  But the Quakers rebounded to capture the "city championship" of Philadelphia.  After the conclusion of their season, Leo Conway and Heinie Miller attended the National Football League's winter meetings intent on gaining a league franchise.  That effort, however, was eventually aborted and most of the club's players, including Miller, signed with the Frankford Yellow Jackets.

More detailed information on this team can be found at Ghosts of the Gridiron's Union Quakers page.

Below is a collection of digitized newspaper clippings and other Union Quakers related images from throughout the 1921 season.  Simply click on an individual image to view a full sized version of that article or photograph.

Background

Penn notables, including Little, Miller, Wray & Bell 1919 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 9/26/1920 Team Photo Union Club of Phoenixville 1920 Team Photo Buffalo All-Americans 1920

1921 Pre-season Developments

Letter securing use of Baker Bowl 4/27/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 1921, day unknown Phoenixville Daily Republican Phoenixville, PA 9/20/1921 Philadelphia Record Philadelphia, PA 9/25/1921 Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 10/17/1921

1921  (6-2-2; 1-2-1 vs. APFA teams)

Week 1: vs. Shenandoah Yellowjackets (24-0, W)

Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 10/20/1921 Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 10/21/1921 Evening Bulletin Philadelphia, PA 10/22/1921 Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 10/22/1921 Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 10/22/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 10/23/1921 Evening Bulletin Philadelphia, PA 10/24/1921

Week 2: vs. Coaldale Big Green (2-0, W)

Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 10/24/1921 Philadelphia Record Philadelphia, PA 10/30/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 10/30/1921

Week 3: vs. Brickley's NY Giants (0-3, L)

Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 10/26/1921 Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/2/1921 Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/3/1921 Philadelphia Record Philadelphia, PA 11/6/1921 Unknown Philadelphia, PA 11/6/1921 Official Game Program 11/5/1921 Official Game Program 11/5/1921 Official Game Program 11/5/1921 Official Game Program 11/5/1921

Week 4: vs. Holmesburg AC (21-0, W)

Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/8/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/10/1921 Philadelphia Record Philadelphia, PA 11/12/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/12/1921

Week 5: vs. Canton Bulldogs (cancelled)

Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/17/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/18/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/18/1921

Evening Bulletin Philadelphia, PA 11/18/1921 Buffalo Courier Buffalo, NY 11/19/1921 Buffalo Courier Buffalo, NY 11/20/1921 Buffalo Courier Buffalo, NY 11/21/1921

Week 5: vs. Rochester Jeffersons (3-3, T)

Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/19/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/20/1921 Evening Bulletin Philadelphia, PA 11/21/1921 Official Game Program 11/19/1921 Official Game Program 11/19/1921 Official Game Program 11/19/1921 Official Game Program 11/19/1921

Thanksgiving Day: vs. Conshohocken AA (14-0, W)

Evening Bulletin Philadelphia, PA 11/24/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/24/1921 Philadelphia Record Philadelphia, PA 11/25/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/25/1921 Unknown Philadelphia, PA 11/25/1921

Week 6: vs. Frankford Yellow Jackets (0-0, T)

Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/26/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/26/1921 Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, PA 11/27/1921 Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, PA 11/27/1921 Philadelphia Record Philadelphia, PA 11/27/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 11/27/1921

Week 7: vs. Canton Bulldogs (9-14, L)

Evening Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 12/2/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 12/2/1921 Evening Bulletin Philadelphia, PA 12/5/1921 Unknown Philadelphia, PA 12/5/1921 Official Game Program 12/3/1921 Official Game Program 12/3/1921 Official Game Program 12/3/1921

Week 8: vs. Frankford Yellow Jackets (7-0, W)

The Inquirer Philadelphia, PA 12/10/1921 Philadelphia Record Philadelphia, PA 12/10/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 12/10/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 12/10/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 12/11/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 12/11/1921

Week 9: vs. Canton Bulldogs (34-0, W)

Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 12/16/1921 Philadelphia Record Philadelphia, PA 12/18/1921 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 12/18/1921

Post-season Developments

Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 1/24/1922 Public Ledger Philadelphia, PA 1/29/1922