John Steffenhagen's new book about Rochester Jeffersons owner Leo Lyons and the formation of the NFL

[JeffreyMiller]

Leo Lyons, the Rochester Jeffersons and the Birth of the NFL

"Owner of one of the most successful semi-pro football teams in the country, Leo Lyons attended the National Football League's organizational meeting in Canton, Ohio, along with George Halas, Jim Thorpe, Carl Storck, Ralph Hay and a handful of other visionaries, and is recognized as a founding father of the league.

This meticulously researched biography details Lyons' participation in many of the league's milestone moments as well as the many concepts he introduced to the game. An integration pioneer, Lyons hired Henry McDonald, the fourth known black professional player, in 1912. Lyons' innovative "Jeffs" logo in 1915 was the first used by a professional football team. He conceptualized football trading cards as a promotional tool a year later. He even collaborated with the Wilson Sporting Goods Company to transform the ball from its melon shape into the one fans recognize today. This account presents Lyons' struggles to keep his team afloat in the turbulent early days of the NFL and delves into his involvement with underground figures as he sought to sign the famous Red Grange for his Rochester Jeffersons."

https://www.amazon.com/Leo-Lyons-Roches ... 401&sr=1-1

[John Maxymuk]

John Steffenhagen is the grandson of Leo Lyons and the inheritor of a great deal of Leo's memorabilia, stories and lore. His co-author of this book is Jeff Miller. As you would expect with a book by Jeff Miller, this volume is informative and entertaining. The research is impeccable and the writing clear and elegant. I would highly recommend this book to find out why Lyons was dubbed the League's "historian" and remained connected with figures like George Halas long after the Rochester Jeffs were out of business. The book provides a fascinating window to the game before the fame so to speak.