Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Does anyone know how the Boston Yanks became a expansion team in 1944 or have any information on this unusual expansion ? Someone was trying to tell me it was because they expected Dan Topping to pull his Brooklyn Dodger team out of the NFL. However, I don't really buy that story as the Dodgers played in 44 and did not jump to the AAFC till 1946. Its not like the NFL did much expansion in the 30's and 40's but this new team did get in.

single wing wrote:Does anyone know how the Boston Yanks became a expansion team in 1944 or have any information on this unusual expansion ? Someone was trying to tell me it was because they expected Dan Topping to pull his Brooklyn Dodger team out of the NFL. However, I don't really buy that story as the Dodgers played in 44 and did not jump to the AAFC till 1946. Its not like the NFL did much expansion in the 30's and 40's but this new team did get in.

The wikipedia is usually pretty good at detailing the franchise histories, but in this case it says that the Yanks and Brooklyn Tigers merged in 45 and when Brooklyn jumped to the AAFC in 46, all their players went to the Yanks. What gets me is that after three unsuccessful years in Boston, owner Ted Collins wanted to move the team to New York, and somehow got the league to sign off on folding his Boston franchise as a tax write off and giving him an expansion franchise named the New York Yanks, which lasted for three years.

single wing wrote:Does anyone know how the Boston Yanks became a expansion team in 1944 or have any information on this unusual expansion ? Someone was trying to tell me it was because they expected Dan Topping to pull his Brooklyn Dodger team out of the NFL. However, I don't really buy that story as the Dodgers played in 44 and did not jump to the AAFC till 1946. Its not like the NFL did much expansion in the 30's and 40's but this new team did get in.

Smith and Collins originally attempted to purchase and relocate the Rams (Boston was mentioned as one potential site) in May of 1943, but were turned down. Then in June two other potential expansion owners - Don Ameche for Buffalo and a "Chicago investment banker" Frank Mandel for Boston. Days later Smith and Collins officially put in a bid for a team in Boston.
Smith and Collins had previously owned the Long Island Indians of the American Professional Association with William A. Shea. Well, Shea was Elmer Layden's attorney - the commissioner of the NFL - so that played a huge part in granting a team to Smith and Collins.

Thanks Tod ! Think that answers why the Yanks became a NFL team. I was always baffled by that one... The NFL wasn't doing expansion in those days and suddenly Collins got the Boston Yanks. Clearly the team had little success and appeared by all accounts to be poorly managed and underfunded. A few years in Boston then folding the team and recreating as the New York Bulldogs/Yanks which was bizarre in and of itself. Then finally folding the New York team.

single wing wrote:Thanks Tod ! Think that answers why the Yanks became a NFL team. I was always baffled by that one... The NFL wasn't doing expansion in those days and suddenly Collins got the Boston Yanks. Clearly the team had little success and appeared by all accounts to be poorly managed and underfunded. A few years in Boston then folding the team and recreating as the New York Bulldogs/Yanks which was bizarre in and of itself. Then finally folding the New York team.

Didn't the last East Coast incarnation evolve into the infamous 1952 Dallas Texans--who then essentially became the 1953 Colts?

Didn't the last East Coast incarnation evolve into the infamous 1952 Dallas Texans--who then essentially became the 1953 Colts?

Sort of. But not really.

http://www.daytontriangles.com/toindianapolis.htm

That should be a test for all historians
Who is related to who ? Ha Ha
IF you can't answer without peaking you failed.

Dayton Triangles (NFL)
Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)
Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC)
Brooklyn Tigers (NFL)
Boston Yanks (NFL)
New York Yanks (NFL)
New York Yankees (AAFC)
Just the Yanks (NFL)
New York Bulldogs (NFL)
Baltimore Colts 1 (AAFC)
Baltimore Colts 2 (NFL1)
Baltimore Colts 3 (NFL2)
Dallas Texans (NFL)