Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Is there a good book that covers the 1940's NFL? I feel like this is sort of a forgotten decade.

I don't know if there is a single book on the 1940s NFL, but a few books come to mind that cover the period, and I'm sure others here will have more:

* "The League" by John Eisenberg covers the NFL from creation to the early 1960s, looking at the influence of five leaders: Halas, Mara, Rooney, Bell, Marshall. Probably a bit over 100 pages are on the 1940s, give or take. Well written and well reported.

* Several books on the Bears are heavy in the 1940s, including:
- Halas's autobiography
- "The Chicago Bears" by Howard Roberts, 1947
- "George Halas and the Chicago Bears" by George Vass, 1971
- "Papa Bear" by Jeff Davis, 2004
- "Bears vs. Cardinals" by Joe Ziemba, 2022

* Books on the NFL's ban on Black players cover this period, including:
- "Outside the Lines" by Charles K. Ross, 2001
- "Lost Champions" by Gretchen Atwood, 2016
- "The Forgotten First" by Bob Glauber and Keyshawn Johnson, 2021

* PFRA has two books on 1940s leagues:
- One on the AAFC, edited by Ken Crippen and Matt Reaser
- One one the minor league The American Association ('36-'41) and The American Football League ('46-'50), called "A Minor Masterpiece" by Bob Gill

Other items:
* Just looking online I see there is a book on the Steagles
* Woody Strode's memoir "Goal Dust" covers some of the period
* "The Genius of Desperation" by Doug Farrar (2018) covers a lot with Clark Shaughnessy and the Bears T
* In 1952, Roger Treat published the official NFL encyclopedia, and that has a ton of hard data on the period along with game summaries of the NFL championship game and the college all-star game

Lastly, I'll add one article by yours truly on Sid Luckman's 1943 season, which includes information on the impact that WWII had on the NFL:

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2018/ ... ammy-baugh

Again, someone here might know a singular book on the period, but as a starting point, I recommend "The League" by Eisenberg. Great storytelling and characters, easy to read, good information:

https://www.amazon.com/League-Rivals-Cr ... 0465048706

Upton Bell's Present at the Creation. He is the son of Bert Bell.

GameBeforeTheMoney wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 12:27 pm Upton Bell's Present at the Creation. He is the son of Bert Bell.

Gah! How did I forget Upton?? Thank you

About a team in the '40s, includes league information:

"Last Team Standing: How the Steelers and the Eagles―"The Steagles"―Saved Pro Football During World War II" by Matthew Alego

Not about the '40s specifically, but includes the '40s:

"What a Game They Played: Stories of the Early Days of Pro Football by Those Who Were There" by Richard Wittingham (includes first person accounts)

"Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football" by Robert W. Peterson

"The National Forgotten League: Entertaining Stories and Observations from Pro Football's First Fifty Year" by Dan Daly