California Winter League 1927-1928

CWL 1927

PWLTPFPAPct
*Los Angeles Buccaneers53205643.600
*New York Yankees42207443.500
Los Angeles Wildcats22004571.000
Duluth Eskimoes52303934.400
Hollywood Generals31201979.333
California All-Stars3120936.333

Reference: Compiled from Results in [1] Note: Includes Championship series

DateTeam 1Team 2
Championship Series
30.01.1927New York Yankees 14Los Angeles Buccaneers 0
06.02.1927Los Angeles Buccaneers 7New York Yankees 6

Reference: [1]

CWL 1928

PWLTPFPAPct
*New York Yankees 63214239.600
*Cleveland Bulldogs52213834.500
Los Angeles Wildcats42111912.667
Duluth Giants30211933.000

Reference: Compiled from Results in [1] Note: Includes Championship Game.

DateHome TeamAway Team
Championship Game
05.02.1928New York Yankees13Cleveland Bulldogs 6

Reference: [1]

Report

In the Winter of January-February 1927 & 1928, some of the top teams in the National Football League & American Football League played in a Winter League in California, following the end of the Fall (Autumn) NFL & AFL seasons. The teams included star players from college teams in California and were dubbed after the teams’ star NFL & AFL players. e.g. the Nevers Eskimoes were the Duluth Eskimoes of the NFL with star player, Ernie Nevers.

While the best team both seasons, the Los Angeles Wildcats, dubbed Wilson’s Wildcats by the press, were not to play in the season ending game, as they did not provide the draw the organisers wanted. Instead Red Grange’s Yankees played both climactic games, first against Muller’s Californians and in 1928, winning at the second attempt versus Friedman’s Bulldogs.

The League was essentially a AAA League/Major League Rival to the NFL from 1927-1928, featuring both star NFL & AFL teamxs and players and teams and players from the Semi-Pro Pacific Coast Football League and Californian College players.

Teams & Star Players

TeamNFL/AFL/PCFL TeamStar Players
Grange’s YankeesNew York Yankees (AFL Fall 1926 / NFL Fall 1927)Red Grange
Muller’s CaliforniansLos Angeles Buccaneers (NFL)Brick Muller
Wilson’s WildcatsLos Angeles Wildcats (AFL)Wildcat Wilson
Friedman’s BulldogsCleveland Bulldogs (NFL)Benny Friedman
Nevers’ EskimoesDuluth Eskimoes (NFL)Ernie Nevers
Hollywood GeneralsHollywood Generals (PCFL)Semi-Pro Team
California All-StarsOakland and San Francisco (PCFL)Semi-Pro Team
Nevers-Imlay GiantsDuluth Eskimoes & Californian College PlayersErnie Nevers & Tut Imlay
(College Player)

Reference: [1]

Bob Gill (2009) Seasons in the Sun – The California winter league of 1927 and ’28 The Coffin Corner Volume 31,No. 1, Pro Football Researchers Association (2009)[Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/coffin-corner00’s/CC-31-1.pdf [Accessed 20 October 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Eoin O’Fearghaill.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 20 October 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.

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