Harry Mason (American football)
Encyclopedia
Harry Mason was a professional American football
player during the early 1900s. He played for the Syracuse Athletic Club
during the round-robin tournament later called the 1902 World Series of Football
, held at Madison Square Garden
in New York City
. Prior to playing for Syracuse, Mason played professionally for the Watertown Red & Black
. He was reportedly recruited to join Syracuse before the 1902 series by Colgate University
football coach, Frank "Buck" O'Neill
. Mason scored a touchdown
in each of the series two games, as Syracuse defeated the Knickerbocker Athletic Club
, and the Orange Athletic Club, to claim the 1902 series title.
Today Mason's uniform from that series is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in Canton, Ohio
. It was donated to the Hall by a man claiming to be his son around 1983. The man offered to donate the uniform, but only if Joe Horrigan, the Hall's Vice President of Communications and Exhibits, would pick it up himself from the his home in Buffalo, New York
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player during the early 1900s. He played for the Syracuse Athletic Club
Syracuse Pros
The Syracuse Pros, also sometimes referred to as the Syracuse Eleven, were a professional American football team from Syracuse, New York. It is suspected, though not known for sure, that the team joined the American Professional Football Association in 1921 and left the same year...
during the round-robin tournament later called the 1902 World Series of Football
World Series of Football (1902)
The World Series of Football was a series of football games played indoors at New York's Madison Square Garden in 1902 and 1903. It originally comprised five teams, four from New York state and one from New Jersey...
, held at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden (1890)
Madison Square Garden was an indoor arena in New York City, the second by that name, and the second to be located at 26th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Prior to playing for Syracuse, Mason played professionally for the Watertown Red & Black
Watertown Red & Black
The Watertown Red & Black is a semi-professional American football team based in Watertown, New York. Founded in 1896, the team is the oldest semi-pro football team in the United States...
. He was reportedly recruited to join Syracuse before the 1902 series by Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
football coach, Frank "Buck" O'Neill
Frank "Buck" O'Neill
Frank J. "Buck" O'Neill was an American football player and coach. He served as head football coach at Colgate University , Syracuse University , and Columbia University , compiling a career college football coaching record of 81–41–8...
. Mason scored a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
in each of the series two games, as Syracuse defeated the Knickerbocker Athletic Club
Knickerbocker Athletic Club football team
The Knickerbocker Athletic Club was an early amateur and later professional football team based in New York City from around 1897 until 1902. The team is best known for participating in the 1902 World Series of Football. During the event, the Knickerbockers defeated the Warslow Athletic Club from...
, and the Orange Athletic Club, to claim the 1902 series title.
Today Mason's uniform from that series is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. It was donated to the Hall by a man claiming to be his son around 1983. The man offered to donate the uniform, but only if Joe Horrigan, the Hall's Vice President of Communications and Exhibits, would pick it up himself from the his home in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.