New York Yankees (AAFC)
Encyclopedia
The New York Yankees were a professional American football
team that played in the All-America Football Conference
(AAFC) from 1946 to 1949. The team played in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx
and often played in front of sold-out crowds . They were owned by Dan Topping
, who brought many of his Brooklyn
football players from the National Football League
to the AAFC. The team's coach was Ray Flaherty
, who had coached the Washington Redskins
in the early 1940s. The NFL canceled its Brooklyn team.
The Yankees appeared in the 1946 AAFC championship game, but lost to the Cleveland Browns
by a score of 14-9. The same two teams appeared in the championship game the following year, with the Browns winning again 14-3.
Before the 1949 season, the Brooklyn Dodgers
football team folded and merged into the Yankees, which became the Brooklyn-New York Yankees, but this was the final season of the AAFC, which then merged with the NFL. The Yankees players were divided between the New York Giants
and New York Bulldogs, who returned to their Yanks (from Boston) nickname in 1950
.
| colspan="6" align="center" | New York Yankees
|-
| 1946 || 10 || 3 || 1 || 1st AAFC East || Lost to Cleveland, 14-9, in AAFC Championship Game
|-
| 1947 || 11 || 2 || 1 || 1st AAFC East || Lost to Cleveland, 14-3, in AAFC Championship Game
|-
| 1948 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 3rd AAFC East || Did Not Qualify
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Brooklyn-New York Yankees
|-
| 1949 || 8 || 4 || 0 || 3rd AAFC || Lost to San Francisco, 17-7, in AAFC Semifinal Playoffs
|-
!Totals || 35 || 17 || 2
|colspan="2"|
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...
team that played in the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
(AAFC) from 1946 to 1949. The team played in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
and often played in front of sold-out crowds . They were owned by Dan Topping
Dan Topping
Daniel Reid Topping was a part owner and president of the New York Yankees baseball team from 1945 to 1964. Daniel Reid Topping was the son of Rhea Reid and Henry J. Topping. Rhea Reid, the daughter of Daniel G. Reid, known as the "Tinplate King" for his vast wealth in the tin industry, was the...
, who brought many of his Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
football players from the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
to the AAFC. The team's coach was Ray Flaherty
Ray Flaherty
Raymond Paul Flaherty was a professional football player in the National Football League from 1926-1935. He was the head coach of the Boston/Washington Redskins from 1936–1942, where he won four division titles and two NFL Championships . Flaherty served in the United States Navy until 1945...
, who had coached the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in the early 1940s. The NFL canceled its Brooklyn team.
The Yankees appeared in the 1946 AAFC championship game, but lost to the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
by a score of 14-9. The same two teams appeared in the championship game the following year, with the Browns winning again 14-3.
Before the 1949 season, the Brooklyn Dodgers
Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC)
The Brooklyn Dodgers was an American Football team that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1948. The team is unrelated to the Brooklyn Dodgers that played in the National Football League from 1930 to 1943...
football team folded and merged into the Yankees, which became the Brooklyn-New York Yankees, but this was the final season of the AAFC, which then merged with the NFL. The Yankees players were divided between the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and New York Bulldogs, who returned to their Yanks (from Boston) nickname in 1950
Boston Yanks
The Boston Yanks were a National Football League team based in Boston, Massachusetts that played from 1944 to 1948. The team played its home games at Fenway Park. Games that conflicted with the Boston Red Sox schedule were held at the Manning Bowl in Lynn, Massachusetts...
.
Players of note
- Brad EcklundBrad EcklundBradford Ecklund was a center in the AAFC and in the National Football League. He was chosen twice to play in the Pro Bowl. He was born in Los Angeles, California and died in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey....
- Nate Johnson
- Bruiser Kinard
- Tom LandryTom LandryThomas Wade "Tom" Landry was an American football player and coach. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in National Football League history, creating many new formations and methods...
- Clarence ParkerClarence ParkerClarence "Ace" Parker, is a former quarterback who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Boston Yanks , and the New York Yankees. He was an All-American tailback at Duke University in 1936...
- Spec SandersSpec SandersOrban Eugene "Spec" Sanders is a former American football running back, quarterback, and punter in the All America Football Conference and a defensive back in the National Football League for the New York Yanks. He was a one-time Pro Bowler in 1950, his final season, when he led the NFL in...
- Otto SchnellbacherOtto SchnellbacherOtto Ole Schnellbacher was an American football defensive back in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He was a 2-time Pro Bowler. Also a professional basketball player, Schnellbacher played for the Basketball Association of America's Providence Steamrollers and St. Louis Bombers...
- Frank SinkwichFrank SinkwichFrank Francis Sinkwich Sr. won the 1942 Heisman Trophy as a player for the University of Georgia, making him the first recipient from the Southeastern Conference. In the course of a brief but celebrated career in professional football, Sinkwich was selected for the National Football League Most...
- Bob Sweiger
- Arnie WeinmeisterArnie WeinmeisterArnold George Weinmeister was an American football defensive tackle. He went to four Pro Bowls, but with only a six-year tenure in the All-America Football Conference and National Football League combined, his career is one of the shortest of any Pro Football Hall of Fame member...
Season records
|-| colspan="6" align="center" | New York Yankees
|-
| 1946 || 10 || 3 || 1 || 1st AAFC East || Lost to Cleveland, 14-9, in AAFC Championship Game
|-
| 1947 || 11 || 2 || 1 || 1st AAFC East || Lost to Cleveland, 14-3, in AAFC Championship Game
|-
| 1948 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 3rd AAFC East || Did Not Qualify
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Brooklyn-New York Yankees
|-
| 1949 || 8 || 4 || 0 || 3rd AAFC || Lost to San Francisco, 17-7, in AAFC Semifinal Playoffs
|-
!Totals || 35 || 17 || 2
|colspan="2"|