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{{short description|Inaugural season of NFL team Pittsburgh Steelers}}
{{Infobox NFL_season
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
| team = Pittsburgh Pirates

| year = 1933
[[File:1933 Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL).jpg|thumb|right|400px|Pittsburgh Pirates 1933 team photo]]
| record = 3-6-2
{{Infobox NFL season
| division_place = '''5th Eastern Division'''
| team = Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL)
| coach = [[Forrest Douds]]
| year = 1933
| stadium = [[Forbes Field]]
| record = 3–6–2
| playoffs = none
| division_place = 5th [[Eastern Division (NFL) 1933–66|Eastern Division]]
| previous = none
| owner = [[Art Rooney]]
| next = [[1934 Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) season|1934]]
| general manager =
| coach = [[Forrest Douds]]
| stadium = [[Forbes Field]]
| playoffs = ''Did not qualify''
| previous = ''none''
| no_prevseason = true
| teamdisplay = Pittsburgh Pirates
| shortnavlink = Pirates seasons
}}
}}
The '''1933 Pittsburgh Pirates''' was the first season of the team that would eventually become the '''[[Pittsburgh Steelers]]'''. The team was founded in the offseason after [[Pennsylvania]] relaxed its [[blue laws]] that prior to 1933 prohibited sporting events from taking place on sundays, when most [[National Football League|NFL]] games took place. [[Art Rooney]] used his [[horse racing]] winnings to pay the NFL a $2,500 fee to join the league. Except for a brief period in 1940, Rooney would remain owner until his death in 1988; his family remains the owners of the team today.
The '''1933 Pittsburgh Pirates season''' marked the debut of the team known today as the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. The team was established by [[Art Rooney|Arthur Rooney Sr.]], a former [[boxing|boxer]] and semi-pro football player, who paid the [[National Football League]] (NFL) its $2,500 expansion fee with winnings from successful weekend gambling at the [[Saratoga Race Course|Saratoga Race Track]] in New York.<ref name=Bennett>Tom Bennett et al. (eds.), ''The NFL's Official Encyclopedic History of Professional Football.'' New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1977; p. 200.</ref>


Rooney named the team "Pirates" and made use of black-and-gold team colors as a means of attaching his fledgling team to the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] of baseball's [[National League (baseball)|National League]].<ref name=Bennett /> Home games were scheduled for [[Forbes Field]], stadium used by the baseball Pirates.<ref name=Bennett /> The new squad was composed largely of local [[semi-professional|semi-pro]] players.
The team would take the field for the first time on [[September 20]] against the [[New York Giants]] at [[Forbes Field]], losing 23-2. The following week, the team would get its first win, defeating the [[Arizona Cardinals|Chicago Cardinals]] at home 14-13.


Rooney quickly ran into [[Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania's]] [[blue laws]], which prohibited professional sports from taking place on Sundays, when most NFL games took place.<ref name=Bennett /> Rooney slyly circumvented the law by providing the superintendent of police with free box seats.<ref name=Bennett />
The team would finish 3-6-2 for the season.


Except for a brief period in [[History of the Pittsburgh Steelers#1940–41: A new name and a "new" team|1940 and 1941]], Rooney would remain the franchise's principal owner until his death in 1988. The [[Rooney family]] has retained a controlling interest ever since.
=Regular Season=


The Pirates took the field for the first time on September 20 against the [[New York Giants]] at [[Forbes Field]], losing 23–2. The following week, the team got its first win, defeating the [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]] at home 14–13.
==Schedule==
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
! Week || Date || Opponent || Result || Game Site


The team finished 3–6–2 for the season.
|-style="background:pink;"

|align="center"| 2 || [[September 20]], [[1933]] || [[New York Giants]] || '''L''' 23-2 || [[Forbes Field]]
==Regular season==
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
===Schedule===
|align="center"| 3 || [[September 27]], [[1933]] || [[Chicago Cardinals]] || '''W''' 14-13 || [[Forbes Field]]
|-style="background:pink;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|align="center"| 4 || [[October 4]], [[1933]] || [[Boston Redskins]] || '''L''' 21-6 || [[Forbes Field]]
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Game
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Date
|align="center"| 5 || [[October 11]], [[1933]] || [[Cincinnati Reds (NFL)|Cincinnati Reds]] || '''W''' 17-3 || [[Forbes Field]]
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Opponent
|-style="background:pink;"
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Result
|align="center"| 5 || [[October 15]], [[1933]] || [[Green Bay Packers]] || '''L''' 47-0 || [[City Stadium (Green Bay)|City Stadium]]
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Record
|-style="background:orange;"
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Venue
|align="center"| 6 || [[October 22]], [[1933]] || [[Cincinnati Reds (NFL)|Cincinnati Reds]] || '''T''' 0-0 || [[Redland Field]]
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Attendance
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Recap
|align="center"| 7 || [[October 29]], [[1933]] || [[Boston Redskins]] || '''W''' 16-14 || [[Fenway Park]]
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Sources
|-style="background:orange;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
|align="center"| 8 || [[November 5]], [[1933]] || [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || '''T''' 3-3 || [[Ebbets Field]]
! 1
|-style="background:pink;"
| {{dow tooltip|September 20, 1933}}
|align="center"| 9 || [[November 12]], [[1933]] || [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || '''L''' 32-0 || [[Forbes Field]]
| '''[[1933 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]'''
|-style="background:pink;"
| '''L''' 2–23
|align="center"| 10 || [[November 19]], [[1933]] || [[Philadelphia Eagles]] || '''L''' 25-6 || [[Baker Bowl]]
| 0–1
|-style="background:pink;"
| [[Forbes Field]]
|align="center"| 12 || [[December 3]], [[1933]] || [[New York Giants]] || '''L''' 27-3 || [[Polo Grounds]]
| 20,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193309200pit.htm Recap]
|
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 2
| {{dow tooltip|September 27, 1933}}
| [[1933 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]
| '''W''' 14–13
| 1–1
| Forbes Field
| 5,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193309270pit.htm Recap]
|
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 3
| {{dow tooltip|October 4, 1933}}
| '''[[1933 Boston Redskins season|Boston Redskins]]'''
| '''L''' 6–21
| 1–2
| Forbes Field
| 15,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310040pit.htm Recap]
|
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 4
| {{dow tooltip|October 11, 1933}}
| [[1933 Cincinnati Reds (NFL) season|Cincinnati Reds]]
| '''W''' 17–3
| 2–2
| Forbes Field
| 5,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310110pit.htm Recap]
|
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 5
| October 15
| at [[1933 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]
| '''L''' 0–47
| 2–3
| [[City Stadium (Green Bay)|City Stadium]]
| 4,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310150gnb.htm Recap]
|
|-style="background:#ffc"
! 6
| October 22
| at [[1933 Cincinnati Reds (NFL) season|Cincinnati Reds]]
| '''T''' 0–0
| 2–3–1
| [[Crosley Field|Redland Field]]
| 900
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310220red.htm Recap]
| <ref>Lou Smith, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-reds-in-scoreles/161116285/ "Reds in Scoreless Tie in Game With Pirates: Wet Field Slows Up Pro Contest: Only Handful of Fans at Redland Field,"] ''Cincinnati Enquirer,'' Oct. 23, 1933, pp. 13–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-wet-field-detrac/161116323/ 14].</ref>
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 7
| October 29
| at '''[[1933 Boston Redskins season|Boston Redskins]]'''
| '''W''' 16–14
| 3–3–1
| [[Fenway Park]]
| 7,500
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310290was.htm Recap]
|
|-style="background:#ffc"
! 8
| November 5
| at '''[[1933 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]]'''
| '''T''' 3–3
| 3–3–2
| [[Ebbets Field]]
| 15,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193311050bkn.htm Recap]
|
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 9
| November 12
| '''[[1933 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]]'''
| '''L''' 0–32
| 3–4–2
| Forbes Field
| 12,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193311050bkn.htm Recap]
|
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 10
| November 19
| at '''[[1933 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]'''
| '''L''' 6–25
| 3–5–2
| [[Baker Bowl]]
| 6,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193311190phi.htm Recap]
|
|-
! —
| colspan="8" | ''[[Bye (sports)|Bye]]''
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 11
| December 3
| at '''[[1933 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]'''
| '''L''' 3-27
| 3–6–2
| [[Polo Grounds]]
| 10,000
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193312030nyg.htm Recap]
|
|-
|colspan="10"| '''Note:''' Intra-division opponents are in '''bold''' text.
|}
|}


==Game Summaries==
==Standings==
{{1933 NFL Eastern standings}}
{{1933 NFL Western standings}}

==Game summaries==


=== Week 2 (Wednesday September 20, 1933): [[New York Giants]] ===
=== Week 1 (Wednesday September 20, 1933): [[New York Giants]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Giants
|Road='''Giants'''
|R1=0
|R1=0
|R2=7
|R2=7
Line 67: Line 185:
* '''Game attendance:''' 20,000
* '''Game attendance:''' 20,000
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''


* New York - Strong 33 interception (Strong kick)
* '''New York''' – [[Ken Strong|Strong]] 33 interception ([[Ken Strong|Strong]] kick)
* Pittsburgh - Safety, Strong punt blocked out of end zone by Oehler
* '''Pittsburgh''' – Safety, [[Ken Strong|Strong]] punt blocked out of end zone by [[John Oehler|Oehler]]
* New York - Newman 5 run (Strong kick)
* '''New York''' – [[Harry Newman (American football)|Newman]] 5 run ([[Ken Strong|Strong]] kick)
* New York - FG Newman 39
* '''New York''' – FG [[Harry Newman (American football)|Newman]] 39
* New York - Burnett 37 pass from Newman (kick failed)
* '''New York''' – [[Dale Burnett|Burnett]] 37 pass from [[Harry Newman (American football)|Newman]] (kick failed)


=== Week 3 (Wednesday September 27, 1933): [[Chicago Cardinals]] ===
=== Week 2 (Wednesday September 27, 1933): [[Chicago Cardinals]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Cardinals
|Road=Cardinals
Line 84: Line 202:
|R3=0
|R3=0
|R4=0
|R4=0
|Home=Pirates
|Home='''Pirates'''
|H1=0
|H1=0
|H2=7
|H2=7
Line 94: Line 212:
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game attendance:'''
* '''Game attendance:''' 5,000
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''


* '''Chicago Cardinals''' – [[Frank McNally (American football)|McNally]] 51 intercepted lateral (kick failed)
=== Week 4 (Wednesday October 4, 1933): [[Boston Redskins]] ===
* '''Chicago Cardinals''' – [[Hal Moe|Moe]] 35 pass from [[Joe Lillard|Lillard]] ([[Joe Lillard|Lillard]] kick)
* '''Pittsburgh''' – [[Martin Kottler|Kottler]] 99 interception ([[Mose Kelsch|Kelsch]] kick)
* '''Pittsburgh''' – [[Paul Moss (American football)|Moss]] 11 pass from [[Bill Tanguay|Tanguay]] ([[Mose Kelsch|Kelsch]] kick)

=== Week 3 (Wednesday October 4, 1933): [[Boston Redskins]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Redskins
|Road='''Redskins'''
|R1=7
|R1=7
|R2=0
|R2=0
Line 117: Line 240:
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game attendance:'''
* '''Game attendance:''' 15,000
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''


* '''Boston''' – [[Cliff Battles|Battles]] 70 punt return ([[Jim Musick|Musick]] kick)
=== Week 5 (Wednesday October 11, 1933): [[Cincinnati Reds (NFL)|CIncinnati Reds]] ===
* '''Boston''' – [[Jim Musick|Musick]] 1 run ([[Jim Musick|Musick]] kick)
* '''Boston''' – [[Tony Holm|Holm]]er 1 run ([[Benny LaPresta|LaPresta]] kick)
* '''Pittsburgh''' – [[Angelo Brovelli|Brovelli]] 1 run (kick failed)

=== Week 4 (Wednesday October 11, 1933): [[Cincinnati Reds (NFL)|Cincinnati Reds]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Reds
|Road=Reds
Line 130: Line 258:
|R3=0
|R3=0
|R4=0
|R4=0
|Home=Pirates
|Home='''Pirates'''
|H1=7
|H1=7
|H2=0
|H2=0
Line 140: Line 268:
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game attendance:'''
* '''Game attendance:''' 5,000
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''


* '''Cincinnati''' – FG [[Algy Clark|Clark]] 12
=== Week 5 (Sunday October 15, 1933): [[Green Bay Packers]] ===
* '''Pittsburgh''' – [[Ed Westfall (American football)|Westfall]] 2 run ([[Angelo Brovelli|Brovelli]] kick)
* '''Pittsburgh''' – FG [[Mose Kelsch|Kelsch]] 36
* '''Pittsburgh''' – [[Harp Vaughan|Vaughan]] 3 run ([[Ed Westfall (American football)|Westfall]] kick)

=== Week 5 (Sunday October 15, 1933): at [[Green Bay Packers]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Pirates
|Road=Pirates
Line 153: Line 286:
|R3=0
|R3=0
|R4=0
|R4=0
|Home=Packers
|Home='''Packers'''
|H1=7
|H1=7
|H2=20
|H2=20
Line 159: Line 292:
|H4=7
|H4=7
}}
}}
[[City Stadium (Green Bay)|City Stadium]], [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]
''at [[City Stadium (Green Bay)|City Stadium]], [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]''


* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game attendance:'''
* '''Game attendance:''' 4,000
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''


* '''Green Bay''' – [[Clarke Hinkle|Hinkle]] 1 run ([[Bob Monnett|Monnett]] kick)
=== Week 6 (Sunday October 22, 1933): [[Cincinnati Reds (NFL)|CIncinnati Reds]] ===
* '''Green Bay''' – [[Bob Monnett|Monnett]] 7 run (kick failed)
* '''Green Bay''' – [[Buckets Goldenberg|Goldenberg]] 67 interception ([[Roger Grove|Grove]] kick)
* '''Green Bay''' – [[Buckets Goldenberg|Goldenberg]] 3 run ([[Bob Monnett|Monnett]] kick)
* '''Green Bay''' – [[Hank Bruder|Bruder]] 52 run ([[Arnie Herber|Herber]] kick)
* '''Green Bay''' – [[Bob Monnett|Monnett]] 12 run (kick failed)
* '''Green Bay''' – [[Wuert Engelmann|Englemann]] 40 lateral from [[Bob Monnett|Monnett]] after 9 pass from [[Arnie Herber|Herber]] ([[Bob Monnett|Monnett]] kick)

=== Week 6 (Sunday October 22, 1933): at [[Cincinnati Reds (NFL)|Cincinnati Reds]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Pirates
|Road=Pirates
Line 182: Line 323:
|H4=0
|H4=0
}}
}}
''at [[Redland Field]], [[Cincinnati, Ohio]]''
''at [[Redland Field]], [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]]''


* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game attendance:'''
* '''Game attendance:''' 900
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''


* none
=== Week 7 (Sunday October 29, 1933): [[Boston Redskins]] ===

=== Week 7 (Sunday October 29, 1933): at [[Boston Redskins]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Pirates
|Road='''Pirates'''
|R1=0
|R1=0
|R2=9
|R2=9
Line 209: Line 352:
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game attendance:'''
* '''Game attendance:''' 7,500
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''


* '''Boston''' – [[Cliff Battles|Battles]] 5 run ([[Jim Musick|Musick]] kick)
=== Week 8 (Sunday November 5, 1933): [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] ===
* '''Pittsburgh''' – [[Paul Moss (American football)|Moss]] 30 pass from [[Tony Holm|Holm]] (kick failed)
* '''Pittsburgh''' – FG [[Tiny Engebretsen|Engebretsen]] 21
* '''Pittsburgh''' – [[Ed Westfall (American football)|Westfall]] 60 pass from [[Tony Holm|Holm]] ([[Angelo Brovelli|Brovelli]] kick)
* '''Boston''' – [[Louis Weller|Weller]] run ([[Jim Musick|Musick]] kick)

=== Week 8 (Sunday November 5, 1933): at [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Pirates
|Road=Pirates
Line 232: Line 381:
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game attendance:'''
* '''Game attendance:''' 15,000
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''

* '''Brooklyn''' – FG [[Herman Hickman|Hickman]] 30
* '''Pittsburgh''' – FG [[Mose Kelsch|Kelsch]] 15


=== Week 9 (Sunday November 12, 1933): [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] ===
=== Week 9 (Sunday November 12, 1933): [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Dodgers
|Road='''Dodgers'''
|R1=6
|R1=6
|R2=7
|R2=7
Line 255: Line 407:
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game attendance:'''
* '''Game attendance:''' 12,000
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''


* '''Brooklyn''' – [[Shipwreck Kelly (American football)|Kelly]] 15 run (kick failed)
=== Week 10 (Sunday November 19, 1933): [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ===
* '''Brooklyn''' – [[Shipwreck Kelly (American football)|Kelly]] 70 punt return ([[Herman Hickman|Hickman]] kick)
* '''Brooklyn''' – [[Tom Nash (American football)|Nash]] 61 pass from [[Chris Cagle (American football)|Cagle]] (kick failed)
* '''Brooklyn''' – [[Shipwreck Kelly (American football)|Kelly]] 2 run ([[Shipwreck Kelly (American football)|Kelly]] kick)
* '''Brooklyn''' – [[Dick Fishel|Fishel]] 7 run (kick failed)

=== Week 10 (Sunday November 19, 1933): at [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Pirates
|Road=Pirates
Line 268: Line 426:
|R3=0
|R3=0
|R4=6
|R4=6
|Home=Eagles
|Home='''Eagles'''
|H1=6
|H1=6
|H2=0
|H2=0
Line 274: Line 432:
|H4=6
|H4=6
}}
}}
''at [[Baker Bowl]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]''
''at [[Baker Bowl]], [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]''


* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game attendance:'''
* '''Game attendance:''' 6,000
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''


* '''Philadelphia''' – [[Tom Hanson (American football)|Hanson]] run (kick failed)
=== Week 12 (Sunday December 3, 1933): [[New York Giants]] ===
* '''Philadelphia''' – [[Joe Carter (end)|Carter]] pass from [[Red Kirkman|Kirkman]] ([[Red Kirkman|Kirkman]] kick)
* '''Philadelphia''' – [[Joe Carter (end)|Carter]] pass from [[Red Kirkman|Kirkman]] (kick failed)
* '''Pittsburgh''' – [[Angelo Brovelli|Brovelli]] run (kick failed)
* '''Philadelphia''' – [[Lee Woodruff|Woodruff]] run (kick failed)

=== Week 12 (Sunday December 3, 1933): at [[New York Giants]] ===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Pirates
|Road=Pirates
Line 291: Line 455:
|R3=0
|R3=0
|R4=0
|R4=0
|Home=Giants
|Home='''Giants'''
|H1=0
|H1=0
|H2=0
|H2=0
Line 297: Line 461:
|H4=20
|H4=20
}}
}}
''at [[Polo Grounds]], [[New York, New York]]''
''at [[Polo Grounds]], New York City''


* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game time:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game weather:'''
* '''Game attendance:'''
* '''Game attendance:''' 10,000
* '''Referee:'''
* '''Referee:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''
* '''TV announcers:'''


'''Scoring drives:'''
'''Scoring drives:'''


* '''Pittsburgh''' – FG [[Mose Kelsch|Kelsch]] 14
=References=
* '''New York''' – [[Max Krause|Krause]] 20 pass from [[Ken Strong|Strong]] ([[Ken Strong|Strong]] kick)
* '''New York''' – [[Red Badgro|Badgro]] 25 pass from [[Harry Newman (American football)|Newman]] (kick failed)
* '''New York''' – [[Kink Richards|Richards]] 14 pass from [[Harry Newman (American football)|Newman]] ([[Kink Richards|Richards]] kick)
* '''New York''' – [[Kink Richards|Richards]] 22 run ([[Max Krause|Krause]] pass from [[Harry Newman (American football)|Newman]])

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{Pittsburgh Steelers}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers seasons}}
{{1933 Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL)}}
{{1933 NFL season by team}}
{{1933 NFL season by team}}

{{American football-stub}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1933 Pittsburgh Pirates (Nfl) Season}}
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers seasons]]
[[Category:1933 National Football League season by team|Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:1933 in sports in Pennsylvania|Pittsburg Pir]]
[[Category:1930s in Pittsburgh]]

Latest revision as of 08:00, 18 December 2024

Pittsburgh Pirates 1933 team photo
1933 Pittsburgh Pirates season
OwnerArt Rooney
Head coachForrest Douds
Home fieldForbes Field
Results
Record3–6–2
Division place5th Eastern Division
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1933 Pittsburgh Pirates season marked the debut of the team known today as the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team was established by Arthur Rooney Sr., a former boxer and semi-pro football player, who paid the National Football League (NFL) its $2,500 expansion fee with winnings from successful weekend gambling at the Saratoga Race Track in New York.[1]

Rooney named the team "Pirates" and made use of black-and-gold team colors as a means of attaching his fledgling team to the Pittsburgh Pirates of baseball's National League.[1] Home games were scheduled for Forbes Field, stadium used by the baseball Pirates.[1] The new squad was composed largely of local semi-pro players.

Rooney quickly ran into Pennsylvania's blue laws, which prohibited professional sports from taking place on Sundays, when most NFL games took place.[1] Rooney slyly circumvented the law by providing the superintendent of police with free box seats.[1]

Except for a brief period in 1940 and 1941, Rooney would remain the franchise's principal owner until his death in 1988. The Rooney family has retained a controlling interest ever since.

The Pirates took the field for the first time on September 20 against the New York Giants at Forbes Field, losing 23–2. The following week, the team got its first win, defeating the Chicago Cardinals at home 14–13.

The team finished 3–6–2 for the season.

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources
1 September 20 New York Giants L 2–23 0–1 Forbes Field 20,000 Recap
2 September 27 Chicago Cardinals W 14–13 1–1 Forbes Field 5,000 Recap
3 October 4 Boston Redskins L 6–21 1–2 Forbes Field 15,000 Recap
4 October 11 Cincinnati Reds W 17–3 2–2 Forbes Field 5,000 Recap
5 October 15 at Green Bay Packers L 0–47 2–3 City Stadium 4,000 Recap
6 October 22 at Cincinnati Reds T 0–0 2–3–1 Redland Field 900 Recap [2]
7 October 29 at Boston Redskins W 16–14 3–3–1 Fenway Park 7,500 Recap
8 November 5 at Brooklyn Dodgers T 3–3 3–3–2 Ebbets Field 15,000 Recap
9 November 12 Brooklyn Dodgers L 0–32 3–4–2 Forbes Field 12,000 Recap
10 November 19 at Philadelphia Eagles L 6–25 3–5–2 Baker Bowl 6,000 Recap
— Bye
11 December 3 at New York Giants L 3-27 3–6–2 Polo Grounds 10,000 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

[edit]
NFL Eastern Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
New York Giants 11 3 0 .786 7–1 244 101 W7
Brooklyn Dodgers 5 4 1 .556 2–2–1 93 54 L2
Boston Redskins 5 5 2 .500 2–3 103 97 T1
Philadelphia Eagles 3 5 1 .375 1–2 77 158 L2
Pittsburgh Pirates 3 6 2 .333 1–5–1 67 208 L3
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Western Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Chicago Bears 10 2 1 .833 7–0 133 82 W4
Portsmouth Spartans 6 5 0 .545 3–4 128 87 L3
Green Bay Packers 5 7 1 .417 2–4 170 107 L1
Cincinnati Reds 3 6 1 .333 2–2 38 110 W1
Chicago Cardinals 1 9 1 .100 1–5 52 101 T1
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 1 (Wednesday September 20, 1933): New York Giants

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Giants 0 7 0 16 23
Pirates 0 0 0 2 2

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 20,000
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Week 2 (Wednesday September 27, 1933): Chicago Cardinals

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 6 7 0 0 13
Pirates 0 7 0 7 14

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 5,000
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Week 3 (Wednesday October 4, 1933): Boston Redskins

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 7 0 7 7 21
Pirates 0 0 0 6 6

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 15,000
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Week 4 (Wednesday October 11, 1933): Cincinnati Reds

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Reds 3 0 0 0 3
Pirates 7 0 0 10 17

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 5,000
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Week 5 (Sunday October 15, 1933): at Green Bay Packers

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 0 0 0 0 0
Packers 7 20 13 7 47

at City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 4,000
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Week 6 (Sunday October 22, 1933): at Cincinnati Reds

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 0 0 0 0 0
Reds 0 0 0 0 0

at Redland Field, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 900
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • none

Week 7 (Sunday October 29, 1933): at Boston Redskins

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 0 9 7 0 16
Redskins 7 0 0 7 14

at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 7,500
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Week 8 (Sunday November 5, 1933): at Brooklyn Dodgers

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 0 0 0 3 3
Dodgers 3 0 0 0 3

at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 15,000
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Week 9 (Sunday November 12, 1933): Brooklyn Dodgers

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Dodgers 6 7 13 6 32
Pirates 0 0 0 0 0

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 12,000
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • Brooklyn – Kelly 15 run (kick failed)
  • Brooklyn – Kelly 70 punt return (Hickman kick)
  • Brooklyn – Nash 61 pass from Cagle (kick failed)
  • Brooklyn – Kelly 2 run (Kelly kick)
  • Brooklyn – Fishel 7 run (kick failed)

Week 10 (Sunday November 19, 1933): at Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 0 0 0 6 6
Eagles 6 0 13 6 25

at Baker Bowl, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 6,000
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Week 12 (Sunday December 3, 1933): at New York Giants

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 0 3 0 0 3
Giants 0 0 7 20 27

at Polo Grounds, New York City

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 10,000
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Tom Bennett et al. (eds.), The NFL's Official Encyclopedic History of Professional Football. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1977; p. 200.
  2. ^ Lou Smith, "Reds in Scoreless Tie in Game With Pirates: Wet Field Slows Up Pro Contest: Only Handful of Fans at Redland Field," Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 23, 1933, pp. 13–14.
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