1920 Football team photo

[jefferyepayne]

My bet is the individual with an "H" on his sweater is a graduate of Harvard and is one of the coaches. You will sometimes see other examples like this where the younger coaches are wearing their varsity sweaters from college.

If you could photo match this person with a player on a previous Harvard team you would probably be closing in on what team this is.

jeff

[TanksAndSpartans]

I'm not seeing much written about it, but the West Side AC of Jersey City finished their season undefeated with a win over the Orange AC and claimed the independent championship of NJ in 1920. In fact they claimed to be undefeated since 1915. The pros/semi-pros were often called independents during this era.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by TanksAndSpartans

I'm not seeing much written about it, but the West Side AC of Jersey City finished their season undefeated with a win over the Orange AC and claimed the independent championship of NJ in 1920. In fact they claimed to be undefeated since 1915. The pros/semi-pros were often called independents during this era.

Great info. Thanks, I'm willing to bet thats who this photo is.

I'm gonna try to do more research, local newspapers might have some information.

[TanksAndSpartans]

You’re welcome - @judsonhamlin actually gave the big hint - I was at a dead end without searching “West Side”. The only paper I found with any info was the Plainfield Courier-News.

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by TanksAndSpartans

I'm not seeing much written about it, but the West Side AC of Jersey City finished their season undefeated with a win over the Orange AC and claimed the independent championship of NJ in 1920. In fact they claimed to be undefeated since 1915. The pros/semi-pros were often called independents during this era.

Good pull, John!

jeff

[TanksAndSpartans]

Thanks Jeff - like the old days being back here

[judsonhamlin]

Nice find. Is that the Jersey City minor league stadium then?

[TanksAndSpartans]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

Nice find. Is that the Jersey City minor league stadium then?

Thanks - I didn't find that - I found write-ups on a couple different dates in December, but no images, no mention of whether the coach may have been from Harvard, where they played, etc. A few of the star players got mentioned, but I didn't recognize the names - I can pull that if anyone is interested in who they were.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by TanksAndSpartans

Thanks - I didn't find that - I found write-ups on a couple different dates in December, but no images, no mention of whether the coach may have been from Harvard, where they played, etc. A few of the star players got mentioned, but I didn't recognize the names - I can pull that if anyone is interested in who they were.

I definitely would be interested in seeing that.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

Nice find. Is that the Jersey City minor league stadium then?

Could be Pershing Field, it opened in 1919.

I remember reading that some semipro games were played on a High School field so thats possible too.

Definitely not Roosevelt Stadium which opened in 1937.

[TanksAndSpartans]

The leading scorers were Keller and Buckham: