Results NFL v AFL (California Winter League) 1927-1928
| Date | NFL Team | AFL Team | ||
| California Winter League | 1927 | |||
| 25.12.1926 | Duluth Eskimoes | 3 | Hollywood Generals | 6 |
| 18.12.1926 | Duluth Eskimoes | 19 | California All-Stars * | 0 |
| 26.12.1926 | Duluth Eskimoes | 7 | California All-Stars * | 9 |
| 07.01.1927 | Duluth Eskimoes | 10 | California All-Stars * | 0 |
| 16.01.1927 | Los Angeles Buccaneers | 30 | New York Yankees | 0 |
| 23.01.1927 | Los Angeles Buccaneers | 0 | Los Angeles Wildcats | 17 |
| 30.01.1927 | Los Angeles Buccaneers | 0 | New York Yankees | 14 |
| 06.02.1927 | Los Angeles Buccaneers | 7 | New York Yankees | 6 |
| California Winter League | 1928 | |||
| 02.01.1928 | New York Yankees | 0 | Los Angeles Wildcats | 6 |
| 08.01.1928 | New York Yankees | 0 | Los Angeles Wildcats | 7 |
| 15.01.1928 | Cleveland Bulldogs | 12 | Los Angeles Wildcats | 6 |
| 29.01.1928 | Cleveland Bulldogs | 0 | Los Angeles Wildcats | 0 |
Note: *Pacific Coast Football League All-Star Team
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 (New York Yankees) played both climactic games, first against Muller’s Californians (Los Angeles Buccaneers) and in 1928, winning at the second attempt versus Friedman’s Bulldogs (Cleveland 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.
In 1927 the NFL teams won 5 of the 8 matches between the Leagues, and in 1928, there were two wins for AFL teams, one for the NFL with one tie. Reference: [1]
References
Websites / Online Magazines
[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: 14 May 2020
(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020
You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.