Shelby Blues
Founded | 1900 |
---|---|
Folded | 1928 |
Based in | Shelby, Ohio, United States |
League | Ohio League (1902–1919) Independent (1926–1928) |
Team history | Shelby Blues (1905–1928) |
Team colors | Blue, White |
Head coaches | Peggy Parratt (1910–1911) |
Ohio League Championship wins | (2) 1910, 1911 |
The Shelby Blues were an American football team based in Shelby, Ohio. The team played in the Ohio League from 1900 to 1919. In 1920, when the Ohio League became the APFA (now known as the National Football League), the Blues did not join but continued to play against APFA teams, only to later suspend operations. The Blues returned to play as an independent between 1926 and 1928.
The team was named for their blue uniforms, that were worn in their first year. In 1905, the Blues replaced the as the top football team in town. A year later the team was the runner-up for the Ohio League title, behind only the Akron Indians. The Blues won Ohio League championships in 1910 and 1911, with Peggy Parratt, an early pioneer and master of the forward pass, at quarterback. In 1904, the Blues are credited with signing the first black player in American professional football, halfback Charles Follis.[1]
Notable Players/Alumni[]
- Peggy Parratt (BB/QB) - Early pioneer of the forward pass.
- Charles Follis (HB) - First black professional player in American football.
- Branch Rickey - Baseball pioneer, was instrumental in breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier.
- John Miller (HB) - First year captain, would later managed and coached the team.
- Homer Davidson (BB/K) - Considered to be the best kicker of the era.
- Frank C. Schiffer (Manager) - Signed the first black professional player in American football (Charles Follis).
- (C) - Brother of Germany Schulz.
References[]
- Carroll, Bob (1991). "Shelby Who? Ohio Pro Football in 1910" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association. 13 (4): 1–7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-10-06.
- Johnson, Pearce (1987). "When Did They Start?" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association. 9 (6): 1–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-27.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- Ohio League teams
- Defunct American football teams in Ohio
- American football teams established in 1902
- American football teams disestablished in 1928
- 1902 establishments in Ohio
- 1928 disestablishments in Ohio
- American football team stubs
- Ohio sports team stubs