1920 Decatur Staleys season

The Decatur Staleys finished 6–1 in their 1919 season as an independent team. Their 1919 owner, George Chamberlain, asked George Halas to manage the team, and Halas accepted. After the 1919 season, representatives of four Ohio League teams—the Canton Bulldogs, the Cleveland Tigers, the Dayton Triangles, and the Akron Pros—called a meeting on August 20, 1920, to discuss the formation of a new league. At the meeting, they tentatively agreed on a salary cap and pledged not to sign college players or players already under contract with other teams. They also agreed on a name for the circuit: the American Professional Football Association. They then invited other professional teams to a second meeting on September 17. At that meeting, held at Bulldogs owner Ralph Hay's Hupmobile showroom in Canton, representatives of the Rock Island Independents, the Muncie Flyers, the Decatur Staleys, the Racine Cardinals, the Massillon Tigers, the Chicago Cardinals, and the Hammond Pros agreed to join the league. Representatives of the Buffalo All-Americans and Rochester Jeffersons could not attend the meeting, but sent letters to Hay asking to be included in the league. Team representatives changed the league's name slightly to the American Professional Football Association and elected officers, installing Jim Thorpe as president. Under the new league structure, teams created their schedules dynamically as the season progressed, so there were no minimum or maximum number of games needed to be played. Also, representatives of each team voted to determine the winner of the APFA trophy. By previous agreement, the 1920 Staleys players were paid a share of the team's gate receipts at the end of the season — about $1600 per man. For his additional duties as manager and coach, Halas was voted an extra share, a total of $2,322.77. == Schedule ==

Game 1: vs Moline Universal Tractors October 3, 1920, at Staley Field To start the season, the Staleys played the non-APFA team Moline Universal Tractors. A crowd estimated at 1,500 saw former Illinois star halfback Dutch Sternaman score all three touchdowns for Decatur, capped by two extra points from Hugh Blacklock. Halfback Jimmy Conzelman provided the margin for Decatur's victory on a 35-yard touchdown run through a huge hole opened up by Dutch Sternaman, fullback Charlie Lanham, and tackle Burt Ingwersen, with Hugh Blacklock tagging on the kick for point after touchdown. Sid Nichols, Fred Chicken, and Oke Smith injured their knees on different plays, while Harry Gunderson was hit late by George Trafton and needed thirteen stitches on his face and repair of a broken hand. Game 8: at Minneapolis Marines November 14, 1920, at Nicollet Park To conclude their six-game road game streak, the Staleys played against the Minneapolis Marines. The Marines were a non-APFA team but joined the league in 1921. The only score of the game was a 25-yard field goal from Sternaman, kicked from placement. Twelve thousand fans, the largest recorded crowd of the season, showed up to watch the game, The Pros almost scored twice, but failed once because of ineligible receiver penalties. however, the Chicago Defender reported that the refereeing was biased towards Decatur. == Post season==

Since there were no playoff system in the APFA until 1932, a meeting was held to determine the champions. Each team that showed up had a vote to determine the champions. The Staleys and the All-Americans each stated they should be the champions because they had more wins and were not beaten by the Akron Pros. Seven players from the Staleys were on the 1920 All-Pro team. Guy Chamberlain, Hugh Blacklock, and George Trafton were on the first team; George Halas was on the second team; and Burt Ingwerson, Ross Petty, and Dutch Sternaman were on the third team. == Legacy ==

Five players from the 1920 Decatur Staleys roster went on to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. George Halas was in the class of 1963, Jimmy Conzelman and George Trafton were in the class of 1964, while Guy Chamberlin and Paddy Driscoll were in the class of 1965. == References ==