| Founded | 1904; 121 years ago (1904) |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1920; 105 years ago (1920) |
| Based in | Pitcairn, Pennsylvania,United States |
| League | Independent |
| Team history | Pitcairn Quakers (1904-1920) |
| Team colors | Red, Yellow (Probable)[citation needed] |
| Head coaches | Terry DeLozier (1904-1914) Ed Johnston (1914-1917) George Vedernack (1919-1920) |
| General managers | Terry DeLozier (1904-1914) King Crowl (1914-1920) |
| Home field(s) | Broadway Stadium |
ThePitcairn Quakers were a professionalAmerican football team fromPitcairn, Pennsylvania,United States. The team played as an independent from 1904 until 1920 and featured the best players in the community as well as some famouscollege-level players. A few of the players were collegeAll-Americans. At one time, the team was loaded withNative Americans from nearbyCarlisle Indian School. The team played many of the Midwestern teams that would later become future members of theNational Football League.
The Quakers were established in 1904 out of a local need for sports entertainment. The team was founded by Clyde Collins, his cousin John Johnstonbaugh and formerPittquarterbackTerry DeLozier, who became the team's first coach. Ed Johnston became the team's coach in 1914 and brought with him many ex-college players. LaterGeorge Vedernack, a friend ofJim Thorpe, became the team's coach. The team usually played on consecutive days, usually Saturdays and Sundays. They would at times play up to five games in a span of only nine days.
AfterGlenn "Pop" Warner took over as the head football coach atPitt, he decided to try out his experimental plays for the Panthers on the Quakers. If those plays were workable, Warner would then use them against his college opponents. As a result, theforward pass and the criss-cross formation were used by the Quakers in 1914 and later by Pitt in the early 1920s. The forward pass once resulted in a 140-0 Quakers victory over a team from nearbySouth Fork. During that game, the Quakers completed 14 consecutive passes.
In 1915, the Quakers, after establishing themselves as the top team in thePittsburgh area, decided to venture into the Midwest and play many of the top teams fromIndiana andOhio. After a $12,000 investment made by the team's manager, the Quakers began to establish a loyal fan base and began play in the Midwest. During this time, the Quakers played againstOhio League teams such as theCanton Bulldogs,Massillon Tigers,Fort Wayne Friars andDayton Triangles.
In 1916 the Quakers posted a 7–8 record, and lost every game they played against their Ohio League opponents. However, in each game, Pitcairn held those opponents to close scores. A year later, the Quakers defeated theYoungstown Patricians 16–0, and the Fort Wayne Friars 10–9. They also lost to the Canton Bulldogs by a 12–7 score. After suspending operations in 1918 due to manning shortages associated withWorld War I and the1918 flu pandemic, the team returned in 1919. Despite a disappointing[according to whom?] 1919 record of 5-5, the Quakers went into their final game against their local rivals theMcKeesport Olympics. The Olympics had won the first game of the two-game series, 3–0, and had employed the entireCleveland Indians team just for that game. However, Pitcairn won the game due to a last-minutefield goal byPaul Rupp.
The team quietly folded in 1920.
| Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|
| Akron Indians-Pros | 0 | 1 |
| Canton Bulldogs | 0 | 4 |
| Cleveland Indians | 0 | 2 |
| Cincinnati Celts | 0 | 1 |
| Dayton Triangles | 0 | 3 |
| Detroit Heralds | 0 | 1 |
| Tonawanda Kardex | 0 | 1 |