When Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill held up the George Halas trophy after his team won the NFC Championship, it was the first time in 61 years that the Cardinal franchise (Chicago, St. Louis, Arizona) had hauled home some hardware.For years this dysfunctional franchise had been an embarrassment what little fan base they had. Now the Arizona Cardinals have become, dare I say, lovable. Almost in a Chicago Cub sort of way. (Cub fans, your franchise has cornered the market on heartbreak and championship droughts. Don't worry, the Cardinals haven't overtaken you in that regard.)
With that said, the Cardinals have the longest dry spell without an NFL Championship. It's been 61 years when the then Chicago Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21 for the NFL title.
The 1947 NFL Championship Game was played December 28 on a bitter cold day at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Over 30,000 fans attended
That Cardinal team featured the "Million Dollar Backfield" of Paul Christman at quarterback, Charlie Trippi and Elmer Angsman at tailback and Pat Harder at fullback. That foursome racked up 282 yards with Angsman scoring twice on a pair of 70 yard touchdown runs and Trippi scoring on a 44 yard touchdown and taking a 75 yard punt the distance for a touchdown.
Violet Bidwill accepted the championship trophy. Her husband Charles had passed away before the season began. It was a team he put together but didn't live to see prevail.
After winning the NFL Championship there was no parade down Michigan Avenue and no rings for the players. Times were simpler then. There was a celebration at a South Side Chicago bar and then a formal dinner and dance thrown by the team. As for the rings, 50 years later the surviving members received a championship ring from the team.
Now 61 years and 3 cities later, the Cardinals are playing for an NFL championship, this time it's called the Super Bowl and it's number 43. A lucky number should the Cards prevail in Tampa and Bill Bidwill does what his mother did 61 years ago, accept an NFL championship trophy for the Cardinal franchise.
2 comments:
This was the first pro football game I even saw.
One of the interesting parts to the game was the frozen field. To get traction the Eagels sharpened their cleats during the halftime. After each play the Cards would point to a Eagle player and the Ref would call a 15 yard penalty. After a couple of these the Eagles called a timeout and quickly replaced all of their cleats. At halftime the Cards sent an equipment manager out to find seakers for the team - not an easy trick on a Sunday.
My Dad, Hamilton J. Nichols is on the back row, last player on the right. He passed on July 5, 2013. I am one proud daughter. Denise in Austin, Texas
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