The 1919 Decatur Staleys season was the first in the team's long existence, later becoming known as the Chicago Bears. It was also the only season in which the Staleys/Bears were an amateur team, not a member of the National Football League or managed by George Halas. The 1919 Staleys were a works team, made up purely of regular A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company employees, and finished with a 6–1 record to win the Central Illinois Championship.
Founding
A. E. Staley founder Augustus Eugene Staley never intended to create a national powerhouse. He founded the Staley athletic program because he thought that employees participating in sports, either actively or as spectators, would grow to value the lessons learned of being a team player, good sportsmanship, character building as well as building a sense of team/factory loyalty. On September 20, 1919, he organized a meeting with members of the Staley baseball team – which was founded in 1917 – who were interested in forming a football branch. He provided $1,000 to the group for equipment, while Staleys outfielder Fred P. "Fritz" Wasem was named team manager. To assist him, he appointed company Superintendent of Construction James "Jim" Cook and former Millikin University head coach Robert E. Brannan as coaches.
The team's roster was made up of the existing pool of Staley employees, many of whom had experience playing college football, though Wasem also held tryouts for those interested; he proclaimed his group was "going to have the best independent team Decatur has ever had." Chuck Dressen competed with Pete Devore for the starting quarterback job and won the position, while other players included brothers Walt "Red" and Charlie "Baldy" May, both of whom were teammates with the Taylorville Independents, Millikin fullback Jake Lanum, and lieutenant Robert Crisp. For salaries, the players received shares from gate receipts; although they were estimated to be paid $10–20 per game, the number was lower due to travel expenses and opposing teams also getting their split of the ticket sales. The Decatur Daily Review speculated those who were signed to play occasional games may have received more.
The first practice took place on September 24, with the Staleys wearing maroon jerseys. The team played their home games at Staley Field, the Staley Manufacturing athletic field, which had a seating capacity of 1,500 with another 1,000 standing. Fans were charged $1 to attend games and company employees received a 50% discount. When the field was used for football, the goal posts were placed in the outfield of the baseball configuration. Staley Field was later used by the minor league baseball team Decatur Commodores.
Roster Name Position Notes Robert E. Brannan E/Coach James Cook Manager Fred P. "Fritz" Wasem E/Manager Andrew David "Andy" Lotshaw Trainer Cubs and Bears longtime trainer Roy Adkins G 1920 team member (?) Bailey E (John W.)? Brant HB Perry Brecount QB (?) Casey HB Frank Manley Chase G "Joe" Cooper E Robert L. "Bob" Crisp G (?) Dancliff C Chuck Dressen QB/HB 1920 team member (Edward G.)? Eckhoff E (?) Gammel G Sid Gepford HB/FB 1920 team member Henry J. Halterman G Marvin Harrop Sr. T Bob Koehler T 1920 team member William Lutz Krigbaum G/FB Colonel U.S. Army Jake Lanum HB/DB 1920 team member Chester A. "Baldy" May T Walt May G 1920 team member (?) McGrath C (?) McElvey HB Jack Mintun C/MG 1920 team member George H. Moffett T "Bun" Moran G (?) Pyrzynski HB/FB C. Lawrence Thrift FB/E Willard C. Volentine E Walt Veach HB 1920 team member A. Wade Wacaser T John A. Wagner Sr. E Wagner Foundry Paul C. Wilson E Methodist Minister Rev. Paul C. Wilson Ray C. "Buster" Woodworth E Lester "Lefty" Wallack
Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 October 5 Peoria Tractors L 0–3 0–1 Lake View Park 1,000 2 October 12 Stonington W 50–3 1–1 Staley Field 1,000 3 October 19 Staunton W 89–0 2–1 Staley Field 1,000 4 October 26 Rantoul Aviators Canceled 2–1 Staley Field 5 November 2 Champaign Eleven W 32–0 3–1 Staley Field 6 Taylorville Independents W 21–7 4–1 Hoover Field 5,000 7 November 16 Rantoul Aviators W 61–0 5–1 Staley Field 8 November 23 Arcola Independents W 41–0 6–1 Staley Field 9 November 30 Arcola Independents Canceled 6–1 Arcola, IL
Game summaries The team played their games mostly on Sundays, the company day off, apart from their road game against the Taylorville Independents.
Game 1: at Peoria Tractors October 5, 1919, at Lake View Park
The Staleys played their first game against another industrial team by the name of Peoria Tractors, which represent a nearby branch of the company later called Caterpillar Inc. The previous week, the Tractors won their season opener against a Clinton, Iowa team 27–0. Despite poor weather, the game saw "over 1,000 fans".
Since the team had only four practices leading up to the game, the Staleys focused on a defensive game plan. As a result, the Tractors struggled offensively, making substitutions 16 times against the Staleys' four and losing multiple fumbles. At one point, Peoria reached Decatur's goal line but failed to score. On the other side, Decatur's offense of "line plunges and end runs" also saw little progress.
In the third quarter, the Staleys fumbled on a punt and the Tractors recovered. On fourth down, Peoria's "Red" Lawler attempted a 30-yard drop kick; although referee Martin, a Tractors coach, ruled he missed the kick, Peoria head coach and umpire Conway argued otherwise. Upon further debate, Martin agreed in Conway's favor, making the score 3–0. The Staleys failed to answer.
Game 2: vs. Stonington October 12, 1919, at Staley Field
For the home opener, the Staleys hosted a team from Stonington, who lost 42–0 to Taylorville in their latest game. Stonington and the Staleys also played against each other in baseball in September, which the Staleys won 5–1; in their pre-game report, The Decatur Herald wrote Stonington wanted to "get revenge" for the loss.
On the first play of the game, Jack Mintun intercepted Stonington quarterback Hise's pass and returned it for a 20-yard touchdown. Lanum recorded two touchdowns, while Bob Koehler scored when he recovered Wasem's fumble at the goal line. By halftime, the Staleys led 44–0. In the third quarter, Stonington scored the only points on a 25-yard drop kick, while Decatur added six more points for the 50–3 win.
Approximately 1,000 fans attended the game. Two days later, The Herald wrote the crowd "showed [Decatur's] interest in the Staley team and the locals are assured of even greater crowds if they get teams of more equal caliber to meet."
Game 3: vs. Staunton October 19, 1919, at Staley Field
Wasem attempted to schedule a game against a Danvers team, but it was canceled the Tuesday before it was to take place. Instead, the Staleys played Staunton, a team consisting of coal miners.
Before the game, Wasem conducted tryouts, during which the Staleys acquired former Decatur High School fullback and United States Army major Lutz Krigbaum. Krigbaum moved to left tackle with the Staleys, while C. Lawrence Thrift switched from end to fullback and Lanum was moved to right halfback.
Staunton fumbled on the opening drive, which the Staleys capitalized on with Thrift's touchdown run. On the ensuing drive, Lanum intercepted their quarterback Ackerman and scored on the return; Lanum intercepted him again to set up Thrift's second touchdown. In the second quarter, Lanum scored again. At halftime, the Staleys led 40–0. Krigbaum made his Decatur debut in the second half, while Lanum added two more touchdowns and Dressen had two of his own. Two more touchdowns via Mintun recovering Ackerman's muffed punt and running for the 30-yard score and Lanum's sixth score made the final score 89–0.
Game 4: vs. Rantoul Aviators October 26, 1919, at Staley Field
After being unable to organize games against teams from Moline, Spring Valley, and Pine Ridge, Indiana, the Staleys secured a matchup against the Rantoul Aviators of Chanute Field. The Aviators' most recent game was a 31–0 loss to the Arcola Independents, which coach and lieutenant colonel Longanecker explained was a result of missing all but two starters. For pre-game entertainment, the Aviators prepared two planes for lieutenants Charles M. Leonard and Greer to fly over Staley Field, while Corporal Graham and team captain Shinn, a Decatur native, were to serve as copilots.
The game was scheduled to take place on Sunday at 2:45 PM, so the Aviators left Rantoul at 8 AM in two army trucks. However, the trucks broke down in Cerro Gordo and Argenta, rendering them unable to arrive in Decatur on time. As a result, the game was canceled; although an ambulance carrying Graham reached Decatur at 4 PM, he and his entourage later left by railroad. The two trucks reached Decatur on Monday morning, long after the game was called off.
Game 5: vs. Champaign Eleven November 2, 1919, at Staley Field
With the November 11 Taylorville Independents game on the horizon, the Staleys played a preparatory game against the Champaign Eleven, a club featuring players from the University of Illinois who were ruled ineligible to play for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team. The Eleven had defeated Arcola 9–0 in their last game and the Rantoul Aviators "by a decisive margin" before that. Prior to the game, Decatur recruited ex-Millikin player George Moffett and former baseball player Ray "Buster" Woodworth.
The game was marred by a muddy field as both teams struggled, resulting in a 0–0 tie at halftime. Late in the third quarter, Dressen scored the first points on a touchdown, followed by Mintun returning a fumble for a score. In the fourth quarter, Dressen had two more touchdowns and Lanum recorded one. Shortly before the game's conclusion, Champaign recovered an onside kick but turned the ball over on downs as they lost 32–0. Despite the shutout win, The Herald criticized the Staleys for their poor first half and wrote "the locals must play an entirely different class of football" to beat Taylorville. Brannan was also unsatisfied with the victory and promised he would push the team harder in practices.
Game 6: vs. Taylorville Independents November 11, 1919, at Hoover Field
In their biggest game to date, Decatur traveled to Taylorville to face the Independents at Hoover Field on November 11. The Independents were considered the top team in Illinois, having shut out all but three teams (losing just once) since their formation in 1914; entering the Staleys game, they were 4–0 with every win being a shutout, including a 78–0 win against Carlinville.
For the game, the Staleys arranged a special train that left via the Illinois Central Station. The Staleys brought their full roster including those who weren't expected to play, while A. E. Staley's mechanical and construction plants were closed to allow their employees to attend, though the manufacturing department had to stay behind. In addition to fans, A. E. Staley and company superintendent George Chamberlain also traveled with the team. To accommodate the visitors, Hoover Field added 800 seats along the south side, though part of the bleachers collapsed with no injuries.