American League of Professional Football

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The American League of Professional Football (ALPF) was the first professional football league in the United States . It only existed in the 1894 season, which was also not played to the end. The ALPF was founded by the operators of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball to fill the stadiums outside of the baseball season . On the other hand, this is how immigrants should be made aware of baseball.

Six teams took part in the ALPF: Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia and Washington. The set of rules was based heavily on the English model. The schedule provided for five home and five away games per team. The first game was to take place on October 1, 1894, the last game day was scheduled for January 1, 1895. The fact that the teams were given the same names as the baseball teams shows how close it was to the baseball league.

The professional ALPF did not meet with approval everywhere. The amateur league American Football Association (AFA), which has existed since 1884, banned on September 17th that players who were active in the ALPF were allowed to participate in AFA events.

Although the club owners set low entrance fees, the average attendance was a disappointing 500 per game. This was not least due to the unfortunate kick-off times on afternoons during the week.

Serious problems arose soon after the league started. Baltimore had brought the coach AW Stewart from England and with him several professionals from Manchester and the surrounding area. This star line-up drove the number of spectators up, but it damaged the balance of the league beyond measure. The Orioles won 8-1 against Boston, 6-1 against Philadelphia and 10-1 against Washington. The other club owners did not take it easy and accused Baltimore of fraud. After the press picked up on the scandal, the state authorities intervened and began investigations.

In this difficult situation, rumors spread about a new baseball league that would compete with the MLB. Faced with the choice of financing a badly running soccer league or investing the money in the baseball teams, the club owners opted for the US national sport. After only six match days - the teams had played a different number of games at the time, however, the league was over. Some of the club owners voted for a resumption of the games in the spring of 1895, but did not find a majority in favor of this project.

table

Pl. team Sp. S. U N Goals + Gates- Tordi. Pt.
1. Brooklyn Bridegrooms 6th 5 0 1 20th 6th +14 10
2. Baltimore Orioles FC 4th 4th 0 0 24 3 +21 8th
3. Boston Beaneaters 5 4th 0 1 15th 12 +3 8th
4th New York Giants 6th 2 0 4th 16 13 +3 4th
5. Philadelphia Phillies 9 2 0 7th 15th 37 −22 4th
6th Washington Senators 6th 1 0 5 7th 26th −19 2

Pl. = Place; Sp. = Games; S = victories; U = tie; N = defeats; Tordi. = Goal difference; Pt = points

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