Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,060 as of the 2020 census. A part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, it is located near Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999. The current mayor is Eric J. Bartels.
The Latrobe Athletic Association was a professional football team located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, from 1895 until 1909. A member of the unofficial Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit, the team is best known for being the first football club to play a full season while composed entirely of professional players. In 1895, team's quarterback, John Brallier, also became the first football player to openly turn professional, by accepting $10 and expenses to play for Latrobe against the Jeannette Athletic Club.
John Kinport "Sal" Brallier was one of the first professional American football players. He was nationally acknowledged as the first openly paid professional football player when he was given $10 to play for the Latrobe Athletic Association for a game against the Jeanette Athletic Association in 1895.
The Greensburg Athletic Association was an early organized football team, based in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, that played in the unofficial Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit from 1890 until 1900. At times referred to as the Greensburg Athletic Club, the team began as an amateur football club in 1890 and was composed primarily of locals before several professional players were added for the 1895 season. In 1894 it was discovered that the team had secretly paid formerly Indiana Normal player, Lawson Fiscus, to play football and retained his services on salary. The team was the chief rival of another early professional football team, the Latrobe Athletic Association.
David J. Berry was an American football manager during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was the top promoter for the sport during that time period. He is credited with inventing the "all-star game concept" in 1898, and also helped to form one of the first organized football leagues in 1902.
Harry Wilson "Cap" Ryan was an early professional football player for the Latrobe Athletic Association from 1895 until 1906. He was also selected to be the first captain in that team's history. He played alongside John Brallier who is considered the first openly professional football player. In 1897 he was named to the "All Western Pennsylvania Team" by The Pittsburg Times.
James Edward Blair was an American football player and coach and physician. He was early professional football player with the Latrobe Athletic Association. He later relocated to Burlington, New Jersey where he took a prominent part in the city council for a time and was a surgeon for the Third Battalion of the New Jersey National Guard. He was a charter member of the Burlington Elks Lodge and was a thirty-second degree Mason. He also was affiliated with the Sons of Veterans.
The Jeannette Athletic Club, also referred to as the Jeannette Indians, was an early football team, based in Jeannette, Pennsylvania from 1894 until around 1906. The team is best known for its role in the Latrobe Athletic Association's hiring of John Brallier, who became the first player to openly turn professional. This event occurred in 1895, a few days before Latrobe's game against Jeannette. Latrobe starting quarterback, Eddie Blair, due to a scheduling conflict could not play in the game. This led Latrobe manager, Dave Berry to hire Brallier to play against Jeannette for $10, plus expenses. Latrobe would go on to win that game 12-0.
The IUP Crimson Hawks football program represents Indiana University of Pennsylvania in college football at the NCAA Division II level. The Crimson Hawks play their home games at George P. Miller Stadium in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
The 1896 Latrobe Athletic Association season was their second season in existence. The team finished 7–4.
The 1897 Latrobe Athletic Association season was their third season in existence. The team finished 10–2–1. This season, Latrobe became the first team to be made entirely of professional players and play an entire season together.
The 1899 Latrobe Athletic Association season was their fifth season in existence. The team played only four games this season and finished 4–0.
The 1900 Latrobe Athletic Association season was their sixth season in existence. The team finished 6–3.
The 1906 Latrobe Athletic Association season was their eleventh season in existence. The team finished 3–1.
The 1907 Latrobe Athletic Association season was their twelfth season in existence. The decrease in community interest and the change of the team from the professional ranks to a local amateur status in 1907 coincided with John Brallier's last year as a player. The team finished 5–2–2 or 5–3–2 in 1907.
The 1895 Greensburg Athletic Association season was their sixth season in existence. The team finished 9–1–1 or 8–2–1.
The 1900 Greensburg Athletic Association season was Greensburg Athletic's 10th and last season. The American football team finished with a record of 3–6–1.
The Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit was a loose association of American football clubs that operated from 1890 to approximately 1940. Originally amateur, professionalism was introduced to the circuit in 1892; cost pressures pushed the circuit to semi-professional status from about 1920 through the rest of its existence. Existing in some form for 48 years, it was one of the longest-lived paying football loops to operate outside the auspices of the National Football League.
The 1897 Western University of Pennsylvania football team was an American football team that represented the Western University of Pennsylvania as an independent during the 1897 college football season.
The 1900 Duquesne Country and Athletic Club football season was the sixth and final season of play for the professional American football team representing the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club (DC&AC). Managed by third-year captain and coach Roy Jackson, the team compiled a 9–2 record and outscored its opponents by an aggregate 183–23.
