The 1934Detroit Lions season was the fifth in franchise history and the first in Detroit, as the team moved from Portsmouth, Ohio, to Detroit after the 1934 season. Under head coach Potsy Clark, the Lions won their first ten games (of which the first seven were shutouts) then lost three straight in an eight-day span to end the season at10–3.[2] They finished in second place in the NFL Western Division, three games behind the undefeated Chicago Bears.[3] They ranked first in the NFL in scoring defense and second in scoring offense.
Dutch Clark was a consensus All-NFL pick at quarterback and led the league with 1,146 yards of total offense and ranked second in scoring, third in rushing yardage, and fourth in passing yardage. End Harry Ebding led the NFL with 264 receiving yards. The Lions also boasted four of the NFL's leading rushers: Clark (third with 805 yards); Ernie Caddel (sixth with 528 yards); Ace Gutowsky (seventh with 517 yards); and Glenn Presnell (12th with 413 yards). The team's total of 426 rushing yards against Pittsburgh on November 4 remains an NFL single-game record.
The Lions played the NFL's first Thansksgiving day game on November 29, 1934, starting the team's longstanding tradition of hosting Thanksgiving games.[4] The team played its home games at University of Detroit Stadium.
In March 1934, a group from Detroit, led by WJR radio owner George A. Richards, purchased the Portsmouth franchise and the rights to all players on its roster, including stars Dutch Clark, Glenn Presnell, George Christensen, and Ox Emerson.[7] Detroit sportsman Irvin (Cy) Huston was appointed as the general manager, owing to "his inttimate knowledge of the game."[8] Huston announced that the University of Detroit Stadium had been secured as the site for the team's home games. He added that negotiations were underway to sign additional players, including the University of Michigan's All-American center Chuck Bernard.[8] Bernard ultimately signed with the club in September.[9]
On April 10, 1934, NFL president Joseph Carr formally presented an NFL franchise to the Detroit investor group at a luncheon at the Detroit Statler Hotel. Huston accepted the franchise from Carr.[7]
Later in April, Huston announced that he had agreed with the New York Giants for the Detroit club's opening game to be played in Detroit on September 23. The game would be a homecoming for the Giants' star quarterback and Detroit native Harry Newman.[10]
On June 9, Huston announced that the team would conduct its early season training at Cranbrook School for the first three weeks of September. Huston noted that Cranbrook had several first class gridirons and a dormitory where the team's training table would be established.[11]
On July 22, Huston announced that the Detroit club would be known as the Lions and would wear blue jerseys with silver for the jersey numbers, helmets, and pants. Asked what shade of blue would be used, Huston replied: "I don't know. They've had me looking at so many blues I'm blue in the face. But anyway, it's the kind of blue, I am told, that will match with silver."[12]
On September 23, 1934, the Lions opened their first season in Detroit with a 9–0 victory over the New York Giants before a crowd of 12,000 persons at the University of Detroit Stadium. Dutch Clark drop-kicked a field goal from the 20-yard line in the third quarter, and Father Lumpkin intercepted an Ed Danowski pass and returned it 45 yards for the Lions' first touchdown.[13] On offense, the Lions gained 187 yards of total offense, 185 rushing yards and only two passing yards (one completion on three passes). On defense, the Lions held Harry Newman's Giants to 153 yards, 109 rushing and 36 passing (two completions and two interceptions on 18 passes).[14] The Lions fumbled five times in the game and gave up 45 yards on penalties.[14]
On September 30, 1934, the Lions defeated the Chicago Cardinals, 6–0, before a crowd of 7,000 at University of Detroit Stadium. Dutch Clark scored on a two-yard touchdown run five minutes into the game; Clark then missed on his drop-kick for the extra point. Father Lumpkin had a key interception to stop a Chicago drive at midfield. The Lions were held to 119 rushing yards in the game. A group of Detroit Tigers, including Mickey Cochrane, Schoolboy Rowe, Elon Hogsett, and Elden Auker, watched the game from a midfield box before the start of the 1934 World Series three days later.[15]
On October 7, 1934, the Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers, 3–0, before a crowd of 8,000 at City Stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The only points of the game were scored on a 54-yard field goal kicked from placement by backup quarterback Glenn Presnell.[16] The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that Presnell's kick was "probably the longest kick for a score in the record" of NFL competition.[17] On offense, the Lions gained 172 total yards, 101 rushing (led by Ace Gutowsky with 54 yards), and 71 passing (five completions out of 22 passes, including a 30-yard gain on a pass from Dutch Clark to Ernie Caddel). On defense, the Lions held the Packers to 123 total yards, 115 rushing and eight passing (two completions and one interceptions on eight passes).[17]
On October 14, 1934, the Lions defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 10–0, before a crowd of 10,000 at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. Ernie Caddel ran nine yards for the game's only touchdown in the second quarter, and Dutch Clark drop-kicked the extra point. Caddel also had the longest run of the game at 53 yards. Clark added a field goal from the 25-yard line in the fourth quarter. On offense, the Lions rushed for 145 yards and tallied 36 passing yards (four completions out of 18 passes). On defense, the Lions held the Eagles to 131 rushing yards (80 by Swede Hanson) and five completions on 26 passes for 20 yards.[18][19]
On October 17, 1934, in a Wednesday night game, the Lions defeated the Boston Redskins, 24–0, before a crowd of 12,000 at the University of Detroit Stadium. Dutch Clark began the scoring late in the second quarter with a field goal from the 33-yard line.
At the start of the second half, Father Lumpkin returned the kickoff to Boston's 20-yard line. Frank Christensen scored a touchdown nine plays later on a short run. On the next Detroit drive, the Lions gained 30 yards to Boston's 25-yard line on a pass from Clark to Harry Ebding. After an injury to Father Lumpkin, Ace Gutowsky entered the game and scored a touchdown on a six-yard run.
In the fourth quarter, Ernie Caddel ran around the right end for a 52-yard gain to Boston's five-yard line. Glenn Presnell ran around the left end for the final touchdown. Clark added two extra points on drop-kicks, and Presnell placekicked another. On defense, the Detroit Free Press described the Lions play as "almost flawless".[20] They held a Boston team featuring Cliff Battles to 112 total yards, as the Redskins attempted 16 passes, completed only three and had four passes intercepted.[20]
On October 22, in a Monday night game, the Lions defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 28–0, before a crowd of 11,000 at University of Detroit Stadium. After a scoreless first half, Dutch Clark scored three touchdowns in the third quarter and dropkicked three extra points. Clark's second touchdown came on a 72-yard run. His third touchdown came on a short run which was set up when Frank Christensen intercepted a pass and returned it to Brooklyn's three-yard line. In the fourth quarter, Glenn Presnell substituted for Clark at quarterback and scored a touchdown on a seven-yard run.[21]
The Lions rushed for 257 yards in the game, and the Detroit Free Press credited Father Lumpkin: "Pop Lumpkin, Lion blocking back, clearly demonstrated Monday night that he is as good a blocking back as there is in the business. Pop boxed tackles, blocked ends, blocked for punt handlers and always was in front of the play in the secondary. Pop was in front of Clark clearing the way on every one of Dutch's brilliant runs."[21]
On defense, the Lions held the Dodgers (featuring Shipwreck Kelly) to 56 rushing yards, and the Dodgers' leading passer Chris Cagle was unable to complete a single pass. As a team, the Dodgers completed one of 10 passes for five yards and had four passes intercepted by the Lions. A fight in the fourth quarter between Buster Mitchell and Ollie Sansen resulted in the ejection of both players.[21]
On October 28, 1934, the Lions defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 38–0, before a crowd of 5,000 in Portsmouth, Ohio. The game was described as a "home coming" for the Lions who had played in southern Ohio as the Portsmouth Spartans one year earlier. Led by Father Lumpkin's blocking, the Lions rushed for 373 yards. The Lions outgained the Reds by 485 yards (373 rushing and 112 passing) to 81 (60 rushing and 21 passing). Dutch Clark scored two touchdowns and kicked a field goal. Glenn Presnell scored a touchdown and kicked a field goal, and additional touchdowns were scored by Lumpkin and Ace Gutowsky. The Lions intercepted four Cincinnati passes, but were penalized six times for 60 yards.[22]
The Lions' victory over the Reds extended the team's streak of shutout victories to seven games, tying an NFL record set by the 1921 Akron Pros. The record has not been matched since 1934.[23]
On November 4, 1934, the Lions defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 40–7. Ernie Caddel scored three touchdowns for the Lions. The Lions tallied 566 yards of total offense in the game, inclduing 426 rushing yards. The Pirates scored the first points allowed by the Lions in the 1934 season -- a 62-yard touchdown pass from Harp Vaughan to Joe Skladany on a fake punt in the first quarter.[24]
The Lions' tally of 426 yards against the Pirates remains an NFL team record for most rushing yards in a game.[25][26][27]
On November 11, 1934, the Lions defeated the Chicago Cardinals, 17–13, before 7,500 specatators at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Lions jumped out to 17-0 lead, lost momentum when Dutch Clark left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury, and survived a comeback in which the Cardinals scored 13 unanswred points.[28]
The Lions' starting eleven in the game were McKalip and Schneller at end; Johnson and G. Christensen at tackle; Bodenger and Emerson at guard; Randolph at center, Clark at quarterback; Lumpkin at left halfback; Ebding at right halfback; and F. Christensen at fullback.[28]
On November 18, 1934, the Lions defeated the St. Louis Gunners, 40–7, before a crowed of 13,000 in Detroit. The net proceeds of the game were donated to the Goodfellows' Fund. With Dutch Clark sidelined due to injury, Glenn Presnell assumed control of the offense. On defense, ends Harry Ebding and John Schneller were credited with bottling up the St. Louis offense.[29]
The Lions' starting lineup aganst St. louis was Mitchell and Schneller at end; Johnson and G. Christensen at tackle; Bodenter and Emerson at guard; Bernard at center; Presnell at quarterback; Lumpkin at left halfback; Caddel at right halfback; and Gutowsky at fullback.[29]
On November 25, 1934, the Lions lost to the Green Bay Packers, 3–0, in front of a crowd of 12,000 spectators in Detroit. Neither team scored in the first three quarters. Clarke Hinkle kicked a 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.[30]
On Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1934, the Lions lost to the Chicago Bears, 19–16, before a record crowd of 26,000 at University of Detroit Stadium. With the victory, the Bears secured the NFL Western Division championship over the second-place Lions.[31]
Detroit took a 16 to 7 lead at halftime, as Ace Gutowsky scored two touchdowns, Dutch Clark kicked an extra point, and Glenn Presnell kicked a 34-yard field goal. The Bears scored on two field goals by Jack Manders in the third quarter. The winning score followed Joe Zeller's fourth-quarter interception of a Glenn Presnell pass that was returned to Detroit's four-yard line. Bronko Nagurski threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Bill Hewitt. The Lions rushed for 201 yards in the game and held the Bears to 116 rushing yards.[31]
On Sunday, December 2, 1934, the Lions lost again to the Bears, this time by a 10–7 score at Wrigley Field in Chicago. In the first quarter, Chicago's George Musso blocked a Dutch Clark punt, and the Bears took over at Detroit's 27-yard line. Bronko Nagurski scored a touchdown, and Jack Manders kicked the extra point. Manders added a field goal in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter, Glenn Presnell ran 33 yards for a touchdown and kicked the extra point.[32]
The Lions' 1934 roster included the following, listed with their position, jersey number, height, weight, college attended, and the number of games started for the 1934 Lions. The eleven players who started the majority of the team's games are shown in bold.
Chuck Bernard, center, No. 27, 6'3", 225 pounds, Michigan, 5 games started
Maury Bodenger, left guard, No. 19, 5'10", 214 pounds, Tulane, 10 games started
Ernie Caddel, right halfback, No. 1, 6'2", 199 pounds, Stanford, 12 games started
Frank Christensen, fullback, No. 2, 6'1", 199 pounds, Utah, 9 games started
George Christensen, right tackle, No. 14, 6'2", 238 pounds, Oregon, 13 games started
Dutch Clark, quarterback, No. 7, 6'0", 185 pounds, Colorado College, 10 games started
Harry Ebding, right end, No. 11, 5'11", 195 pounds, St. Mary's (CA), 7 games started
Bob Emerick, tackle, No. 18, 6'2", 225 pounds, Miami (OH), 1 games started
Ox Emerson, right guard, No. 20, 5'11", 203 pounds, Texas, 13 games started
Ace Gutowsky, fullback, No. 5, 5'11", 201 pounds, Oklahoma City, 6 games started
Curly Hinchman, halfback, No. 6, 5'10", 190 pounds, Butler, 1 game started
Tom Hupke, guard, No. 22, 5'10", Alabama, 1 game started
Jack Johnson, left tackle, No. 16, 6'4", 216 pounds, Utah, 12 games started
Sam Knox, guard/tackle, No. 21, 6'0", 213 pounds, New Hampshire/Illinois
Russ Lay, guard, No. 23, 5'11", 198 pounds, Michigan State, 0 games started
Father Lumpkin, left halfback (blocking back), No. 4, 6'2", 211 pounds, Georgia Tech, 11 games started
Bill McKalip, left end, No. 10, 6'1", 195 pounds, Oregon State, 7 games started
Bill McWilliams, wingback, No. 6, 6'1", 205 pounds, Iowa, 0 games started
Buster Mitchell, left end, No. 13, 6'0", 205 pounds, Davis & Elkins, 6 games started
Glenn Presnell, tailback, No. 3, 5'10", 195 pounds, Nebraska, 3 games started
Clare Randolph, center, No. 17, 6'2", 204 pounds, Indiana, 8 games started
Ray Richards, guard/tackle, No. 25, 6'1", 230 pounds, Nebraska, 0 games started
Bob Rowe, halfback, No. 8, 6'0", 198 pounds, Colgate, 0 games started
John Schneller, right end, No. 12, 6'2", 204 pounds, Wisconsin, 6 games started
The Lions had the best defense in the NFL in 1934, giving up only 59 points in 13 games, for an average of 4.5 points per game.[34] The Lions began the 1934 season with seven consecutive shutouts. In those seven games, the Lions held opponents to 835 yards, an average of 119 yards per game,[35] and outscored opponents by a total of 118 to 0.
Offensively, the Lions ranked second in the NFL with:
238 points scored, trailing only the Chicago Bears who scored 286 points;[34]
3,510 yards on the ground, again trailing only the Bears who tallied 3,750 yards (both teams surpassing the prior NFL record of 3,029 yards set by the Bears in 1933);[36]
.769 winning percentage, as the Bears and the Lions were the only teams with winning percentages above .615.[34]
Quarterback Dutch Clark was a triple-threat man who led the team's offense. He ranked first in the NFL in total offense (1,146 yards),[37] second in scoring (73 points on eight touchdowns, 13 extra points, and four field goals),[38] third in rushing yardage (763),[39] and fourth in passing yardage (383).[40] In the two-way football of the 1930s, Clark also played on defense at what is now known as the safety position.[35]
Other Lions who ranked among the league leaders included:
The coaches of the nine NFL teams selected two squads for the Associated Press, which selections are regarded as the official All-NFL team. Two Lions received first-team honors: quarterback Dutch Clark and tackle George Christensen. Four others received second-team honors: end Harry Ebding; end Bill McKalip; fullback Ace Gutowsky; and guard Ox Emerson.[42][43][44]
Another all-star NFL eleven, compiled by the United Press through a poll of sports writers, designated three Lions as first-team players: quarterback Dutch Clark; guard Ox Emerson; and end Buster Mitchell. Two Lions also received second-team honors: end Bill McKalip; tackle George Christensen; and halfback Glenn Presnell.[45]
The Green Bay Press-Gazette, in an all-star team compiled with input of NFL coaches and officials, chose three Lions: Clark as the first-team quarterback; McKalip as a first-team end; and George Christensen as a second-team tackle.[46]
Collyer's Eye gave first-team honors to Clark, Emerson, and George Christensen.[44] the Chicago Daily News gave first-team honors to Clark and Emerson and second-team honors to McKalip and Presnell.[44]
References
↑Some sources list Potsy Clark as general manager in 1934, but contemporary sourcing identifies Huston as the general manager. Clark did not become general manager until January 1935, as reported by The Detroit Free Press on January 10, 1935. See article here.
↑"Lions, Bears, and the First Thanksgiving". Professional Football Researchers Association.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)("Lions' single-wing ground attack racked up 426 yards in a 40-7 triumph. Lions set the team's single game rushing mark that still stands today.")
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