1939 NFL Championship Game

Last updated

1939 NFL Championship Game
DateDecember 10, 1939
Stadium Milwaukee Mile
(State Fair Park), West Allis, Wisconsin
FavoriteGreen Bay by 10 points [1]
Green Bay 7-to-5 [2]
Referee Bill Halloran
Attendance32,379
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Wisconsin State Fair Park
class=notpageimage|
Location in the United States

The 1939 NFL Championship Game was the seventh league championship game of the National Football League (NFL), held on December 10 inside the Milwaukee Mile, located at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, a suburb west of Milwaukee.

Contents

The New York Giants (9–1–1), the defending champions, played the Western Division champion Green Bay Packers (9–2). [3] [4] The teams had met in the previous year's title game in New York City, which the Giants won by six points, but did not play each other in the 1939 regular season. [5] For the title game in Wisconsin, the Packers opened as 8-to-5 gambling favorites to win, with odds said to have tighened to 7-to-5 as gametime approached. [2]

The host Packers scored a touchdown in the first quarter and led 7–0 at halftime. [6] They dominated in the second half to win 27–0 and secure their fifth title—two more than any other franchise. [7] [8] [9] [10] At the time, it was the highest attended sporting event in the Milwaukee area. [11]

The "Dairy Bowl" football stadium was dedicated at halftime with the breaking of a bottle of milk. On hand were Governor Julian Heil and Mayor Daniel Hoan of Milwaukee. [12] [13]

Scoring summary

Sunday, December 10, 1939
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. CST [1]

Scoring PlayScore
First quarter
GB – Milt Gantenbein 7 pass from Arnie Herber (Paul Engebretsen kick)GB 7–0
Second quarter
 no scoring
Third quarter
GB – Engebretsen 29 yard field goalGB 10–0
GB – Joe Laws 31 yard pass from Cecil Isbell (Engebretsen kick)GB 17–0
Fourth quarter
GB – Ernie Smith 42 yard field goalGB 20–0
GB – Eddie Jankowski 1 yard run (Smith kick)GB 27–0

Statistics

CategoryNew York
Giants		Green Bay
Packers
First downs710
Yards gained rushing (net)56131
Forward passes attempted2610
Forward passes completed97
Yards by forward passing9899
Yards lost, attempted forward passes128
Yards gained, run back of intercepted passes2739
Punting average (from scrimmage)3238
Total yards all kicks returned9835
Opponents fumbles recovered00
Yards lost by penalties2050

Source: [14]

Officials

The NFL had only four game officials in 1939; the back judge was added in 1947, the line judge in 1965, and the side judge in 1978.

Attendance and receipts

The Packers moved the game from Green Bay to the larger metropolitan area of Milwaukee in hopes of increasing attendance; 32,379 paid to watch. [10] The gross gate receipts of $83,510.35 set a new record. [10]

The title game tickets went on sale at noon on Monday, six days before the game, in both Green Bay and Milwaukee and were nearly sold out in the first 24 hours. [15] Face value prices ranged from $1.10 to $4.40 per seat, the equivalent of $22 to $87 in 2021. [16]

Team shares

The gate was distributed as follows:

Source [10] [12]

Team rosters

Source: [5] [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Hornung</span> American football player (1935–2020)

Paul Vernon Hornung, nicknamed "the Golden Boy", was an American professional football halfback and kicker who played for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 to 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Hutson</span> American football player and coach (1913–1997)

Donald Montgomery Hutson, nicknamed "the Alabama Antelope", was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). In the era of the one-platoon football, he played as an end and spent his entire 11-year career with the Green Bay Packers. Under head coach Curly Lambeau, Hutson led the Packers to four NFL Championship Games, winning three in 1936, 1939, and 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Taylor (fullback)</span> American football player (1935–2018)

James Charles Taylor was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons, with the Green Bay Packers from 1958 to 1966 and with the expansion New Orleans Saints in 1967. With the Packers, Taylor was invited to five straight Pro Bowls and won four NFL championships, as well as a victory in the first Super Bowl. He was recognized as the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) after winning the rushing title in 1962, beating out Jim Brown. An aggressive player and fluent trash talker, Taylor developed several personal rivalries throughout his career, most notably with New York Giants linebacker Sam Huff. This confrontational attitude, combined with his tenacious running style, a penchant for contact, and ability to both withstand and deliver blows, earned him a reputation as one of the league's toughest players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Canadeo</span> American football player (1919–2003)

Anthony Robert Canadeo was an American professional football player who was a back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers from 1941 to 1952, although he missed most of the 1944 season and the entire 1945 season while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, he attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, played football for the Bulldogs, and earned the nickname "Gray Ghost of Gonzaga".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnie Herber</span> American football player (1910–1969)

Arnold Charles "Flash" Herber was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the Green Bay Packers. During his Packers tenure from 1930 to 1940, he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns three times and won four NFL Championship Games. Herber retired after 11 seasons in Green Bay, but returned in 1944 with New York Giants, where he played his final two seasons. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Currie</span> American football player (1935–2017)

Daniel George Currie was an American football player in the National Football League (NFL). He played linebacker for nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams.

The 1929 NFL Season was the tenth regular season of the National Football League. The league increased back to 12 teams with the addition of the Staten Island Stapletons, Orange Tornadoes and Minneapolis Red Jackets and the re-entry of the Buffalo Bisons. The Pottsville Maroons became the Boston Bulldogs, the New York Yankees folded, and the Detroit Wolverines merged into the New York Giants, with the Giants the surviving partner.

The 1963 NFL season was the 44th regular season of the National Football League.

The 1960 NFL season was the 41st regular season of the National Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1940 NFL season</span> 1940 National Football League season

The 1940 NFL season was the 21st regular season of the National Football League. The ten teams of the league each played an 11 game schedule, for a total of 55 regular season games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeke Bratkowski</span> American football player and coach (1931–2019)

Edmund Raymond "Zeke" Bratkowski was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons with the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, and Green Bay Packers.

The 1941 NFL Championship Game was the ninth annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), held at Wrigley Field in Chicago on December 21. Played two weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the attendance was 13,341, the fewest to see an NFL title game. However, this statistic might be explained in part by wartime restrictions.

The 1944 NFL Championship Game was the 12th National Football League (NFL) title game, played on December 17 at the Polo Grounds in New York City, with an attendance of 46,016. The game featured the Green Bay Packers (8–2), champions of the Western Division versus the Eastern Division champion New York Giants (8–1–1).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1960 NFL Championship Game</span> Championship game in 1960 of the National Football League

The 1960 NFL Championship Game was the 28th NFL title game, played between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on the afternoon of Monday, December 26, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1961 NFL Championship Game</span>

The 1961 NFL Championship Game was the 29th title game of the National Football League. It was played on December 31 at "New" City Stadium, later known as Lambeau Field, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with an attendance of 39,029.

The 1962 NFL Championship Game was the 30th NFL title game, played on December 30 at Yankee Stadium in New York City. It matched the New York Giants (12–2) of the Eastern Conference and Green Bay Packers (13–1) of the Western Conference, the defending league champions.

The 1963 Green Bay Packers season was their 45th season overall and their 43rd season in the National Football League. The two-time defending NFL champions finished with an 11–2–1 record under fifth-year head coach Vince Lombardi for a second-place finish in the Western Conference, a half game back.

The 1965 Green Bay Packers season was their 47th season overall and their 45th season in the National Football League. The team finished with a 10–3–1 record under seventh-year head coach Vince Lombardi, earning a tie for first place in the Western Conference with the Baltimore Colts.

The 1938 NFL Championship Game was the sixth championship game played in the National Football League (NFL). It was played on December 11 at the Polo Grounds in New York City, with an attendance of 48,120, a record crowd for a title game.

Though the city currently has no National Football League (NFL) team, Milwaukee is considered a home market for the Green Bay Packers. The team split its home schedule between Green Bay and Milwaukee from 1933 to 1994, with the majority of the Milwaukee games being played at Milwaukee County Stadium.

References

  1. 1 2 Stoney McGlynn, "Packers slight favorites to beat Giants," Milwaukee Sentinel, Dec. 10, 1939, p. 18.
  2. 1 2 Steve Snider, "Packers, Giants to Clash for Pro Grid Title Today: 32,000 Pay $80,000 to See Big Game in Milwaukee," Eau Claire [WI] Leader, Dec. 10, 1939, p. 14.
  3. ↑ "1939 Green Bay Packers games". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  4. ↑ "1939 New York Giants games". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Strickler, George (December 10, 1939). "Packers meet Giants for pro title today". Chicago Tribune . p. 1, part 2. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Strickler, George (December 11, 1939). "Packers win pro title; whip Giants, 27-0". Chicago Tribune . p. 21. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  7. ↑ McGlynn, Stoney (December 11, 1939). "Bays crush Giants in title game". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 15. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  8. ↑ Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 11, 1939). "Packers' power and deceptive passing game defeat Giants, 27-0". Milwaukee Journal. p. 6, part 2. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ Snider, Steve (December 11, 1939). "Pro grid reaches new heights in playoff". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 26. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Green Bay pro champs of gridiron". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. United Press. December 11, 1939. p. 15. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  11. ↑ Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 10, 1939). "32,500 to see Packers play Giants for pro title". Milwaukee Journal. p. 1, sports. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Packers earn $703.97 each in title triumph". Chicago Tribune . December 11, 1939. p. 21. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Green Bay, wins professional football title by defeating Giants". Chicago Tribune . December 11, 1939. p. 30. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Green Bay Packers grab pro football championship with great ease". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 11, 1939. p. 9. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 5, 1939). "30,000 seats practically sold out in one day for Packer game". Milwaukee Journal. p. 6, part 2. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Packer-Giant tickets go on sale; then swish, they're gone". Milwaukee Sentinel. December 5, 1939. p. 13. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Packer and Giants team rosters". Milwaukee Sentinel. December 10, 1939. p. 2B. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.

43°01′12″N88°00′43″W / 43.020°N 88.012°W / 43.020; -88.012

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.