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The Akron Pros were a professional football team that played in Akron, Ohio from 1908 to 1926. The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, but later became Akron Pros in 1920 as the team set out to become a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football League (NFL) in 1922). Fritz Pollard, the first black head coach in the NFL, co-coached the Akron Pros in 1921. Paul Robeson played for the team in 1921 as well. He was among the earliest stars of professional football before football became segregated from 1934 to 1946. In 1926, the name was changed back to the Akron Indians, after the earlier semi-pro team. Due to financial problems, the team suspended operations in 1927 and surrendered its franchise the following year.
Suey Welch (D. 1974) played for the Akron Indians alongside his brothers from 1916-18. In 1921, Welch bought the Akron Indians name and fielded his own professional football team (this is the team pictured). Many of the players were loaned from other professional football teams or spent some time playing in the early NFL. He was also well known in the boxing world; managing boxers such as Middleweight Champion, Gorilla Jones.
Offered is this Spectacular original TYPE One 1924 Akron Indians Pro Football Team Panoramic Photo that measures 38” x 8” and is in Excellent condition.
This photograph shows a tough looking Akron Indians squad, and the bottom of the photo has the following marking Akron Indians Football team 1924.
The photo also has a photographer mark which reads, “Hart of Cuyahoga Falls Ohio.”
The players are wearing an assortment of uniforms, and one of the players has a killer jersey with an elephant on his chest.
I show a newspaper clipping from the November 24, 1924 Akron Beacon Journal which notes that negro tackle Sol Butler, who had been imported from the Hammond Pros, scored a touchdown for the Indians.
Sol Butler (D. 1954) was a dominant athlete, competing in the 1920 summer Olympics in the long jump, and played professional football for the Hammond Pros, Akron Pros, Akron Indians, Canton Bulldogs, Buffalo Bisons, and Rock Island Independents.
He signed on with the NFL in 1923 with the Rock Island Independents, which local accounts raved about his first appearance in the victory over the Chicago Bears. His contract from Rock Island was sold to the Hammond Pros in November 1923 for the remainder of the season for $10,000. In 1925, Butler played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues briefly, going 0-3.[1] Later, returning to football, Butler played alongside Jim Thorpe of the Canton Bulldogs where he was named starting quarterback in 1926. In 1926, the New York Giants refused to let its all-white team on the field in front of the largest crowd ever (40,000) to watch an NFL game until Canton withdraw Butler as starting quarterback.
He died on December 1, 1954, after being shot by a patron at Paddy's Liquors, a Chicago tavern where he was employed for seven years. Butler died of his injuries at Chicago's Provident hospital.
We cannot understate the importance of Butler’s presence on this team. Not only was he a star, but part of a small select number of athletes who were “allowed” to play professional football before the NFL unofficial barred these players from the league in 1936.
In addition to Butler being pictured in this photo other notable players on this roster included:
Elgie Tobin (All American at West Virginia and Penn State) – Akron Pros (1920 & 1921 NFL, also head coach of West Virginia, Akron Pros, played in the first NFL championship game in 1920
Leo Tobin – played at Grove City and played for the Akron Pros in 1920 (championship game) and again in 1921 for the pros.
Carl Cardarelli – played in 1924 with the Akron Pros and 1925 Cleveland Bulldogs
Walt Kreinheder – played at the University of Michigan and then for the Akron Pros, St. Louis All-Stars, and Cleveland Bulldogs from 1922-25. In 1923, he was selected as a first team All-NFL player by Collyers Eye Magazine
Scotty Bierce – played college ball at Akron and played in the NFL from 1920 – 1925 for the Akron Pros, Cleveland Indians, Buffalo All-Americans, Cleveland Bulldogs, and the Akron Indians. He was a 2 X NFL champion
Leo McClausland – played college football at Mississippi State and Detroit Mercy. Played in the NFL for the Akron Pros in 1922
John Barrett – played at U of Detroit and in the NFL from 1924-28 for the Akron Pros, Detroit Wolverines, Detroit Panthers, and Pottsville Maroons.
Marshall Jones – played for North Dakota (college) and from 1920-21 for the Hammond Pros, Detroit Heralds, and Akron Pros
Martin Beck – played in the NFL from 1921 – 1926 for the Akron Pros/Indians
Incredible early Professional Football piece with many NFL pioneers.
Item: 13625
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