The Man Who Built the National Football

Founded in 1920, the National Football League chose famed athlete Jim Thorpe as its first president, a position he held briefly until a successor was elected. From 1921 to 1939, Joe F. Carr guided the sport of professional football with intelligence, hard work, and a passion that built the foundation of what the NFL has become: the number one sports organization in the world. During his 18-year tenure as NFL President, Carr created the organization's first Constitution & By-Laws; implemented the standard player's contract; wrote the NFL's first-ever Record and Fact Book; helped split the NFL into two divisions and establish the NFL's World Championship Game; started keeping league statistics; and developed the NFL Draft. But Carr's greatest achievement was creating a vision for the NFL as a big-city sport. By skillfully recruiting financially capable owners to operate NFL franchises in big market cities, he created the solid foundation for the league's successful future. While the sport has grown to unheard of heights, Carr's name and accomplishments have been lost and forgotten. The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr captures the life and career of this pivotal figure in professional sports, chronicling the many achievements of a man whose vision helped shaped what the NFL is today. With unlimited access and complete cooperation from the Carr family_including family interviews, personal letters, and family photos_as well as NFL League Minutes, Willis recounts the fascinating life and career of a man dedicated to the game.

NFL President Joe F. Carr hands the 1934 NFL Trophy to Giants owners Tim Mara and his son John Mara, in the presence of all the other NFL owners. Courtesy of the New York Giants.

Foreword	p. v
Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction: One Man's Vision	p. xiii
Humble Beginnings (1879-1919)
The Irish Way (1841-1878)	p. 3
Growing Up in Columbus, Ohio (1879-1893)	p. 8
The Love of a Family Is Replaced by a Love of Sports (1894-1906)	p. 13
Pro Football's Rag Days	p. 22
The Columbus Panhandles and the Great Nesser Brothers (1907-1909)	p. 26
Starting a Family (1910-1913)	p. 45
Pro Football's Most Famous Traveling Team (1914-1916)	p. 66
Making a Name for Himself (1917-1919)	p. 96
The Presidency (1920-1939)
The American Professional Football Association (1920)	p. 119
President Elect (1921)	p. 133
The National Football League (1922)	p. 145
Defending Professional Football (1923)	p. 160
Baby Steps for President Carr (1924)	p. 172
The NFL Comes to New York City (1925)	p. 181
The Galloping Ghost and Pottsville Controversy (1925)	p. 192
The Grange League (1926)	p. 208
Traveling for a Cause (1927-1928)	p. 227
How Do We Get to the Big Cities and Stay? (1929-1930)	p. 244
Small-Town Green Bay Is Titletown (1931)	p. 267
Indoor Circus (1932)	p. 279
The Pro Game Separates Itself from the College Game (1933)	p. 299
Sneakers in New York (1934)	p. 322
The Postgraduate Game Is Finally a Big-City Sport (1935)	p. 337
Packers, Redskins, and the NFL Draft (1936)	p. 348
Heart of Gold Continues to Work (1937)	p. 357
"Greatest Show in Football" (1938)	p. 368
Death of a President (1939)	p. 380
Aftermath	p. 393
Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963)	p. 397
The Legacy of Joe F Carr	p. 402
Appendix: Dates and Locations of NFL Meetings Presided by NFL President	p. 407
Notes	p. 409
Bibliography	p. 439
Index	p. 447
About the Author	p. 461
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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The Man Who Built the National Football League Joe F. Carr

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