1933 Portsmouth Spartans season
| 1933 Portsmouth Spartans season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Portsmouth National League Football Corporation |
| General manager | Harry N. Snyder |
| Head coach | Potsy Clark |
| Home stadium | Spartan Field |
| Results | |
| Record | 6–5 |
| Division place | 2nd NFL Western |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
The 1933 Portsmouth Spartans season was their fourth in the National Football League (NFL) and final season before the franchise was sold and moved to Michigan to become the Detroit Lions. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 6–2–4, losing five games.[1] They failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Schedule
The Spartans started out fast with a 5–1 mark, just a half-game behind the first place Bears (5–0). After splitting their next two contests, Portsmouth (at 6–2) was still within half a game of Chicago (6–1–1). But the Spartans would lose their next three games, including back-to-back defeats to the Bears to close the season.
The Spartans were sold and headed north for the 1934 season, becoming the Detroit Lions. Ironically, the team would return for one last game at Spartan Field when the Lions' October 28 contest against failing Cincinnati Reds franchise was moved from the Queen City to Portsmouth; Detroit won, 38–0, in the last NFL game played in the small Ohio town.
| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap | Sources | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | September 13 | at Indianapolis Indians | W 19–0 | — | Perry Stadium | 2,206[2] | — | [3][4] | |
| 1 | September 17 | Cincinnati Reds | W 21–0 | 1–0 | Spartan Field | 5,000 | Recap | [5] | |
| 2 | September 24 | New York Giants | W 17–7 | 2–0 | Universal Stadium | 7,000 | Recap | [6] | |
| 3 | October 1 | Chicago Cardinals | W 7–6 | 3–0 | Spartan Field | Recap | [7][8] | ||
| 4 | October 8 | at Green Bay Packers | L 0–17 | 3–1 | City Stadium | 5,200 | Recap | ||
| 5 | October 15 | at Boston Redskins | W 13–0 | 4–1 | Fenway Park | 20,000 | Recap | ||
| 6 | October 18 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 25–0 | 5–1 | Baker Bowl | 20,000 | Recap | ||
| 7 | November 5 | at New York Giants | L 10–13 | 5–2 | Polo Grounds | 15,000 | Recap | ||
| 8 | November 12 | Green Bay Packers | W 7–0 | 6–2 | Spartan Field | 7,500 | Recap | ||
| 9 | November 19 | at Cincinnati Reds | L 7–10 | 6–3 | Redland Field | 7,500 | Recap | [9] | |
| 10 | November 26 | at Chicago Bears | L 14–17 | 6–4 | Wrigley Field | 9,000 | Recap | ||
| 11 | December 3 | Chicago Bears | L 7–17 | 6–5 | Spartan Field | 10,000 | Recap | ||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Non-league game in italics. | |||||||||
Standings
| NFL Western Division | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | PF | PA | STK | ||
| Chicago Bears | 10 | 2 | 1 | .833 | 7–0 | 133 | 82 | W4 | |
| 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 3–4 | 128 | 87 | L3 | ||
| Green Bay Packers | 5 | 7 | 1 | .417 | 2–4 | 170 | 107 | L1 | |
| Cincinnati Reds | 3 | 6 | 1 | .333 | 2–2 | 38 | 110 | W1 | |
| Chicago Cardinals | 1 | 9 | 1 | .100 | 1–5 | 52 | 101 | T1 | |
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
| NFL Eastern Division | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | PF | PA | STK | ||
| New York Giants | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 7–1 | 244 | 101 | W7 | |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 5 | 4 | 1 | .556 | 2–2–1 | 93 | 54 | L2 | |
| Boston Redskins | 5 | 5 | 2 | .500 | 2–3 | 103 | 97 | T1 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | 5 | 1 | .375 | 1–2 | 77 | 158 | L2 | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 3 | 6 | 2 | .333 | 1–5–1 | 67 | 208 | L3 | |
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
References
- ^ 1933 Portsmouth Spartans
- ^ Paid admission, Indianapolis Times estimated 2,500 in attendance.
- ^ "Indianapolis Pro Eleven is Ready for Portsmouth," Indianapolis News, Sept. 13, 1933, p. 12.
- ^ "2,500 See Spartans Rap City Pro Eleven," Indianapolis Times, Sept. 14, 1933, p. 12.
- ^ "Grid Tribe Signs Eight New Stars," Indianapolis Times, Sept. 8, 1933, p. 25.
- ^ "Famed Passer Given Object Lesson as Presnell Tosses Rings Around Harry Newman: Portsmouth Trims New York Giants, 17–7, on Spartan Field for Second National Loop Win," Cincinnati Enquirer, Sept. 25, 1933, p. 13.
- ^ "Portsmouth Blocks Lillard's Kick; Cardinals Beaten, 7–6," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 2, 1933, p. 23.
- ^ "Third in a Row is Taken By Spartans When They Come Through, 7–6, Over Chicago Cards," Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 2, 1933, pp. 21-22.
- ^ Lou Smith, "Redlegs Jolt Portsmouth 10 to 7 as 7,500 Fans Look On: Real Power is Shown by Victor, Who Play Fine Football in Home Game on Gridiron," Cincinnati Enquirer, Nov. 20, 1933, pp. 11–12.