The 1933 Cincinnati Reds season was their inaugural season in the National Football League (NFL). The team started 0–5-1, suffering shutouts in 5 of the first 6 games, before winning 3 of 4 down the stretch to finish the year with a record of 3 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie.
The Reds were a completely new franchise, started from the ground up by Hamilton County coroner M. Scott Kearns, a local football fan eager to capitalize on professional football's growing popularity, heading a small circle of like-minded local investors.
The Reds had one of the most anemic offenses in the history of the NFL, marking the nadir to set records for fewest yards gained, fewest first downs, fewest passing attempts, and fewest passing touchdowns in a season. The 1933 Reds scored only three touchdowns all year, also still an NFL record. Cincinnati also seems to have played host to the smallest paid crowd in league history when approximately 300 fans braved a steady drizzle to watch the team be shut out by the Philadelphia Eagles on November 5, 6–0. The Reds as a team only completed 25 passes, only eight more than the 1932 Boston Braves, who had 17 completions.
Background
Cincinnati's admission into the National Football League (NFL) in 1933 marked the second time the city had been represented in the circuit. In 1921 the Cincinnati Celts had played an eight game schedule, losing all eight, and ignominiously dropped out of the league.David S. Neft, Richard Cohen, and Jordan A. Deutsch, Pro Football: The Early Years: An Encyclopedic History, 1895–1959. Ridgefield, CT: Sports Products Inc., 1978; p. 80.
The Reds were a new franchise created from the ground-up in 1933, with the syndicate of prominent Cincinnatians behind the project headed by Dr. M. Scott Kearns, Hamilton County coroner, a former collegiate player and long-time football fan."Cincinnati to Have Team in National Pro Grid League: Players and Coach Sought for New Club," Cincinnati Post, June 21, 1933, p. 8.
"Professional football has been growing by leaps and bounds all over the country and we want Cincinnati to be on the pro map," Kearns told a local reporter in June 1933. "We are now negotiating with several well-known coaches to handle the team," Kearns added, further indicating that "good" players were being sought as well, with signings planned prior to the NFL owners meeting to be held in Chicago the weekend of July 8–9.
Kearns was bullish on the chances of the new club in the NFL. "We have plenty of money and we do not intend to chisel," he said. "I think I can guarantee that the Cincinnati Reds — that will be the name of the team — will be able to hold their own against Portsmouth, Green Bay, Chicago, Staten Island, and the rest of the pack."Associated Press, "Cincinnati to Enter Team in Pro Grid Loop," Sandusky Register, June 22, 1933, p. 7.
The July 1933 scheduling meeting welcomed Cincinnati to the NFL together with two new entries — the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Pirates (later changing their name to the Steelers).Ralph Peck, "Grid Reds to Open Sept. 13: Cincinnati's First National Football League Team Will Be Coached by Al Jolley," Cincinnati Post, July 10, 1933, p. 8. Kearns, speaking as representative of the Reds at the league meeting, announced the selection of Al "Rocky" Jolley as head coach — formerly boss of the 1–7–1 1929 Buffalo Bisons. The team added 34-year old quarterback Myron "Mike" Palm, a little-used member of the 1925 and 1926 New York Giants, as a player-coach on July 14, completing the team's coaching staff.Associated Press, "Former Penn State Star Signs as Coach," Lima News, July 14, 1933, p. 1.
On July 22, a new ownership entity called Cincinnati Professional Football Club, Inc. was recognized by the state of Ohio, capitalized with stock in two classes — 300 shares of common stock with a par value of $10 per share, and 200 shares of preferred stock returning a 6% rate of interest, with a par value of $100 per share."Stocks Registered in Ohio: Cincinnati Professional Football Club, Inc.," Cincinnati Enquirer, July 23, 1933, p. 27.
Former collegiate players were signed to the club throughout the summer, with 17 already under contract in mid-August."Grid Roster of Reds Being Filled: Seventeen Players Signed by New Pro Team — To Begin Practice September 3," Cincinnati Enquirer, Aug. 13, 1933, p. 32.
Team secretary William McCoy announced that the Friarhurst retreat in Cincinnati had been reserved for a training camp, which was scheduled to begin September 3. The club's home opener at Redland Field was slated for October 8, McCoy announced, to be preceded by an aggressive slate exhibition games planned against Indianapolis,The game against the Indianapolis Indians definitely did not take place, with that club kicking off their 1933 season against the Portsmouth Spartans NFL club on September 13. See: "Indianapolis Pro Eleven is Ready for Portsmouth," Indianapolis News, Sept. 13, 1933, p. 12. Fort Wayne, and Dayton ahead of the regular season opener against the NFL expansion Pittsburgh Pirates. In actuality, it seems that only a free intersquad game at Cincinnati's Avoco Park on September 10 was held."Free Football Game to Be Staged by Cincinnati Reds Football Team Today," Cincinnati Enquirer, Sept. 10, 1933, p. 36.
Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources — September 13 at Pittsburgh Pirates Postponed due to rain "Portsmouth Invades Cincinnati for Game," Green Bay Press Gazette, Sept. 16, 1933, p. 15. 1 September 17 at Portsmouth Spartans L 0–21 0–1 Universal Stadium 5,000 Recap — September 24 at Troy (OH) Flyers W 59–0 — Troy Athletic Park 3,000 — "Troy Eleven is Swamped by Reds: Cincinnati Aggregation Piling Up 59–0 Triumph," Cincinnati Enquirer, Sept. 25, 1933, p. 11."Reds Run Wild on Troy Grid: Local Pros Beat Flyers by 59-to-0 Count," Cincinnati Post, Sept. 25, 1933, p. 11.Jack Miller, "Sport Comment: Football for Troy," Troy Daily News, Sept. 23, 1933, p. 4,"Troy Flyers Crash," Troy Daily News, Sept. 25, 1933, p. 4. — October 1 at Memphis Tigers W 17–0 — Hodges Field 1,500 — Early Maxwell, "Tiger Pros Open Campaign Against Cincinnati Today: Frosty Peters Has Assembled Heavy and Alert Team for Test with National Pro League Team at Hodges Field." Memphis Commercial Appeal, Oct. 1, 1933, p. 25."Reds at Memphis for Game Today," Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 1, 1933, p. 38."Reds Win, 17–0, in Dixie Game; Victors Impress," Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 2, 1933, pp. 11–12.2 October 8 Chicago Cardinals L 0–3 0–2 Redland Field 1,500 Recap 3 October 11 at Pittsburgh Pirates L 3–17 0–3 Forbes Field 5,000 Recap United Press, "Bucks Defeat Redleg Pros; Score is 17–3," Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 12, 1933, p. 15. 4 October 15 at Brooklyn Dodgers L 0–27 0–4 Ebbets Field 12,000 Recap 5 October 22 Pittsburgh Pirates T 0–0 0–4–1 Redland Field 900 Recap Lou Smith, "Reds in Scoreless Tie in Game With Pirates: Wet Field Slows Up Pro Contest: Only Handful of Fans at Redland Field," Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 23, 1933, pp. 13–14. — October 29 at St. Louis Gunners W 7–0 — Public Schools Stadium 6,350 — James M. Gould, "Cincinnati Beats Gunners, 7–0, on First- Period Score: Pope Goes Over After 80-Yard Drive by Reds; 6350 See Game," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Oct. 30, 1933, p. 16.Bob Gill, "The St. Louis Gunners," Fourth PFRA Annual, 1983; p. 5."Redlegs Win from Gunners by Touchdown: Former Reds Give Local Pros Tight Battle at St Louis," Cincinnati Post, Oct. 30, 1933, p. 11. 6 November 5 Philadelphia Eagles L 0–6 0–5–1 Redland Field 300The other Cincinnati daily had the crowd as "less than 500." Recap "Reds Are Again Victims of Rain and Opposition: Only 300 Customers Brave Sloppy Weather and See Philadelphia Pros Win When Cincinnati Players Are Mired in Redland's Mud," Cincinnati Post, Nov. 6, 1933, p. 12.Associated Press, "Eagles Beat Reds," Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Nov. 6, 1933, p. 23. 7 November 12 at Chicago Cardinals W 12–9 1–5–1 Wrigley Field 7,000Pro Football Reference has the attendance at 6,000, but according to football beat reporter Wilfrid Smith of the Chicago Tribune, the crowd was 7,000 — "more than half of them Ladies Day guests." See: Smith, "Reds Whip Cardinals, 12–9," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 13, 1933, p. 21. Recap 8 November 19 Portsmouth Spartans W 10–7 2–5–1 Redland Field 7,500 Recap 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. 9 November 26 at Philadelphia Eagles L 3–20 2–6–1 Baker Bowl 10,000 Recap Associated Press, "Philly Eagles Bury Cincinnati Reds in Late Attack 20–3," Kennebec Journal, Nov. 27, 1933, p. 2. 10 December 3 Brooklyn Dodgers W 10–0 3–6–1 Redland Field 3,500 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Non-league opponent in italics.
Season recap
After seeing their season opener at Pittsburgh postponed for a month by rain, Cincinnati Reds debuted inauspiciously, traveling to Portsmouth, Ohio for a September 17 match-up with the Portsmouth Spartans. The contest was one-sided, with the Reds cracking midfield only one time and never threatening to score, losers on a hot day by a score of 21–0."Spartans Win Over Red Eleven: Heat Slows Up Pro Game at Portsmouth Park," Cincinnati Enquirer, Sept. 18, 1933, pp. 11–12.
The club filled two free Sundays in their early schedule with exhibition games against lesser opponents, including a 59–0 whitewashing of a semi-pro team from Troy, Ohio — a "workout" in which the Reds were able to use every single player on their 25-man roster. The two easy victories, by a combined score of 76–0, were a high point of an otherwise dismal year.
It would be three weeks between NFL opponents, but finally the day arrived — the Reds' home opener against the oldest team in the league, the Chicago Cardinals. Not for the last time, weather would be a factor, with the start of the game delayed 20 minutes by a torrential downpour, with the size of the crowd held to 1,500 by the meteorological unpleasantness.Lou Smith, "Field Goad Defeats Reds in 'Pro' Football Debut: One Boot Only Marker Made by Chicago Cardinals in Game at Redland," Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 9, 1933, pp. 10–11. Once again the Reds would fail to score, with halfback Joe Lillard out of the University of Oregon — characterized by the local press as a "giant Negro" despite his quite mortal stature of 6'0" and 185 pounds — the star of the game. It would be a Lillard field goal that would provide all the scoring in another shutout loss for Cincinnati, 3–0.
The October 22 home game against Pittsburgh was again played in the rain and ended in an entirely appropriate 0–0 tie — memorable only as a punting extravaganza. The two teams combined to boot the ball skyward an NFL record 31 times in the contest, with the Redlegs setting winning the punting battle, at least, 17 to 14.NFL Communications Department and Santo Labombarda (eds.), Official National Football League 2024 Record and Fact Book. New York: National Football League, 2024; p. 589. Only the fact that the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers found themselves in the same weather situation on the same day with the same 31 punt result has kept the Reds from sitting atop alone the record book in this dubious category.
The biggest crowd of the season would see the Reds' biggest loss, as Benny Friedman of the Brooklyn Dodgers hit his teammate John "Shipwreck" Kelly for two touchdown passes in a 27–0 loss at Ebbets Field."Dodger Aerial Attack Upsets Reds by 27 to 0," New York Daily News, Oct. 16, 1933, p. 44. The coach of the Dodgers, John McEwan, sat on the ball to avoid running up the score after the four-score lead was achieved.Lou Niss, "Dodgers Convince Fans Passing Attack Makes Them Title Contenders: Friedman Finds Nash and Kelly," Brooklyn Times Union, Oct. 16, 1933, p. 12.