The 1921 Chicago Cardinals season was their second in the American Professional Football Association. The Cardinals failed to improve on their previous output of 6–2–2, winning only three APFA games.1921 Chicago Cardinals They finished eighth in the league.
Although a myth persists that the team billed itself as the "Racine Cardinals", by 1921, the press generally referred to the team as the "Chicago Cardinals" and references to Chris O'Brien's team with the Racine name were few."Chicago Cardinals to Mix with Racine", Green Bay (WI) Press-Gazette, September 21, 1921, p. 12"Chicago Cardinals Beat Minneapolis", Decatur (IL) Herald, October 3, 1921, p. 4"Cardinals Drill Under Driscoll", Chicago Tribune, September 28, 1921, p. 13 ("Chris O'Brien's Chicago Cardinals will practice every night this week at Normal Park.") The team had no connection to Racine, Wisconsin, and played at Normal Park on Chicago's Racine Avenue.
Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources – September 25 Racine Horlick-Legion W 27–0 — Normal Park — "Cardinals Open Season with a 27–0 Victory," Chicago Tribune, Sept. 26, 1921, p. 15. 1 October 2 Minneapolis Marines W 20–0 1–0 Normal Park 4,000 Recap 2 October 9 Akron Pros L 0–23 1–1 Normal Park 6,000 Recap 3 October 16 Rock Island Independents L 7–14 1–2 Normal Park 4,000 Recap 4 October 23 Columbus Panhandles W 17–6 2–2 Normal Park 6,000 Recap — October 30 Hammond Pros postponed due to heavy rain "Cardinals Play Hammond Sunday," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 25, 1921, p. 17."Aerial Play Feature of Normal Park Tilt," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 29, 1921, p. 9."Cardinals–Hammond Pros Postpone Clash a Week," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 31, 1921, p. 15. 5 November 6 Hammond Pros W 7–0 3–2 Normal Park Recap "Cardinals Win Close One From Hammond Team," Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, Nov. 7, 1921, p. 6."Cardinals Nose Out Hammond, 7–0," Muscatine Journal, Nov. 7, 1921, p. 6."Hammond Team Loses to Driscoll," Hammond Times, Nov. 7, 1921, p. 8. — November 11 Canton Bulldogs cancelled due to unplayable muddy field "Cardinals Book Canton in Battle Friday," Hammond Times, Nov. 8, 1921, p. 10."Bulletin," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Nov. 12, 1921, p. 10."Sport Briefs," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 12, 1921, p. 10. 6 November 20 Green Bay Packers T 3–3 3–2–1 Normal Park 2,000 Recap Cal [George W. Calhoun], "Driscoll's Field Goal Robs Packers of Victory: Cardinal Star Drop Kicks Ball Between Uprights in Last Four Minutes of Battle," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Nov. 21, 1921, p. 13."Cardinals and Packers Play Tie Game, 3–3," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 21, 1921, p. 16. – November 24 Chicago Stayms-Catholic Foresters W 27–0 — Pyott Park — "Cardinals Beat Stayms Team, 27–0," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 25, 1921, p. 19."Cardinals Win; To Play Staleys," Racine Journal-News, Nov. 25, 1921, p. 21. – November 27 Gary Elks W 21–0 — Normal Park 2,000 — Ziemba, When Football Was Football, p. 399. 7 December 4 Akron Pros L 0–7 3–3–1 Normal Park 3,500 Recap 8 December 18 at Chicago Staleys T 0–0 3–3–2 Cubs Park 2,700 Recap "Staleys Held to Tie by Chicago Cardinals: Driscoll's Eleven Had Three Chances to Register from Field — Small Crowd Out," Decatur Review, Dec. 19, 1921, p. 8."Chicago Cards Hold Staley Eleven to Scoreless Draw," Davenport Democrat and Leader, Dec. 19, 1921, p. 7."Cardinals Give Staleys a Scare in Tie Game, 0–0," Chicago Tribune, Dec. 19, 1921, p. 19. — January 9 Chicago Stayms-Foresters W 6–0 — Normal Park 3,000 — "Cardinals Beat Stayms, 6 to 0, in Gridiron Game," Hammond Times, Jan. 10, 1921, p. 7. Note: Games in italics are non-league opponents. Armistice Day: November 11. Thanksgiving: November 24.
Standings
Roster
The 1921 Chicago Cardinals consisted the following players, with the number of league games played appended in parentheses."1921 Chicago Cardinals Roster and Players," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com One member of the team, star quarterback Paddy Driscoll, was later inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
Linemen Willis Brennan (6) Garland Buckeye (5) Leo Chappell (1) Fred Gillies (8) Charlie Knight (4) Paul LaRoss (2) Rube Marquardt (3) Nick McInerney (6) Red O'Connor (5) Frank Rydzeski (8) Lenny Sachs (8) Walter Voight (1) Clyde Zoia (8)
Backs
Norm Barry (3) Ping Bodie (1) Harry Curran (1) Paddy Driscoll (8) Dick Egan (1) Bernie Halstrom (5) Arnie Horween (3) Ralph Horween (2) Bob Koehler (4) Earl Potteiger (1) John Scanlon (4) Pete Steger (6)
References
Further reading
Joe Ziemba, Bears vs. Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2022. Joe Ziemba, When Football Was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL. Chicago: Triumph Books, 1999.