First Game Played September 26, 1944
Final Game Played December 5, 1948
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HISTORICAL MOMENTS: | |
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1944: | The Boston Yanks were owned by Ted Collins, who managed the career of singer Kate Smith, who sung “God Bless America.” Collins originally wanted his team to play in Yankee Stadium, but could not secure the right to play in New York and instead placed his team in Boston. The Yanks would play their games at Fenway Park with a few games at Braves Field if there was a conflict with the Boston Red Sox. An expansion team was a surprise for the NFL with player shortages due to war, but eight years after the Redskins moved to Washington, the NFL felt Boston was an underserved market. The Yanks coached by Herb Kopf hosted the Philadelphia Eagles in their first game on September 26th, dropping a 28-7 decision. The Yanks would lose their first four games, before earning their first win on October 29th, the Yanks would beat the Brooklyn Tigers that day 17-14 at Ebbets Field. Following losses to the New York Giants and Chicago Bears, the Yanks would win their first home game, also beating the Tigers 13-6 at Fenway Park on November 19th. The Yanks wins over the winless Brooklyn Tigers would be the only wins for the Boston Yanks all season, as they posted a record of 2-8. |
1945: | Due to player shortages the Boston Yanks were forced to merge with the Brooklyn Tigers, the team would simply be called The Yanks, with all but one home game played in Boston as Herb Kopf remained he team’s coach. The Yanks played well early in the season, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-7 to open the season. They would also beat the Washington Redskins 28-20 in Week 2 on the way to posting a 3-1-1 record in their first five games. However, The Yanks would go winless in their final five games and five games and finished in third place with a record of 3-6-1. Dan Topping who owned the Brooklyn Tigers sought to put a team in Yankee Stadium and did so with the upstart AAFC, as the Tigers were dissolved into the Boston Yanks. |
1946: | Like the heavy rains that fell in their first game at Braves Field, the Yanks found themselves stuck in the mud all year as they dropped their first seven games, bring their total losing streak to 12 games. The Yanks losing streak would come to an end with a 28-28 tie against the first place New York Giants, a week later they would stun the Los Angeles Rams 40-21 to get their first win. However, there would be no salvaging the season for Boston as they ended in last place at 2-8-1. |
1947: | With new Coach Clipper Smith, the Yanks began the season by playing the New York Giants to a 7-7 tie at Fenway Park. Following a pair of losses to the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Yanks continued to be a thorn in the Giants side, winning 14-0 at the Polo Grounds on October 19th. After losses to the Chicago Cardinals and Chicago Bears, the Yanks would win three of four games, beating the first place Philadelphia Eagles along the way. The Yanks would finish the season with two more losses, but felt they were moving in the right direction after posting a record of 4-7-1. |
1948: | Once again the Boston Yanks would stumble out of the gates, losing their first three games to start the season. After wins against the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers, Boston’s struggles continued as they lost their next six games. The Yanks would finish the season on December 5th with a 37-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the eventual NFL Champions. However, with the Eastern Division clinched for the Eagles, resting for the NFL Championship Game. Following the season with the permission of the NFL, Owner Ted Collins folded the Boston Yanks for tax purposes and moved the players and league franchise spot to New York, becoming the New York Bulldogs. After one season, the team would become the New York Yanks. Professional football would not return to Boston for more than a decade when the Boston Patriots debut as a charter franchise in the AFL. |
YANKS STADIUMS |
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 Fenway Park 1944-1948 |
 Braves Field1 1944-1948 |
BEANTOWN'S BEST | ||
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 Ace Parker 1945 |  George Cafego 1944-1945 |  Babe Dimancheff 1945-1946 |
 Sam Goldman 1944-1947 |  Don Deeks 1945-1947 |  Eddie Prokop 1946-1947 |
 John Grigas 1945-1947 |  Rocco Canale 1946-1947 |  Harold Crisler 1946-1947 |
 Joe Zeno 1946-1947 |  Don Currivan 1945-1948 |  Mike Micka 1945-1948 |
 John Badaczewski 1946-1948 |  Frank Dancewicz 1946-1948 |  Joe Domnanovich 1946-1948 |
 Fritz Barzilauskas 1947-1948 |  Frank Seno 1947-1948 |  Bill Chipley 1947-1948 |
 The First year Boston Yanks pose at Fenway Park |  The Boston Yanks playing the Detroit Lions in the snow at Fenway Park | |
 The Green Monster with the Boston Yanks in action at Fenway Park | ||
