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Los Angeles Dons

Frank Fleming
Author: 
Frank Fleming
4 mins
November 1st, 2023
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LOS ANGELES DONS

  • First Game Played September 13, 1946

  • Last Game Played November 24, 1949

HISTORICAL MOMENTS:

1946:

With World War II complete, transcontinental travel became easier, as jet planes were beginning to take over trains as the primary mode of transportation. This opened the door for California to get a Professional Football team. The newly formed All-American Football Conference placed two teams in the Golden State, one in San Francisco and another in Los Angeles. At the same time the Cleveland Rams were moving to the Los Angeles Coliseum, they would share the stadium with an AAFC team called the Los Angeles Dons. The Dons were owner by Benjamin Lindheimer, a Chicago real estate and race track executive, and also had several celebrity owners including Louis B. Mayer, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Don Ameche. Coached by Dudley DeGroot, the Dons defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 20-14 in their first game on September 13th. After a 30-14 win over the Miami Seahawks, the Dons played the Buffalo Bisons to a 21-21 tie in their first road game. Following a 21-9 road win over the Chicago Rockets, the Dons came home and lost their first game to the San Francisco 49ers 23-14, starting a three game losing streak. The Dons would be one of just two teams to beat the Cleveland Browns, winning 17-16 at the Coliseum on November 3rd. However, two losses to the 49ers would leave them in third place with a record of 7-5-2 at season’s end.

1947:

It would be another up and down season for the Los Angeles Dons, in their second year in the AAFC as they posted a record of 7-7 and again, placed third in the AAFC’s Western Division. The disappointing part of the Dons season would see them once again come up empty handed in the battle of California, losing twice to the San Francisco 49ers. However, the Dons again beat the Cleveland Browns, winning in Cleveland 13-10 on October 12th. It would be the only loss the Browns would suffer on the way to winning a second straight AAFC Championship.

1948:

The Los Angeles Dons continued to wade in the waters of mediocrity, posting a record of 7-7 for the second straight season. Once again the Dons came up empty handed against the rivals from Northern California, losing both games to the San Francisco 49ers for the third straight season. However, they would not be able to beat the Cleveland Browns for a third straight season, as the league’s most dominant team waltzed to a 14-0 season and a third straight championship.

1949:

The Los Angeles Dons started the season with a 49-17 win over the Baltimore Colts. However, any hopes for a playoff berth took a big hit when they lost their next four games. The Dons would only string together four wins, in what would be their final season posting a record of 4-8. Once again they would be swept by the San Francisco 49ers, losing all eight games to the Niners in their four year existence. The 49ers, along with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts would go on to join the NFL. However, with a the LA Rams already in the NFL, a second team in Los Angeles would not be in the league’s agenda as all AAFC teams that played in cities with NFL teams already in existence were not considered for an invitation to join the NFL after the AAFC folded.

DONS STADIUMS

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

1946-1949

DONS DUDES

Angelo Bertelli

1946

Lee Artoe

Charlie O’Rourke

1946-1947

Bill Radovich

1946-1947

Harry Clarke

1946-1948

Ray Frankowski

1946-1948

John Kimbrough

1946-1948

Bob Nowaskey

1946-1948

Ben Agajanian

1947-1948

Earl Audet

1946-1948

Joe Aguirre

1946-1949

Al Lolotai

1946-1949

Bob Reinhard

1946-1949

Burr Baldwin

1947-1949

Glenn Dobbs

1948-1949

Len Ford

1948-1949

Knox Ramsey

1948-1949

Bill Reinhard

1948-1949

The Los Angeles Dons in Action at

Los Angeles Coliseum

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Author

Frank Fleming
Frank Fleming founded the Sports Ecyclopedia in 2001 & is a passionate Devils fan.