1933 Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) season

{{short description|Inaugural season of NFL team Pittsburgh Steelers}}

File:1933 Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL).jpg

{{Infobox NFL season

| team = Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL)

| year = 1933

| record = 3–6–2

| division_place = 5th Eastern Division

| owner = Art Rooney

| general manager =

| coach = Forrest Douds

| stadium = Forbes Field

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| previous = none

| no_prevseason = true

| teamdisplay = Pittsburgh Pirates

| shortnavlink = Pirates seasons

}}

The 1933 Pittsburgh Pirates season marked the debut of the team known today as the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team was established by Arthur Rooney Sr., a former boxer and semi-pro football player, who paid the National Football League (NFL) its $2,500 expansion fee with winnings from successful weekend gambling at the Saratoga Race Track in New York.Tom Bennett et al. (eds.), The NFL's Official Encyclopedic History of Professional Football. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1977; p. 200.

Rooney named the team "Pirates" and made use of black-and-gold team colors as a means of attaching his fledgling team to the Pittsburgh Pirates of baseball's National League. Home games were scheduled for Forbes Field, stadium used by the baseball Pirates. The new squad was composed largely of local semi-pro players.

Rooney quickly ran into Pennsylvania's blue laws, which prohibited professional sports from taking place on Sundays, when most NFL games took place. Rooney slyly circumvented the law by providing the superintendent of police with free box seats.

Except for a brief period in 1940 and 1941, Rooney would remain the franchise's principal owner until his death in 1988. The Rooney family has retained a controlling interest ever since.

The Pirates took the field for the first time on September 20 against the New York Giants at Forbes Field, losing 23–2. The following week, the team got its first win, defeating the Chicago Cardinals at home 14–13.

The team finished 3–6–2 for the season.

Regular season

=Schedule=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Pirates\|year=1933\|border=2}}"\| Game ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Pirates\|year=1933\|border=2}}"\| Date ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Pirates\|year=1933\|border=2}}"\| Opponent ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Pirates\|year=1933\|border=2}}"\| Result ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Pirates\|year=1933\|border=2}}"\| Record ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Pirates\|year=1933\|border=2}}"\| Venue ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Pirates\|year=1933\|border=2}}"\| Attendance ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Pirates\|year=1933\|border=2}}"\| Recap ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Pirates\|year=1933\|border=2}}"\| Sources
style="background:#fcc" ! 1 \| {{dow tooltip\|September 20, 1933}} \| New York Giants \| L 2–23 \| 0–1 \| Forbes Field \| 20,000 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193309200pit.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#cfc" ! 2 \| {{dow tooltip\|September 27, 1933}} \| Chicago Cardinals \| W 14–13 \| 1–1 \| Forbes Field \| 5,000 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193309270pit.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 3 \| {{dow tooltip\|October 4, 1933}} \| Boston Redskins \| L 6–21 \| 1–2 \| Forbes Field \| 15,000 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310040pit.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#cfc" ! 4 \| {{dow tooltip\|October 11, 1933}} \| Cincinnati Reds \| W 17–3 \| 2–2 \| Forbes Field \| 5,000 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310110pit.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 5 \| October 15 \| at Green Bay Packers \| L 0–47 \| 2–3 \| City Stadium \| 4,000 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310150gnb.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#ffc" ! 6 \| October 22 \| at Cincinnati Reds \| T 0–0 \| 2–3–1 \| Redland Field \| 900 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310220red.htm Recap] \| Lou Smith, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-reds-in-scoreles/161116285/ "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–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-wet-field-detrac/161116323/ 14].
style="background:#cfc" ! 7 \| October 29 \| at Boston Redskins \| W 16–14 \| 3–3–1 \| Fenway Park \| 7,500 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310290was.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#ffc" ! 8 \| November 5 \| at Brooklyn Dodgers \| T 3–3 \| 3–3–2 \| Ebbets Field \| 15,000 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193311050bkn.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 9 \| November 12 \| Brooklyn Dodgers \| L 0–32 \| 3–4–2 \| Forbes Field \| 12,000 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193311050bkn.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 10 \| November 19 \| at Philadelphia Eagles \| L 6–25 \| 3–5–2 \| Baker Bowl \| 6,000 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193311190phi.htm Recap] \|
— \| colspan="8" \| Bye
style="background:#fcc" ! 11 \| December 3 \| at New York Giants \| L 3-27 \| 3–6–2 \| Polo Grounds \| 10,000 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193312030nyg.htm Recap] \|
colspan="10"\| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Game

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Date

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Opponent

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Result

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Record

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Venue

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Attendance

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Recap

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Pirates|year=1933|border=2}}"| Sources

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| {{dow tooltip|September 20, 1933}}

| New York Giants

| L 2–23

| 0–1

| Forbes Field

| 20,000

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193309200pit.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 2

| {{dow tooltip|September 27, 1933}}

| Chicago Cardinals

| W 14–13

| 1–1

| Forbes Field

| 5,000

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193309270pit.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| {{dow tooltip|October 4, 1933}}

| Boston Redskins

| L 6–21

| 1–2

| Forbes Field

| 15,000

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310040pit.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 4

| {{dow tooltip|October 11, 1933}}

| Cincinnati Reds

| W 17–3

| 2–2

| Forbes Field

| 5,000

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310110pit.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 5

| October 15

| at Green Bay Packers

| L 0–47

| 2–3

| City Stadium

| 4,000

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310150gnb.htm Recap]

style="background:#ffc"

! 6

| October 22

| at Cincinnati Reds

| T 0–0

| 2–3–1

| Redland Field

| 900

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310220red.htm Recap]

| Lou Smith, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-reds-in-scoreles/161116285/ "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–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-wet-field-detrac/161116323/ 14].

style="background:#cfc"

! 7

| October 29

| at Boston Redskins

| W 16–14

| 3–3–1

| Fenway Park

| 7,500

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193310290was.htm Recap]

style="background:#ffc"

! 8

| November 5

| at Brooklyn Dodgers

| T 3–3

| 3–3–2

| Ebbets Field

| 15,000

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193311050bkn.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| November 12

| Brooklyn Dodgers

| L 0–32

| 3–4–2

| Forbes Field

| 12,000

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193311050bkn.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 10

| November 19

| at Philadelphia Eagles

| L 6–25

| 3–5–2

| Baker Bowl

| 6,000

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193311190phi.htm Recap]

—

| colspan="8" | Bye

style="background:#fcc"

! 11

| December 3

| at New York Giants

| L 3-27

| 3–6–2

| Polo Grounds

| 10,000

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/193312030nyg.htm Recap]

colspan="10"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Game summaries

= Week 1 (Wednesday September 20, 1933): [[New York Giants]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Giants

|R1=0

|R2=7

|R3=0

|R4=16

|Home=Pirates

|H1=0

|H2=0

|H3=0

|H4=2

}}

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 20,000
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

New York – Strong 33 interception (Strong kick)
Pittsburgh – Safety, Strong punt blocked out of end zone by Oehler
New York – Newman 5 run (Strong kick)
New York – FG Newman 39
New York – Burnett 37 pass from Newman (kick failed)

= Week 2 (Wednesday September 27, 1933): [[Chicago Cardinals]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Cardinals

|R1=6

|R2=7

|R3=0

|R4=0

|Home=Pirates

|H1=0

|H2=7

|H3=0

|H4=7

}}

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 5,000
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Chicago Cardinals – McNally 51 intercepted lateral (kick failed)
Chicago Cardinals – Moe 35 pass from Lillard (Lillard kick)
Pittsburgh – Kottler 99 interception (Kelsch kick)
Pittsburgh – Moss 11 pass from Tanguay (Kelsch kick)

= Week 3 (Wednesday October 4, 1933): [[Boston Redskins]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Redskins

|R1=7

|R2=0

|R3=7

|R4=7

|Home=Pirates

|H1=0

|H2=0

|H3=0

|H4=6

}}

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 15,000
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Boston – Battles 70 punt return (Musick kick)
Boston – Musick 1 run (Musick kick)
Boston – Holmer 1 run (LaPresta kick)
Pittsburgh – Brovelli 1 run (kick failed)

= Week 4 (Wednesday October 11, 1933): [[Cincinnati Reds (NFL)|Cincinnati Reds]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Reds

|R1=3

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=0

|Home=Pirates

|H1=7

|H2=0

|H3=0

|H4=10

}}

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 5,000
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Cincinnati – FG Clark 12
Pittsburgh – Westfall 2 run (Brovelli kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Kelsch 36
Pittsburgh – Vaughan 3 run (Westfall kick)

= Week 5 (Sunday October 15, 1933): at [[Green Bay Packers]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Pirates

|R1=0

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=0

|Home=Packers

|H1=7

|H2=20

|H3=13

|H4=7

}}

at City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 4,000
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Green Bay – Hinkle 1 run (Monnett kick)
Green Bay – Monnett 7 run (kick failed)
Green Bay – Goldenberg 67 interception (Grove kick)
Green Bay – Goldenberg 3 run (Monnett kick)
Green Bay – Bruder 52 run (Herber kick)
Green Bay – Monnett 12 run (kick failed)
Green Bay – Englemann 40 lateral from Monnett after 9 pass from Herber (Monnett kick)

= Week 6 (Sunday October 22, 1933): at [[Cincinnati Reds (NFL)|Cincinnati Reds]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Pirates

|R1=0

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=0

|Home=Reds

|H1=0

|H2=0

|H3=0

|H4=0

}}

at Redland Field, Cincinnati, Ohio

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 900
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

none

= Week 7 (Sunday October 29, 1933): at [[Boston Redskins]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Pirates

|R1=0

|R2=9

|R3=7

|R4=0

|Home=Redskins

|H1=7

|H2=0

|H3=0

|H4=7

}}

at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 7,500
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Boston – Battles 5 run (Musick kick)
Pittsburgh – Moss 30 pass from Holm (kick failed)
Pittsburgh – FG Engebretsen 21
Pittsburgh – Westfall 60 pass from Holm (Brovelli kick)
Boston – Weller run (Musick kick)

= Week 8 (Sunday November 5, 1933): at [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Pirates

|R1=0

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=3

|Home=Dodgers

|H1=3

|H2=0

|H3=0

|H4=0

}}

at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 15,000
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Brooklyn – FG Hickman 30
Pittsburgh – FG Kelsch 15

= Week 9 (Sunday November 12, 1933): [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Dodgers

|R1=6

|R2=7

|R3=13

|R4=6

|Home=Pirates

|H1=0

|H2=0

|H3=0

|H4=0

}}

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 12,000
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Brooklyn – Kelly 15 run (kick failed)
Brooklyn – Kelly 70 punt return (Hickman kick)
Brooklyn – Nash 61 pass from Cagle (kick failed)
Brooklyn – Kelly 2 run (Kelly kick)
Brooklyn – Fishel 7 run (kick failed)

= Week 10 (Sunday November 19, 1933): at [[Philadelphia Eagles]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Pirates

|R1=0

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=6

|Home=Eagles

|H1=6

|H2=0

|H3=13

|H4=6

}}

at Baker Bowl, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 6,000
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Philadelphia – Hanson run (kick failed)
Philadelphia – Carter pass from Kirkman (Kirkman kick)
Philadelphia – Carter pass from Kirkman (kick failed)
Pittsburgh – Brovelli run (kick failed)
Philadelphia – Woodruff run (kick failed)

= Week 12 (Sunday December 3, 1933): at [[New York Giants]] =

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Pirates

|R1=0

|R2=3

|R3=0

|R4=0

|Home=Giants

|H1=0

|H2=0

|H3=7

|H4=20

}}

at Polo Grounds, New York City

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 10,000
Referee:
TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Kelsch 14
New York – Krause 20 pass from Strong (Strong kick)
New York – Badgro 25 pass from Newman (kick failed)
New York – Richards 14 pass from Newman (Richards kick)
New York – Richards 22 run (Krause pass from Newman)

References

Category:Pittsburgh Steelers seasons

Pittsburgh

Pittsburg Pir

Category:1930s in Pittsburgh