1944 Brooklyn Tigers season

{{Infobox NFL season

| logo = Tigers-Redskins-gameprogram-441112.jpg

| team = Brooklyn Tigers

| year = 1944

| record = 0–10

| division_place = 5th NFL Eastern

| owner = Dan Topping

| general manager = Tom Gallery

| coach = Frank Bridges, Pete Cawthon, and Ed Kubale

| stadium = Ebbets Field

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| previous = 1943

| next = 1945 (Yanks)

| alternatenav =

}}

The 1944 Brooklyn Tigers season was their 15th and final season in the league before merging with the Boston Yanks. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 2–8, losing all ten games.[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/bkn/1944.htm 1944 Brooklyn Tigers] They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season.

Schedule

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Brooklyn Tigers\|year=1944\|border=2}}"\| Game !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Brooklyn Tigers\|year=1944\|border=2}}"\| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Brooklyn Tigers\|year=1944\|border=2}}"\| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Brooklyn Tigers\|year=1944\|border=2}}"\| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Brooklyn Tigers\|year=1944\|border=2}}"\| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Brooklyn Tigers\|year=1944\|border=2}}"\| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Brooklyn Tigers\|year=1944\|border=2}}"\| Attendance !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Brooklyn Tigers\|year=1944\|border=2}}"\| Recap !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Brooklyn Tigers\|year=1944\|border=2}}"\| Sources
style="background:#fcc" ! 1 \| September 17 \| at Green Bay Packers \| L 7–14 \| 0–1 \| Wisconsin State Fair Park \| 12,994 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194409170gnb.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 2 \| October 8 \| at Detroit Lions \| L 14–19 \| 0–2 \| Briggs Stadium \| 15,702 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194410080det.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 3 \| October 15 \| New York Giants \| L 7–14 \| 0–3 \| Ebbets Field \| 24,854 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194410150bkn.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 4 \| October 22 \| at Washington Redskins \| L 14–17 \| 0–4 \| Griffith Stadium \| 35,540 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194410220was.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 5 \| October 29 \| Boston Yanks \| L 14–17 \| 0–5 \| Ebbets Field \| 13.237 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194410290bkn.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 6 \| November 5 \| Philadelphia Eagles \| L 7–21 \| 0–6 \| Ebbets Field \| 15,289 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194411050bkn.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 7 \| November 12 \| Washington Redskins \| L 0–10 \| 0–7 \| Ebbets Field \| 20,404 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194411120bkn.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 8 \| November 19 \| at Boston Yanks \| L 6–13 \| 0–8 \| Fenway Park \| 15,666 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194411190byk.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 9 \| November 26 \| at New York Giants \| L 0–7 \| 0–9 \| Polo Grounds \| 29,387 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194411260nyg.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 10 \| December 3 \| at Philadelphia Eagles \| L 0–34 \| 0–10 \| Shibe Park \| 13,467 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194412030phi.htm Recap] \|
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Brooklyn Tigers\|year=1944\|border=2}}" \|colspan="10"\| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

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

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Brooklyn Tigers|year=1944|border=2}}"| Game

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Brooklyn Tigers|year=1944|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Brooklyn Tigers|year=1944|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Brooklyn Tigers|year=1944|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Brooklyn Tigers|year=1944|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Brooklyn Tigers|year=1944|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Brooklyn Tigers|year=1944|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Brooklyn Tigers|year=1944|border=2}}"| Recap

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Brooklyn Tigers|year=1944|border=2}}"| Sources

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| September 17

| at Green Bay Packers

| L 7–14

| 0–1

| Wisconsin State Fair Park

| 12,994

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194409170gnb.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 2

| October 8

| at Detroit Lions

| L 14–19

| 0–2

| Briggs Stadium

| 15,702

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194410080det.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| October 15

| New York Giants

| L 7–14

| 0–3

| Ebbets Field

| 24,854

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194410150bkn.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 4

| October 22

| at Washington Redskins

| L 14–17

| 0–4

| Griffith Stadium

| 35,540

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194410220was.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 5

| October 29

| Boston Yanks

| L 14–17

| 0–5

| Ebbets Field

| 13.237

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194410290bkn.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| November 5

| Philadelphia Eagles

| L 7–21

| 0–6

| Ebbets Field

| 15,289

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194411050bkn.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 7

| November 12

| Washington Redskins

| L 0–10

| 0–7

| Ebbets Field

| 20,404

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194411120bkn.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 8

| November 19

| at Boston Yanks

| L 6–13

| 0–8

| Fenway Park

| 15,666

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194411190byk.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| November 26

| at New York Giants

| L 0–7

| 0–9

| Polo Grounds

| 29,387

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194411260nyg.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 10

| December 3

| at Philadelphia Eagles

| L 0–34

| 0–10

| Shibe Park

| 13,467

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194412030phi.htm Recap]

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Brooklyn Tigers|year=1944|border=2}}"

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

Standings

File:440910-FtWarren-Tigers-program.jpg, Cheyenne, Wyoming, September 10, 1944.]]

Roster

The NFL used an active roster of just 28 players during the wartime seasons of 1943 and 1944. According to the league's preseason roster guide,George Strickler (ed.), National Football League 1944 Roster Manual. Chicago: National Football League, 1944; pp. 10–11. the 28-man roster for the 1944 Brooklyn Tigers consisted of the following:

Quarterbacks

• 26 - Bill Brown

Halfbacks

• 10 - Frank Martin

• 11 - Charles "Dub" McGibbony

• 12 - Kenny Fryer

• 15 - Bill Reynolds

• 19 - John McMichael

• 27 - Cecil Johnson (halfback)

• 30 - Frank "Butch" Sachse

• 42 - Ray Hare

Fullbacks

• 9 - Clarence "Pug" Manders

• 32 - Tony Falkenstein

Ends

• 22 - Andy Kowalski

• 28 - Bob Masterson

• 31 - W. S. Lafitte

• 34 - Flip McDonald

• 35 - Enrico Eguccioni

• 55 - Joe Carter

Tackles

• 25 - Frank "Bruiser" Kinard

• 36 - Frank Strom

• 38 - George Doherty (Drafted rookie)

• 43 - Charlie Ware

• 44 - George Sergienko

Guards

• 16 - John Ellis

• 17 - Tony Leon

• 21 - Charles Taylor

• 24 - Floyd Rhea

Centers

• 33 - Vaughn Stewart

• 57 - George Smith

Draft

The 1944 NFL draft was held on April 19, 1944, at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia. By agreement of league owners, the new Boston Yanks franchise received the first pick of the first round and then were subsequently assigned 11th in the order of draft selection.George Strickler (ed.), Record and Rules Manual, 1944. Chicago: National Football League, 1944; p. 87.

Although there were 32 rounds in the 1944 draft, each of the league's 11 teams selected 30 players, for a total of 330 players picked.Strickler (ed.), Record and Rules Manual, 1944, pp. 77–87, passim. The five worst-finishing teams of the 1943 season picked alone in rounds 2 and 4, while the five best-finishing teams plus the expansion Yanks picked alone in rounds 31 and 32.

The complete list of players drafted by the Brooklyn Tigers in 1944 follows.[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/bkn/1944_draft.htm "1944 Brooklyn Tigers Draftees ,"] Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com/ Due to the demands of World War II, only one of these players actually played for the Tigers during the 1944 season. Two others played for the merged franchise operating as the Yanks from 1945.

{{NFL team draft entry|round=1|pick=3|player=Creighton Miller|position=Back|college=Notre Dame|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=2|pick=13|player=Jim Callahan|position=Tailback|college=Texas|notes=Played in NFL in 1946}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=3|pick=18|player=Ralph Park|position=Back|college=Texas|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=4|pick=29|player=Rudy Sikich|position=Tackle|college=Minnesota|notes=Played in NFL in 1945}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=5|pick=34|player=Verne Ullom|position=End|college=Cincinnati|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=6|pick=45|player=Bruce McDonald|position=End|college=Illinois State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=7|pick=56|player=Bob Graiziger|position=Guard|college=Minnesota|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=8|pick=67|player=Jack Sachse|position=Center|college=Texas|notes=Played for this franchise in 1945}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=9|pick=78|player=Mitchell Olenski|position=Tackle|college=Alabama|notes=Played in AAFC in 1946}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=10|pick=89|player=Aldo Cenci|position=Back|college=Penn State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=11|pick=100|player=John Bicanich|position=Guard|college=Minnesota|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=12|pick=111|player=Jim Tyree|position=End|college=Oklahoma|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=13|pick=122|player=Jim Wright|position=Guard|college=SMU|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=14|pick=133|player=John Genis|position=Tackle|college=Illinois|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=15|pick=144|player=Billy J. Murphy|position=Back|college=Mississippi State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=16|pick=155|player=Doug Essick|position=End|college=USC|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=17|pick=166|player=Howard Maley|position=Halfback|college=SMU|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=18|pick=177|player=Don Willer|position=Tackle|college=USC|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=19|pick=188|player=Howard Callanan|position=Back|college=USC|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=20|pick=199|player=George Doherty|position=Tackle|college=Louisiana Tech|maderoster=yes|notes=Played for Brooklyn in 1944}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=21|pick=210|player=Mike Mihalic|position=Guard|college=Mississippi State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=22|pick=221|player=Ted Cook|position=End|college=Alabama|notes=Played in NFL in 1947}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=23|pick=232|player=Bucky Gillenwater|position=Tackle|college=Texas|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=24|pick=243|player=Jack Baldwin|position=Center|college=Centenary|notes=Played in AAFC in 1946}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=25|pick=254|player=Dick Manning|position=Back|college=USC|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=26|pick=265|player=Ray Grierson|position=End|college=Illinois|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=27|pick=276|player=Joe Golding|position=Back|college=Oklahoma|notes=Played for this franchise in 1947}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=28|pick=287|player=Bob Zimny|position=Tackle|college=Indiana|notes=Played in NFL in 1945}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=29|pick=298|player=Marty Frohm|position=Tackle|college=Mississippi State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=30|pick=309|player=Howard Blose|position=Back|college=Cornell|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft end| hof = no | pro bowl=no

}}

References

Category:Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) seasons

Brooklyn Tigers

Brooklyn

Category:1940s in Brooklyn

Category:Flatbush, Brooklyn