CWL 1927
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| *Los Angeles Buccaneers | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 43 | .600 |
| *New York Yankees | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 74 | 43 | .500 |
| Los Angeles Wildcats | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 7 | 1.000 |
| Duluth Eskimoes | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 34 | .400 |
| Hollywood Generals | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 79 | .333 |
| California All-Stars | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 36 | .333 |
Reference: Compiled from Results in [1] Note: Includes Championship series
| Date | Team 1 | Team 2 | ||
| Championship Series | ||||
| 30.01.1927 | New York Yankees | 14 | Los Angeles Buccaneers | 0 |
| 06.02.1927 | Los Angeles Buccaneers | 7 | New York Yankees | 6 |
Reference: [1]
CWL 1928
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| *New York Yankees | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 42 | 39 | .600 |
| *Cleveland Bulldogs | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 34 | .500 |
| Los Angeles Wildcats | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 12 | .667 |
| Duluth Giants | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 33 | .000 |
Reference: Compiled from Results in [1] Note: Includes Championship Game.
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| Championship Game | ||||
| 05.02.1928 | New York Yankees | 13 | Cleveland Bulldogs | 6 |
Reference: [1]
Report
In the Winter of January-February 1927 & 1928, some of the top teams in the National Football League & American Football League played in a Winter League in California, following the end of the Fall (Autumn) NFL & AFL seasons. The teams included star players from college teams in California and were dubbed after the teams’ star NFL & AFL players. e.g. the Nevers Eskimoes were the Duluth Eskimoes of the NFL with star player, Ernie Nevers.
While the best team both seasons, the Los Angeles Wildcats, dubbed Wilson’s Wildcats by the press, were not to play in the season ending game, as they did not provide the draw the organisers wanted. Instead Red Grange’s Yankees played both climactic games, first against Muller’s Californians and in 1928, winning at the second attempt versus Friedman’s Bulldogs.
The League was essentially a AAA League/Major League Rival to the NFL from 1927-1928, featuring both star NFL & AFL teamxs and players and teams and players from the Semi-Pro Pacific Coast Football League and Californian College players.
Teams & Star Players
| Team | NFL/AFL/PCFL Team | Star Players |
| Grange’s Yankees | New York Yankees (AFL Fall 1926 / NFL Fall 1927) | Red Grange |
| Muller’s Californians | Los Angeles Buccaneers (NFL) | Brick Muller |
| Wilson’s Wildcats | Los Angeles Wildcats (AFL) | Wildcat Wilson |
| Friedman’s Bulldogs | Cleveland Bulldogs (NFL) | Benny Friedman |
| Nevers’ Eskimoes | Duluth Eskimoes (NFL) | Ernie Nevers |
| Hollywood Generals | Hollywood Generals (PCFL) | Semi-Pro Team |
| California All-Stars | Oakland and San Francisco (PCFL) | Semi-Pro Team |
| Nevers-Imlay Giants | Duluth Eskimoes & Californian College Players | Ernie Nevers & Tut Imlay (College Player) |
Reference: [1]
Bob Gill (2009) Seasons in the Sun – The California winter league of 1927 and ’28 The Coffin Corner Volume 31,No. 1, Pro Football Researchers Association (2009)[Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/coffin-corner00’s/CC-31-1.pdf [Accessed 20 October 2019]
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Eoin O’Fearghaill.
About this document
Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 20 October 2019
(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019
You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.