Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Acme of Football

This is the squad that Curly Lambeau led into the fledgling American Professional Football Association in 1921, as the Packers went from independent powerhouse to member of the nation's top pro circuit.

GREEN BAY "PACKER'S" (sic) 1921

Martell, R. Lambeau, Cook, Abrams, DuMoe, Wheeler, Wagner, Coughlin, Barry, Carey, Murray, Lambeau, Hayes, Buck, Schmael, Wilson, Ladrow, (?), Howard, Klaus, McLean, Powers, LeClair
Although the team wore the Acme Packing Company's name across their chests, they never adopted that as an official team name. "Green Bay Packers" is the oldest team name in the National Football League, predating by two years "Chicago Bears" (which had previously gone by "Decatur Staleys" and "Chicago Staleys").

We also note that some players are wearing the sponsor name, and some are not; uniforms would soon be standardized but hadn't gotten there yet.

In recent years, the Packers have realized there is value in the team's roots, and "Acme Packers" has recently made its way to team merchandise:

It seems as though the Acme Packing Company, though long gone, may never be forgotten.

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