What is archaeology but the study of the remains of the past? Gregg Ficery has spent more than 15 years researching his genealogy and finding remnants of his family’s past―a past that connects to the broader picture of American history and culture. In his book “Gridiron Legacy: Pro Football’s Missing Origin Story,” Mr. Ficery has proven that if we are willing to dig into our past, we all can be genealogists.
Mr. Ficery’s interest in his family’s legacy originated from stories he heard from his grandmother about her father, Bob Shiring, who played center for the Massillon Tigers of Ohio in the earliest days of football (then spelled foot ball). Though the stories were folklore, it didn’t necessarily mean they weren’t true; but it did ensure the stories were captivating.
Back to the Beginning
The author has tied together national, cultural, and personal histories, all of which prove to be undeniably significant. Mr. Ficery takes the reader back to the tail end of the 19th century and guides the reader through the history of the game, who played, where they played, and how it transitioned from amateur to professional.Even those who already know and appreciate the game of football, or even played it before, regardless of level, will find the book enlightening. There is so much information about how creating new rules moved the game away from a mirror image of rugby into what it eventually became in the early to mid-20th century and into what it is today. From identifying the first professional football player (the first to ever take payment) to citing the first ever forward pass (incomplete forward passes used to result in a turnover on downs, which is why it was rarely, if ever, done) to extending the required yardage from five yards to 10 yards for first downs.
Mr. Ficery also inserts feature stories within the overarching narrative, such as that first forward pass; important events, like the 1903 Indoor Championship Series; or individual players, like Charles Follis, known as “The Black Cyclone” who was the first professional black football player (interestingly, as the author notes, Follis played with Branch Rickey, who became the Brooklyn Dodgers executive responsible for signing Jackie Robinson).
A Scandal Clarified
The narrative of the story, however, revolves around the 1906 scandal, which, as the author iterates, nearly killed the game for good. The two powerhouse teams were from Canton and Massillon, Ohio, and their rivalry was fierce. This rivalry ultimately boiled over into vendettas. When the two undefeated teams met for the 1906 season, the Canton Bulldogs had to beat the current champion Massillon Tigers twice in order to take the title.
Gamblers saw that the opportunity to make money several times over was immense. Ficery details how the proposition for Massillon to lose the first game, win the second game, and agree to a third game would create a financial windfall. People in managerial and executive positions, as well as several players, including Shiring, knew of the proposition. Though no agreement was ever made, Massillon lost the first game and won the second.
This is where the personal vendettas came into play. A Massillon newspaper published a front page article discussing the scandalous proposition, claiming Canton representatives to be of unscrupulous character. Libel and slander suits resulted, names were tarnished, careers were ruined, and the truth remained in a county courthouse box for more than a century. The verdict of the scandal was unfortunately left in the court of public opinion.
An Important Work with One Problem
For Mr. Ficery, the familial connection created a need to set the record straight. Not only did he ascertain the certainty that Shiring, his great-grandfather, had actually done the right thing by alerting his manager to the illegal proposition, but the author also cleared the name of a wrongly accused man as well as clarified that the scandal was not all that it was perceived to be. This clarification is no ho-hum. It is a significant detail in the history of America’s most popular sport. Also, when it comes to archaeology, as aforementioned, Mr. Ficery’s search through his genealogy resulted in a thrilling “Holy Grail” moment.A True Collectible
“Gridiron Legacy” is an important story, even if most people, like myself, never knew there was a scandal more than a century ago. Additionally, one of the most striking elements of the book is its beauty. Mr. Ficery and the publisher have added countless images, from vintage photos to memorabilia to old articles to high-resolution images of old sports programs and trophies. I was stunned by the book’s artistic design. Not only is the book an important part of sports history, but it proves to be a true collectible. For sports fans, especially football fans, this book is a must-have.
