Ralph Hay
 | This section includes a improve this section by introducing more precise citations. (January 2016) ) |
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| Born: | January 12, 1891 Canton, Ohio, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died: | July 29, 1944 (aged 53) Canton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Owner |
| College | None |
| Career history | |
| As owner | |
| 1918–1922 | Canton Bulldogs |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Ralph Edward Hay (January 12, 1891 – July 29, 1944) was the owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918 through the 1922 season. However, he is mostly recognized for organizing the first meeting of teams that would later form the American Professional Football Association, later called the National Football League (NFL).
Car salesman
Hay attended high school in
Canton Bulldogs
In 1918, at the age of 27, Hay acquired the Canton Bulldogs from
Despite winning a championship, the Bulldogs did not draw well. Not enough fans came to games to pay for the high-priced salaries owed to the players. Hay lost money. To combat the increasing salaries, as well as the issue of players jumping from team to team, Hay sought to form a league. The league idea came from Canton's star halfback, Jim Thorpe, who in turn heard the idea from Rochester Jeffersons owner Leo Lyons during a 1917 match between the Bulldogs and the Jeffs.
Formation of the NFL
On Friday, August 20, 1920, Hay met in Canton with the managers of the
Representatives from ten pro teams showed up. Because Hay's office was too small, the meeting was held in his automobile showroom. Some of the owners sat on car running boards due to a lack of seats. The resulting organization operated for two years as the American Professional Football Association before its name was changed to the National Football League in 1922. The ten original franchises were from four states. The Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Tigers, and Dayton Triangles from Ohio; the
Bulldogs in the NFL
Hay built a strong team in Canton during the early 1920s, signing three future
, the Bulldogs went undefeated and won the NFL championship. However, Hay continued to lose money with the Bulldogs. Before the 1923 season, he sold the team to a group of local businessmen. The Bulldogs went on to win the 1923 NFL Championship and became the first NFL team to win back-to-back league titles.Legacy
On April 27, 1961, Canton was selected by the NFL as the site for the
Family
Hay was married to Esther Becker, who had previously served as his secretary. They had one daughter. She lived to have multiple children. The family's generation is still going as of today.
References
- Carroll, Bob (1994). "Mini-Bio:Ralph Hay" (PDF). Coffin Corner. 16 (4). Professional Football Researchers Association: 1.
- Willis, Chris (2004). "Ralph Hay: A Forgotten Pioneer" (PDF). Coffin Corner. 26 (4). Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–3.