1939 Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) season

1939 Pittsburgh Pirates season
Head coach	John McNally, Walt Kiesling
Owner	Art Rooney
Home field	Forbes Field
Results
Record	1–9–1
Division place	5th NFL Eastern
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	Byron Gentry

The 1939 Pittsburgh Pirates season is the franchise's seventh season as a professional football club in the National Football League (NFL). The Pirates brought John McNally back for his third year, however, after finishing with a 2–9 record, Owner Art Rooney provided him with support by signing Walt Keisling during the offseason. Despite this, the Pirates experienced their worst season yet, placing last in the league with a 1–9–1 record. The team just barely tallied a number in the win column, but during Week 11, they beat the 1939 Philadelphia Eagles season. It was their first win at home in 9 games at Forbes Field (Week 10, 1937).

Offseason

1939 NFL Draft

Main article: 1939 NFL Draft

Pittsburgh Pirates 1939 NFL Draft selections
Draft order			Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Choice	Overall	Player name	Position	College	Notes
1	2	2	-	-	-	Traded pick to Chicago
2	1	11	-	-	-	Traded pick to Brooklyn
3	2	17	Billy Patterson	Back	Baylor	Played 1 season for Steelers in 1940
4	1	26	Hugh McCullough	Defensive Back	Pittsburgh	Played 1 season for Pirates in 1939
5	2	32	Ernie Wheeler	Back	North Dakota State	Played for Cards and Steelers in 1939
6	1	41	Sam Boyd	End	Baylor	Played 3 season for Pirates/Steelers
7	2	52	Eddie Palumbo	Back	Detroit
8	1	61	Ole Nelson	End	Michigan State
9	2	72	Steve Petro	Guard	Pittsburgh	Played for Dodgers
10	1	81	Jack Lee	Back	Carnegie-Mellon
11	2	92	Lou Tomasetti	Back	Buckwell
12	1	101	Denny Cochran	Back	St. Louis	Played 3 season for Pirates/Steelers
13	2	112	Fabian Hoffman	End	Pittsburgh
14	1	121	Ed Clary	Back	South Carolina
15	2	132	John Tosi	Center	Niagara
16	1	141	Al Lezouski	Guard	Pittsburgh
17	2	152	Ed Longhi	Center	Notre Dame
18	1	161	Dave Shirk	End	Kansas
19	2	172	Frank Peters	End	Washington
20	1	181	Tom Sheldrake	End	Washington

Pittsburgh's 1939 Draft (like many of the Steelers drafts from these days) was useless. The one player that played longer 1 season was Sam Boyd who played just 3 season for the Pirates/Steelers. The Pirates also traded their first two picks to Chicago and Brooklyn. The Bears would draft future Hall of Famer, QB Sid Luckman, and the Dodgers would select Clarence "Pug" Manders who eventually played 9 years of pro ball.

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date		Opponent	Result
1	September 14, 1939	@	Brooklyn Dodgers	L 7-12
2	September 24, 1939		Chicago Cardinals	L 0-10
3	October 2, 1939		Chicago Bears	L 0-32
4	October 8, 1939		New York Giants	L 7-14
5	October 15, 1939	@	Washington Redskins	L 14-44
6	October 22, 1939		Washington Redskins	L 14-21
7	October 29, 1939	@	Cleveland Rams	T 14-14
8	November 6, 1939	@	Brooklyn Dodgers	L 13-17
9	November 19, 1939	@	New York Giants	L 7-23
10	November 23, 1939	@	Philadelphia Eagles	L 14-17
11	November 26, 1939		Philadelphia Eagles	W 24-12

Game Summaries

Week 1 (Thursday September 14, 1939): Brooklyn Dodgers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pirates	0	7	0	0	7
Dodgers	3	7	0	2	12

at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 19,444
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Brooklyn – FG Kercheval 27
Pittsburgh – Platukis 30 pass from Wheeler (Niccolai kick)
Brooklyn – Parker 10 run (Kinard kick)
Brooklyn – Safety, Wheeler tackled in end zone by Hill

Week 2 (Sunday, September 24, 1939): Chicago Cardinals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	7	0	0	3	10
Pirates	0	0	0	0	0

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 19,008
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Chicago Cardinals – Goldberg 4 run (Monahan kick)
Chicago Cardinals – FG Monahan 32

Week 3 (Monday October 2, 1939): Chicago Bears

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	13	13	6	32
Pirates	0	0	0	0	0

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 10,325
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Chicago Bears – Omanski 21 run (Stydahar kick)
Chicago Bears – Manske 24 pass from Masterson (kick failed)
Chicago Bears – Maniaci 75 run (kick failed)
Chicago Bears – Maniaci 4 run (Manders kick)
Chicago Bears – MacLeod 29 pass from Patterson (kick failed)

Between this game and the next, the Pirates shoehorned in a midseason exhibition game against the McKeesport Olympics, in McKeesport on October 4. The Pirates won that game, 9–6.^[1]

Week 4 (Sunday October 8, 1939): New York Giants

	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	0	0	14	0	14
Pirates	0	7	0	0	7

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 9,663
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Johnson 1 run (Niccolai kick)
New York – Cuff 20 pass from Danowski (Cuff kick)
New York – Cuff 5 pass from Danowski (Cuff kick)

Week 5 (Sunday October 15, 1939): Washington Redskins

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pirates	7	7	0	0	14
Redskins	13	6	19	6	44

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 25,982
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Washington – German 15 run (kick failed)
Pittsburgh – Francis run (Niccolai kick)
Washington – German 14 run (Russell kick)
Pittsburgh – McDonough 3 pass from Tomasetti (Niccolai kick)
Washington – Farkas 11 run (kick blocked)
Washington – Farkas 99 pass from Filchock (kick failed)
Washington – Todd 19 pass from Filchock (Todd kick)
Washington – Todd 60 run (kick failed)
Washington – Justice 33 run (kick failed)

Week 6 (Sunday October 22, 1939): Washington Redskins

	1	2	3	4	Total
Redskins	14	0	7	0	21
Pirates	0	7	0	7	14

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 8,602
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Washington – Millner 56 pass from Filchock (Russell kick)
Washington – Farkas 40 pass from Filchock (Russell kick)
Pittsburgh – Boyd pass from McDonough (Niccolai kick)
Washington – Irwin 25 run (Farkas kick)
Pittsburgh – Brumbaugh pass from McDonough (Niccolai kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 29, 1939): Cleveland Rams

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pirates	0	7	7	0	14
Rams	7	0	0	7	14

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 11,579
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Cleveland – Hall 88 run (Spadaccini kick)
Pittsburgh – McCullough 9 run (Niccolai kick)
Pittsburgh – Boyd 27 pass from McCullough (Niccolai kick)
Cleveland – Drake 3 run (Spadaccini kick)

Week 8 (Monday November 6, 1939): Brooklyn Dodgers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pirates	0	3	3	7	13
Dodgers	0	7	7	3	17

at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 8,951
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Brooklyn – Schwartz 9 pass from Parker (Kinard kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Niccolai 25
Pittsburgh – FG Niccolai 37
Brooklyn – Parker 28 run (Kinard kick)
Brooklyn – FG Parker 28
Pittsburgh – Sortet 22 pass from McCullough (Niccolai kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 19, 1939): New York Giants

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pirates	0	0	0	7	7
Giants	7	7	3	7	24

at Polo Grounds, New York, NY

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 19,372
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

New York – Soar 2 run (Strong kick)
New York – FG Barnum 37
New York – FG Barnum 28
New York – FG Strong 24
Pittsburgh – Brumbaugh 19 run (Niccolai kick)
New York – Miller 21 run (Barnum kick)

Week 10 (Thursday November 23, 1939): Philadelphia Eagles

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pirates	0	0	0	14	14
Eagles	0	7	3	7	17

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 20,000
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Philadelphia – Carter 65 pass from O'Brien (Murray kick)
Philadelphia – FG Murray 32
Pittsburgh – Brumbaugh 1 run (Niccolai kick)

Week 11 (Sunday November 26, 1939): Philadelphia Eagles

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	0	6	6	12
Pirates	3	14	7	0	24

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance: 8,788
Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Niccolai 28
Pittsburgh – Johnston 2 run (Niccolai kick)
Pittsburgh – Tomasetti 1 run (Niccolai kick)
Pittsburgh – Platukis 37 pss from Brumbaugh (Niccolai kick)
Philadelphia – O'Brien 2 run (kick blocked)
Philadelphia – Bukant 3 run (kick blocked)

Standings

NFL Eastern Division
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
New York Giants	9	1	1	.900	7–0–1	168	85	W4
Washington Redskins	8	2	1	.800	6–1–1	242	94	L1
Brooklyn Dodgers	4	6	1	.400	3–4–1	108	219	L3
Pittsburgh Pirates	1	9	1	.100	1–7	114	216	W1
Philadelphia Eagles	1	9	1	.100	1–6–1	105	200	L2

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References

↑ Ten interesting things about the 1939 NFL season that I couldn't fit into my other article about that season by John Hogrogian.

Pittsburgh Pirates / Steelers seasons

1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Bold indicates Super Bowl victory Italics indicates Super Bowl appearance

Pittsburgh Steelers

Founded in 1933 Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939) Based and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Franchise	History All-Time Team Seasons Logos and uniforms Coaches Players Starting quarterbacks First-round draft picks Statistics

Stadiums	Home fields: Forbes Field Pitt Stadium Three Rivers Stadium Heinz Field Training facilities: Rooney Field Point Stadium UPMC Sportsplex Chuck Noll Field

Culture	Football in Western PA Rooney family Myron Cope Steeler Nation Terrible Towel Steel Curtain Evening Shade "Right Here, Right Now" "Renegade" "Here We Go" "Black and Yellow" YinzCam

Lore	Steelers lore J.P. Rooneys Pennsylvania Keystoners Steagles Card-Pitt Steelerettes Immaculate Reception Black Sunday Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story 1995 AFC Championship Game The Chief

Rivalries	Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Tennessee Titans Oakland Raiders Dallas Cowboys

Media	KDKA-TV WPCW-TV Root Sports Pittsburgh Charlie Batch Chris Hoke Bob Pompeani Radio Network WDVE-FM WBGG-AM Bill Hillgrove Tunch Ilkin Craig Wolfley

Division championships (21)	1972 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1983 1984 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 2001 2002 2004 2007 2008 2010 2014

Conference championships (8)	1974 1975 1978 1979 1995 2005 2008 2010

League championships (6)	1974 (IX) 1975 (X) 1978 (XIII) 1979 (XIV) 2005 (XL) 2008 (XLIII)

Retired numbers	70 75

Hall of Fame members	Players: Bettis Blount Bradshaw Butler Dawson Dudley Greene Ham Harris Johnson Lambert Layne Stallworth Stautner Swann Webster Woodson Coaches and administration: Bell Kiesling Noll Art Rooney Dan Rooney

Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: American Football Conference Division: North Division

Seasons (83)	1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Championship seasons in bold

1939 NFL season

Eastern Division	Brooklyn	New York	CHI Bears	CHI Cardinals	Western Division
	Philadelphia	Pittsburgh	Cleveland	Detroit
	Washington			Green Bay

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/14/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.