Then and Now - The Great Depression
Every month we give our fans a chance to glimpse back in time and compare different eras... Football Historian

National Football League Salaries collapsed during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Former Chicago Bears center Charles 'Ookie' Miller, who was an All-Pro center in 1933, said he was paid a mere $100 per/game. And, Bears owner George Halas deducted from players' pay even bandages and doctor's visits. 'Even so,' recalled 'Ookie Miller, 'It was the Depression, and we were all happy to have a job.' Miller also said, 'The highlight of my career was starting at center on offense and center/linebacker when the Bears won two straight World Championships in 1933-34.' footballhistorian.com - The History of Pro Football

Ookie Miller
Center, Guard, Linebacker; Chicago Bears 1932-36; Cleveland Rams 1937; Green Bay Packers 1938 Chicago Bears

A rugged, 6-foot, 209-pounder, Charles 'Ookie' Miller was one of the leading Chicago Bears players on their two NFL championship squads during the 1930s. And, played along-side such legends as Red Grange and Bronco Nagurski.

After graduating from Purdue University, Miller played offensive center and center/linebacker on defense for the powerhouse Bears from 1932 through 1936, for the Cleveland Rams in 1937 and then for the Green Bay Packers in '38 before retiring.

Nicked named 'Ookie' because of his childhood love of cookies, Miller gained NFL All-Pro honors in 1933, the year the Bears won their second straight World Title. He scored his only touchdown on a fumble recovery in 1936.

footballhistorian.com - NFL Football History

Financial Disaster - Depression Years
December 27, 1932 - Cardinals draw 700 paying fans Football Historian

The Depression Years of the early 1930s hit the pro football ranks with a vengeance. Although official NFL attendance records list slightly over 6,000 fans for the Boston Braves versus the Chicago Cardinals at Wrigley Gum Field in Chicago, in fact according to team records, only 700 paying fans showed up for the last game of the season. Cardinals' owner/president Dr. Ben Jones did not receive enough revenue to meet Boston's guarantee of $4,000. The 1932 season resulted in many rules changes to liven up NFL games. First off, the league was split into two divisions and a post-season playoff game was added. Then, because of the difficulty of drop kicking a field goal over the goal post, the goal posts were moved up to the front of the goal line. And, to get more scoring into the game - the ball was moved away from the sidelines on the first play after an out-of-bounds. The offense no-longer had to move away from the sidelines in order to establish a more favorable field position. The ball on such plays was now placed ten yards from the sidelines. New passing rules: -

Another big change resulted in revving-up the passing game. The passer could now pass from any place behind the line of scrimmage - instead of the old rule stating he must be at least five yards behind the line. New Ball: - Yes, the football was much thicker prior to 1933, sort of a pudgy oval in use since 1899. Now however, a more sleeker version was brought into the NFL... the pass became an offensive weapon, bringing to the delight of the fans, a group of fast, talented receivers... and bulls-eye throwing quarterbacks... footballhistorian.com - Pro Football History - Archives - All Rights Reserved

Joe Lillard
Halfback - Chicago Cardinals 1932-1933... 6-ft, 180lbs.

A rarity in professional sports during the early 1930s, Joe Lillard was one of the fastest runners ever in football history - and he was a Negro American. Although he played just two years in the NFL after playing a few games as a freshman at Oregon, Lillard was touted as one of the best all-around athletes in the league. In his 18-game career, he scored two touchdowns, had two extra points and dropped kicked two field goals.

Dr. Jones, the Chicago Cardinals' president said this about the speedy Joe Lillard: - 'The lowdown is that we are showing up All-Americans of the big schools, a lot of whom get that way through the efforts of high-powered publicity departments. Look at Lillard, our colored boy. He is one of the best backs in the entire league (NFL), yet his entire college experience consists of a freshman year.

He wanted a job and we gave him one (during the Depression Years). And he has outplayed most every back he has gone against this season. I'll take the boys who have to fight for their newspaper mention, you can have the All-Americans.'

'The Providence Sunday Journal Newspaper' marveled at Lillard's all-around play and wrote about his high-speed: - 'shiftiness and side-stepping, hip swinging running ability... the outstanding broken field running back this season.'

In a 9-0 win by the Chicago Cardinals over the old Boston Braves in Boston before 15,000 fans on October 16, 1932 Lillard averaged 6.6 yards per/carry and ran a punt back 44 yards.

footballhistorian.com - Archives - Pro Football History

Glenn Presnell
Tailback, Defensive Back and Quarterback - Portsmouth Spartans and Detroit Lions 1931-1936... Attended Nebraska University

A borderline Hall of Fame candidate, Glenn Presnell was one of the league's dominant offensive stars of the 1930s. A swift runner, he was his team's leader and was chosen an All Pro four consecutive years - 1931-1934, including his rookie year when he paced the defunct NFL Portsmouth Spartans to an 11-3 record

He tied for the NFL lead in scoring with 64 total points in 1933 and the next year (1934) when the Spartans became the Detroit Lions, Presnell scored 7 rushing touchdowns and his 63 total points were third-best in the NFL and. Glenn Presnell career stats: Rushing - 1,593 yards on 413 attempts, 18 TD... Passing - 110-of-309, a 35.6 completion percent, good for 1,670 yards, 17 TD, 37 Interceptions... footballhistorian.com

Dale Burnett
Halfback/Wingback, Fullback - New York Giants 1930-1939

A highly respected all-around player, Dale Burnett was one of the NFL's leading wingbacks for the New York Giants all through the decade of the 1930s.

An instant success, he helped the Giants go 13-4 in his rookie season of 1930 by scoring six touchdowns, had 4 extra points to end 6th in the NFL in scoring with 40 points.

Using his tremendous speed and stop-and-go cuts, he scored 21 career pass reception touchdowns, and led the NFL on pass catches for touchdowns with three in 1933 and six in 1936.

Dale Burnett career numbers: 27 TD, 4 Extra Points, 166 Total Points.

Tiny Burdick
Unmovable Lineman - 1931-1933

Born in Assumption. Illinois, Lloyd 'Tiny' Burdick was a trusty spoke-in-the-wheel for the Chicago Bears during its championship team in 1932.

Although he didn't play college ball, the huge, 6-foot, 4-inch, 248-pounder played like a veteran on the Bears' great defensive units during this era. Playing both offensive and defense at the tackle position, the muscular Burdick gained respect during his rookie season of 1931with his seemingly unmovable blocking on offense and with his ability to stop the opponents running game. Hence, he picked up two nick names - 'Tiny' and 'Shorty.'

During the 'Great Depression' he played on the Bears' NFL 1932 championship squad, but after the season, he signed with Cincinnati when coach George Halas started cutting players' salaries.

In 1933, 'Tiny' Burdick signed and played one season with the Cincinnati Reds - a new franchise in the National Football League (NFL).

However, with attendance falling fast and with money hard to come-by he dropped out of the pro ranks at the end of the season... and during the middle of 1934, Cincinnati who was drawing gates of under 3,000 per/game, folded and moved to St. Louis, and the team changed its nick name to the St Louis Gunners... and they went out of business after playing just three games.

footballhistorian.com - The History of Football