1896 Allegheny Athletic Association football season explained

The Allegheny Athletic Association played its sixth and last season of American football in 1896. With a new roster made up largely of former college All-Americans and current and former Chicago Athletic Association players, the team played only two games, on consecutive days, winning both by shutout.^[1] The Pro Football Hall of Fame credits the 1896 Allegheny team as the first completely professional football team.^[2]

Personnel

Roster

Starters

• William H. "Pork" Aldrich – quarterback
• George H. Brooke – fullback
• Paul G. Brown – right end
• Ben "Sport" Donnelly – left guard (2nd game)
• Phil S. Graver – right halfback
• Harry G. Hadden – right tackle
• William "Pudge" Heffelfinger – captain,^[3] left guard (1st game), left halfback (2nd game)
• Walter Howard – left halfback (1st game)
• Langdon "Biffy" Lea – left tackle
• Archibald Stevenson – center
• Lee K. "Doc" Stewart – right guard
• Thomas "Doggie" Trenchard – left end

Reserves

• Robert Lynn Osborne
• Abram S. Valentine
• Fielding H. Yost

^{[1] [3]}

Management

• O. D. Thompson – manager
• W. M. Greenwood – assistant manager

^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Last Hurrah in Allegheny: The 3A's Exit in a Blaze of Glory: 1896 . Professional Football Researchers Association . PFRA Research . April 17, 2023.
2. Web site: Pro Football Hall of Fame. 1896 - The First Completely Professional Team. April 17, 2023 . The Allegheny Athletic Association team fielded the first completely professional team for its abbreviated two-game season..
3. News: The Pittsburg Times. November 10, 1896. 8. An Astral Aggregation.
4. News: The Chicago Tribune. November 14, 1896. 7. Dropped from C.A.A. Rolls. Newspapers.com.