- Joined
- Feb 9, 2014
- Messages
- 20,922
- Name
- Peter
I'll give $3 million ROD dollars to whoever has been a Rams fan the longest. If it's a tie I'll split it up. Tell us what year you first starting cheering on the Rams and anything you can remember about those early years. We're on the honor system here so be honest.
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Some history of the Cleveland Rams -
1945 NFL Champions
Cleveland Rams
http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/crams/clevrams.html
1937: On February 13th, the National Football League grants a Cleveland franchise to Homer Marshman and Associates, a prominent group of local businessmen. The group had owned a team in the rival American Football League in 1936. That team was also known as the Rams and finished with a 5-2-2 record, second best in the league. This new NFL franchise was separate entity since none of the personal joined the new NFL team. The NFL Rams first coach was Hugo Bezdek and he led the Rams on to the field at Cleveland Municipal Stadium for their first game in on September 10th.
Unfortunately, the Detroit Lions would shut down the Rams 28-0. The Rams would get their first win 11 days later when they beat the Eagles in Philadelphia 21-3. However the Rams would not score more then ten points in any more games that first season finishing with a 1-10 record.
1938: The Rams now playing their home games at Shaw Stadium, a high school stadium on Shaw Avenue in Cleveland lose their first three games of the season before Coach Hugo Bezdek is fired. The move pays off right away as new coach as the Rams win their first three games under new coach Art Lewis. However the Rams would win only one of their final five games and would finish their second season with a 4-7 record.
1939: The Rams return to Municipal Stadium as rookie halfback Parker Hall makes a big splash earning MVP honors as the Rams finish with a .500 record for the first time at 5-5-1 under new coach Earl "Dutch" Clark.
1940: The Rams would stumble in Dutch Clark's second season as coach falling back below the .500 mark at 4-6-1.
1941: Daniel F. Reeves and Fred Levy, Jr. purchase the Rams. The Rams get the new ownership group off on the right foot by winning their first two games. However they would not win again and closed the season with a 2-9 record.
1942: With new owners Daniel F. Reeves and Fred Levy, Jr. enlisting in the Armed Forces, Bob Kelley is named club secretary. After three seasons in Municipal Stadium the Rams decide to play their home games at League Park. The Rams would finish the season with a 5-6 record, in Dutch Clark's final season as head coach.
1943: Daniel F. Reeves buys out partner Fred Levy Jr., as the Rams are forced to suspend operations for due to wartime travel restrictions, and lack of manpower.
1944: The Rams resume operations with an expansion style roster full of free agents and castoffs. However under coach Buff Donelli the rag tag Rams get off to a great start winning their first three games. However, their inexperience would catch up to them as they won just one of their next seven games to finish with a 4-6 record.
Bob Waterfield
1945 NFL MVP
1945: After coach Buff Donelli joins the military General Manager Charlie Walsh names his brother Adam as the team's new coach. Bob Waterfield a Quaerterback drafted in 1944 joins the team and leads the Rams to their first Division Championship with a 9-1 record Waterfield would become the first player ever to win the NFL MVP by a unanimous vote. The highlight of the season came on Thanksgiving in Detroit when Jim Benton caught ten passes for NFL record 303 yards in 28-21 win at Detroit over the Lions.
The Rams try to stay warm on the sideline at Cleveland Municipal Stadium during the 1945 NFL Championship.
On December on a frozen field at Cleveland Municipal Stadium the Rams defeated the Washington Redskins 15-14 to win their first NFL Championship. However, the joy for Cleveland fans would be short lived as the Rams got approval to move to Los Angles less the a month later.
----------------------------------------------------
Some history of the Cleveland Rams -
1945 NFL Champions
Cleveland Rams
http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/crams/clevrams.html
1937: On February 13th, the National Football League grants a Cleveland franchise to Homer Marshman and Associates, a prominent group of local businessmen. The group had owned a team in the rival American Football League in 1936. That team was also known as the Rams and finished with a 5-2-2 record, second best in the league. This new NFL franchise was separate entity since none of the personal joined the new NFL team. The NFL Rams first coach was Hugo Bezdek and he led the Rams on to the field at Cleveland Municipal Stadium for their first game in on September 10th.
Unfortunately, the Detroit Lions would shut down the Rams 28-0. The Rams would get their first win 11 days later when they beat the Eagles in Philadelphia 21-3. However the Rams would not score more then ten points in any more games that first season finishing with a 1-10 record.
1938: The Rams now playing their home games at Shaw Stadium, a high school stadium on Shaw Avenue in Cleveland lose their first three games of the season before Coach Hugo Bezdek is fired. The move pays off right away as new coach as the Rams win their first three games under new coach Art Lewis. However the Rams would win only one of their final five games and would finish their second season with a 4-7 record.
1939: The Rams return to Municipal Stadium as rookie halfback Parker Hall makes a big splash earning MVP honors as the Rams finish with a .500 record for the first time at 5-5-1 under new coach Earl "Dutch" Clark.
1940: The Rams would stumble in Dutch Clark's second season as coach falling back below the .500 mark at 4-6-1.
1941: Daniel F. Reeves and Fred Levy, Jr. purchase the Rams. The Rams get the new ownership group off on the right foot by winning their first two games. However they would not win again and closed the season with a 2-9 record.
1942: With new owners Daniel F. Reeves and Fred Levy, Jr. enlisting in the Armed Forces, Bob Kelley is named club secretary. After three seasons in Municipal Stadium the Rams decide to play their home games at League Park. The Rams would finish the season with a 5-6 record, in Dutch Clark's final season as head coach.
1943: Daniel F. Reeves buys out partner Fred Levy Jr., as the Rams are forced to suspend operations for due to wartime travel restrictions, and lack of manpower.
1944: The Rams resume operations with an expansion style roster full of free agents and castoffs. However under coach Buff Donelli the rag tag Rams get off to a great start winning their first three games. However, their inexperience would catch up to them as they won just one of their next seven games to finish with a 4-6 record.
Bob Waterfield
1945 NFL MVP
1945: After coach Buff Donelli joins the military General Manager Charlie Walsh names his brother Adam as the team's new coach. Bob Waterfield a Quaerterback drafted in 1944 joins the team and leads the Rams to their first Division Championship with a 9-1 record Waterfield would become the first player ever to win the NFL MVP by a unanimous vote. The highlight of the season came on Thanksgiving in Detroit when Jim Benton caught ten passes for NFL record 303 yards in 28-21 win at Detroit over the Lions.
The Rams try to stay warm on the sideline at Cleveland Municipal Stadium during the 1945 NFL Championship.
On December on a frozen field at Cleveland Municipal Stadium the Rams defeated the Washington Redskins 15-14 to win their first NFL Championship. However, the joy for Cleveland fans would be short lived as the Rams got approval to move to Los Angles less the a month later.