1950s Decade In Review Part 1 - Team Performance Rankings and All-Decade Teams (10-6)
**DISCLAIMER: Looking back there are several mistakes in the graphics, so some stats may be slightly off
To kick off the decade in review for the 1950s (plus 1949), I have compiled records and achievements for each team and have ranked them 1-10 in terms of their performance. I have then put together All-Decade teams for each club. They are comprised of 10 players that defined the franchise over the decade (except for Louisville and Indiana who have 5 for their shorter history). I will run through teams 10 through 6 to start today, and then I’ll go through the rest later.
So to kick things off here are...well the most recent expansion teams.
The Victors’ short history has been quite all over the place, with a couple of decent seasons considering their expansion team status, but the 1959 season showed their issues and they fell to 2-10. It is really hard to differentiate them from the Thunder due to both team’s short history, but with Louisville making the playoffs, Indy slips to 10 on the list.
The top players are a mix of young talented prospects and a couple of notable veterans, RB Rodney Clark has been the key to the offence in the last two seasons, while DL William Sanderson and DB Kelly Kirkland look to be great young talents on the defence. Both DB Lester Murphy and RB Laurent Brazeau had some strong moments in their short time with the Victors. Brazeau also scored the first-ever touchdown for the franchise.
It's a lot of the same as the Victors for the Thunder over their early years, however, their first two seasons were a lot worse than the Victors. It was their playoff appearance this season that gets them over the hump to slide into the 9th spot, but the two teams are so close, that really it could be called a tie.
The Thunder have an interesting team with a pair of young stars in QB Leonidas Dumont and S Johnny Berger, a veteran and first captain OL Aaron Spears, and then two defensive pillars in LB Silas O’Brien and DB Alexander Bradley. Bradley is the only player to have only played on a team for only the 1959 season and make an All-Decade squad.
Two relocations and several collapses have made the Tigers a very tough team to follow. They kicked off the decade being one of the worst teams, but the development of RB Laurent Brazeau, DB Louie White, LB Aengus Lynch, and the addition of QB Duane Logan helped the Tigers climb out of the basement. However, they would be met with season after season of just barely missing the playoffs. It would take trading Logan, White and Brazeau for the team to finally make the playoffs under QB Christian Stewart in 1956. All while this was happening, the Tigers moved into Kitchener for a few years, before finding a new home in London, ON. With the new home, the tigers would take off with the acquisition of QB Riley Kiernan and a younger core. They have been in the hunt the last two seasons and finally made it to the big game this past year.
The Tigers All-Decade team is made up of players from their two strong eras so far, with the most recent London core, and the Ontario core that they had through a lot of the ‘50s. Both QB Duane Logan and QB Riley Kiernan show up here as both have made a significant impact on the team during their time starting. RB Laurent Brazeau is probably the most obvious choice here being the face of the team during their Ontario years. RB Clifford Russell has taken over for the top RB in recent years and has performed quite well earning him a spot. WR Wilbert Benjamin has been one of the longest-serving players on the team and easily was a shoo-in for the All-Decade team. Captain LB Aengus Lynch has been the top-dog on defence with DB Louie White, DL Dee Floyd, and DL Olympus Heights being key pieces as well. OL Ulysses Fairgrove has been a strong consistent piece on the line since being drafted earning the final spot on the team.
7 - Worcester Athletics (1951-1959)
The difference between the Athletics and the Tigers is simply Worcester’s division title in 1956. It was a rough start for the Athletics due to being an early expansion team, but they would build up to be a competitive team by the mid-’50s led by QB Riley Kiernan and defensive stars LB Scotty Williams and DB Alexander Bradley. With the additions of DB Lester Murphy and LB Silas O’Brien, the team was able to take the top spot in the league in a 9-1, 1956 campaign in honour of their late owner Richard Paul. They would go all the way to OT in the McCallister Cup only to fall to the Royals on the last play. Unfortunately, the Athletics have not been able to replicate their strong season, and have lost many of the players from that season with internal issues coming to light. The team is in a rough spot, but some success puts them at #7.
The difference between the Athletics and the Tigers is simply Worcester’s division title in 1956. It was a rough start for the Athletics due to being an early expansion team, but they would build up to be a competitive team by the mid-’50s led by QB Riley Kiernan and defensive stars LB Scotty Williams and DB Alexander Bradley. With the additions of DB Lester Murphy and LB Silas O’Brien, the team was able to take the top spot in the league in a 9-1, 1956 campaign in honour of their late owner Richard Paul. They would go all the way to OT in the McCallister Cup only to fall to the Royals on the last play. Unfortunately, the Athletics have not been able to replicate their strong season, and have lost many of the players from that season with internal issues coming to light. The team is in a rough spot, but some success puts them at #7.
Many of the players come from the successful ‘56 season. which was led by QB Riley Kiernan, RB Marcus Devonshire, and WR Christian Venegas on the offensive side. OL Cliff Strautzenberger was a big help on the line as well and WR Clyde McIntosh, the only player from the team before their NAAF debut, being a strong presence in the WR core. The defence is packed with LB Scotty Williams and DB Alexander Bradley who are arguable the best at each of their positions, and even DL Vinny Brown and S Shawn Jensen who have helped to strengthen the defence. OL Malachi Knowles also sneaks onto the team being a hometown hero and the teams’ first true leader.
The years of the Hawks will not be fondly remembered by the Long Island franchise. Every inch of success had come since the team rebranded as the Long Island Raiders in 1955. Before that, the Hawks didn’t come close to a winning season or a playoff appearance. Bad drafting, most specifically the bust of QB Lee Rogers and RB Pierre LeStrange in 1953, and management decisions led to the eventual move to Long Island which also started terribly with a 0-10 campaign. However, with Wayne Tillman taking the reins of the management office, the Raiders managed to get to the McCallister Cup the next year. The continued building would ultimately earn the Raiders a championship in 1958.
Almost the entire all-decade team is made up of current players from the recent success of the franchise. The headliners are of course primarily on the defensive side with the Raiders becoming something like the Rouge of old. DL Vernon Spears, LB Elijah Goldwater, and of course LB Rusty McVee make up the juggernauts of the defence. DB Slay Mitchell has also come on in recent years and become one of the better DBs in the league. Offensively, the team has bright young stars in QB Lyle Painter, OL Bruce Wesley, and RB Dareion Fields. Fields being especially interesting to make the team, considering only playing two seasons at this point. Veteran WR Robert Lang also gets in being a long-serving WR for the team. As for the Hartford days, DL Sean Bowen and K Thomas McFadden (the only kicker on any of the teams) make the squad as two of the few bright spots in the team’s old days.
5 - Providence Gold Stars (1949-1959)
The Gold Stars have been interesting over the first decade of the NAAF. They have come through with the second-best overall record in the league with a 0.580 win percentage, however, they have not had the success once the regular season has come to a close. The team has only 3 playoff wins in their 9 playoff appearances, which has still gotten them to two McCallister Cups, but have not been able to win the big game. This is all despite the team being led by two MVP winning QBs in Bruce Woodard and Connor O’Rourke, and defensive superstar DB Lee Wolfe over the decade. It’s not the ideal legacy, but they have certainly been competitive and kept their name in the hat year-after-year which is not something to just throw away.
All-Decade Team
The all-decade team is made up of several stars over the years, with the aforementioned QBs Bruce Woodard and Connor O’Rourke leading the way. Both QBs had success under centre and have both proven to be top QBs in the league. DB Lee Wolfe has been the team’s superstar since the league began to play in 1949 with DB Victor Bean being his partner in crime along the way. The past has had two big LBs in Samuel Grimes and Roger Morrow which have both been a bit under the radar over their time in the league. DL Calias McDonough has been the young star in the defence coming through as a strong DL over his first few years in the league. The team also has some strong WRs of the past with WR Peter Brooks and WR Eugene Burns who have both had their moments in the spotlight next to one of the few TEs to make an all-decade team in TE Marion Warren.
4 - Montreal Rouge (1949-1959)
The ‘50s were a tale of two very different teams from Montreal. They started the decade off being easily the second-best team, just behind Boston. They had the scariest defence and a superstar RB that would tear up other defences. They would find themselves in 3 out of the first 5 McCallister Cups and would win two of them. However, after early success, the Rouge collapsed into a rebuild. Since the 1954 campaign, the Rouge have not returned to the postseason, though coming close in the last couple of seasons. The early success is what shines brightest for Montreal, but as each season passes, and those years get further, the Rouge start to fall further down the list of the best teams in the league’s history.
The Gold Stars have been interesting over the first decade of the NAAF. They have come through with the second-best overall record in the league with a 0.580 win percentage, however, they have not had the success once the regular season has come to a close. The team has only 3 playoff wins in their 9 playoff appearances, which has still gotten them to two McCallister Cups, but have not been able to win the big game. This is all despite the team being led by two MVP winning QBs in Bruce Woodard and Connor O’Rourke, and defensive superstar DB Lee Wolfe over the decade. It’s not the ideal legacy, but they have certainly been competitive and kept their name in the hat year-after-year which is not something to just throw away.
The all-decade team is made up of several stars over the years, with the aforementioned QBs Bruce Woodard and Connor O’Rourke leading the way. Both QBs had success under centre and have both proven to be top QBs in the league. DB Lee Wolfe has been the team’s superstar since the league began to play in 1949 with DB Victor Bean being his partner in crime along the way. The past has had two big LBs in Samuel Grimes and Roger Morrow which have both been a bit under the radar over their time in the league. DL Calias McDonough has been the young star in the defence coming through as a strong DL over his first few years in the league. The team also has some strong WRs of the past with WR Peter Brooks and WR Eugene Burns who have both had their moments in the spotlight next to one of the few TEs to make an all-decade team in TE Marion Warren.
The ‘50s were a tale of two very different teams from Montreal. They started the decade off being easily the second-best team, just behind Boston. They had the scariest defence and a superstar RB that would tear up other defences. They would find themselves in 3 out of the first 5 McCallister Cups and would win two of them. However, after early success, the Rouge collapsed into a rebuild. Since the 1954 campaign, the Rouge have not returned to the postseason, though coming close in the last couple of seasons. The early success is what shines brightest for Montreal, but as each season passes, and those years get further, the Rouge start to fall further down the list of the best teams in the league’s history.
All-Decade Team
The past remains as the frontrunner in the grand scope of the Rouge’s history with 8 out of 10 players on the list having played back during the championship years. Only OL Eugésippe Chalifoux is still playing for the team and even he had a season in Providence. The long list of names starts with RB Élisée Marchal, who was the star of the team winning the first 3 MVP awards. OL Joshua Mercer and WR John Rivera are alongside Marchal on offence being two key pieces in the early titles. The defence, however, is the cream of the crop with 2-time Defensive Player of the Year LB Quinton Brewer, and the DL tag team in Napoléon Chevalier and Zakary Turbide. The former rookie of the year, LB Rusty McVee also enters the shortlist of players that made multiple teams with both the Rouge and Raiders. The team still sports a couple of young stars in RB Scott Mallard-White and DB Quentin Xavier who have both been playing to new heights every season. 
The Blue Wings started the decade as a young and talented team that had a lot of people thinking they were going to be a champion in the future. Those people were correct when the Blue Wings took their first-ever crown in 1952. It felt like the team would be able to continue to build on the title and continue to win, however, they ran into the Royals' dynasty. For several seasons, the Blue Wings could not get past Matieau and the Royals, and people started to say their championship window was closed or closing. With one final shot in 1957, the Blue Wings pulled off an 11-game win streak to take home the title and end the Royals cup streak at 3. The Blue Wings as a whole have been super competitive all decade, and certainly had opportunities to win more, but 2 titles is still something to be proud of.
QB Angelo Medina will certainly have great importance in the league’s history after making the shocking move to leave the Pittsburgh Hammers and sign with the Buffalo Blue Wings. His time in Buffalo has been electrifying bringing home an offensive player of the year, and 2 championships. However, he could not have been as successful without RB Arthur Conner who was considered a late bloomer taking home 2 OPOY awards late in his career. The offence also had great pieces in WR Joseph Barry, OL Casey York and OL Jean Mathieu-Baptiste. On the defence, the leadership role fell under two different players who each had their own era to lead in. The first was DB Oscar Patterson, a hometown hero and creator of the winged helmet. The second was DL Sean Bowen, who landed in Buffalo in 1954 to try and bring home a title after his time in Hartford. Other stars of the defence were S Frazier Brooks, DB Lou Lake, and DL Jonathan Brown.
The Independents will be remembered for the legacy they had before joining the NAAF, but they carried some over into the early years of the decade. QB Larry Larson would still be able to lead the Independents to 5 of the first 6 McCallister Cup games in the NAAF's history. While they only won 2 of those games, they came close in every attempt. There were a couple of rough seasons following Larson’s retirement in 1954, but, unlike Montreal, they have found new success with younger talent. They have returned to a top 4 team status this season, and are entering a QB Nathaniel Braddock led era that looks promising for a return to the top of the league.
Legacy remains the theme for the all-decade team which is of course headlined by QB Larry Larson. They also have RB Joel Bonner and WR Samuel Floyd who were deadly weapons for Larson during those early seasons. OL Andrew Furrson was also a shoo-in for the list being a 10-time all-star. The Independents also had a solid defence back in the day being led by DL Craig Newman, DB Lester Murphy, and S Michael O’Brien. In more recent years, the team has shifted to a new start with LB Brent Harper who has quickly become one of the league’s best LBs and his young partner in crime, LB Konrad Aust, who has also found his footing on the defence. To round out the list was a long time overlooked WR in Ellis Lindholm who has finally shown his abilities since QB Nathaniel Braddock has joined the team.
There is no doubt that the Royals were the team of the 1950s. The team leads the league in every category that is mentioned here. The team has an overall record that is 0.148 better than the next best team. They have never had a sub-0.500 record, only missing the playoffs once with a 4-4-2 record in 1951. The big achievement has certainly been the league-high 4 championships and 6 straight trips to the McCallister Cup. The success will be often attributed to QB Jean Matieau, but the reality is that the Royals are a great team and they have continued to find success by drafting and developing their team into the powerhouse it is today. Many of their current stars are late 1st round picks or second-round picks. DL Olaf Viktorsson was taken 9th overall, WR Mackenzie Jones, 8th, DB Mingan Oliver, 14th, the list goes on. If they continue this, they will remain one of the best teams for years to come.
The all-decade team is full of current stars for the Royals, but you have to mention the two older era players that made the list. OL James Knowles was a consistent all-star on the line, but the bigger name is probably the league’s best WR of all time, WR Allen Atkins. In more recent years, the team has been led by QB Jean Matieau, who has already had the greatest QB of all-time label with still several more years to give. Matieau has had a lot of weapons as well with WRs Chester Bennett and Mackenzie Jones, RB Alexei Volkov, and TE Jervonte Howell. While defence has never been the Royals forte, they have 3 stars who have helped the team bring home their titles in DL Olaf Viktorsson, DB Uzzia Hayes, and DB Mingan Oliver.
1950's Decade in Review - Part 3 - Awards and Championships history
I have the last part of the decade in review. I'll present the award winners of the '50s as Captain Mort 3D asked, and then threw together all the banners from the championship winners over the decade including a little summary of that season.
Award Winners
Championship Winners
1949 Boston Independents
Record: 7-1 (1st)
SF: VS. OTT 27-20
MC: VS. PRO 23-13
It was a dominant season for the Independents, who only lost one game all year which was the first the team had in many years prior. They would recover and go on to take home the first championship of the NAAF.
1950 Boston Independents
Record: 5-2-1 (2nd)
SF: VS. OTT 30-26 OT
MC: @ MTL 10-16
Boston did not have as fantastic of a season in the second year, but they were able to top the league once again on the back of the first OT game in league history and a fake field goal in the McCallister Cup to win their second title.
1951 Montreal Rouge
Record: 9-0-1 (1st North)
SF: VS. BUF 34-22
MC: VS. BOS 24-14
A huge trade that brought WR John Rivera and QB Oliver Callahan to the Rouge would give them an unbeaten record. The momentum from the season would finally get the Rouge over the top and win the title.
1952 Buffalo Blue Wings
Record: 6-4 (2nd North)
SF: @ OTT 31-34
MC: @ BOS 16-21 - Buffalo
A miraculous turnaround was the story for the ‘52 Blue Wings who started the season 0-3 before recovering to a 6-4 record and going through both the Royals and the Independents to claim the title.
1953 Montreal Rouge
Record: 8-2 (1st North)
SF: VS. OTT 30-24
MC: @ PRO 14-22 - Providence
The Rouge flew under the radar with the Gold Stars cruising to a 9-1, but the Rouge had the Gold Stars number beating them in both games they played including the Championship in Providence.
1954 Ottawa Royals
Record: 6-4 (2nd North)
SF: @ BUF 27-31
MC: @ BOS 23-27 - Ottawa
The Royals were unable to win in the playoffs over the first 5 seasons, but they finally broke through this season with back-to-back close playoff wins. They would take home the title on the back of an unreal WR Allen Atkins touchdown.
1955 Ottawa Royals
Record: 9-1 (1st North)
SF: VS. BUF 28-11
MC: VS. LI 32-22 - Long Island
The Royals would continue their success into the next season with their franchise-best 9-1 record and dominating both the Blue Wings and the surprising Raiders to win their second straight title.
1956 Ottawa Royals
Record: 8-2 (1st North)
SF: VS. ON 28-13
MC: @ WOR 27-33 OT - Worcester
The Royals continued their reign of terror with their third straight championship, taking down the powerful Athletics on a last-second trick play at the end of OT, where WR Mackenzie Jones tossed it back to QB Jean Matieau who would find WR Chester Bennett for the touchdown.
1957 Buffalo Blue Wings
Record: 10-2 (1st West)
WDF: VS. LI 33-13
MC: VS. OTT 27-17 - Boston
The Blue Wings were counted out in the 1957 season as their championship window was coming to a close, but they came through winning 11 straight games to take home their second title in league history.
1958 Long Island Raiders
Record: 7-5 (1st West)
WDF: VS. LDN 20-13
MC: @ OTT 24-27 - Indianapolis
The Long Island Raiders pulled off the miraculous upset in the McCallister Cup on the back of a stellar QB Lyle Painter led drive, on the last drive of the game.
1959 Ottawa Royals
Record: 10-2 (1st East)
EDF: VS. BOS 28-13
MC: VS. LDN 27-21 - Montreal
After failing to win back-to-back McCallister Cups, especially during the 12-0 season, the Royals returned to the top in an odd season where 4 teams dominated the landscape. The win put a bow on the spectacular decade for the Royals who took home 4 titles.
I have the last part of the decade in review. I'll present the award winners of the '50s as Captain Mort 3D asked, and then threw together all the banners from the championship winners over the decade including a little summary of that season.
Award Winners
Championship Winners
Record: 7-1 (1st)
SF: VS. OTT 27-20
MC: VS. PRO 23-13
It was a dominant season for the Independents, who only lost one game all year which was the first the team had in many years prior. They would recover and go on to take home the first championship of the NAAF.
1950 Boston Independents
Record: 5-2-1 (2nd)
SF: VS. OTT 30-26 OT
MC: @ MTL 10-16
Boston did not have as fantastic of a season in the second year, but they were able to top the league once again on the back of the first OT game in league history and a fake field goal in the McCallister Cup to win their second title.
1951 Montreal Rouge
Record: 9-0-1 (1st North)
SF: VS. BUF 34-22
MC: VS. BOS 24-14
A huge trade that brought WR John Rivera and QB Oliver Callahan to the Rouge would give them an unbeaten record. The momentum from the season would finally get the Rouge over the top and win the title.
1952 Buffalo Blue Wings
Record: 6-4 (2nd North)
SF: @ OTT 31-34
MC: @ BOS 16-21 - Buffalo
A miraculous turnaround was the story for the ‘52 Blue Wings who started the season 0-3 before recovering to a 6-4 record and going through both the Royals and the Independents to claim the title.
1953 Montreal Rouge
Record: 8-2 (1st North)
SF: VS. OTT 30-24
MC: @ PRO 14-22 - Providence
The Rouge flew under the radar with the Gold Stars cruising to a 9-1, but the Rouge had the Gold Stars number beating them in both games they played including the Championship in Providence.
1954 Ottawa Royals
Record: 6-4 (2nd North)
SF: @ BUF 27-31
MC: @ BOS 23-27 - Ottawa
The Royals were unable to win in the playoffs over the first 5 seasons, but they finally broke through this season with back-to-back close playoff wins. They would take home the title on the back of an unreal WR Allen Atkins touchdown.
1955 Ottawa Royals
Record: 9-1 (1st North)
SF: VS. BUF 28-11
MC: VS. LI 32-22 - Long Island
The Royals would continue their success into the next season with their franchise-best 9-1 record and dominating both the Blue Wings and the surprising Raiders to win their second straight title.
1956 Ottawa Royals
Record: 8-2 (1st North)
SF: VS. ON 28-13
MC: @ WOR 27-33 OT - Worcester
The Royals continued their reign of terror with their third straight championship, taking down the powerful Athletics on a last-second trick play at the end of OT, where WR Mackenzie Jones tossed it back to QB Jean Matieau who would find WR Chester Bennett for the touchdown.
1957 Buffalo Blue Wings
Record: 10-2 (1st West)
WDF: VS. LI 33-13
MC: VS. OTT 27-17 - Boston
The Blue Wings were counted out in the 1957 season as their championship window was coming to a close, but they came through winning 11 straight games to take home their second title in league history.
1958 Long Island Raiders
Record: 7-5 (1st West)
WDF: VS. LDN 20-13
MC: @ OTT 24-27 - Indianapolis
The Long Island Raiders pulled off the miraculous upset in the McCallister Cup on the back of a stellar QB Lyle Painter led drive, on the last drive of the game.
1959 Ottawa Royals
Record: 10-2 (1st East)
EDF: VS. BOS 28-13
MC: VS. LDN 27-21 - Montreal
After failing to win back-to-back McCallister Cups, especially during the 12-0 season, the Royals returned to the top in an odd season where 4 teams dominated the landscape. The win put a bow on the spectacular decade for the Royals who took home 4 titles.
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