With the NFL Western Division title on the line, both the Bears and the Cardinals continued their pre-game preparations for that upcoming contest 75 years ago today. By Saturday, December 13, 1947, both teams were confident in their game plans and overall preparation for the battle to be held on December 14 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
With both clubs checking in with 8-3 records, only the winner would move forward to the upcoming NFL championship clash against the still-unknown Eastern Division champ.
Much was going on around the league in the waning days of the 1947 season, including the announcement of the league’s “All-Pro” team, selected by United Press International. Only 11 spots on the “First Team” were available which considered players from all ten teams in the two divisions.
Perhaps in a tribute to the power of the two Chicago squads, six of the 11 first team members were from the Windy City—three from the Bears and three from the Cardinals.
The three honored Bears were end Ken Kavanaugh, Tackle Fred Davis, and quarterback Sid Luckman, while the Cardinals who were named to the list were center Vince Banonis, end Mal Kutner, and fullback Pat Harder.
Two more Cardinals, quarterback Paul Christman and halfback Charley Trippi were selected to the second unit of the All-Pro squad. End Jim Keane of the Bears was also on the second team.
Largest Professional Football Crowd
With all of this star power on hand and the Western Division championship at stake, it was not surprising that a huge crowd was expected for the game on December 14 at Wrigley Field. Andy Frain—and yes, there really was an Andy Frain—who was in charge of the Andy Frain Ushers, urged attendees to arrive early for the game.
“This will be the largest professional football crowd in Chicago’s history. If the fans will cooperate by entering the gates early and taking their seats, we can avoid congestion. With the game starting at 1:30, everybody should be in his seat by one o’clock.”
Also as expected, the local discussion focused on which of the two strong teams would prevail as exquisitely captured by the Rock Island Argus:
“Speculation as to who will come up with what, ran rife in Chicago, not only because this two-way quest for renown is new to local football annals, but also because whoever wins the western division title is considered a copper-pipe cinch to wipe up the eastern winner in the subsequent championship game.”
Halfbacks Change Places With Tackles
The newspaper also pondered the possibility of trick plays being utilized on the field: “The two clubs are readying strange things for each other; plays where the halfbacks change places with the tackles and the center runs with the ball…plays to challenge the running savvy of the Bears’ McAfee and the Cards’ Trippi, and the passing éclat of Sid Luckman and Paul Christman, Bear and Cardinal triggers respectively.”
Yes—the old trick plays and this is where we left off in our last episode. You will recall that Coach Jimmy Conzelman of the Cardinals had plotted out a surprise play to start the game that he was confident would result in a quick touchdown. Conzelman’s plan was to force the Bears’ slowest linebacker to guard the Cardinals’ fastest halfback, Babe Dimancheff, on a quick passing play to open the game.
Keep Man Sleeping In Chair
However, Dimancheff had failed to show up for practice to learn the new play from Monday, December 8 through Friday, December 12. It was now December 13, the day before the biggest game in Cardinals’ history and Dimancheff was still not on hand.
However, Conzelman was aware of the situation and not at all bothered by it for Dimancheff was with his wife at a local hospital, awaiting the birth of their child…and sleeping on a folding chair each night. Conzelman understood this loyalty and later explained in his own inimitable style:
“I asked him if he could drop by practice and just run through the all-important play that we had built around him. I couldn’t help saying that this game Sunday was pretty important to all of us and although I understood his feelings perfectly, it was rather awkward to have the key man in our key play getting into condition by sleeping on a chair every night. He agreed it was a shame.”
Meanwhile, the usual frigid conditions in December in Chicago were becoming evident. Both teams abandoned their usual practice spots and moved indoors for their preparation that week. The Bears left Wrigley Field for the Chicago Avenue Armory while the Cardinals departed Comiskey Park for the 124th Field Artillery Armory on 52nd Street.
Due to the importance of the game, both teams relished their privacy, according to the Chicago Tribune: “Coach Jimmy Conzelman announced flatly that the Cardinal practice sessions would be secret and they were. While the Bears were not so insistent on the strict secrecy sessions, those fellows doing duty outside the Chicago Avenue Armory were not walking up and down just to keep warm.”
Eleven Tons of Hay-Covered Field
In an effort to maintain some protection against the elements for the Wrigley Field turf, the gridiron itself was covered with a tarp and mountains of hay, eleven tons of it. Tickets for the contest were at a premium, and the Bears began to offer “standing room” only tickets on December 13.
In addition, a plan was agreed upon to address the possibility of a tie game in those days long before overtime play was initiated. Should the game end in a draw, the two clubs would meet again the following Sunday, which would be December 21 in what was defined as a “sudden death” event.
Injuries were reported as minimal and both rosters were near full strength. Each team was well-prepared, relatively healthy, and ready to go.
He'd Have A Cigar For Me
Following the birth of Babe Dimancheff’s daughter, Conzelman was pleased that Babe would be available for at least a chalk talk before the big game to learn the concept of the trick play: “He said he’d be here,” said Conzelman, “and would have a cigar for me. I had the feeling by this time that the cigar would be all I’d have to show for the game with the Bears.”
Could the Cardinals finally surpass the Bears? Would the trick play with the rusty Babe Dimancheff work? Please join us tomorrow as we travel back to December 14, 1947, and answer those questions here on the Sports History Network!
Listen To All 1947 Championship Run Bonus Episodes
Author and Host - Joe Ziemba
Joe Ziemba is the host of this show, and he is an author of early football history in the city of Chicago. Here, you can learn more about Joe and When Football Was Football, including all of the episodes of the podcast.
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