Harrisburg Trojans Homemade Fan Poster

Collection — Box: MSSP F3 CC-0001, Folder: 5

Identifier: MSSP_10118

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

One homemade fan poster of the Harrisburg Trojans football team. The poster consists of clippings pasted to a piece of cardboard from an unknown printed book or program about the Harrisburg Trojans written by Manager Ned Givens in about 1945.

The poster includes a summary page that reads:

“The 1945 Harrisburg Trojans professional football club have played five games thus far this season, and they are proud after eight years of playing to honor the loyal fans with this book. The Trojans held the Negro World Championship three times, 1941, '42 and '44, while holding championships of seven Pennsylvania Counties and three States.

Their policy always was and still is, to play the best teams that they could get, and they never asked anyone for favors or setups. This team was organized in 1938, as one body of athletes, clean living, clean sportsmanship, and sport loving lads. In order to do this, many sacrifices have been made by these boys. Through the guidance of Bill Simpson, Phil Mason and Lewis Carlton they were recognized as one of the most outstanding Negro Professional football team in the United States.

In 1942, the Trojans elected to carry members of other races on their squad and in doing so gave the National Pro League, Dusan Maronic, John Krovic, plus the services of two stellar boys this season in Andy Anderson and Bob Sostar and all these above mentioned boys have given their best while on the Trojans squad and they boys will always be welcome upon their return to the Trojan squad.

And to the boys who are now playing as members of the Trojan team, and to those who have played, I dedicate this book.

Ned R. Givens, Manager.”

The poster features pictures and brief text descriptions of 17 Trojans players:

“Lunch Atwell Age 27, hgt. 5 ft. 10 in., wt. 185. LUnch is playing his seventh year with the Trojans as a back. Rated by many expert as one of the best runners in pro football. (Back)”

“Poke Banks Weighs 200 pounds, height 6 ft., age 30. Playing seventh year with Trojans. (Guard)”

“George Crummel Wt. 235, stands 5 ft. 9 in., age 31. Veteran of nine years of pro football. He plays 60 minutes every game. One of the fastest men on team.”

“Casson Dixon Hgt. 6 ft., 2 in., wt. 206, age 28. Veteran of seven years of pro ball. Good both on defense and offense. (End)”

“Sammy Greene Wt. 160, age 26, hgt. 5 ft. 7 in. Sammy is now in the Army. He has been a member of the Club for 6 years. Noted for broken field running. (Back)”

“Calvin Hill Hill is in the Service. Played one game this Fall, weighs 200, hgt. 6 ft. (End and Center)”

“George House Now in the Army. Wt. 190, hgt. 6 ft. 1 in. Played four years with Trojans. Good pass receiver. (End)”

“Earnest McLaughlin Erney retired after playing two years. Was backfield star. Weighs 150 pounds, stands 5 ft. 8 inches. Excellent blocker. (Back)”

“John McLaughlin Johnny is in the Army. Hgt. 5 ft. 10 1/2 in., wt. 180, age 26. (Guard)”

“Phil Mason One of the originators of the Hbg. Trojans football team, 196 lbs, stands 5 ft. 7 1/2 in. Now serving in the U.S. Navy, age 32.”

“Willie Moon 190, stands 6 ft. Rated as good defensive end plus his art of blocking punts. Tenth year with Trojans. (Back and End)”

“Mark Palmer This boy is a veteran of six years to the Trojans Club. He weighs 206, stands 6 ft. 1 in., age 25. (Guard)

“Jim Pearson Wt. 170, hgt. 5 ft. 10., age 24. Jim is in military service. A good pass receiver. (End)”

“Demo Robinson Age 26, hgt. 6 ft., 1 in. Veteran of three years play. Weighs 205 lbs. (Fullback)”

“Scott Scotty weighs 230 lbs., stands 5 ft. 7 in., age 32. Veteran of thirteen years of pro football. (Center, Guard, or Tackle)”

“Washington Wt. 206, hgt. 6 ft. 1 in., ge 25. (Guard)”

“Vince Whiting Age 32, coach of Trojans. Veteran of eight years. Called 60 minute man, stands 6 ft. 2 in., weighs 185 pounds. (Center)”

Dates

Creation: 1945

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical / Historical

The Harrisburg Trojans were an African American football team founded in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1938. The team was composed mainly of African American football players who had played high school football in the region. A few of the players may have subsequently played football at various Historically Black College and Universities before playing for the Trojans. The team evolved out of an earlier team, the Harrisburg Monarchs, who had played football in the area in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

The Trojans were a strong team and played against both white and African American semi-pro, amateur, and professional teams throughout the region. They were coached by Bill Simpson, Phil Mason, and Lewis Carlton.

In November 1941, the New York Brown Bombers, one of the best African American teams in the country, visited Harrisburg and played the Trojans for the mythical “World Negro Football Championship.” The Trojans beat the Brown Bombers 12 to 7 to claim the title. The following year, Harrisburg tied the Washington Lions 7-7 in a game for the “Negro Football Championship.” Over the next several seasons, the Trojans competed with the Lions and other squads for the title of best African American team. During the 1940s, the Trojans also claimed several county-level and state-wide championships based on their victories over white teams from the region.

Although the players on the Trojans were predominantly African American, the team added white players to its roster during the 1942 and 1945 seasons. In 1942, white players Dusan Maronic, who would go on to play in the NFL for several years, and John Krovic joined the Trojans. In 1945, the team fielded white players Andy Anderson and Bob Sostar.

During the war, the Trojans disbanded in 1944, and many of the players joined a team called the Harrisburg Governors. The Trojans re-formed in 1945, and they continued playing each fall through about the 1950 season.

The team’s financial affairs were handled by business manager Ned R. Givens and promoter William E. “Bud” Marshall. Marshall, who was also involved with the Harrisburg Giants African American baseball team, promoted the Trojans and helped schedule games for the team. In addition to handling day-to-day business operations, Givens wrote and published a book about the Harrisburg Trojans in 1945. There are apparently no extant copies of Givens’s book available aside from the clippings pasted on this poster.

Extent

.01 Cubic Feet (1 F3 Folder)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Bibliography

Jim Newkirk, “Harrisburg Trojans: ‘Colored’ Champs,” Harrisburg Patriot News 1978 November 13, page 17.

“Trojans Defeat Brown Bombers 12-7,” Harrisburg Telegraph 1941 November 3, page 12.

“Trojans Lions Battle to Tie,” Harrisburg Telegraph 1942 October 12, page 15.