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53-573: Jack Shapiro , a blocking back for the Stapletons, was the shortest player in NFL history, weighing between 119–126 pounds (54–57 kg) and just over 5 feet (1.5 m) tall. The Staten Island Stapletons were founded in 1915 as a neighborhood team. The team was organized by Dan Blaine , who also served as the team's halfback . Blaine later became rich by building up a chain of restaurants. The Stapletons played similar semi-pro neighborhood teams from

106-460: A player-coach and by signing six graduates from the nationally ranked New York University team. The Stapes had their best season on record, going 10–1–1, including a 3–1 record against NFL teams. They even pulled out a 7–0 victory over the Giants on Thanksgiving Day. After his team rolled up a 10–1–1 record in 1928, Blaine applied for an NFL franchise in 1929. He needed permission from Tim Mara ,

159-485: A 16–7 victory over Cleveland; he had two rushing touchdowns, including a 50-yard run and kicked a field goal and an extra point. At the end of the 1931 season, Strong was selected as an All-Pro for the second year in a row, receiving first-team honors from the United Press (UP) and Collyer's Eye . Strong's output dropped off in 1932 as he moved to the fullback position. He appeared in 11 games and ranked sixth in

212-480: A New York actress known by the stage name Rella Harrison. The marriage was "stormy", short-lived, and ended in divorce. In December 1931, Strong married Mabel Anderson of Long Island . Strong and his second wife remained married for nearly 48 years and had a son, Kenneth Robert Strong, born in approximately 1932. After retiring from football, Strong lived with his wife and son in Bayside, Queens , and worked as

265-612: A game at home vs. Wilkes-Barre, Strong played left field and hit four home runs. In 1931, Strong moved up to AA ball with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League . He appeared in 118 games with Toronto and compiled a .340 batting average with 53 extra-base hits. In January 1932, the Detroit Tigers purchased rights to Strong. He was considered a tremendous major league prospect, but

318-698: A long forward pass to set up the Stapleton's first touchdown and scored all of the team's 12 points on two short touchdown runs. He also had a 70-yard run in a scoreless tie with the Orange Tornadoes on November 3, 1929. Two days later, Strong had a 50-yard touchdown run against the Providence Steam Roller . At the end of the 1929 season, Strong was selected by Collyer's Eye and the Green Bay Press-Gazette as

371-625: A player in November 1940. He came out of retirement in 1942 to play for the Long Island Clippers, scoring 12 points in four games. In 1944, with talent in the NFL depleted by wartime military service, Strong returned for a third stint with the New York Giants. He appeared in all 10 games for the 1944 Giants, including six as a starter. In his first three games with the Giants in 1944, Strong at age 38 accounted for 22 of

424-416: A second-team All-Pro . In 1930, Strong appeared in all 12 games for the Stapletons and scored 53 points on two rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns, one field goal, and eight extra points. His point total ranked third in the NFL in 1930, trailing only Jack McBride (56 points) and Verne Lewellen (54 points). On September 28, 1930, he caught two touchdown passes, threw a 40-yard pass that set up

477-542: A third touchdown, and kicked three extra points in a 21–0 victory over the Frankford Yellow Jackets . In December 1930, he led the Stapletons to a 16–7 victory over the New York Giants for the pro football championship of New York City; Strong accounted for all 16 Stapleton points, running 98 yards for a touchdown, passing for a second touchdown, and kicking a field goal and an extra point. He

530-686: A winning season in the NFL. During its first NFL season in 1929, the team went 3–4–3, defeating the Dayton Triangles , Boston Bulldogs , and the Minneapolis Red Jackets . The team also managed to tie the Frankford Yellow Jackets once and Orange Tornadoes twice. The team improved to a 5–5–2 record in 1930. That season the Stapes managed to defeat the rival New York Giants 7–6, after a four-yard touchdown run from Doug Wycoff and an extra point kick from Strong. In July 1931,

583-500: A wrist injury sustained late in the 1931 season when he ran into the outfield fence proved to be a fracture. Strong underwent surgery, but the Detroit surgeon removed the wrong bone. Strong never recovered the full use of his right wrist. In July 1933, Strong won a $ 75,000 jury verdict in a lawsuit against the surgeon who removed the wrong bone. The verdict was later reversed on appeal. In December 1929, Strong married Amelie Hunneman,

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636-499: A year later. In June 1935, Blaine's franchise was finally declared forfeit. The franchise's failure can be blamed on a combination of the Great Depression and having too small of a stadium that could never accommodate enough fans to make the team profitable. Jack Shapiro Jack Emanuel "Soupy" Shapiro (March 22, 1907 – February 5, 2001) was an American gridiron football player who played in one game with

689-524: Is easily the greatest football player I ever saw – and I've been around over twenty-five years ... I can tell you honestly that since 1905 I've never seen a football player in his class for all-around stuff." In 1939, Grantland Rice rated Strong and Jim Thorpe as the greatest players in football history. In Strong's favor, Rice cited Strong's "unusual speed", the "driving force in his legs", and his stamina. Harry Grayson wrote: "An amazing runner, blocker, passer, kicker, and defensive man, Strong was, in

742-559: Is the first time in my career that one man was good enough to run over and completely wreck an exceptionally good team. I can tell you he is better than Heston or Thorpe ." Strong played 16 seasons of professional football from 1929 to 1940 and 1944 to 1947. He earned a reputation as a triple-threat man and a versatile athlete who played on offense and defense and in the kicking game. The Pro Football Hall of Fame 's biography of Strong states: "Strong could do everything – run, block, pass, catch passes, punt, placekick, and play defense with

795-715: The Cape Cod Baseball League , and was part of a "parade of sluggers" that powered the Hyannis lineup. As a halfback for the 1928 NYU Violets football team , he led the country in scoring with 162 points, tallied some 3,000 total yards from scrimmage, and was a consensus pick on the 1928 College Football All-America Team . Strong gained widespread fame when he led NYU to a 27–13 upset victory over undefeated Carnegie Tech . He threw two long touchdown passes, rushed for two touchdowns, and kicked three extra points, leading Grantland Rice to write: This attack

848-636: The Minneapolis Red Jackets . Shapiro later stated that he was, in fact, on the Stapletons roster for five games, playing in two regular-season games and one exhibition game. The regular-season games were late in the season against the Minneapolis Red Jackets and Orange Tornadoes . In 1999, Shapiro received recognition in the Guinness Book of Records as being the shortest player on record in NFL history. Ken Strong Elmer Kenneth Strong (April 21, 1906 – October 5, 1979)

901-625: The NYU Violets . In football, he led the country in scoring with 162 points in 1928, gained over 3,000 yards from scrimmage, and was a consensus first-team selection on the 1928 College Football All-America Team . Strong played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Staten Island Stapletons ( 1929 – 1932 ) and New York Giants ( 1933 – 1935 , 1939 , 1944 – 1947 ), and in

954-715: The NYU Violets football team. In 1938, Strong was a player and head coach for the Jersey City Giants, the New York Giants' farm team in the American Association . He was barred from playing in the NFL because of his decision to jump to the American Football League in 1936. Tim Mara , owner of the Giants, reportedly negotiated a deal with Strong to play for Jersey City in exchange for which Mara would seek Strong's reinstatement in 1939. He kicked 13 field goals, scored 51 points, and

1007-734: The New Haven Profs of the Eastern League . He was an outfielder for New Haven, appearing in 104 games and compiling a .283 batting average with 21 home runs and 43 extra-base hits . Strong began the 1930 season with New Haven. In mid-May, he joined the Hazleton Mountaineers of the New York–Pennsylvania League , appearing in 117 games and compiling a .373 batting average with 41 home runs (a league record), and 88 extra-base hits. On June 8 in

1060-538: The Staten Island Stapletons of the National Football League (NFL) in 1929 . Shapiro is most famous for being the shortest player in NFL history at about 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m). In 1907, Shapiro was born in New York City , New York , United States , North America . His parents had immigrated to the United States with their previous four boys and three girls, as well as their niece. Jack

1113-582: The United Press , Collyer's Eye , and the Green Bay Press-Gazette . In 1934, Strong again played in every game for the Giants as a fullback. He rushed for 431 yards and scored 56 points (six rushing touchdowns, four field goals, and eight extra points) in the regular season. His greatest fame derives from his role in the Giants' comeback victory over the Chicago Bears in the 1934 NFL Championship Game ; Strong scored 17 points for

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1166-554: The second American Football League (AFL) for the New York Yankees ( 1936 – 1937 ). He led the NFL in scoring in 1934 and was selected as a first-team All-Pro in 1930 , 1931 , 1933 , and 1934 . He also played minor league baseball from 1929 to 1931, but his baseball career was cut short by a wrist injury. Strong was born in the Savin Rock section of West Haven, Connecticut , in 1906. His father Elmer F. Strong

1219-421: The Giants had him playing very little outside of kicks. In the summer of 1940, Strong became ill with stomach ulcers, underwent emergency surgery, and was hospitalized for four weeks. He said that he intended to return to playing when his health permitted. He played for the Jersey City Giants while recuperating in the fall of 1940, led Jersey City to another league championship, then announced his retirement as

1272-486: The Giants on a 38-yard field goal, two fourth-quarter touchdowns on runs of 42 and 8 yards, and two extra points. Strong received first-team All-Pro honors in 1934 from the NFL and others. In 1935, Strong helped lead the Giants to their third consecutive NFL Championship Game. In a 10–7 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was only able to play a few minutes due to injury, but he still managed to score all of

1325-520: The Giants' points on a 24-yard touchdown run and a 24-yard field goal. Slowed by injury in 1935, he was described as "a celebrated invalid" who "hobbled" from the bench to kick a field goal for the Giants in a 3–0 victory over the Bears on November 17. In the 1935 NFL Championship Game , a 26–7 loss to the Detroit Lions, Strong scored all of the Giants' points on a long touchdown catch and run and

1378-509: The NFL during the 1926 season. Unhappy with the defeat, Blaine promptly hired most of the Newark players, including star rookie Doug Wycoff , who were still owed money because the Newark owner was having financial problems. As a result, the Bears went out of business while the Stapletons benefited from Newark's folding. In 1928, Blaine further upgraded the team by signing some star players from New York University , like Frank Briante . In 1927,

1431-415: The NFL with 375 rushing yards, but scored only 15 points on two touchdowns and three extra points. At the end of the 1932 season, the Stapletons team folded. In 1933, Strong signed with the New York Giants . The 1932 Giants had compiled a 4–6–2 record, but the 1933 Giants, with Strong at fullback and Harry Newman at quarterback, improved to 11–3 and advanced to the 1933 NFL Championship Game . Strong led

1484-581: The NFL with 64 points in 1933; his points were scored on three rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns, a touchdown on an interception return, five field goals, and 13 extra points. On November 26, 1933, he became the first known player in NFL history to score on a fair catch kick . The 30-yard kick was made at the Polo Grounds in a win against the Green Bay Packers . After the 1933 season, Strong received first-team All-Pro honors from

1537-425: The NFL. The Yankees went out of business after the 1928 season , so the franchise again went back to Mara and he passed those franchise's rights on to Staten Island. Blaine promptly hired Ken Strong , who became a Stapletons Hall of Famer . Strong, who received All-American honors while at New York University, was a speedy, powerful runner who was also one of the best kickers of the era. The Stapletons never had

1590-467: The New York City area. During those early years the Stapes played more for fun than money. Crowds were small and player salaries averaged $ 10 per game (equivalent to $ 301 in 2023). The team won several local semi-pro titles before World War I . The team was inactive in 1918, due to Blaine's service commitment to the military and involvement in the war, and reactivated in 1919. By that time, he

1643-607: The Stapes 18–6. The team posted a 4–6–1 record in 1931, defeating the Giants, Dodgers (twice), and the Cleveland Indians . In 1932, the Stapes finished last, defeating only the Giants and the Chicago Cardinals . Blaine was allowed by the NFL to suspend league play for the upcoming 1933 season . The team continued to lose money in 1933. While the team posted losses against the Giants, Dodgers, Portsmouth Spartans , and Green Bay Packers , it did manage to defeat

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1696-444: The Stapes fielded their ex-Newark Bears squad, although Wycoff signed with the Giants. The Giants would go on to win the 1927 NFL championship and defeated the Stapes twice in non-league games, 19–0 and 18–0. The Stapes though did manage to beat the NFL's Duluth Eskimos , featuring Ernie Nevers 7–6 on November 27, 1927. By 1928, Blaine wanted the Stapes to become an NFL franchise. He bolstered his squad by re-signing Doug Wycoff back as

1749-455: The Stapletons played in two temporary local parks: Stapleton Field and East Shore Oval. Between 1923 and 1924, Stapes manager Daniel Daley claimed the "New York Metropolitan championship" by beating the best independent pro teams in the area. In 1925, Tim Mara formed the New York Giants who moved into the Polo Grounds . Their presence in New York overshadowed the Stapes, particularly with

1802-489: The extra point. In August 1936, Strong signed with the New York Yankees of the newly formed second American Football League . Strong's departure from the NFL was the new league's first raid on the NFL. Strong later recalled that Giants owner Jack Mara wanted Strong to accept a pay cut from $ 6,000 to $ 3,200; the Yankees agreed to pay him $ 5,000. During the 1936 season, Strong earned a reputation as "the best blocker in

1855-399: The game." He also: kicked a field goal and two extra points in a 17–6 victory over Brooklyn on October 14; scored a touchdown and kicked the extra point in a 7–6 victory over Pittsburgh on October 21; and kicked three field goals in a 15–7 win over Cleveland on November 23. Strong returned to the Yankees in 1937. However, he left the team after three games to assist Mal Stevens in coaching

1908-511: The greatest all-around football player. Cagle said: "Strong ... can do everything. He's a great punter, place kicker, pass thrower, and how he could carry his 198 pounds! I played with and against Strong, and he always stood out. He is tops when the chips are down ... Ken is also a brilliant blocker, so I guess that makes him the class." Walter Steffen , also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame , said: "I'll tell you he

1961-418: The league. In April 1948, at age 41, Strong announced his retirement as a player. In 12 seasons in the NFL, Strong received first-team All-Pro honors four times (1930, 1931, 1933, and 1934) and scored 520 career points (including 36 points in the post-season) on 38 touchdowns, 39 field goals, and 175 extra points. In October 1937, Red Cagle , a member of the College Football Hall of Fame , rated Strong at

2014-475: The newly established Philadelphia Eagles . Doug Wycoff and Bob Campiglio stayed with the Stapes in 1933, but their star player Ken Strong signed with the Giants and helped them win the NFL's Eastern Division championship that season and the NFL league championship in 1934. Blaine went through the formality of getting NFL permission to suspend league operations for the 1934 season. The team played one more season of semi-pro football in 1934 before quietly folding

2067-403: The opinion of many who saw him, the greatest football player of them all." Grayson later called Strong "a runaway buffalo with the speed of an antelope." Strong received numerous honors for his football career, including the following: Strong also played professional baseball for several years. He was signed by the New York Yankees before graduating from NYU and spent the summer of 1929 with

2120-581: The owner of the Giants, because Staten Island was in Mara's exclusive territory. But Mara actually had an extra franchise. It had originally belonged to the Brooklyn Lions and had been given to Mara when the Lions folded in 1927, because they owed him money. Mara had then allowed the New York Yankees , owned by Grange's manager C. C. Pyle , to use the franchise when that team moved from the defunct AFL into

2173-575: The sell-out visit by Red Grange and the Chicago Bears on December 6, 1925. The Giants and Stapes began their New York rivalry on Thanksgiving Day 1925. The Giants defeated the Stapes in an exhibition game 7–0. Over the following couple of seasons, the Stapes would play exhibitions against pro teams from the NFL and various other leagues. On November 14, 1926, the Stapes were routed by the Newark Bears , 33–0. The Bears belonged to Red Grange's American Football League , which served as competitor to

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2226-409: The team's 48 points. He helped lead the team to the 1944 NFL Championship Game , scoring 41 points on six field goals and 23 extra points. After the war ended, Strong remained with the Giants for another three years as the team's place-kicker and remained one of the league's leading scorers with 41 points in 1945, 44 points in 1946, and 30 points in 1947. His 32 extra points in 1946 ranked second in

2279-568: The team's official name on the league records was changed from the Stapleton Football Club, Inc., to Staten Island Stapes. At this time, Doug Wycoff left the team to rejoin the Giants. In need of a coach, Blaine hired Hinkey Haines , who had played briefly for the Stapes in 1929. The Stapes opened at home by beating the Dodgers 9–7 before 7,000 fans. A week later at Ebbets Field , the Dodgers forced three interceptions to defeat

2332-403: The very best." Unable to reach terms with the New York Giants , Strong signed instead with the Staten Island Stapletons . He played for the Stapletons for four years from 1929 to 1932. While statistics are not available for the 1929 NFL season, Strong was regarded as one of the best backs in the NFL. He started all 10 games at halfback for the 1929 Stapletons. In his first NFL game, he threw

2385-505: Was a Connecticut native who worked as an egg and dairy inspector. Strong attended West Haven High School where he was a star baseball and football player. Strong next attended New York University (NYU) where he played baseball and football. In baseball, he was NYU's center fielder for three years and drew attention for his fielding and power hitting. He played summer baseball for the Hyannis town team of Barnstable, Massachusetts in

2438-571: Was an American professional football player who was a halfback and fullback . He also played minor league baseball . Considered one of the greatest all-around players in the early decades of the game, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1957 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967 and was named to the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team . A native of West Haven, Connecticut , Strong played college baseball and football for

2491-523: Was given a full scholarship and was awarded a varsity letterman that season. Afterwards, Shapiro moonlighted as a professional football player for a team in Meriden , Connecticut . The team was sponsored by the Sons of Italy . In 1929, Shapiro played in one NFL game with Staten Island. As the shortest player in the history of the NFL, Shapiro played as a blocking back in the Stapletons' 34-0 victory over

2544-527: Was injured and was forced out of the game. His playing weight in high school was 85 pounds (39 kg). Prior to joining the Stapletons, Shapiro played college football , while attending New York University . He played fullback for the Violets in 1927 when the team posted a 7-1-2 record while outscoring their opponents by 345-65. He joined the NYU team his freshman year as a "walk on". By his sophomore year, he

2597-451: Was led by a runaway buffalo, using the speed of a deer, and his name was Ken Strong. He ran all over a big, powerful team, smashed its line, ran its ends, kicked 50 and 55 yards, threw passes and tackled all over the lot. Today he was George Gipp , Red Grange and Chris Cagle rolled into one human form and there was nothing Carnegie Tech had that could stop his march. Carnegie Tech coach Walter Steffen said of Strong's performance: "This

2650-597: Was named to the all-league team. He led the Giants to a 7–1 record and the league championship, scoring 10 points in Jersey City's championship game victory over the Union City Rams. Strong returned to the New York Giants in 1939. He appeared in nine games and scored 19 points on four field goals and seven extra points. Strong is also believed to be the second player (after Mose Kelsch ) to have devoted an entire season to placekicking ; his 1939 season with

2703-495: Was selected as a first-team player on the 1930 All-Pro Team by Collyer's Eye and the Green Bay Press-Gazette . In 1931, Strong appeared in all 11 games for the Stapletons and scored 53 points on six rushing touchdowns, one punt return for a touchdown, two field goals, and five extra points. His 53 points ranked fourth in the NFL, trailing only Johnny Blood (84 points), Ernie Nevers (66 points), and Dutch Clark (60 points). On November 22, 1931, Strong scored all 16 points in

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2756-610: Was the only one of his family to be born in America. His father and two of his brothers did odd jobs for a living, resulting in earnings of $ 9.00 a week. His oldest brother, Richard Shapiro, worked as an artist on the streets of the Bronx Shapiro attended Evander Child High School in the Bronx . While in high school, he was a starter on the football team for three straight years. During the last game in his senior year, however, he

2809-487: Was the sole owner. He retired as a player in 1924 and continued as owner and manager of the team, commonly called the Stapes. They took the Thompson Stadium , a minor league park in the neighborhood that gave them their name, as their permanent home field. Today the stadium site is occupied by Stapleton Housing located between Broad, Hill and Warren Streets and Tompkins Avenue. Prior to moving into Thompson Stadium,

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