For most fans, when Thanksgiving and the Giants are mentioned the first thing that comes to mind is Lawrence Taylor's dominating performance at Detroit in 1982.
However, during the leather helmet era when drop kicks and early down punting were featured more frequently than the forward pass, Thanksgiving football was the norm in New York. Between the years 1926 - 1938, and it was always an interborough rivalry for city bragging rights.
The first holiday contest took place on November 25, 1926 against the recently merged Brooklion Horsemen (an amalgamation between the NFL's Brooklyn Lions and AFL's Brooklyn horsemen). About 7,000 fans watched the game at Ebbets Field. After a scoreless first quarter the Giants put their regular starters in and dominated thereafter, en route to a 17-0 victory on the strength of Jack McBride's running, passing and place kicking. Joe Alexander also returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown.
Giants vs Brooklion - Sunday 11/28/26
The Brooklyn franchise folded after the 1926 season so the Giants whet their appetite for Thanksgiving gridiron competition against the independently operated Staten Island Stapletons in 1927 and 1928. Despite being a rouge outfit, the Stapes deployed tough, competitive squads. The Giants won a close 13-7 game in 1927 and lost 7-0 in 1928.
In 1929 Staten Island was admitted to the major league circuit and the rivalry continued. A standing-room-only crowd of between 12,000 - 14,000 spectators jammed Thompson Stadium (actually over capacity, temporary seating was added practically on the sidelines) to witness Benny Friedman's Giants. New York jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter on their way to a 21-7 win, despite the Stapletons having their own star power with triple threat back Ken Strong on their side. The controversial bidding war Staten Island pried Strong away from the Giants only added to the typical intensity of their games.
Giants vs Staten Island - Sunday 10/13/29
The Stapletons exacted revenge in 1930 with a 7-6 upset over the Giants in front of 10,000 fans at Thompson Stadium. The difference in victory was Friedman missing his PAT and Strong converting his. The 1931 game was very similar: the Stapes lead 7-6 in the fourth quarter, but were able to add a safety for a 9-6 win. The game was played in bitterly cold conditions and the field was frozen solid. The action was fierce and featered several skirmishes between plays. Strong left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury that incited the crowd against New York. Hap Moran missed a placement attempt late in the fourth quarter that could have given the Giants a 10-9 advantage.
The Giants final visit to Thompson Stadium in 1932 was a very appropriate 13-13 tie that required two fourth quarter stands by the Giants defense to stave off defeat.
Giants vs Staten Island - Sunday 11/13/32
The Stapletons returned to rogue status after the 1932 season so the Giants annual pigskin pilgrimage brought them to Brooklyn the next five seasons to play the dodgers at Ebbets Field. New York's 10-0 win in the inaugural contest was highlighted by Ken Stong's (now a Giant) place kicking and punting in front of 28,000 fans.
Giants at Brooklyn - Thursday 11/30/33
The 1934 Giants - on their way to the 1934 NFL Championship - met little resistance in Brooklyn during a 27-0 romp. The 1935 and 1936 contests were also shutouts, 21-0 and 14-0 respectively.
Giants at Brooklyn - Thursday 11/26/36
Brooklyn competitively fought New York to a 13-13 tie in 1937. Approximately 27,000 fans, heavily partial to the Dodgers, roared their approval as Ace Parker and Brooklyn halted four New York drives deep into dodger territory in the second half. Only on the final drive did the Giants relent and kick a field goal to forge the stalemate (Tillie Manton from 15 yards with just over 1:00 on the clock).
The Giants final Thanksgiving game for 44 years was another deadlock, this time 7-7. Ed Dnaowski lead a furious fourth quarter drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Dale Burnett at 1:45. Ward Cuff's PAT ensured the Giants would leave Ebbets field without a loss, crucial at the time as they were scheduled to play the Redskins for the NFL Eastern Division title at the Polo Grounds the following week.
Giants at Brooklyn - Thursday 11/24/38
Happy Thanksgiving!
...thanks so much for posting!
Fascinating!
Great job for Thanksgiving Larry.
Having helped screw up the design for MetLife Stadium, however, they better not be goin' anywhere now.
The Packers used to play part of their schedule in Milwaukee. When they tore down County Stadium the Brewers built Miller Park. Miller Park is too small for football. So even with a closeable roof they will never be able to host a Super Bowl.
The Packers used to play part of their schedule in Milwaukee. When they tore down County Stadium the Brewers built Miller Park. Miller Park is too small for football. So even with a closeable roof they will never be able to host a Super Bowl.
I've never seen a good aerial photo of football in Ebbets Field, but once I read a game summary that described the end lines almost abutting the grandstand. In one game against the Giants, Ken Strong attempted a field goal of over 50 yards that missed wide, but had enough leg behind it that is sailed over the end zone into the seats.
The Daily News had a photographer high up in the stands above one of the end zones that show how tight the field was inside the grandstands. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle has a couple of photos that shows how close the fans are to the field in temporary seating. The summary mentions the high demand for tickets to the game and how 10,000 were turned away from the box office.
The photos are too large for the forum, click on the links to see them.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle:
https://i.imgur.com/bINXMad.jpg
NY Daily News:
https://i.imgur.com/IKWRlaV.jpg