70th Anniversary: 1942 NFL All-Star Game

On December 13, 1942, the Eastern Division champion Washington Redskins prevailed over the Western Division and defending NFL champion Chicago Bears.  In front of a home-crowd of over 36,000 at Griffith Park in Washington D.C., the Redskins captured the ’42 NFL Championship, defeating the Bears by a score of 14 to 6; ending both their reign as champions and an otherwise perfect season.  This victory for the Redskins was redemption for the franchise which – two years prior – had been embarrassed by the Chicago Bears in the 1940 NFL Championship Game in what remains the most lopsided contest in NFL history (73 – 0).

However, unlike today’s Super Bowl or Pro Bowl system, the winners of the 1942 NFL Championship Game did not go home to ticker-tape parades in celebration:  they went on to face a team of all-star players hand-picked from teams from across the league in the NFL All-Star Game.  On this date, 70 years ago, at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the newly-crowned Washington Redskins would be defeated by the All-Star squad, lead by Chicago Bears coach Hunk Anderson.  The 1942 meeting would be the final All-Star Game of the decade, making way for the debut of the more familiar Pro Bowl system in 1951.  Proceeds of the 1942 All-Star Game went to benefit the United Seamen’s Service.

On view from January 26, 2013 – May 5, 2013, The National WWII Museum will host Gridiron Glory:  The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Organized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Gridiron Glory presents a panoramic view of the story of professional football — from its humble beginnings in the late 19th century to the cultural phenomenon it is today — and brings together an extraordinary collection of artifacts, while creating an unforgettable interactive experience. The Hall of Fame has partnered with NFL Films in creating the audio and video for this exhibit.

This post by Collin Makamson, Red Ball Express Coordinator @ The National WWII Museum