View source for Orange/Newark Tornadoes

{{Short description|American football franchise}}
{{Infobox Pre-modern NFL team
| name = Orange-Newark Tornadoes
| bgcolor = #f03a16
| fontcolor = black
| helmet = 
| logo = Tornadoeslogo.gif
| founded = 1887
| suspended = 1942–1957
| folded = 1970
| location = [[Orange, New Jersey]] <br> [[Newark, New Jersey]]<br>[[Orlando, Florida]] (1966–1969)
| field = Grove Street Grounds (1889), [[East Orange Oval]] (1890–???)<br>[[East Orange Stadium]] (???–1925)<br>[[Knights of Columbus Stadium]] (1926–1929, 1931–1936)<br>[[Newark Schools Stadium]] (1930, 1937–65)<br>[[Newark Velodrome]] (1930)<br> [[Citrus Bowl]] (1966–1969)
| league = Independent (1887, 1904–1928, 1931–1935)<br>[[American Football Union|American Football Union (AFU)]] (1888–1895)<br>[[National Football League]] (1929–1930)<br>[[American Association (football)|American Association]] (1936–1948)<br>[[Atlantic Coast Football League]] (1963–1964, 1970–1971)<br>[[Continental Football League]] (1965–1969)
| division = 
| colors = Navy, orange, white <br> {{color box|navy|border=silver}}{{color box|#f03a16|border=silver}}{{color box|white|border=silver}}
| history = Orange Athletic Club (1887–1928) <br/> Orange Tornadoes (1929, 1931–1936) <br/> Newark Tornadoes (1930, 1937–1938) <br/> Newark Bears (1939–1941, 1963–1965) <br/> Orlando Panthers (1966–1969)
| nickname = 
| coach = [[Jack Depler]] (1929) <br> [[Jack Fish (American football)|Jack Fish]], [[Al McGall]], [[Andy Salata]] (1930)
| manager = 
| owner = [[Edwin Simandl]] (1929–1938)<br>[[George Halas]] (1939–1941)<br>[[Sol Rosen]] (1963–1964)<br>Tom Granatell (1966–1969)<br>Paul Massey (1970)
| championships = 
| AFL 1 championships =
| AFL 2 championships =
| AFL 3 championships =
| AAFC championships =
| mascot = 
| website =
}}

The '''Orange Tornadoes''' and '''Newark Tornadoes''' were two manifestations of a long-lived professional American football franchise that existed in some form from 1887 to 1941 and from 1958 to 1970, having played in the American Amateur Football Union from 1888 to 1895, the [[National Football League]] from 1929 to 1930, the [[American Association (football)|American Association]] from 1936 to 1941, the [[Atlantic Coast Football League]] from 1963 to 1964 and 1970, and the [[Continental Football League]] from 1965 to 1969. The team was based for most of its history in [[Orange, New Jersey]], with many of its later years in [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]]. Its last five seasons of existence were as the [[Orlando Panthers]], when the team was based in [[Orlando, Florida]]. The NFL franchise was sold back to the league in October 1930. The team had four head coaches in its two years in the NFL – [[Jack Depler]] in Orange, and [[Jack Fish (American football)|Jack Fish]], [[Al McGall]] and [[Andy Salata]] in Newark.

==History==

===Early years===
The Orange Tornadoes can trace their roots back to the '''Orange Athletic Club'''. The Orange A.C.  was originally an amateur football team that began play in 1887. The team's first ever game was a 36–0 loss to the [[Seton Hall University]] football team. By the 1890s the Orange became a [[semi-professional|semi-pro]] team. In 1892, the team practiced under electric lights at night to prepare for an October 8 game against [[Rutgers College]]. The Orange A. C. would go on to win that game 22–10. In 1893, the team won the [[American Football Union]] Championship, after posting an 8–2 record. In 1902, the Orange A. C. played against [[Philadelphia Phillies (NFL)|Philadelphia Phillies]] and the [[Philadelphia Athletics (NFL)|Philadelphia Athletics]] of the [[National Football League (1902)|first National Football League]]. The team also played in [[World Series of Football (1902)|World Series of Football]] in that year, at [[Madison Square Garden (1890)|Madison Square Garden]]. In 1902, Orange lost to [[Syracuse Pros|All-Syracuse]], 36–0. However, the team returned to the World Series of Football in 1903, when they played the [[Watertown Red & Black]] and the eventual champion, the [[Franklin Athletic Club]]. Orange lost to Watertown, 11–0, and to Franklin, 12–0. However, it did manage to defeat the [[Oreos Athletic Club|Oreo Athletic Club of Asbury Park]], 22–0.

===Pre-NFL===
The Orange team became an established independent pro team from 1919 until 1928, under the nickname the '''Orange AC Golden Tornadoes'''. During this time, Orange defeated the [[New York Brickley Giants]] of the NFL. They also played pre-NFL versions of the [[Frankford Yellow Jackets]] and the [[Staten Island Stapletons]]. They also played against the [[Atlantic City Roses]] and the [[Millville Big Blue]], two of the top independent teams of the 1920s. By 1928, Orange held the [[New York Giants]] and Frankford Yellow Jackets to close scores. On September 16, 1928, Orange held the 1927 NFL Champion New York Giants to just a 7–0 victory. A week earlier the NFL's previous champions, the Frankford Yellow Jackets, were held to a 12–0 victory. Orange showed that their team could compete in the NFL.

While the Golden Tornadoes played in Orange, a separate [[Newark Bears (AFL)|Newark Bears]] played in the original [[American Football League (1926)|American Football League]] in the 1926 season in Newark, unrelated to the Tornadoes team that would later take on that identity. That Newark Bears club was later absorbed into the [[Staten Island Stapletons]].

==1929 season==
{{CSS image crop|Image=Orange Athletic Club football team 1896.jpg|bSize=280|cWidth=280|cHeight=205<!--crop caption-->|Description=Orange Athletic Club in 1896. This team evolved into the Orange Tornadoes of the NFL.}}
In 1929 [[Ole Haugsrud]], the owner of [[Duluth Kelleys/Eskimos|Duluth Eskimos]], sold his NFL franchise rights for the Eskimos to [[Piggy Simandl]], a wholesale meat salesman and sports promoter from Orange, who named his franchise the Orange Tornadoes. The Tornadoes played their home games at [[Knights of Columbus Stadium]]. The first game for the new team was a scoreless tie against the [[New York Giants]] on September 29, 1929. A week later the team recorded its first NFL win by defeating the [[Boston Bulldogs (NFL)|Boston Bulldogs]] 7–0.  The victory came off a short [[George Pease (American football)|George Pease]] pass to [[Paul Longua]], who ran 60 yards for a [[touchdown]]. However, the following week, Orange experienced its first NFL loss in a 7–0 defeat to the 1928 NFL Champions, the [[Providence Steamroller]]. The team regrouped on October 19, 1929, and the Tornandoes held the Frankford Yellow Jackets to a 6–6 tie at [[Frankford Stadium]]. A week later the team rallied from a 13–0 deficit to defeat the Boston Bulldogs, 19–13.

On October 29, 1929, the Bulldogs and Tornadoes met again to play, in [[Pottsville, Pennsylvania]]. Prior to 1929, the Bulldogs played as the [[Pottsville Maroons]] and the teams played for their still loyal fans at the Maroons' [[Minersville Park]]. This time however, the Tornadoes lost 6–0 by way of a 4-yard touchdown run from Boston's [[Tony Latone]]. On October 3, the Tornadoes held the [[Staten Island Stapletons]] to a scoreless tie at [[Thompson Stadium (Staten Island)|Thompson Stadium]]. During that game the Stapletons were within scoring distance three times, but to no avail. Meanwhile, the Tornadoes only penetrated the Staten Island 20-yard line once.

The Orange then lost a rematch against the New York Giants, 22–0, a week later. But after a scoreless tie against Frankford, the Orange defeated the Staten Island Stapletons 3–0, due to a [[Felix McCormick]] [[Field goal (American and Canadian football)|field goal]]. However, the next game, against the [[Chicago Cardinals]], resulted in a 26–0 Tornadoes loss. The Cardinals, led by [[Ernie Nevers]], put up 20 points in the second quarter of the game. The Tornadoes then ended their 1929 season with a 10–0 loss to Frankford. They finished with a 3–5–4 record, scoring 35 points, while giving up 80.

==1930==
[[File:Newark Tornadoes es.png|200px|right|thumb|1930 Newark Tornadoes logo]]
The team's fortune in the NFL changed for the worse after it moved to Newark in 1930. During the team's time in Newark, it played its home games at [[Newark Schools Stadium]]. Head coach [[Jack Depler]] defected to buy the [[Dayton Triangles]], moving that team to [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn]] and transforming that team into the [[Brooklyn Tigers|Brooklyn Dodgers]]. He took most of the members of the 1929 Tornadoes with him. Meanwhile, the Tornadoes went through three coaches during the 1930 season, and the team's only victory during the [[1930 NFL season|1930 season]] was against the Frankford Yellow Jackets.

The last game for the Newark Tornadoes was against the New York Giants, a 34–7 loss on October 29, 1930.  The franchise ended league play after the 1930 season and was sold back to the NFL. The league ordered the franchise sold to the highest bidder prior to the 1931 season, but there were no takers, and a league-owned [[Cleveland Indians (NFL, 1931)|Cleveland Indians]] assumed the Tornadoes' place in the NFL for that season.

In 1932, a [[Boston]]-based group headed by [[George Preston Marshall]] won a new NFL franchise.  The new team would be named the Boston Braves, now the [[Washington Commanders]]. Strong circumstantial evidence indicates that Marshall's group was awarded the remains of the failed Newark organization. The NFL's decision to auction off the Tornadoes to the highest bidder indicated its intent to replace the franchise, and Marshall's group was the next to receive a franchise (though the league had temporarily added a league-owned franchise, the [[Cleveland Indians (NFL, 1931)|Cleveland Indians]], to fill the Tornadoes' position in 1931). Additionally, Eskimos owner Haugsrud recalled in 1974 letter to [[George Halas]] that the Eskimos franchise was transferred to New Jersey before being transferred to Boston.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Horrigan |first=Joe |year=1982 |title=National Football League Franchise Transactions |url=http://profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/04-An-121.pdf |journal=The Coffin Corner |publisher=Pro Football Research Association |volume=4 |access-date=May 8, 2022}}</ref> However, the NFL considers the Commanders to be a 1932 expansion team and not a continuation of the Tornadoes, just as it does not consider the Tornadoes to be a continuation of the Eskimos. Likewise, the Commanders do not claim the Tornadoes or Eskimos (nor the Indians) as part of their own legacy.

==Tornadoes and Bears in the American Association==
Though the NFL franchise had moved to Newark, owner Edwin Simandl had kept a barebones organization back in Orange, just in case the NFL Tornadoes failed. When they did, he moved as many players as he could from the Newark squad back to Orange. The minor league Tornadoes played in various leagues, including the [[American Association (football)|American Association]], of which it was a charter member. The Orange Tornadoes moved back to Newark in 1937 and were eventually bought by the [[Chicago Bears]]. Playing under the name '''Newark Bears''' (a name previously used by the [[Newark Bears (AFL)|Newark Bears]] of the [[American Football League (1926)|1926 American Football League]]), the team played in the AA through 1941.

The team did not return after World War II; instead, [[George Halas]] took what was left of the team and split it into the '''Newark Bombers''' and the '''Akron Bears'''. The '''Bloomfield Cardinals''' replaced both teams in 1947. The NFL severed ties with all minor league teams in 1948.

==Uniforms==
In 1929, Orange experimented with using letters instead of numbers on player jerseys; [[Heinie Benkert]], for example, wore the letter "C" on his uniform.<ref>Daly, Dan. [https://books.google.com/books?id=nhLzcGoB7TIC&pg=PA38& ''The National Forgotten League: Entertaining Stories and Observations from Pro Football's First Fifty Years''], p. 38. [[University of Nebraska Press]], 2012. {{ISBN|9780803244603}}. Accessed January 17, 2018. "Case in point: the 1929 Orange Tornadoes. The Tornadoes didn't wear numbers on their jerseys, they wore letters. Here's their lineup for the first of two games against the Frankford Yellow Jackets:... C - Heinie Benkert, B, Rutgers"</ref>

==Season-by-season==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Name
!League
! Year !! W !! L !! T !! Finish!!Coach
|-
! Orange Tornadoes
! rowspan="2" |NFL
| [[1929 NFL season|1929]] || 3 || 5 || 4 || 6th||[[Jack Depler]]
|-
! Newark Tornadoes
| [[1930 NFL season|1930]] || 1 || 10 || 1 || 11th||[[Jack Fish (American football)|Jack Fish]], [[Al McGall]], [[Andy Salata]]
|-
! Orange Tornadoes
! rowspan="6" |AA
| 1936 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 5th||
|-
! Newark Tornadoes
| 1937 || 6 || 1 || 3 || T-1st||
|-
! Newark Tornadoes
| 1938 || 2 || 5 || 0 || 6th||
|-
! rowspan=6|Newark Bears
| 1939 || 6 || 2 || 1 || Champions||
|- 
| 1940 || 5 || 5 || 1 || T-4th||
|- 
| 1941 || 3 || 6 || 0 || 5th||
|}

*A complete game-by-game record to 1937 can be found [http://www.luckyshow.org/football/orangeac.htm here].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tor1930.htm Pro-Football Reference]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041222162937/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/orangenewarknfl.shtml HickokSports.com]
*[http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Linescores/1929.pdf 1929 NFL season]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.luckyshow.org/football/orangeac.htm Orange Athletic Club of New Jersey: Complete Football Records]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101127050929/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/10-04-342.pdf In the Same League]
*[http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~maxymuk/home/ongoing/orange.html Uniform Numbers of the NFL]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004210/http://www.footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=contlg Discussion of Newark and Orlando in the Continental Football League] from the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]]

{{Orange Athletic Club football navbox}}
{{Orange Tornadoes}}
{{Orange Tornadoes coach navbox}}
{{Newark Tornadoes seasons}}
{{Duluth Eskimos}}
{{Defunct NFL teams}}
{{World Series of Football (1902-1903)}}
{{Continental Football League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orange Newark Tornadoes}}
[[Category:Orange/Newark Tornadoes| ]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 1929]]
[[Category:American football teams disestablished in 1969]]
[[Category:Defunct NFL teams]]
[[Category:Sports in Newark, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Continental Football League teams]]
[[Category:World Series of Football (1902–03)]]
[[Category:Orange, New Jersey]]
[[Category:1929 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:1969 disestablishments in Florida]]
[[Category:American Association (American football) teams]]