Factoid Feast X

Nov 30, 2024

As discussed in Factoid Feasts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX, my searches through football history sometimes lead to topics too important to ignore but too minor to Tidbit. Such nuggets are factoids, three of which are shared today.

Holes In The Wall

In 1883, boys and men in New York City were excited about the Yale-Princeton game at the Polo Grounds, except that tickets cost 50 cents. Those with little money walked to the Polo Grounds to avoid paying the fee demanded by the railroad operators and thought they might avoid paying for the ticket by sitting on the hill above the stadium.

Unfortunately, when they arrived at the hill, they found the owners had raised the fence to 30 feet, with all cracks and knotholes filled. Then, an entrepreneur with an augur offered to drill a peephole for anyone possessing a spare nickel. He sold 40 holes before offering to drill a matching second hole for 2 cents apiece.

('The Man With The Auger,' *Lima Democratic Times (OH)*, November 9, 1883.)

Shortly thereafter, the local constable chased away the few who had paid one or two holes, so none of them got their money's worth.

California had a knot hole gang (1906 California Yearbook)

The Face of Football

A few days ago, Football Archaeology covered the evolution of helmet and face mask requirements.

Football's first facial protection with the nose guard was held in place by a strap at forehead level with the bottom of the nose guard clenched between the teeth so it also functioned as a mouth guard. However, the clenching action made it difficult for the wearer to breathe easily.

To address the breathing problem, Kyle F. Shibe of Bala, PA, developed a nose guard-like device that did not require clenching. Instead, a second vertical strap went over the top of the head and under the chin while the device extended further down the face, adding a chin guard. The device should have become popular by all appearances, but it never found an audience.

('Protects The Faces Of Athletes,' *Sacramento Bee*, September 29, 1900.)

Bearly Breathing

If you think football players had problems breathing back in the day, their problems did not compare to particular bear mascots. Another recent Tidbit covered wild animal mascots but failed to mention Sergeant Grid, the bear mascot at Pennsylvania Military Institute, now Widener University. The bear breathed his last one day, and the autopsy revealed the bear died from ingesting a golf ball, which obstructed its digestive tract. How it obtained the golf ball is anyone's guess.