The Washington Braves In Professional Sports
The Washington Redskins are one of the NFL’s most dominant teams. Since 1971 they have won three Super Bowls championships and have had fourteen playoff appearances. The organizations past dates back almost 60 years and includes five overall world championships and also had the first NFL’s fight songs, marching band and radio network.
Originally the Boston franchise was awarded to George Preston Marshall in July 1932. He had named the team the Braves at first because they used the Braves Field, home of the baseball team. Then they team moved to Fenway Park in July 1933 and they team was renamed the Redskins. In 1937 the Redskins moved to Washington. Games there were played at Griffith Stadium. That year they got the great quarterback
“ Slinging Sammy” Baugh from Texas who changed the offensive posture of pro football with his forward passing in his 16 year career. The Redskins won five NFL Eastern division titles and NFL championships in 1937 and 1943 during Baugh’s time.
In 1950, the Redskins had all their games shown on TV making them the first NFL team to have the entire season televised. In 1961 the D.C stadium was opened and it was the home of the Redskins through 1996. In 1997 the Redskins move into the new FedEx Field. A consecutive sellout streak began in 1968 and is still alive today. No other NFL team can say they have had that long of a string of sellouts.
In 1969 Vince Lombardie brought the Redskins to their first winning record in 15 years but died of cancer before the 1970 season. Class of 2002 inductee George Allen took over in 1971 and coached the team to 69 victories, 5 playoff appearances and the 1972 NFC championship in his seven years. From 1981 to 1992, Joe Gibbs was the coach and was ranked as one of the most successful coaches in Redskin history. His record was 140-65-0 and produced 8 playoff appearances, 5 NFC Eastern division championships and victories in Super Bowls XVII, XXII, and XXVI. He was named coach of the year in 1982 and 1983 and elected to the Hall of Famed in 1996. In 2004, Gibbs returned to the team as head coach.
Originally the Boston franchise was awarded to George Preston Marshall in July 1932. He had named the team the Braves at first because they used the Braves Field, home of the baseball team. Then they team moved to Fenway Park in July 1933 and they team was renamed the Redskins. In 1937 the Redskins moved to Washington. Games there were played at Griffith Stadium. That year they got the great quarterback
“ Slinging Sammy” Baugh from Texas who changed the offensive posture of pro football with his forward passing in his 16 year career. The Redskins won five NFL Eastern division titles and NFL championships in 1937 and 1943 during Baugh’s time.
In 1950, the Redskins had all their games shown on TV making them the first NFL team to have the entire season televised. In 1961 the D.C stadium was opened and it was the home of the Redskins through 1996. In 1997 the Redskins move into the new FedEx Field. A consecutive sellout streak began in 1968 and is still alive today. No other NFL team can say they have had that long of a string of sellouts.
In 1969 Vince Lombardie brought the Redskins to their first winning record in 15 years but died of cancer before the 1970 season. Class of 2002 inductee George Allen took over in 1971 and coached the team to 69 victories, 5 playoff appearances and the 1972 NFC championship in his seven years. From 1981 to 1992, Joe Gibbs was the coach and was ranked as one of the most successful coaches in Redskin history. His record was 140-65-0 and produced 8 playoff appearances, 5 NFC Eastern division championships and victories in Super Bowls XVII, XXII, and XXVI. He was named coach of the year in 1982 and 1983 and elected to the Hall of Famed in 1996. In 2004, Gibbs returned to the team as head coach.