Submitted by Long Ball, DOF

In 1859, Charles Dickens penned the absolute best opening of any novel in modern day prose – it would no doubt amuse him that “A Tale of Two Cities” would be applied to American Football. Nevertheless, I could not help but visualize the irony involved in the playoff game between Baltimore and Indianapolis.

For those of you younger than the author of this blog, a history lesson is in order: once upon a time, the Indianapolis Colts were known as the Baltimore Colts and the Baltimore Ravens were known as the Cleveland Browns. Confused? Click below for continuation of the history lesson.

The Baltimore Colts competed in the All-American Football Conference (AAFC) from 1947 to 1950, and then again in the NFL starting in 1953.  The Miami Seahawks (yes, the name has been used before) moved their gawd-awful green uniforms to Baltimore during the days of the AAFC.  The NFL Colts had quite a journey to Baltimore:

Dayton Triangles (1913) – Founding member of NFL

Brooklyn Dodgers (1930)

Brooklyn Tigers (1944)

Merged with Boston Yanks (1945)

Boston Yanks become New York Yanks (1949)

New York Yanks become Dallas Texans (1952)

Dallas Texans become Baltimore Colts (1953)

March 29, 1984:  A day that will live in infamy, started at 2:00 AM as 15 Mayflower trucks packed, loaded and moved the Colts’ franchise from its long-term home in Baltimore to Indianapolis, all taking different routes in the middle of a snowy night.

The Cleveland Browns were a founding member of the AAFC in 1946 and later became a member of the NFL in 1950, the only professional team named after its coach (Paul Brown).  The Browns were a powerhouse in the pre-Super Bowl years of pro football, winning championships in both the AAFC and NFL.

Art Modell signed a deal to relocate the team to Baltimore on November 6, 1995; ironically, Cleveland voters approved a tax referendum to increase funding from $175 million to over $300 million for demolition of Municipal Stadium and the construction of a new football stadium the very next day, November 7, 1995.

The NFL had learned from the Colts fiasco and placed a 3 year deactivation of the Browns name, allowing it to stay with the City of Cleveland.  Art Modell renamed the franchise in Baltimore “Ravens”, in 1999 the Cleveland Browns returned, and now, as Paul Harvey would say, you know “the rest of the story”.

Hopefully, the Ghost of John Unitas can find some peace!