We are putting a temporary halt to the sale of existing PFRA books. We are in the process of revising them and will offer new selections in the near future.

Books About Pro Football's Beginnings:

THE JOURNEY TO CAMP - The origins of American Football from ancient times to 1889, by Bob Braunwart and Bob Carroll. A sometimes lighthearted 53 pages of basic history.

PRO FOOTBALL: FROM AAA TO '03 - The origin and development of professional football in western Pennsylvania 1890-1903, by Bob Carroll and Bob Braunwart.

THE TIGERS ROAR - Professional football in Ohio 1903-09, by Bob Carroll. Canton vs. Massillon.

THE OHIO LEAGUE, 1910-1919 - Pro football develops in the midwest, by Bob Carroll and PFRA Research.

BULLDOGS ON SUNDAY: 1919 - Season before the NFL was formed. Text, game accounts, rosters, etc.

BULLDOGS ON SUNDAY: 1920 - NFL's disappointing first season. Text, game accounts, rosters, etc.

SOLD OUT BULLDOGS ON SUNDAY: 1921 - The league tries to turn it around. Text, game accounts, rosters, etc.

BULLDOGS ON SUNDAY: 1922 - The league changes its name but still struggles. Text, game accounts, rosters, etc.

BULLDOGS ON SUNDAY: 1923 - Another season in the early history of the NFL. Text, game accounts, rosters, etc.

BULLDOGS ON SUNDAY: 1930 - The Depression affects football, too. Text, line scores and scoring, rosters.

Books about Minor and Defunct Leagues:

DOWN IN THE VALLEY - The true story of the Ohio Valley League in the 1920s, by Bob Gill. Ironton, Portsmouth and others. Includes game text, scores, rosters, stats.

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE - The saga of football's Dixie League (minor league) 1936-47, by Bob Gill. Text, scores, rosters.

THE OUTSIDERS - The three American Football Leagues (two claimed major league status) of 1936-41, by Bob Gill and Tod Maher. Text, scores, rosters, etc.

SOLD OUT A MINOR MASTERPIECE: VOL. I - The American Association (minor league) 1936-41, by Bob Gill. Text, scores, rosters, etc.

SOLD OUT A MINOR MASTERPIECE: VOL. II - The American Football League (minor) 1946-50, by Bob Gill. Text, scores, rosters, etc.

BEST IN THE WEST - The rise and fall of the Pacific Coast Football League (minor) 1940-48, by Bob Gill. Text, scores, rosters, etc.

SOLD OUT WIFFLE - The World Football League chronicle by Tod Maher. Text, scores, rosters, etc.

SOLD OUT THE ALL-TIME UNITED STATES FOOTBALL LEAGUE REGISTER - by Tod Maher. Lists 1,533 USFL players with positions, colleges, teams, birthdates.

SOLD OUT THE USFL CHRONICLE - by Paul Reeths. Text, rosters, game scores, all statistics, draft. A must for USFL fans. NOTE: Special Price - $10 for members, $12.50 non-members.

Books about Specialized Subjects:

GREEN GRIDIRONS - Football fields where major pro league football games have been played, by Philip J. Lowry. (Available in 8.5" X 11" format only.)

ALL-PROS: THE FIRST 40 YEARS - by John Hogrogian, et.al. All the teams 1920-59.

ALL-PROS: THE MODERN YEARS - by John Turney. 1960-98. (Large book; add $1 extra for postage)

PFRA Annuals: ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE SAME PRICE

PFRA ANNUAL 1983 (#4) - Includes history of Greensburg (PA) pro football in the 1890s and story of St. Louis Gunners of early 1930s.

PFRA ANNUAL 1985 (#6) - Includes Ontario Rugby Union 1883-1906 and listing of early black pros.

PFRA ANNUAL 1986 (#7) - Includes famous "Nelson Ross" manuscript.

PFRA ANNUAL 1987 (#8) - Includes Jack Cusack's "Pioneer in Pro Football" 1911-17.

PFRA ANNUAL 1988 (#9) - Includes articles on early NFL blacks, Louisville Brecks, & USFL lawsuit.

PFRA ANNUAL 1989 (#10) - Includes 50-page history of pro football 1892-1920.

The Coffin Corner Collections: AVAILABLE FOR $10 EACH (soft-cover, bound with plastic rings)

THE COFFIN CORNER: VOLUME ONE - Includes all major articles (20) from the first year of The Coffin Corner (1979). Some have been updated.

THE COFFIN CORNER: VOLUME TWO - All major CC articles from 1980.

THE COFFIN CORNER: VOLUME THREE - All major CC articles from 1981.

THE COFFIN CORNER: VOLUME FOUR - All major CC articles from 1982.

Other books by PFRA members:

The 50 Greatest Plays in Pittsburgh Steelers Football History - by Steve Hickoff. This book includes logic-defying Steelers comebacks, tough losses, dramatic interceptions, crucial tackles, fumble recoveries, game-winning field goals, touchdowns, and even one safety, the first in Super Bowl history.

The Best Show in Football: The 1946-1955 Cleveland Browns - by Andy Piascik. In-Depth analysis of the 1946-1955 Cleveland Browns and why they should be considered football's greatest dynasty.

ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia - by Pete Palmer, Ken Pullis, et. al.. Weighing in at a whopping 1,536 pages, this updated edition of the best football encyclopedia available features lists of all players ever drafted by the NFL and AFL in the amateur drafts since 1920, expanded defense and specialists registers, all-time leaders in single-game performances, and all-time rankings of players by Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. A special essay on the history of the NFL on television is sure to delight fans of the gridiron. And, of course it includes all of the resources, fact listings, and records true devotees expect: comprehensive year-by-year and team-by-team rushing, passing, receiving, kicking, punting, sacks, and returns statistics for all players in NFL history; far-reaching details on football history, award recipients, draft picks, and loads more stats on teams, coaches, and stadiums.

From Baltimore to Broadway: Joe, the Jets, and the Super Bowl III Guarantee - by Ed Gruver. From Baltimore to Broadway is the first book that tells the complete story of Super Bowl III, from recollections of the Colts as well as the jets. The outcome of this seeming mismatch would impact far more than just the Jets and the Colts. The AFL had seen its previous two champions, Kansas City and Oakland, humbled by the Green Bay Packers in the first two Super Bowls. Had the Jets been beaten badly by Baltimore, as experts predicted, the worth of the coming merger between the warring leagues would have been damaged and the legitimacy of the Super Bowl as a true championship contest called further into question. Super Bowl III was a moment in time when the sport's past, present and future met in historical intersection. To the men who made it happen, who played a role in its final outcome, Super Bowl III is more than just a game that changed pro football. It's an event that changed their lives and continues to impact them to this day.

Game Changers: 50 Greatest Plays in Buffalo Bills Football History (50 Greatest Plays in Football History) - by Marv Levy and Jeff Miller. Jeffrey Miller has teamed up with Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy for his latest book, “Game Changers: The Greatest Plays in Buffalo Bills Football History” (Triumph). From “The Hit Heard ‘round the World” and “Big Ben” through “Wide Right” and “The Music City Miracle,” Miller and Levy relive the most unforgettable on-the-field moments in Bills history. The authors provide fascinating context for each of the plays, the back story, all the relevant circumstances, and the thoughts of many of those directly involved. Lushly illustrated with color and b&w photos that help you follow the play as it unfolds, “Game Changers” reanimates many of the most thrilling and heart-stopping moments in football.

Gridiron Gauntlet: The Story of the Men Who Integrated Pro Football, in Their Own Words - by Andy Piascik. One year before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in major league baseball, four black players joined the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams to become the first African-American pro football players in the modern era. Players who began their careers from 1946 to 1955 reminisce about the violence they faced on and off the field, the world of segregation and the violence it brought, but also of white players and coaches who assisted and supported their careers.

Gridiron Gladiators: Italian-Americans in College, Semipro & Pro Football - by Fausto Batella. An examination of Italian-American college, semi-pro and professional football players from 1920 through 1949.

The Hidden Game of Football: The Next Edition - by Bob Carroll, Pete Palmer, John Thorn, David Pietrusza. A new way of looking at football statistics.

Last Team Standing: How the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles--'The Steagles'--Saved Pro Football During World War II - by Matthew Algeo. The history surrounding the temporary merger between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles.

McKay's Men: 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Story of Worst to First - by Denis Crawford. As the 1979 season opened, Tampa Bay head coach John McKay led a team that many believed to be among the worst in the NFL. Experts from around the country stated that McKay was a college coach out of his element who was depending on a second-year quarterback, an injury-prone tailback, an unproven offensive line and a solid but young defense. John McKay had everybody right where he wanted. This is the story of how John McKay led a team to the most improbable championship in NFL history and the men who made it possible. The players fought harder than they were expected to, succeeded more than could be believed and had a great time in the process. More importantly the players had one thing in common. They were McKay's Men.

On Any Given Sunday: A Life of Bert Bell - by Bob Lyons. Bert Bell, a native of Philadelphia, has been called the most powerful executive figure in the history of professional football. He was responsible for helping to transform the game from a circus sideshow into what has become the most popular spectator sport in America. In On Any Given Sunday, the first biography of this important sports figure, historian Robert Lyons recounts the remarkable story of how de Benneville “Bert” Bell rejected the gentility of a high society lifestyle in favor of the tougher gridiron, and rose to become the founder of the Philadelphia Eagles and Commissioner of the National Football League.

The Original Buffalo Bills: A History of the All-America Football Conference Team - by Kenneth R. Crippen. The Buffalo Bills of the National Football League are known for having a fervent fan base, but the city's love affair with their football team dates back more than half a century. As members of the fledgling All-America Football Conference, the Buffalo Bills were one of the strongest teams in the league in 1948 and 1949, their final years of play. The team had such an impact on the city and on professional football that current franchise owner Ralph Wilson, when searching for a home for his American Football League team, settled in Buffalo and named the team in honor of the original Bills.

The Pro Football Encyclopedia - by Tod Maher and Bob Gill. A detailed history of pro football, including scores and statistics.

Pro Football Trivia - by Bob Gill. Hundreds of questions on NFL.

Quarterback Abstract - by John Maxymuk. Each quarterback's statistical information is presented here, from his scoring totals to his draft status and personal information. Author John Maxymuk has devised a sophisticated rating system that compares the quarterbacks across the decades. Who were they? What were their playing styles? How good were they? A full spectrum of numerical data is presented, from passing and rushing data to fourth-quarter game-winning-drive totals and won-lost records. Maxymuk also provides incisive analysis and interesting anecdotes, fleshing out each field general's personality.

Rockin' the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League - by Jeffrey Miller. The complete history of the 1960-1969 Buffalo Bills of the American Football League. Foreward by Hall of Famer Billy Shaw.

This Day in Football: A Day-by-Day Record of the Events that Shaped the Game - by T.J. Troup. A full football season of facts, history, and nostalgia, this book will tell you the date the record for passes attempted was broken (94 on 11/1/53) as well as the game in which a defensive tackle lined up as a tight end to make the only touchdown reception of his career (William Perry, Chicago Bears, 11/3/85), and much, much more.

Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League - by Bob Carroll and Total Sports. Includes not only scores and statistics, but essays and opinions like the 300 best football players ever.

Turmoil vs. Triumph - by Ken Crippen. A detailed look at the 1890-1900 Syracuse Athletic Association football team. The S.A.A. was the first and strongest independent team in the Syracuse area, winning multiple championships.

When Football Was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL - by Joe Ziemba. Containing over ten years of extensive research and accompanied by original archival photographs, When Football was Football delves into this rich football past. The Cardinals, now in Arizona and the sport's oldest franchise, were born in Chicago in 1899. We follow their history, from the early days, when casualty lists were reported after each game, through the inception of the NFL in 1920, the growing pains of the league, the rivalry between the Cardinals and the Bears, two world wars, and finally a resurrection in the late 1940s which resulted in a Cardinal's victory in the 1947 championship.

Any PFRA member who would like to add their book to this section should contact Ken Crippen.