Historical Moments:
1937: On Februay13th, the National Football League grants a Cleveland franchise to Homer
Marshman and Associates, a prominent group of local businessmen. The group had
owned a team in the rival American Football League in 1936. That team was also
known as the Rams and finished with a 5-2-2 record, second best in the league.
This new NFL franchise was separate entity since none of the personal joined
the new NFL team. The NFL Rams first coach was Hugo Bezdek and he led the Rams
on to the field at Cleveland Municipal Stadium for their first game in on September
10th. Unfortunately, the Detroit Lions would shut down the Rams 28-0. The
Rams would get their first win 11 days later when they beat the Eagles in Philadelphia
21-3. However the Rams would not score more then ten points in any more
games that first season finishing with a 1-10 record.
1938: The Rams now playing their home games at Shaw Stadium, a high school stadium on Shaw
Avenue in Cleveland lose their first three games of the season before Coach
Hugo Bezdek is fired. The move pays off right away as new coach as the Rams win
their first three games under new coach Art Lewis. However the Rams would win
only one of their final five games and would finish their second season with a
4-7 record.
1939: The Rams return to Municipal Stadium as rookie halfback Parker Hall makes a big splash
earning MVP honors as the Rams finish with a .500 record for the first time
at 5-5-1 under new coach Earl "Dutch" Clark.
1940: The Rams would stumble in Dutch Clark's second season as coach falling back below
the .500 mark at 4-6-1.
1941: Daniel F. Reeves and Fred Levy, Jr. purchase the Rams. The Rams get the new ownership
group off on the right foot by winning their first two games. However they
would not win again and closed the season with a 2-9 record.
1942: With new owners Daniel F. Reeves and Fred Levy, Jr. enlisting in the Armed Forces,
Bob Kelley is named club secretary. After three seasons in Municipal Stadium
the Rams decide to play their home games at League Park. The Rams would finish
the season with a 5-6 record, in Dutch Clark's final season as head coach.
1943: Daniel F. Reeves buys out partner Fred Levy Jr., as the Rams are forced to suspend
operations for due to wartime travel restrictions, and lack of manpower.
1944: The Rams resume operations with an expansion style roster full of free agents and
castoffs. However under coach Buff Donelli the rag tag Rams get off to a great
start winning their first three games. However, their inexperience would catch
up to them as they won just one of their next seven games to finish with a 4-6
record.
1945: After coach Buff Donelli joins the military General Manager Charlie Walsh names his
brother Adam as the team's new coach. Bob Waterfield a Quaerterback drafted
in 1944 joins the team and leads the Rams to their first Division Championship
with a 9-1 record Waterfield would become the first player ever to win the NFL
MVP by a unanimous vote. The highlight of the season came on Thanksgiving in Detroit
when Jim Benton caught ten passes for NFL record 303 yards in 28-21 win at
Detroit over the Lions. On December on a frozen field at Cleveland Municipal
Stadium the Rams defeated the Washington Redskins 15-14 to win their first NFL
Championship. However, the joy for Cleveland fans would be short lived as the Rams
got approval to move to Los Angles less the a month later.
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