The roots of the Frankford Yellow Jackets date back to 1899 when the Frankford Athletic Association was formed in Northern Philadelphia. The cost for membership in the FAA was $10, with contributing members from the general public able to donate $1.

The Franklin Athletic Association was a non-profit organization of local residents and businesses. All profits made were donated to local charities including Frankford Hospital, the Frankford Day Nursery, the local Boy Scouts, and the local American Legion Post 211.

The officers of the Association never received a salary or compensation for their work on behalf of the team. The Frankford Athletic Association formed baseball, soccer and football teams that competed against other amateur teams in the area.

As professional football began to grow in popularity the Franklin Athletic Association using the nickname Yellow Jackets became of the best teams in Pennsylvania, absorbing the Union Quakers of Philadelphia and becoming city champions. In 1922 and 1923 the Yellow Jackets played nine games against teams from the NFL, compiling a record of 6-2-1.

This would lead to the Yellow Jackets getting an invite to join the NFL in 1924.