As the National Football League was playing its first season as the American Professional Football Association, various small leagues professional football were still popping up everywhere. In Pennsylvania football became popular among the various coal towns, with the mine workers playing on weekends.

Pottsville was no different as their first teams were made up of fireman working at the Yorkville Hose Company. Playing against other teams in the area the Pottsville Maroons were able to get a sponsorship deal, enabling them to sign star players including Carl Beck, Benny Boynton and Stan Cofall.

In 1924 the Maroons were purchased by John G. "Doc" Striegel, a local surgeon who moved the team into the Anthracite League.

The Maroons continued to sign star players including three players (Larry Conover, Harry Robb, and Wilbur "Pete" Henry) away from the NFL Champion Canton Bulldogs, this would not sit well with NFL President Joseph Carr. The Maroons dominated the AL and attempted to challenge the NFL Champion Cleveland Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs refused, but the Maroons did get a game against the NFL's Rochester Jefferson which they would lose 10-7. The Anthracite League would collapse after one season, as the Maroons applied to join the NFL.