Cardinalsnet.com | St. Louis Cardinals News, cardinals Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>Linked by their old-guard family ownerships, Arizona and Pittsburgh will meet in Super Bowl XLIII to determine the best team in the NFL this season. </div>These franchises have already determined the worst team in NFL history. Their slapstick ancestors. In 1944, this Super Bowl pairing would have been hard pressed to scrimmage. Wartime manpower shortages and turmoil within an unstable league led to the merger of the Pittsburgh and Chicago Cardinals franchises for one forgettable season. The thing with two heads was officially known as "Card-Pitt.'' Wise guys soon called the team "Carpets'' because opponents walked all over them. The club went 0-10, was outscored 308-108 and led in only two games all season. The "Carpets'' led the NFL in two categories: most points allowed and most turnovers with 53. The quarterbacks threw 41 interceptions. Only one back ran for more than 185 yards on the season. Players were fined for "indifferent play.'' At the end, Pittsburgh owner Art Rooney winced and told his teen-aged son Dan that "merging two teams didn't make us twice as good. It made us twice as bad.'' It also changed the direction of the NFL. Without the "Carpets,'' the Cardinals would not have survived to go on a journey from Chicago to St. Louis for 28 seasons, to Arizona. Without the "Carpets,'' the Steelers would not have gone from perennial loser to five-time Super Bowl winner. Arizona and Pittsburgh are in the Super Bowl because of what happened more than 60 years ago. "It's not a reach at all to say that team kept two teams alive,'' said historian Joe Horrigan, vice president of communication and exhibits at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "Teams were folding. Who knows what would have happened if they hadn't played that season.'' A CHALLENGING TIME World War II challenged the NFL. Able-bodied young men were expected to join the military. According to the NFL, a total of 638 players served in the military during World War II, and 19 died in the line of duty. Sports teams filled rosters with the young, the old and those judged unfit for service. Baseball had a one-armed player during this period: St. Louis Browns outfielder Pete Gray. Football also had a one-armed player: offensive lineman Jack Sanders, who played one season after losing part of his left arm at Iwo Jima. Most of those who stayed behind to play football also had a full-time job in a defense plant. From 1942 to 1945, the NFL had 14 different franchises. The Cleveland Rams could not field a team in 1943, and Pittsburgh had only six players set for the season. Rather than lose a second team, NFL commissioner Elmer Layden worked out a merger between Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia Eagles. The "Steagles'' were a representative 5-4-1, but Rooney ended the relationship because of clashes with Philadelphia owner Alexis Thompson. The Boston Yanks joined the league in 1944, and the Rams came back to life. Rather than go with an odd number of teams, Layden asked Rooney to do another combination team. Rooney chose to go with Charlie Bidwill of the Cardinals. It was a decision based on friendship more than talent. The Cardinals had lost 26 consecutive games. According to Dan Rooney, the Steelers' chairman and Art's son, the patriarchs' friendship extended into the families. The Bidwills and the Rooneys often vacationed together. When the Steelers ran into financial problems during the war, Bidwill floated a loan for them. When the Cardinals opened their new retractable-roof stadium in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, they nodded to history and brought in the Steelers for the first game. There was not much to reminisce about. The "Carpets'' were a disaster. The troubles started at the top. The "Carpets'' had four coaches. The plan called for Steelers coach Walt Kiesling to share duties with Phil Handler and Buddy Parker of the Cardinals. According to Dan Rooney, Handler and Kiesling soon learned they had a common affection for betting the ponies and spent most of their time at horse tracks. The Steelers sent in another coach: Jim Leonard. No coach could have helped this group. Card-Pitt used five quarterbacks. That included 37-year-old former major-league pitcher Walt Masters, who had been coaching in Canada. "We had guys like (lineman) Walt Kichefski,'' tackle Chet Bulger told the Washington Times. "Walt could play for about five or 10 minutes, and then his varicose veins would get so bad he couldn't play anymore.'' The "Carpets'' led in the fourth quarter of the opener against the back-from-hibernation Rams before falling. It was all downhill from there. The club lost the next two games by a combined score of 68-14, and ownership responded by fining three players - only three? - for "indifferent play.'' The penalized group included the only productive offensive player: Johnny Grigas, who finished as the NFL's second-leading rusher despite alternating between fullback and quarterback. The team threatened a mutiny. The patchwork club had its second and last lead of the season in the first quarter of game nine, against Green Bay. The lead disappeared during the second quarter. The meaningless finale was at home on a frozen Forbes Field against Chicago. Discouraged by 19 consecutive losses in his pro career, Grigas skipped the game even though he was only 15 yards off the NFL rushing lead. Grigas left behind a note, which the Pittsburgh Press printed. These are excerpts: "My action for what I just did may not be the best in regard to good, ethical business. Think what you may of me, but I sincerely believe in all justice it is for the best. "I had that desire which you so often mentioned in your lectures, but how long a person can have any desire depends upon the frame of mind under which he plays. ... When your mind is changed because of the physical beating, week in and week out, your soul isn't in the game. "In closing, all I can say is I'm deeply sorry - but these are things which can't be fully explained. Good luck and may the team win just this one.'' No luck. The "Carpets'' had minus-2 yards rushing in a 49-7 loss. LASTING IMPACT The "Carpets'' were discontinued after the winless season, and history does not remember them kindly. At every opportunity, Art Rooney referred to them as the worst team ever. "There wasn't much good about them, but they did have a sociological impact,'' Horrigan said. "As Elmer Layden said at the time, during times of strife, people need a relief. Sports played a role in that. "It would have been easier for them to fold up their tents and call it a day until the war was over, but they felt a sense of need. They certainly weren't in it for financial success. They wanted to help bring a sense of normalcy to the country.'' The "Carpets'' left behind a curse. Pittsburgh had a losing record in 17 of the next 27 years before making the playoffs for the first time in 1972. The Cardinals won the league title in 1947-48 before slipping into disrepair. In the next 59 years, which included the time in St. Louis, the franchise went 1-4 in the playoffs. Now, the Super Bowl turns into a Card-Pitt alumni-chapter meeting. "Carpets'' no more. --- THE 1944 CARD-PITTS: A WINLESS COMBINATION A season recap of the franchise known as Card-Pitt, a combination of players from the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers: GAME 1 Cleveland Rams 30 Card-Pitt 28 Late-game decision by Card-Pitt coaches Phil Handler and Walt Kiesling to punt on first down from own 1 backfired. Rams scored winning touchdown three plays after 9-yard punt. GAME 2 Green Bay 34 Card-Pitt 7 Packers Hall of Fame receiver Don Hutson had seven catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns and also made three conversion kicks. Packers led 27-0 when Card-Pitt scored. GAME 3 Chicago Bears 34 Card-Pitt 7 Card-Pitt managed only four first downs. Management responded with $200 fines to fullback-quarterback Johnny Grigas, halfback Johnny Butler and offensive tackle Elbie Schultz for "indifferent play.'' GAME 4 New York Giants 23 Card-Pitt 0 Two quarterbacks departed after the defeat at the Polo Grounds. Coley McDonough returned to the military, and Walt Masters was released after throwing two interceptions in seven passes. GAME 5 Washington 42 Card-Pitt 20 Card-Pitt made a fashion statement by wearing blue jerseys for the only time. Police had to break up a vicious first-half brawl that nearly included Card-Pitt co-owner Art Rooney. GAME 6 Detroit 27 Card-Pitt 6 With every quarterback injured, Card-Pitt junked the "T'' formation and went with the "Notre Dame box'' on offense. Detroit ended the issue early with a 21-point first quarter. GAME 7 Detroit 21 Card-Pitt 7 In one of the season's better efforts, Card-Pitt trailed only 14-0 going into the fourth quarter. Grigas had 300 yards in total offense. He gained 123 yards on 25 runs and completed 13 of 30 passes for 177 yards. GAME 8 Cleveland Rams 33 Card-Pitt 6 Card-Pitt turned into a throwing team, with disastrous results. The Rams intercepted five of Grigas' 31 passes. The Rams scored four touchdowns on plays of 35-plus yards. GAME 9 Green Bay 35 Card-Pitt 20 For the first time since the opener, Card-Pitt led. Bob Thurbon's 1-yard run gave Card-Pitt a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but Green Bay quickly answered and pulled away with a 21-point second half. GAME 10 Chicago Bears 49 Card-Pitt 7 Card-Pitt had only 22 players for the finale, none of whom was a true quarterback. The Bears rubbed it in during the second half, as tackle Bulldog Turner scored on a 48-yard run. - GERRY FRALEY --- SUPER BOWL Cardinals VS. STEELERS Sunday, Feb. 1 ? 5:25 p.m. (St. Louis time) in Tampa, Fla. (KSDK, Channel 5)

Linked by their old-guard family ownerships, Arizona and Pittsburgh will meet in Super Bowl XLIII to determine the best team in the NFL this season.

These franchises have already determined the worst team in NFL history.

Their slapstick ancestors.

In 1944, this Super Bowl pairing would have been hard pressed to scrimmage. Wartime manpower shortages and turmoil within an unstable league led to the merger of the Pittsburgh and Chicago Cardinals franchises for one forgettable season.

The thing with two heads was officially known as "Card-Pitt.'' Wise guys soon called the team "Carpets'' because opponents walked all over them.

The club went 0-10, was outscored 308-108 and led in only two games all season. The "Carpets'' led the NFL in two categories: most points allowed and most turnovers with 53.

The quarterbacks threw 41 interceptions. Only one back ran for more than 185 yards on the season. Players were fined for "indifferent play.''

At the end, Pittsburgh owner Art Rooney winced and told his teen-aged son Dan that "merging two teams didn't make us twice as good. It made us twice as bad.''

It also changed the direction of the NFL.

Without the "Carpets,'' the Cardinals would not have survived to go on a journey from Chicago to St. Louis for 28 seasons, to Arizona.

Without the "Carpets,'' the Steelers would not have gone from perennial loser to five-time Super Bowl winner.

Arizona and Pittsburgh are in the Super Bowl because of what happened more than 60 years ago.

"It's not a reach at all to say that team kept two teams alive,'' said historian Joe Horrigan, vice president of communication and exhibits at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "Teams were folding. Who knows what would have happened if they hadn't played that season.''

A CHALLENGING TIME

World War II challenged the NFL.

Able-bodied young men were expected to join the military. According to the NFL, a total of 638 players served in the military during World War II, and 19 died in the line of duty.

Sports teams filled rosters with the young, the old and those judged unfit for service. Baseball had a one-armed player during this period: St. Louis Browns outfielder Pete Gray. Football also had a one-armed player: offensive lineman Jack Sanders, who played one season after losing part of his left arm at Iwo Jima.

Most of those who stayed behind to play football also had a full-time job in a defense plant.

From 1942 to 1945, the NFL had 14 different franchises. The Cleveland Rams could not field a team in 1943, and Pittsburgh had only six players set for the season.

Rather than lose a second team, NFL commissioner Elmer Layden worked out a merger between Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia Eagles. The "Steagles'' were a representative 5-4-1, but Rooney ended the relationship because of clashes with Philadelphia owner Alexis Thompson.

The Boston Yanks joined the league in 1944, and the Rams came back to life. Rather than go with an odd number of teams, Layden asked Rooney to do another combination team.

Rooney chose to go with Charlie Bidwill of the Cardinals. It was a decision based on friendship more than talent. The Cardinals had lost 26 consecutive games.

According to Dan Rooney, the Steelers' chairman and Art's son, the patriarchs' friendship extended into the families. The Bidwills and the Rooneys often vacationed together. When the Steelers ran into financial problems during the war, Bidwill floated a loan for them.

When the Cardinals opened their new retractable-roof stadium in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, they nodded to history and brought in the Steelers for the first game.

There was not much to reminisce about. The "Carpets'' were a disaster.

The troubles started at the top. The "Carpets'' had four coaches.

The plan called for Steelers coach Walt Kiesling to share duties with Phil Handler and Buddy Parker of the Cardinals. According to Dan Rooney, Handler and Kiesling soon learned they had a common affection for betting the ponies and spent most of their time at horse tracks. The Steelers sent in another coach: Jim Leonard.

No coach could have helped this group.

Card-Pitt used five quarterbacks. That included 37-year-old former major-league pitcher Walt Masters, who had been coaching in Canada.

"We had guys like (lineman) Walt Kichefski,'' tackle Chet Bulger told the Washington Times. "Walt could play for about five or 10 minutes, and then his varicose veins would get so bad he couldn't play anymore.''

The "Carpets'' led in the fourth quarter of the opener against the back-from-hibernation Rams before falling. It was all downhill from there.

The club lost the next two games by a combined score of 68-14, and ownership responded by fining three players - only three? - for "indifferent play.'' The penalized group included the only productive offensive player: Johnny Grigas, who finished as the NFL's second-leading rusher despite alternating between fullback and quarterback. The team threatened a mutiny.

The patchwork club had its second and last lead of the season in the first quarter of game nine, against Green Bay. The lead disappeared during the second quarter.

The meaningless finale was at home on a frozen Forbes Field against Chicago. Discouraged by 19 consecutive losses in his pro career, Grigas skipped the game even though he was only 15 yards off the NFL rushing lead.

Grigas left behind a note, which the Pittsburgh Press printed. These are excerpts:

"My action for what I just did may not be the best in regard to good, ethical business. Think what you may of me, but I sincerely believe in all justice it is for the best.

"I had that desire which you so often mentioned in your lectures, but how long a person can have any desire depends upon the frame of mind under which he plays. ... When your mind is changed because of the physical beating, week in and week out, your soul isn't in the game.

"In closing, all I can say is I'm deeply sorry - but these are things which can't be fully explained. Good luck and may the team win just this one.''

No luck. The "Carpets'' had minus-2 yards rushing in a 49-7 loss.

LASTING IMPACT

The "Carpets'' were discontinued after the winless season, and history does not remember them kindly. At every opportunity, Art Rooney referred to them as the worst team ever.

"There wasn't much good about them, but they did have a sociological impact,'' Horrigan said. "As Elmer Layden said at the time, during times of strife, people need a relief. Sports played a role in that.

"It would have been easier for them to fold up their tents and call it a day until the war was over, but they felt a sense of need. They certainly weren't in it for financial success. They wanted to help bring a sense of normalcy to the country.''

The "Carpets'' left behind a curse. Pittsburgh had a losing record in 17 of the next 27 years before making the playoffs for the first time in 1972.

The Cardinals won the league title in 1947-48 before slipping into disrepair. In the next 59 years, which included the time in St. Louis, the franchise went 1-4 in the playoffs.

Now, the Super Bowl turns into a Card-Pitt alumni-chapter meeting.

"Carpets'' no more.

---

THE 1944 CARD-PITTS: A WINLESS COMBINATION

A season recap of the franchise known as Card-Pitt, a combination of players from the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers:

GAME 1

Cleveland Rams 30 Card-Pitt 28 Late-game decision by Card-Pitt coaches Phil Handler and Walt Kiesling to punt on first down from own 1 backfired. Rams scored winning touchdown three plays after 9-yard punt.

GAME 2

Green Bay 34 Card-Pitt 7 Packers Hall of Fame receiver Don Hutson had seven catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns and also made three conversion kicks. Packers led 27-0 when Card-Pitt scored.

GAME 3

Chicago Bears 34 Card-Pitt 7 Card-Pitt managed only four first downs. Management responded with $200 fines to fullback-quarterback Johnny Grigas, halfback Johnny Butler and offensive tackle Elbie Schultz for "indifferent play.''

GAME 4

New York Giants 23 Card-Pitt 0 Two quarterbacks departed after the defeat at the Polo Grounds. Coley McDonough returned to the military, and Walt Masters was released after throwing two interceptions in seven passes.

GAME 5

Washington 42 Card-Pitt 20 Card-Pitt made a fashion statement by wearing blue jerseys for the only time. Police had to break up a vicious first-half brawl that nearly included Card-Pitt co-owner Art Rooney.

GAME 6

Detroit 27 Card-Pitt 6 With every quarterback injured, Card-Pitt junked the "T'' formation and went with the "Notre Dame box'' on offense. Detroit ended the issue early with a 21-point first quarter.

GAME 7

Detroit 21 Card-Pitt 7 In one of the season's better efforts, Card-Pitt trailed only 14-0 going into the fourth quarter. Grigas had 300 yards in total offense. He gained 123 yards on 25 runs and completed 13 of 30 passes for 177 yards.

GAME 8

Cleveland Rams 33 Card-Pitt 6 Card-Pitt turned into a throwing team, with disastrous results. The Rams intercepted five of Grigas' 31 passes. The Rams scored four touchdowns on plays of 35-plus yards.

GAME 9

Green Bay 35 Card-Pitt 20 For the first time since the opener, Card-Pitt led. Bob Thurbon's 1-yard run gave Card-Pitt a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but Green Bay quickly answered and pulled away with a 21-point second half.

GAME 10

Chicago Bears 49 Card-Pitt 7 Card-Pitt had only 22 players for the finale, none of whom was a true quarterback. The Bears rubbed it in during the second half, as tackle Bulldog Turner scored on a 48-yard run.

- GERRY FRALEY

---

SUPER BOWL

Cardinals VS. STEELERS

Sunday, Feb. 1 ? 5:25 p.m. (St. Louis time) in Tampa, Fla. (KSDK, Channel 5)