SOUTH BOSTON CHIPPEWAS

Before the New England Patriots captured the hearts of New Englanders they were known as the Boston Patriots. Most of the games were played at Fenway Park with temporary stands erected against the “Green Monster.”I was fortunate to have season tickets on the fifty yard line. There were no seats, just long benches. The ticket takers were known to let in anyone with a sawbuck secretly palmed in a handshake. Since there were no seat assignments I saw most of the games squashed like a sardine.

That was not the first Professional Football team. In the mid forties we had a professional football team known as the Boston Yanks. They only lasted a few years and they were not very good. I managed to see one of those games. At the same time there was the Boston Park League that featured teams made up from the local neighborhoods. Our team in Southie was known as the Chippewas. They played at Columbus Park and you could see them for nothing. They did pass the hat after the games but I was only 10 so I was forgiven for not donating.

As I remember they had an awesome team made up from players that mostly came from past Southie High School teams. They played mostly on the weekends so I saw most of their games. One year in particular…1949 they ended up playing St. Paul’s from Dorchester for the championship. They were so good that they won by a lopsided score of 32 to nothing. No wonder the Boston Yanks left Town early. How could they compete with teams like the Chippewas.