{"product_id":"fight-for-old-dc-george-preston-marshall-the-integration-of-the-washington-redskins-and-the-rise-of-a-new-nfl-hardcover","title":"Fight for Old DC: George Preston Marshall, the Integration of the Washington Redskins, and the Rise of a New NFL - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eAndrew O'Toole\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1932 laundry-store tycoon George Preston Marshall became part owner of the Boston Braves franchise in the National Football League. To separate his franchise from the baseball team, he renamed it the Redskins in 1933 and then in 1937 moved his team to Washington DC, where the team won two NFL championships over the next decade. But it was off the field that Marshall made his lasting impact. An innovator, he achieved many \"firsts\" in professional football. His team was the first to telecast all its games, have its own fight song and a halftime show, and assemble its own marching band and cheerleading squad. He viewed football as an entertainment business and accordingly made changes to increase scoring and improve the fan experience. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003e But along with innovation, there was controversy. Marshall was a proud son of the South, and as the fifties came to a close, his team remained the only franchise in the three major league sports to not have a single black player. Marshall came under pressure from Congress and the NFL and its president, Pete Rozelle, as league expansion and new television contract possibilities forced the issue on the reluctant owner. Outside forces finally pushed Marshall to trade for Bobby Mitchell, the team's first black player, in 1962. With the story of Marshall's holdout as the backdrop, \u003ci\u003eFight for Old DC \u003c\/i\u003echronicles these pivotal years when the NFL began its ascent to the top of the nation's sporting interest. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAndrew O'Toole\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of numerous books, including \u003ci\u003ePaul Brown: The Rise and Fall Again of Football's Most Innovative Coach\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSmiling Irish Eyes: Art Rooney and the Pittsburgh Steelers\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eSweet William: The Life of Billy Conn\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 272\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.02 x 9.33 x 6.16 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 01, 2016\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51757611122976,"sku":"9780803299351","price":46.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/51d4c9fd600fcf1b78246e22e9153d83.webp?v=1780106641","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/fight-for-old-dc-george-preston-marshall-the-integration-of-the-washington-redskins-and-the-rise-of-a-new-nfl-hardcover","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}