by Donna Swagerty Shreve
The year was 1940 and College of the Pacific and University of Chicago agreed to a football game between the two schools. This feat was interesting when one realized Amos Alonzo Stagg had been a successful coach at University of Chicago from 1892-1932 and had been forced to retire at age 70. Coach Stagg lead his Chicago teams to seven Big Ten Championships and one national championship in 1905. College of the Pacific had welcomed Mr. Stagg to be their coach and now the old master was returning to Chicago as a rival.
Many Stockton players had small town backgrounds and few had even been out of the state of California. Expectations were not high for the small Stockton school but they hoped to put up a good fight. I stop here to insert an article written October 2, 1940 by Irving Martin Jr. in his column “As the Sun Sets” in the Stockton Record. The team did not play against Notre Dame as the article states but University of Chicago
The team arrived in Chicago ready to play. Sight seeing was encouraged as there was a bit of time between practices. Brothers Clem and Floyd Swagerty and two others players decided to hit the famous market area. The group went into a haberdasher that specialized in men’s hats. The store was full of beautiful and quite expensive hats. The guys aghast at the prices, nonetheless but took the opportunity to try some on. They then decided to move on to the next shop.
The proprietor couldn’t stand to let them leave without a sale. He kept reducing the price on the black derbies the guys had all found that fit. The shop owner finally made such a tempting offer, all four guys walked out with beautiful stylish black derbies. It turned out that this shop owner had the superstition that he would have a terrible day if he let the first customer of the day out of his shop without a sale.
Floyd never found an occasion to wear his prize and years later donated the large derby to the family Halloween box for the children to use. Clem made sure to find occasions to wear his derby and kept it in great shape clear up to his death at age 92.
Another stop for the tourists from Stockton was the famous Chicago slaughterhouse. They took the tour and then went upstairs and had a big fresh steak meal.
Now it was game time for the small town players from Stockton. The College of the Pacific team did their coach proud that day and won the game decisively 38-0. The game ball was signed by players and coaches with the score recorded on the ball. That ball now resides in the archives of the now University of the Pacific.
Dr. William Swagerty, a cousin of the family, made arrangements to bring that ball out of storage to show to Clem Swagerty some sixty years later. Clem held the precious ball as Bill photographed him. Bill found a frame in the shape of a football. Clem cherished that picture.
Amos Alonzo Stagg coached at College of the Pacific from 1933 to 1946. There were many highlights throughout those years. I would like to think that the Chicago game of 1940 was certainly a high light for many.
Swagerty-Aldrich Family Web Site 