Art Rooney’s Pirates team didn’t get over .500 once in their first five seasons. The best they managed was in 1936. After starting that season 6-3, they lost their next two games, but went into their final game against the Boston Redskins with the eastern division title still within their grasp.
The Pirates were the underdogs, but the players were confident they could earn their first playoff berth and beat the odds. It would not have been too long into the game before they realized they should have kept their money in their pockets. They fumbled away a 30-0 loss and the $500 bonus each player was due for winning the division.