Art Rooney’s name should ring a bell. He was the fellow who started sandlot football on the Northside of Pittsburgh. He eventually turned a semi-professional football team into the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty.  Beginning with the Hope Harvey football team (1920s), Rooney was a player/coach. He was the quarterback, while brothers Dan and Jim played alongside. Brother Vince had the duties of water boy.

They changed into their homemade uniforms in the N.S. Hope Ward Firehouse. Art’s pal, Dr. Walter Harvey, would care for injured players without charge. Sometime between the Pittsburgh Pirates pro football team and the Steelers, there was the Rooney Reds squad (1930s).