The Redskins were hosting the Eagles in a big game in Washington to close out the regular season.
Who was the quarterback for Washington that day? No, not Kirk Cousins, Mark Brunnel, Brad Johnson, or Doug Williams. Not even Joe Theismann, Billy Kilmer or Sonny Jurgensen.
You see, this was December 7, 1941, some 83 years ago, and the quarterback was Hall of Fame QB Sammy Baugh. It is what transpired on this day that we understandably recall more than an NFL football game between rivals.
The Redskins were 5-5 on the season, while the Eagles were 2-7-1. Baugh threw three touchdown passes that day, the final in the fourth quarter, giving Washington a come-from-behind 20-14 win.
However, what transcended this game was what occurred shortly before 1 p.m. Eastern time. The Japanese plotted and determined to fly eastward from Japan to Hawaii. Shortly before 8 a.m. in Hawaii, suddenly, the skies over the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor were filled with Japanese planes.
Three-hundred and fifty Japanese aircraft, in a surprise attack, bombed Pearl Harbor for 75 minutes. Twenty American Navy vessels were destroyed, eight Battleships, and more than 340 airplanes. Over 2,400 Americans were killed in the Japanese attack, and many more were wounded.
The Japanese had plotted to surprise and destroy the American Pacific Fleet, giving the Japanese time to move further into the Pacific, taking control without interference from the US Military.
There were no TV cable news networks or cell phones. Word was sent to the nation’s capital via telegraph. The news then traveled to Griffith Stadium at Georgia Ave NW and W. St. NW in Washington, DC.
If this were to occur today, fans across the stadium constantly checking their cell phones would be made aware of the news by their family and or friends. Others also using their phones would receive news updates. Word would spread rapidly throughout the stadium.
But in 1941, the fans had none of these modern conveniences. Consequently, announcements began to be made by the public address announcer during the Redskins-Eagles game.
“Admiral W.H.P. Bland is asked to report to his office at once!”
“Joseph Umglumph of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is requested to report to the FBI office at once!”
“Capt. H.X. Fenn of the United States Army is asked to report to his offices at once!”
Shirley Povich was age 36 and a sports columnist for the Washington Post. Upon the game’s conclusion, his column was entitled, “War’s Outbreak is Deep Secret to 27,102 Redskin Game Fans,” December 8, 1941.
Remember, there was no Washington Post website where you could quickly post a story. Thus, his story would be in the Monday morning paper edition.
That day, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered a speech in response to the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy. The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan…”
The US Congress then declared war on Japan. The US was officially entering World War II.
At once, the Redskins-Eagles game wasn’t such a big game after all.
