The Boston/New York Yanks received Frank Akins for Jim…
The Boston/New York Yanks received Frank Akins for Jim Gillette in 1947. Akins' NFL regular-season record ends with Washington in 1946, so there is no Yanks playing value to credit after the trade. Gillette's 1947 NFL service came with Green Bay rather than Washington, leaving both acquiring teams with zero direct regular-season production from the exchange.
Boston / New York Yanks Received
- player Frank Akins
Washington Commanders Received
- player Jim Gillette
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Washington acquired Jim Gillette while the Boston/New York Yanks received Frank Akins in the 1947 transaction. At first glance, a player-for-player swap suggests each side obtained a usable veteran. The post-trade records show otherwise: neither acquired player produced regular-season value for the team that received him.
Washington Commanders Return
Gillette did not become a Washington regular-season contributor. His documented 1947 NFL service was with Green Bay, not Washington. That means the Commanders cannot be credited with the games he played elsewhere simply because they temporarily held his rights through this transaction. Their realized on-field return from Gillette was effectively zero.
Boston/New York Yanks Return
Akins likewise did not provide regular-season service for the Yanks. His NFL playing record ends with Washington in 1946, before the trade. There is no 1947 Yanks production, start total, or later tenure that can be assigned to the acquiring club from this exchange.
Value in Hindsight
The outcome is a true zero-versus-zero result. Both teams acquired recognizable players, but neither player produced for his new club in regular-season action. There is no supportable downstream asset chain or hidden roster benefit that creates separation between the sides. The fact that both players later appear in other franchise histories should not be mistaken for production delivered to the clubs that acquired them here.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Washington earns a D because Gillette did not produce regular-season service for the Commanders. The Yanks also earn a D because Akins did not appear for them after the deal. The trade generated no meaningful documented on-field value for either acquiring franchise.