1937 was the second of seven seasons for the Dixie Football League, which ran from 1936-1947. Compared to most sporting leagues in their beginning years, the "Dixie League" had begun strongly. All six charter members were in strong enough shape to compete in a second season (three of the six remained 'D.L.' members from the 1936 beginning to the aborted 1947 season). Richmond was still recovering from the effects of the player rebellion when the strikers formed a new team, the Richmond Rebels, and tried to replace the Arrows in the league. After being rebuffed, the Rebels tried to compete against the Arrows by forming the "Virginia-Carolina Football League" with a handful of semi-pro teams, and then marched through the season undefeated, giving up no points. The 'V-CFL' unfortunately lasted only the 1937 season; the Rebels folded along with the league. Despite the competition from the Rebels, the Arrows held their own, both on the field and at the turnstiles with their fans. Despite their improved record, the Arrows could finish no higher than third place, behind the undefeated defending champion Washington (which became the Presidents) and the newly rechristened Baltimore Blue Birds. While the league featured balance from top to bottom in its inaugural 1936 season, it clearly divided into the "haves" and "have nots" in 1937. Five members of the Washington Presidents (including backfield mates Tom Oliver and Gene Augusterfer) were named to the all league team. Richmond placed three linemen on the all league team, including league most valuable player Lyle Graham. The winless Portsmouth team had a future team member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on its roster, player-coach "Ace" Parker, who played in only one game for the Cubs before he signed with the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers team in early November. On the field, it was tightly contested between the top three teams: Washingtion (5-0-2), Baltimore (5-1-1), and Richmond (6-2-1). As there were no playoffs, Washington would clinch the Dixie League Championship with 3-3 tie late in the season, to secure the top spot in the 1937 season.