1938 was the third of seven seasons for the Dixie Football League, which ran from 1936-1947. After two years of stability, the DFL made some adjustments in 1938. William Nickels, Jr. became the league's second president, replacing Charles Hamilton. The DFL was forced to play with only five teams after the folding of the Baltimore Blue Jays/Blue Birds, and the Washington Patriots minor league squad became a traveling team (having been upstaged by the NFL's former Boston Braves, later renamed the Boston Redskins later becoming the Washington Redskins and the League's entry into the District of Columbia, the Nation's Capital, the year before) under owner George Preston Marshall. A. E. Stutz, the founder and owner of the Norfolk Clancys, died in late 1937; in 1938, new owner Harry Howren started stockpiling talent (including back Mush DeLotto, formerly of Richmond) sufficient enough for the newly renamed the "Shamrocks" to dominate League play that year. Another Shamrock player, tackle Vernon "Buck" Miles, was named the league's most valuable player at the end of the season. On the field, the Norfolk Shamrocks (5-1-1) Would finish two games ahead of the second place Richmond Arrows (5-3) and be named champions of Dixie Football League.