Verlin “Sparky” Adams (1918-1985)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-8-02-02-am.png?1611673597)
Defensive End/Tackle/Guard/Offensive End/Linebacker—(Charleston) New York Giants 1943-45
Alex Agase (1922-2007)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-8-12-49-am.png?1609254787)
Linebacker/Guard—(Purdue/Illinois) Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1947, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1947, Cleveland Browns 1948-51, Baltimore Colts 1953 [All-American 1943,1946, College Football Hall of Fame 1963]
All he would do was talk: "Gonna double-team me this time? Which two of you?" That sort of thing. Talk, talk, talk.
Gordy Soltau
Gordy Soltau
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/aa293_orig.jpeg)
1946 Tom Paprocki cartoon. I also have an Agase-signed 1943 Sam Davis cartoon. In my first request letter to him in 1989, I asked him who he considered were the roughest, hardest hitting, most bruising players who he played against or with. He named Tony Adamle and Bill Willis on his team and Arnie Weinmeister, Bucko Kilroy, and Bulldog Turner.
Alyn Beals (1921-1993)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-15-at-7-47-24-pm.png?1615859297)
Defensive End/Defensive Back—(Santa Clara) San Francisco 49ers (AAFC/NFL) 1946-51 [All-AAFC 1946,1948-49, #1 AAFC Receiving TDs 1946-49]
Hub Bechtol (1926-2004)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-15-at-7-54-06-pm.png?1615859700)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Texas Tech/Texas) Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947-49 [All-American 1944-46, College Football Hall of Fame 1991]
Bill Blackburn (1923-2007)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-31-at-6-25-38-am.png?1612099754)
Linebacker/Center—(Rice) Southwestern Louisiana Institute Marines 1943, Fleet Marine Force Pacific 1945; Chicago Cardinals 1946-51, Calgary Stampeders (CFL) 1952-53 [All Canadian League 1952-53]
Larry Brink (1923-2016)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-22-at-12-48-52-pm.png?1614023729)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Northern Illinois) Los Angeles Rams 1948-53, Chicago Bears 1954 [All Pro 1950-52]
Angelo "Dark Angel" Brovelli (1910-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-11-50-18-am.png?1609267851)
Defensive Back/Tailback/Fullback/Halfback/Blocking Back/Linebacker—(St. Mary's) Pittsburgh Pirates 1933-34
Do you know why I got out of pro football? I tried to stop Bronko Nagurski. Ever hear of him? He educated me. When I tackled him, it felt like my shoulder was sitting on my hip. We played in Forbes Field and we didn't draw flies. It was more semipro than pro. We had a rough go.
Angelo Brovelli
Angelo Brovelli
This cartoon appeared in newspapers in November 1932.
Hardy “Thumper” Brown (1924-1991)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-12-07-09-pm.png?1609268911)
Linebacker/Defensive Back/Fullback—(SMU/Tulsa) Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949, Washington Redskins 1950, Baltimore Colts 1950, San Francisco 49ers 1951-55, Chicago Cardinals 1956, Denver Broncos 1960
Hardy Brown busted my cheekbone with that goddamned shoulder of his. It severed the nerves, so I wasn’t really in any pain. I remember getting on my hands and knees trying to find the football while everybody tried to get me off the field. . . . When they first started the franchise here [Denver], they had a couple of ex-Eagles playing for them that first year. I went over to the locker room one day to see Frank Tripuka. . . . When I walked into the dressing room, I heard this cackling over in the corner and it was Hardy Brown. He played linebacker one year for the Broncos. “How’s the cheekbone, Toy Boy?” He was like Bucko [Kilroy], he beamed when he hurt someone, and I think Hardy remembered every hit he ever had in his entire career. I went over and shook hands with him, and he said, “No hard feelings.” I said, “You asshole.”
Toy Ledbetter
Toy Ledbetter
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-12-04-36-pm.png?1612892575)
Some people might think I'm nuts, but I traded three signed 3x5 cards (Don Hutson, Otto Graham, and Walter Payton) to get this Hardy Brown autograph. It comes from the collection of Richard Laade, my mentor when I began collecting. Hardy was one of the hard hitters of the fifties. I mean, how many people have a Hardy Brown autograph?
Gail Bruce (1923-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-3-58-59-pm.png?1611702048)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Washington) San Francisco 49ers (AAFC/NFL) 1948-52
Harry Burrus (1921-2004)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-4-10-25-pm.png?1611702783)
Defensive Back/Offensive End/Wingback—(Hardin-Simmons) Randolph Field Ramblers 1944, Army Air Force Training Command Skymasters 1945; New York Yankees (AAFC) 1946-47, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948 [Little All-American 1941]
John Cannady (1923-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-16-at-7-31-32-am.png?1613485947)
Linebacker/Center/Blocking Back—(Indiana) New York Giants 1947-54 [Pro Bowl 1950,1952]
Leo Cantor (1919-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-3-30-34-pm.png?1610490681)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Fullback—(UCLA) New York Giants 1942, Fourth Air Force Fliers 1943-44, Chicago Cardinals 1945, Hollywood Bears (PCFL) 1945-46,1948, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1948 [Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame 1996]
Fred "Tank" Cardinal (1925-2004)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-5-43-14-am.png?1612618019)
Linebacker—(Notre Dame/Baldwin Wallace) New York Yankees (AAFC) 1947
Ken Casanega (1921-2021)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-16-at-6-45-29-am.png?1615898821)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Santa Clara) San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) 1946,1948
Ernie Case (1919-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-29-at-5-59-16-am.png?1611925209)
Defensive Back/Quarterback—(UCLA) Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947
Jim Cason (1927-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-16-at-1-29-40-pm.png?1615923043)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(LSU) San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) 1948-54, Los Angeles Rams 1955-56
Corwin “Corny” Clatt (1923-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-1-16-22-pm.png?1611605847)
Defensive Back/Fullback/Linebacker—(Notre Dame) Camp Grant Warriors 1943, Chicago Cardinals 1948-49
Walt Clay (1924-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-16-at-1-51-52-pm.png?1615924354)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Tailback—(Colorado) El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Flying Marines 1944-45, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946-47, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1947-49
Paul Cleary (1922-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-4-18-16-am.png?1611746335)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(USC) New York Yankees (AAFC) 1948, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949 [All-American 1947, College Football Hall of Fame 1989]
I've never been spectacular. Basically, if you give me a job, I'll do it the best I can, give you 110%. If you knock me down, I'll get up. And if you knock me down again, I'll get up again and learn from it. I probably got more recognition in less time than anyone who has ever played the game. That's the story of my life. I've been very fortunate in everything I've done. Like during the war, I had friends who never lasted a day in combat. It depended on if you were in the right place at the right time-or the wrong place at the wrong time. I almost went to Stanford. I would have never made All-American there because they didn't have a very good team that year. I would never have been a great pro player because I wasn't fast enough to be a wide receiver when they started specializing, and I wasn't big enough to play defensive end. But I was good when you had to do both.
Paul Cleary
Paul Cleary
John "Red" Cochran (1922-2004)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-7-50-11-pm.png?1610506246)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Fullback—(Wake Forest) Chicago Cardinals 1947-50
Green Bay had a coach, Red Cochran, whose absorption was so complete and frenzied that the head coach, Lombardi, relegated him to the spotters’ booth, where he tore up clipboards and play charts when things were going badly, rather than chancing his behavior down on the sidelines.
George Plimpton
George Plimpton
Tom Colella (1918-1992)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-16-at-8-18-42-am.png?1613488809)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Tailback—(Canisius) Detroit Lions 1942-43, Cleveland Rams 1944-45, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1946-48, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1949
Marty Comer (1917-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-4-28-37-am.png?1611747110)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Tulane) Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1946-48
Mel "Duck" Conger (1919-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-4-40-44-am.png?1611747741)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Georgia) Maxwell Field Marauders 1944; New York Yankees (AAFC) 1946, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1947
Les "Red" Corzine (1909-2003)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-10-29-19-am.png?1611423030)
Linebacker/Blocking Back/Fullback—(Davis & Elkins) Cincinnati Reds 1933-34, St. Louis Gunners (Independent/NFL) 1934, New York Giants 1935-37, Chicago Bears 1938
I attended Davis & Elkins college 1929-1933, signing with Cincinnati, a new franchise deal in 1933. The franchise was sold to the St. Louis Gunners and I was one of 7 players who had to go with the franchise. My contract was picked up by the Giants for the 1935 season and I remained with the Giants through the 1937 season at which time my contract was purchased by the Chicago Bears. . . .
Les Corzine, excerpt from letter to Mel Bashore, December 22, 1989
Les Corzine, excerpt from letter to Mel Bashore, December 22, 1989
Gerry Cowhig (1921-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-5-48-40-am.png?1611665408)
Linebacker/Fullback/Defensive Back—(Notre Dame) Los Angeles Rams 1947-49, Chicago Cardinals 1950, Philadelphia Eagles 1951
Gerry was one tough football player. He was big even by pro football standards and he'd just as soon run over you as go around. And he was a ferocious blocker.
Adam Walsh
Adam Walsh
Russ Craft (1919-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-5-19-43-am.png?1610540428)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Alabama) Fort Benning Fourth Infantry Raiders 1944, Fort Benning Infantry Doughboys 1945; Philadelphia Eagles 1946-53, Pittsburgh Steelers 1954-55
Bill Daddio (1916-1989)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-7-35-48-pm.png?1609295791)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Pittsburgh) Chicago Cardinals 1941-42, Fleet City Bluejackets 1945, Buffalo Bisons (AAFC) 1946 [All-American 1936-38, #1 Field Goals 1942]
I know of no end in college football today [1937] whom I would select over Daddio.
Pop Warner
Pop Warner
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/editor/daddio84.jpeg?1612892847)
Daddio served as the head football coach at Allegheny College for five seasons from 1947 to 1951. He was later an assistant coach with the Chicago Cardinals, Purdue, and Notre Dame, before being a scout for eighteen years with the Denver Broncos.
Lou Daukas (1921-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-8-04-46-pm.png?1609297543)
Linebacker/Center—(Cornell) Ft. Warren Broncos 1944-45; Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1947
Jerry "Weasel" Davis (1924-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-6-09-41-am.png?1611666682)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Southeastern Louisiana) Chicago Cardinals 1948-51, Dallas Texans 1952
Bill de Correvont (1918-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-8-13-43-pm.png?1609298070)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Tailback/Wingback—(Northwestern) Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1942, Bainbridge Naval Training Station Commodores 1943; Washington Redskins 1945, Detroit Lions 1946, Chicago Cardinals 1947-48, Chicago Bears 1948-49
Bill had matured faster than most kids, so he was much better than everyone else in high school. I mean, when you carry the ball nine times in a game and score nine touchdowns, that's pretty good. The biggest problem when he went on to college was that he wasn't going to get much better, and other kids caught up. He was a great athlete. But he wasn't high on himself. He wasn't the stuck-up type. He was just a regular guy.
Otto Graham
Otto Graham
The largest paid crowd ever to watch a football game in the United States was drawn to Soldier Field by a blond teenage touchdown-maker from Austin High School on Chicago's West Side on Nov. 28, 1937. He was Bill DeCorrevont. The place was jammed with an estimated 120,000 fans, who watched Austin of the Public League beat Leo of the Catholic League 26-0 for the city championship. DeCorrevont often remarked he answered more questions about the game that took place one day after his 19th birthday than any event in his life. "Young people can't believe we played before a crowd that big when we were in high school," he said. This was an era before professional sports and television became fixtures in the sports scene. Of course, high school football was a huge draw in those pre-television days. For example, the day after DeCorrevont lured the great throng to Soldier Field, the Bears beat the Cleveland Rams at Wrigley Field before 4,188 fans. "I wasn't awed by the crowd," DeCorrevont recalled many years after he retired from football. "We played Fenwick in a 19-19 tie the previous year, and that game drew 90,000 to Soldier Field." DeCorrevont was the most highly publicized high school football star of his generation. He scored 35 touchdowms in 10 games in 1937.
Jack Doolan (1919-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-6-16-55-am.png?1611667304)
Defensive Back/Wingback/Offensive End/Defensive End—(Georgetown) Georgia Pre-flight Skycrackers 1942, Lakehurst Naval Air Station Blimps 1942; Washington Redskins 1945, New York Giants 1945-46, Chicago Cardinals 1947-48
I always gained 3 or 4 pounds. The California trip was always a big trip. We'd get to see Jane Russell, Bob Waterfield's wife.
Jack Doolan, on traveling by train to play on the West Coast
Jack Doolan, on traveling by train to play on the West Coast
Bob Dove (1921-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-5-31-30-am.png?1611750746)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Notre Dame) El Toro Marines Flying Marines 1944, El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Flying Marines 1945 (player/assistant coach); Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946-47, Chicago Cardinals 1948-53, Detroit Lions 1953-54 [All-American 1941-42, Knute Rockne Award 1942, College Football Hall of Fame 2000]
We [El Toro Marines] played both college teams and service teams like the Fleet City Bluejackets and Iowa Preflight on Saturdays. Then on Sunday, Wee Willie Wilkin, the Redskins tackle, Crazy Legs Hirsch, who starred for Los Angeles after the war, a kid named Pat Leahy and I would ride to San Diego, and under assumed names we would play for the Bombers. Now, of course, in the Marine Corps the navy was our boss, and they didn’t want us playing outside ball. They didn’t care if we got killed or got our leg broken playing football in the Marine Corps, but they didn’t want us doing it on Sunday. So we played under assumed names. I was Bruce Thyberg. . . . Dick Hanley, the old Northwestern coach who coached the El Toro Marines, called me in before the end of the war and said, “The war is going to end soon, and I’m the new coach of the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference.” “Well,” I said, “I belong to the Washington Redskins.” They had drafted me in a bout the third round. Before I was discharged in the spring of 1946, George Preston Marshall visited me at Santa Ana. He asked me when I was getting out, and he offered me $1,800 for the 1946 season. Anyway, Dick Hanley pointed to a big map of the South Pacific behind him. “Now see here,” he said. “Do you know what this island is? Tarawa. Here’s Iwo Jima. See this island? It’s got a number on it—Number Seven. See these islands up here? They don’t have a name or a number, Bob. If you don’t sign this contract with me, your ass is going to be on those islands and they may never find you again.” So I signed with the Chicago Rockets after a little back-and-forth with the Redskins. The Rockets gave me $5,250 for the first year, a three-year no-release contract with automatic raises of $500 each year, and guaranteed me a job on the side in Chicago.
Bob Dove
Bob Dove
Al Drulis (1921-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-6-26-23-am.png?1611667669)
Linebacker/Fullback/Blocking Back—(Temple) Chicago Cardinals 1945-46, Pittsburgh Steelers 1947; Portsmouth Pirates (Dixie League) 1946, Richmond Rebels (AFL) 1948-49
Walt Dubzinsky (1919-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-16-at-3-37-18-pm.png?1615930671)
Linebacker/Center/Guard—(Boston College) New York Giants 1943, Boston Yanks 1944, Sampson Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1944, Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1945
Ray "Lil' Abner" Ebli (1919-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-6-07-44-am.png?1611752897)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Notre Dame) Chicago Cardinals 1942-43, Buffalo Bisons (AAFC) 1946, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1947-48
Clarence Esser (1925-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-12-at-3-56-50-pm.png?1613170651)
Defensive End/Tackle—(Wisconsin) Chicago Cardinals 1947
I retired due to injury.
Clarence J. Esser
Clarence J. Esser
Horace Gillom (1921-1985)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-21-at-2-51-19-pm.png?1613944344)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Ohio State/Nevada-Reno) Cleveland Browns (AAFC/NFL) 1947-56
Marshall "Biggie" Goldberg (1917-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-31-at-5-21-41-pm.png?1609460549)
Defensive Back/Fullback/Halfback/Tailback/Wingback—(Pittsburgh) Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Base 1944 (player/assistant coach), Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base Amphibs 1945, Chicago Cardinals 1939-43,1946-48 [All-American 1937-38, Walter Camp Award 1937, College Football Hall of Fame 1958, #1 Interceptions 1941, #1 Kickoff Returns 1941-42]
He might well have been the first defensive specialist in pro football. And he was a great one. He was one of the few backs who did consistently well against Don Hutson. And he was a fine returner of punts. Marshall Goldberg may be one of the most underrated players ever to play in the pros. At one time in one season he led the league in five different departments.
Jimmy Conzelman
Jimmy Conzelman
He also signed this 8x10 black and white photo for me.
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/editor/marshgoldb84.jpeg?1612736159)
Marshall Goldberg came out of Elkins, West Virginia, and played for the University of Pittsburgh. In his three years the Pitt record was 8-1-1, 9-0-1, 8-2-0. The 1936 team won the Rose Bowl, the 1937 team was national champion, the 1938 team lost two games when Goldberg was out with injuries. Goldberg was All-America in 1937 and 1938. In Heisman Trophy voting he was third behind Clint Frank of Yale and Whizzer White of Colorado in 1937, second behind Davey O'Brien of Texas Christian in 1938. In his first college game he rushed for 208 yards against Ohio Wesleyan; his first college season his rushing total, 886, led the nation. In 1936 he returned a kickoff 87 yards against Carnegie. In 1937 his 77-yard run beat Duquesne 6-0. In his career he also had runs of 76, 64, 44 and 42 yards. He also completed a 51- yard pass play against Notre Dame in 1937. Goldberg was a left halfback two years. In 1938 he moved to fullback, creating the Pitt "Dream Backfield" with John Chickerneo, Harold Stebbins and Dick Cassiano. "Biggie" Goldberg played with the Chicago Cardinals 1939-42, 1946-48, and served as a lieutenant in the Navy in World War II.
Mel Groomes (1927-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-7-34-58-am.png?1611412529)
Defensive Back/Wingback/Halfback—(Indiana) Detroit Lions 1948-49, Brooklyn Football Brooks (AFL) 1950, Paterson Panthers (AFL) 1950
[I was the] first Black to play American Legion Baseball with a white team.
Mel Groomes, note to Mel Bashore, 1996
Mel Groomes, note to Mel Bashore, 1996
Bob Hanlon (1924-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-11-46-34-am.png?1611428061)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Notre Dame/Loras) Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1944, Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1945; Chicago Cardinals 1948, Pittsburgh Steelers 1949-50, Green Bay Packers 1951
Granville "Rock" Harrison (1917-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-7-41-26-am.png?1611759165)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Mississippi State) Philadelphia Eagles 1941, Detroit Lions 1942
Howard "Rabbit" Hartley (1924-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-6-32-03-am.png?1611667958)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Wingback—(Duke) Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base Commandos 1944; Washington Redskins 1948, Pittsburgh Steelers 1949-52
Ed "Buckets" Hirsch (1921-2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-06-at-10-55-39-am.png?1615053410)
Linebacker/Fullback—(Northwestern) Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1947-49, Toronto Argonauts (CFL) 1950-51, Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL) 1952
Wayne "Bob" Hoffman (1917-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-6-37-12-am.png?1611668270)
Linebacker/Fullback/Blocking Back—(USC) Washington Redskins 1940-41, Hollywood Rangers (Independent) 1945, Hollywood Bears (PCFL) 1945, Los Angeles Rams 1946-48, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1949
Chris “Duke” Iversen (1920-2011)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-12-at-8-22-11-am.png?1613143383)
Defensive Back/Wingback/Halfback/Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Oregon) Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1942, Jacksonville Naval Air Station Air Raiders 1943, Kinston Marine Corps Air Station Fliers 1944 (Player-Coach)
; New York Giants 1947, New York Yankees (AAFC) 1948-49, New York Yanks 1950-51 [Service All American 1943]
; New York Giants 1947, New York Yankees (AAFC) 1948-49, New York Yanks 1950-51 [Service All American 1943]
Iversen was a great linebacker.
George Ratterman
George Ratterman
Tommy “Red” James (1923-2007)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-02-at-6-05-48-am.png?1609592828)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Ohio State) Detroit Lions 1947, Cleveland Browns 1948-55, Baltimore Colts 1956
I started playing defense all the time. I always wanted to play offense. But when I went into the pros, Paul Brown told me I can find better offensive players, but when I get a good defensive back that’s the place I’ve got to put them. I got stuck most of the time playing defense.
Tommy James
Tommy James
James played for Paul Brown at Massillon High School and Ohio State before rejoining him with him the Browns in 1948 after a year in Detroit. James started at right cornerback in 1948 and intercepted four passes for a team that went 15-0 and won the All-America Football Conference championship. The defensive back continued to be a key player as the Browns moved to the NFL. He intercepted nine passes in 1950 to set a club record that stood until 1978. After leaving Cleveland, he played briefly for the Baltimore Colts in 1956. James ended his NFL career with 26 interceptions, all with the Browns, tying him for eighth place in team history.
Al Johnson (1922-2011)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-18-at-2-28-38-pm.png?1616099579)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Hardin-Simmons) Philadelphia Eagles 1948; Coach—Western New Mexico 1950-66
Farnham "Gunner" Johnson (1924-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-6-41-30-am.png?1611668626)
Defensive End—(Wisconsin/Michigan) Camp Lejeune Marines 1944; Chicago Bears 1947, Bloomfield Cardinals (AFL) 1947, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1948
[In] 1947, I played for Bears in All-Star game and exhibitions (tore hamstring against Eagles). Was with them in opener at Green Bay, but injury didn't heal for six months. Was paid in full, however.
Farnham Johnson, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, July 29, 1994
Farnham Johnson, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, July 29, 1994
Art "Artful Art" Jones (1919-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-12-48-12-pm.png?1611431338)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Tailback—(Richmond) North Carolina Pre-flight Cloudbusters 1942, Fleet City Bluejackets 1945; Portsmouth Cubs (Dixie League) 1941, Pittsburgh Steelers 1941,1945, Richmond Rebels (Dixie League) 1946; Coach — Portsmouth Pirates (Dixie League) 1947 [All Pro 1941, #1 Pass Interceptions 1941]
Bob Kahler (1917-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-21-at-12-04-56-pm.png?1613934345)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Nebraska) Green Bay Packers 1942-44, Second Air Force Superbombers 1945
My biggest shock was in the dressing room. I come in there and they were all smoking. I was a non-smoker and it really threw me. Don Hutson smoked a pipe. It was before practice, during the week. Some guys smoked cigars, some guys smoked cigarettes. I think we got $35 a week in training camp. My salary was $3,000 and it seemed like a lot of money. The (game) tickets were $4.40 and minimum wage was 35 cents. When we won the championship, our cut was a little under $1,500. I think it was like $1,490. But it was the largest attendance up until that time and the biggest payoff.
Bob Kahler
Bob Kahler
Tom Keane (1926-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-6-48-37-am.png?1611668965)
Defensive Back/Offensive End/Halfback—(Ohio State/West Virginia) Los Angeles Rams 1948-51, Dallas Texans 1952, Baltimore Colts 1953-54, Chicago Cardinals 1955 [All Pro 1953]
Bob Kelly (1925- )
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-18-at-2-48-32-pm.png?1616100637)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Notre Dame) Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1947-48, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1949
William "Wild Bill" Kennedy (1919-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-10-04-18-am.png?1611767112)
Defensive End/Guard—(Michigan State) Camp Pendleton 1943, El Toro Marines 1944-46; Detroit Lions 1942, Boston Yanks 1947
Bob Kercher (1919-2004 )
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-10-21-44-am.png?1611768179)
Defensive End—(Georgetown) Paterson Panthers (American Association) 1940, Wilmington Clippers (American Association) 1941-42; Green Bay Packers 1944
Ralph Kercheval (1911-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-1-09-14-pm.png?1611432596)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Tailback/Wingback/Kicker—(Kentucky) Brooklyn Dodgers 1934-40 [#1 Field Goals 1938]
I got Ralph Kercheval to come to Brooklyn. He'd played at Kentucky just like I had. He was a halfback, but his real greatness was in kicking the football. He could punt, he could placekick. He was the best kicker ever to play the game. Hell, he could fart the football farther than these guys can kick it today.
Shipwreck Kelly
Shipwreck Kelly
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/ker88.jpeg?1612830739)
On the reverse side of the 3x5 card, Kercheval wrote, "I think Bronko Nagurski of the Chicago Bears was one of the very toughest. During my years we played both offensive and defensive which I felt was a lot more fun. I was 77 years old on my last birthday--12/1/88--still pretty active and love golf." While he played quarterback, defensive back and kicker, he was best known for his punting for UK and later for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the NFL. He set several SEC records, including most punts in a season, 101 during his senior year, in 1933, according to UK. During his time as a Wildcat, Kercheval punted 234 times for an average of 44.8 yards per kick. He was a running back and punter in the NFL for seven years.
Ken "Red" Keuper (1918-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-1-22-53-pm.png?1611433441)
Defensive Back/Blocking Back/Halfback/Defensive End—(Georgia) Green Bay Packers 1945-47, New York Giants 1948
Ken Keuper of Green Bay came across a block and saw Lee Artoe coming. Keuper just laid into him with an elbow and broke Artoe's face.
Ken Kavanaugh
Ken Kavanaugh
George Kiick (1917-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-7-36-57-am.png?1611585493)
Defensive Back/Fullback/Halfback—(Bucknell) Pittsburgh Steelers 1940,1945
Don Kindt (1925-2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-16-at-12-41-03-pm.png?1613504553)
Defensive Back/Fullback/Halfback/Linebacker—(Wisconsin) Chicago Bears 1947-55
Harry "Jiggs" Kline (1913-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-10-53-06-am.png?1611770041)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Emporia State) Jersey City Giants (AFL) 1938, New York Giants 1939-43
Jiggs had been rapped in the head, and I took him out . . . . He kept after me to go back in play until I made it clear he was through for the day. To show me what he thought of me he went to the bench and sat down facing the stands, with his back to me. He "fixed me" by staying that way through the game.
Steve Owen
Steve Owen
Johnny Kovatch (1912-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-18-at-3-04-54-pm.png?1616101538)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Northwestern) Cleveland Rams 1938
Roy Kurrasch (1922-2015)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-22-at-5-27-27-am.png?1613996955)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(UCLA) New York Yankees (AAFC) 1947, Pittsburgh Steelers 1948
Frank "Fritz" Laurinaitis (1922-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-30-at-10-00-02-am.png?1617120335)
Linebacker—(Richmond) Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1947, Richmond Rebels (AFL) 1949-50
I was the first Lithuanian All American in 1946.
Francis Laurinaitis, note to Mel Bashore, 1994
Francis Laurinaitis, note to Mel Bashore, 1994
Pete Layden (1919-1982)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-02-at-10-47-48-am.png?1609609707)
Defensive Back/Tailback/Halfback—(Texas) Lubbock Army Flying School Fliers 1942, Randolph Field Army Air Force Training Command Ramblers 1944, Pearl Harbor Army Air Forces Hawaiian Flyers 1945; New York Yankees (AAFC) 1948-49, New York Yanks 1950 [#16 All-Time AAFC Passing]
Howie Livingston (1922-1994)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-6-53-15-am.png?1611669236)
Defensive Back/Fullback/Wingback/Halfback—(Fullerton JC) New York Giants 1944-47, Washington Redskins 1948-50, San Francisco 49ers 1950, Chicago Bears 1953 [#1 Interceptions 1944]
Bob Livingstone (1922-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-7-51-01-pm.png?1611802315)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Notre Dame) Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1948, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1949, Baltimore Colts 1950
Bob Logel (1928-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-27-at-11-52-54-am.png?1611773722)
Defensive End—(Sampson JC) Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1949, Bethlehem Bulldogs (AFL) 1949
Bob McDougal (1921-2003)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-07-at-9-44-49-am.png?1615135560)
Linebacker/Fullback—(Miami, FL) Green Bay Packers 1947, Richmond Rebels (AFL) 1948
Achille "Chick" Maggioli (1922-2012)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-19-at-5-29-36-am.png?1616153517)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Indiana/Notre Dame/Illinois) Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1948, Detroit Lions 1949, Baltimore Colts 1950 [Indiana Football Hall of Fame 1988]
I played both ways with Buffalo, but was strictly defense with Detroit and Baltimore.
Chick Maggioli
Chick Maggioli
Ned Mathews (1918-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-07-at-8-48-49-am.png?1615132172)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Wingback/Tailback—(UCLA) Detroit Lions 1941-43, Fort MacArthur Cannoneers 1944, Boston Yanks 1945
Jim Mello (1920-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-1-19-08-pm.png?1611606061)
Defensive Back/Fullback/Linebacker—(Notre Dame) Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1944, Camp Peary Pirates 1945, Boston Yanks 1947, Los Angeles Rams 1948, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1948, Detroit Lions 1949, Paterson Panthers (AFL) 1950
Charles "Bill" Milner (1922-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-7-15-06-am.png?1612448234)
Linebacker/Offensive Guard/Defensive Guard/Defensive End—(South Carolina/Duke) Fleet Marine Force Pacific 1945; Chicago Bears 1947-49, New York Giants 1950
I was defensive captain New York Giants in 1950.
Bill Milner
Bill Milner
Charlie Mitchell (1920-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-8-32-44-am.png?1611502433)
Defensive Back—(Southwest Missouri Teachers/Tulsa) Chicago Bears 1945, Green Bay Packers 1946
Played in All-Star Game against Green Bay Packers August 1945. Played 55 minutes going both ways.
Charles E. Mitchell
Charles E. Mitchell
Russ Mosley (1918-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-11-26-46-am.png?1611512850)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Alabama) Green Bay Packers 1945-46
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Joe Muha (1921-1993)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-1-54-54-pm.png?1611608128)
Linebacker/Fullback/Punter—(VMI) Philadelphia Eagles 1946-50 [#1 Punting 1948]
Fred Negus (1923-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-21-at-8-12-16-am.png?1613920387)
Linebacker/Center—(Wisconsin/Michigan) Fleet Marine Force Pacific 1945, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1947-48, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949, Chicago Bears 1950
John “Blond Blizzard” Noppenberg (1917-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-30-at-3-25-12-pm.png?1612045583)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Fullback/Tailback/Offensive End—(Miami, Florida) Pittsburgh Steelers 1940-41, Detroit Lions 1941
John Norby (1910-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-06-at-12-38-36-pm.png?1609962367)
Defensive Back/Wingback/Blocking Back/Halfback—(Idaho) New York Giants 1934, Philadelphia Eagles 1934, St. Louis Gunners (Independent/NFL) 1934, Brooklyn Dodgers 1935
Norby is the kind of player who runs faster than he can when he has to.
Babe Hollingberry
Babe Hollingberry
Bob Nussbaumer (1924-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-6-58-45-am.png?1611669623)
Defensive Back/Halfback—(Michigan) Green Bay Packers 1946,1951, Washington Redskins 1947-48, Chicago Cardinals 1949-50 [#1 Interceptions 1949]
Joe Parker (1923-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-07-at-5-57-30-am.png?1610024302)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Texas) Pearl Harbor Pacific All-Stars 1945; Chicago Cardinals 1946-47 [All-American 1943, University of Texas Hall of Honor 1975]
Back then [1941 at Texas], we had to play thump poker. Do you know what thump poker is? We didn't have any money to play, so if we won, we'd thump everybody on the head.
Joe Parker
Joe Parker
Mike Patanelli (1922-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-19-at-5-35-25-am.png?1616153992)
Defensive End—(Manchester/Bowling Green/Ball State) Brooklyn Dodgers 1947
Don Paul (1925-2014)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-7-45-51-am.png?1610549204)
Linebacker/Center—(UCLA) Los Angeles Rams 1948-55
Jim "Mac" Peebles (1920-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-30-at-3-30-28-pm.png?1612045863)
Defensive End/Offensive End/Offensive Tackle—(Vanderbilt) Western Army All-Stars 1942; Washington Redskins 1946-49,1951
Willard "Bolo" Perdue (1916-1988)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-18-at-8-33-09-am.png?1613663506)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Duke) New York Giants 1940, St. Mary's Pre-flight Air Devils 1944, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1946; Coach—Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station Klippers (Hawaiian Service League) 1942-43
Bill Petrilas (1915-1976)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-7-10-53-am.png?1611671196)
Defensive Back/Wingback—New York Giants 1944-45, Wilmington Clippers (AFL) 1946, Ottawa Trojans (Ontario Canada Rugby Football Union) 1947
Oliver L. "Ollie" Poole (1922-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-13-at-8-38-50-am.png?1613230782)
Defensive End/Offensive End—(Mississippi/North Carolina) Camp Lejeune Marines 1944; New York Yankees (AAFC) 1947, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1948, Detroit Lions 1949
Ray Poole (1921-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-30-at-3-40-37-pm.png?1612046472)
Defensive End/Offensive End/Place Kicker—(Mississippi/North Carolina) Fleet Marine Force Pacific 1945; New York Giants 1947-52; Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 1953-54 [All Canadian League 1953-54]
Ray Poole was a year ahead of me with the Giants, but he’d played down at Ole Miss with me—an end and a fine one, one of the best—and we roomed together . . . when I first got to New York. We were just a couple of country boys. We would catch a subway to go to practice at the Polo Grounds, which was where we were playing in those days. We always kept saying, “Hey, this is a little different from where we come from!”
Charlie Conerly
Charlie Conerly
Dick Plasman (1914-1981)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-16-at-8-42-50-pm.png?1613533502)
Defensive End/Offensive End/Tackle—(Vanderbilt) Chicago Bears 1937-41,1944, Chicago Cardinals 1946-47
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/plasmn33_orig.jpeg)
I bought this unique 3x5 card (and accompanying documents) for $35 in 2014 from Bill Butts, an autograph/rare books dealer from Galena, Illinois. He acquired it from the estate of Rich Laade, my autograph collecting mentor who died in 1994. A note in red ballpoint from Dick Plasman's wife reads: "Dick woke up blind one year ago Oct. He has put his X for you on card. Sorry--We didn't know whether or not you would want that. Dick's attitude is great and we are making a new life for ourselves. His blindness was caused from a Viral infection--23 Drs told us this."
He is the last player in the NFL to play a game without a helmet; that happened in the NFL championship game on December 8, 1940.
Dom Principe (1917-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-03-at-3-01-46-pm.png?1614809101)
Linebacker/Blocking Back/Fullback/Defensive Back—(Fordham) New York Giants 1940-42, Sampson Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1943, Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base Amphibs 1945 (Asst. Coach), Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1946
Ray Ramsey (1921-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-19-at-5-58-38-am.png?1616155162)
Defensive Back/Offensive End/Wingback/Halfback—(Bradley) Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1947-48, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949, Chicago Cardinals 1950-53, Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL) 1954-56 [he also played with the Baltimore Bullets in the BAA in the 1948-49 season]
Walt "Bull" Rankin (1919-1993)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-2-30-33-pm.png?1611524082)
Linebacker/Fullback/Defensive Back—(Texas Tech) Chicago Cardinals 1941,1943,1945-47, Card-Pitt 1944
Bill Reinhard (1922-2016)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-19-at-8-24-17-am.png?1616163947)
Defensive Back/Tailback/Halfback/Quarterback—(California) Fort Benning 3rd Infantry Cockades 1944, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1947-48
Herm "Stumpy" Rohrig (1918-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-20-at-5-46-25-pm.png?1613868455)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Tailback—(Nebraska) Green Bay Packers 1941,1946-47, Western Army All-Stars 1942, Keesler Field Commandos 1943 (Player-Asst. Coach), Keesler Field Fliers 1944 (Player-Asst. Coach), Army Air Force Training Command Skymasters 1945
Roy Ruskusky (1921-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-26-at-7-34-53-am.png?1611671896)
Defensive End—(St. Mary’s, Calif.) Hawaiian Warriors (PCFL) 1946, New York Yankees (AAFC) 1947
Ed Ryan (1925-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-30-at-9-03-14-pm.png?1612066256)
Defensive End—(St. Mary's, Calif.) Pittsburgh Steelers 1948
Otto "The Claw" Schnellbacher (1923-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-10-at-2-25-02-pm.png?1612992354)
Defensive Back/Offensive End—(Kansas) Selman Field Cyclones 1944, Hondo Army Air Field Comets 1945; New York Yankees (AAFC) 1948-49, New York Giants 1950-51 [#1 Interceptions 1951, All Pro 1951; he also played pro basketball in 1948-49 in the BAA for the Providence Steamrollers and St. Louis Bombers]
He was a terrific defensive back . . . . One game, Otto Schnellbacher, an All-Pro safety we had then—he was also a professional basketball player at the time for Providence—met [Marion] Motley head-on, and Motley never even broke stride going for the goal line. Schnellbacher was knocked over backwards by Motley and knocked out cold. From that day forward, Schnellbacher said, “When that guy comes through, all I’m going to do is wait till he goes by and grab onto the back of his shoulder pads and take a ride. I’m never going to meet him head-on again.”
Arnie Weinmeister
Arnie Weinmeister
Jake Schuehle (1917-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-07-at-5-33-33-am.png?1612701703)
Linebacker—(Rice) Philadelphia Eagles 1939; Coach/Player—Blackland Army Air Base 1943
Carl Schuette (1922-1975)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-09-at-8-27-32-am.png?1612884653)
Linebacker/Center/Defensive Back—(Marquette) Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1948-49, Green Bay Packers 1950-51
Mike "Lefty" Sebastian (1910-1989)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-30-at-8-03-41-am.png?1612019085)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Wingback—(Pittsburgh) Philadelphia Eagles 1935, Pittsburgh Pirates 1935, Cleveland Rams (AFL) 1936, Passaic Red Devils (American Association) 1936, Rochester Tigers (AFL) 1937, Cincinnati Bengals (AFL) 1937, St. Louis Gunners (AFL) 1939
Phil Slosburg (1926-2018)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-19-at-6-07-53-am.png?1616155945)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Tailback—(Temple) Boston Yanks 1948, New York Bulldogs 1949
Bob Sneddon (1921-2012)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-19-at-6-26-51-am.png?1616156907)
Defensive Back/Halfback/Wingback—(Weber College/St. Mary's, Calif.) Washington Redskins 1944, Detroit Lions 1945, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1946
I was a marginal guy. An overachiever. I worked my tail off. Everything I had was borderline. I was borderline speed. I was borderline size.
Bob Sneddon
Bob Sneddon
Albert "Hank" Soar (1914-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-12-at-2-23-14-pm.png?1613165032)
Defensive Back/Fullback/Wingback/Quarterback—(Providence) Boston Shamrocks (AFL) 1936, New York Giants 1937-44,1946 [#1 Passing AFL 1936]
The Shamrocks won the AFL championship, and after the season we went on a barnstorming tour south down to Miami with the New York Yankees. They had Ken Strong and the coach was Jack McBride, who had also been with the Giants. After the season, I was a free agent and I got offers from most of the NFL clubs. I chose the Giants. I didn’t make a hell of a lot more money with them than when I was playing for the Shamrocks. They wanted to give me $125, but I got $200 a game. . . . [Steve Owen] was conservative. He wouldn’t take chances. I liked to play the game without thinking what you have to do, you just do it. Once he fined me fifty bucks for doing something he didn’t like, but I haven’t paid him yet. We had a feud going on, but it wasn’t really a feud. When we were alone, we’d talk a lot. We lived in the same hotel, and we’d often discuss things about a game or the team. But yet, I’d get on the field and he’d fight me like hell. He used to get mad. I’d run the ball all the way down the field and get near the goal line, and he’d pull me out. He’d put Bull Karcis in and Bull would score and I’d throw the helmet. He wouldn’t pay attention. Oh, it was a great relationship we had. We gave a big party when he retired in 1953. Newspapermen were there, and they asked him, “Who was your favorite player in your coaching years?” And Steve said, “You’re not going to believe this. It was Hank Soar.” They said, “Why?” And he said, “Because he always came up with the ball. I said to Hank one time, ‘You’re either good or you’re lucky!’ And you know what he said to me? ‘I’m both!’”
Hank Soar
Hank Soar
Cecil "Cy" Souders (1921-2021)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-19-at-6-34-20-am.png?1616157339)
Defensive End/Offensive End/Tackle—(Ohio State) Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1944, Bainbridge Naval Training Center Commodores 1945, Detroit Lions 1947-49
Ed "Iceman" Sprinkle (1923-2014)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/sprink45.jpeg?1617125758)
Defensive End/Offensive End/Offensive Guard/Linebacker—(Hardin-Simmons/Navy) Chicago Bears 1944-55 [Pro Football Hall of Fame 2020]
I never really played dirty football in my life, but I'd knock the hell out of a guy if I had a chance. It was just part of the game of football to me. If a halfback ran by, you clotheslined him. If I had an opportunity to hit someone, I hit them. When I was playing, I had the reputation with my teammates and George Halas as being the roughest player the Bears ever had. I don't think that means that I was a dirty player. We were meaner, I think, in the 1940s and fifties. There were fewer positions, and we fought harder to keep them. Some of us could be characterized, I guess, as a little overaggressive maybe. I know I was as aggressive as any football player who walked on the field. If I had the opportunity to hit someone, I hit him, and I hit him just as hard as I could.
Ed Sprinkle
Ed Sprinkle
Dick "Moose" Stovall (1922-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-14-at-5-44-19-am.png?1613306764)
Linebacker/Guard/Center—(Abilene Christian) Detroit Lions 1947-48, Washington Redskins 1949
Bill Swiacki (1922-1976)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-06-at-11-10-44-am.png?1615054279)
Defensive End—(Holy Cross/Columbia) New York Giants 1948-50, Detroit LIons 1951-52; Coach—Toronto Argonauts (CFL) 1955-56 [All-American 1947, College Football Hall of Fame 1976]
Joe Tereshinski (1923-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-19-at-6-55-07-am.png?1616158543)
Defensive End/Offensive End/Linebacker—(Georgia) Washington Redskins 1947-54
Al "Tubby" Thacker (1919-2001)
Defensive Back—(Morris-Harvey) Philadelphia Eagles 1942
Bob Titchenal (1917-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-13-at-1-54-24-pm.png?1613249714)
Linebacker/Offensive End/Center/Defensive End—(San Jose State) Washington Redskins 1940-42, San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) 1946, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1947; Lakehurst Naval Air Station Blimps 1943, St. Mary's Pre-flight Air Devils 1944-45
I played for the Washington Redskins. But I wanted to play close to home, so I joined the 49ers.
Bob Titchenal
Bob Titchenal
Clarence "Tommy" Tommerson (1915-2000)
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Defensive Back/Halfback—(Wisconsin) Boston Shamrocks (AFL) 1938, Pittsburgh Pirates 1938, Pittsburgh Steelers 1939
Emlen Tunnell (1924-1975)
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Defensive Back/Halfback—(Toledo/Iowa) San Francisco Bay Coast Guard Receiving Station Pilots 1944, New York Giants 1948-58, Green Bay Packers 1959-61 [All Pro 1949,1951-52,1954-56, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1967]
Alex Urban (1917-2007)
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Defensive End/Offensive End—(South Carolina) Green Bay Packers 1941,1944-45
Larry Visnic (1919-1994)
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Linebacker/Guard/Blocking Back—(St. Benedict's) New York Giants 1943-45
Alex Wizbicki (1921-2018)
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Defensive Back/Halfback—(Dartmouth/Holy Cross) Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1946-49, Green Bay Packers 1950
John Yonakor (1921-2001)
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Defensive End/Offensive End/Defensive Tackle—(Notre Dame) Bainbridge Naval Training Station Commodores 1944, Camp Lejeune Marines 1944, Fleet Marine Force Pacific 1945, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1946-49, New York Yanks 1950, Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 1951, Washington Redskins 1952 [All-American 1943]
Very confident in his own ability, a sure pass receiver, and as good a blocker on opposing tackles as I've seen. Very strong on defense, partly due to his size, 230 pounds.
John Lujack
John Lujack
Jack Zilly (1921-2009)
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Defensive End/Offensive End—(Notre Dame) Los Angeles Rams 1947-51, Philadelphia Eagles 1952