Joe Abbey (1925-2014)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(North Texas State) Chicago Bears 1948, New York Bulldogs 1949
O'Neal Adams (1919-1998)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Arkansas) Second Air Force Superbombers 1945; New York Giants 1942-44, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1946-47 [played in NBL for Oshkosh All-Stars in 1942-43]
Ben Agajanian (1919-2018)
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Receiver/Kicker/Tackle—(New Mexico) Hollywood Bears (PCFL) 1942,1946, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1942, Santa Ana Flyers (PCFL) 1942, San Diego Bombers (PCFL) 1943, Hollywood Rangers (PCFL) 1944, Philadelphia Eagles 1945, Pittsburgh Steelers 1945, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1947-48, New York Giants 1949,1954-57, Los Angeles Rams 1953, Los Angeles Chargers 1960, Dallas Texans 1961, Green Bay Packers 1961, Oakland Raiders 1962, San Diego Chargers 1964
Ezzrett "Sugarfoot" Anderson (1920-2017)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Kentucky State) Los Angeles Mustangs (AFL) 1944, Hollywood Bears (PCFL) 1945-46, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1947, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1948, Calgary Stampeders (CFL) 1948-54 [CFL All Star 1949]
Morris "Red" Badgro (1904-1998)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(USC) New York Yankees 1927, New York Giants 1930-35, Brooklyn Dodgers 1936, Rochester Tigers (AFL) 1937 [All-Pro 1933, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1981]
Tim Mara signed me to my first contract with the Giants. He was a good owner. I never had any trouble with him—or any owner, for that matter. I signed up to play for just so much and that was it. At that time, we didn’t consider what the other fellow got. If he made $500 a game or $1,000 or only $2, we didn’t care. But the money sure wasn’t very good in those days. I got $150 a game when I first signed with the Giants. I didn’t exactly get rich on that salary.
Red Badgro
Red Badgro
Burr Baldwin (1922-2007)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(UCLA) Camp Davis Blue Brigade 1943; Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1947-49 [All-American 1946]
One of my bad memories of playing against USC involved Bob Robertson. In 1941, I was covering a punt that Bob had received. I had him pinned on the sidelines, no way to miss, he gave me a couple of moves and I got nothing but air.
Burr Baldwin, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, 1994
Burr Baldwin, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore, 1994
Reaves H. "Ribs" Baysinger (1902-1994)
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End—(Syracuse) Rochester Jeffersons 1924
Baysinger attended Syracuse University, where he played three years of varsity football before graduating in 1924. From 1928 to 1948, he was a member of the Syracuse University Athletic Department as a coach, educator, administrator and mentor. From 1950 to 1954, he worked at the University of New Mexico in similar capacities. From 1955 until his retirement, he was director of admissions at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jim "Big Jim" Benton (1916-2001)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Arkansas) Cleveland Rams 1938-40,1942,1944-45, Chicago Bears 1943, Los Angeles Rams 1946-47 [#1 Receiving NCAA 1937, All-Pro 1945-46, #1 Pass Receiving 1946; Pass Receiving: 16.7 avg, 45 TD]
He was all moves. He had no speed. He used to get caught from behind all the time . . . .I didn't call the plays. He did. He'd tell me what he was going to run and I'd say okay . . . .he'd tell me he was going to get open on a hook, a corner or an out. And I believed him. When I got ready to throw, sure enough, he was open. He'd have to rank right there with Hirsch and Fears.
Bob Waterfield
Bob Waterfield
Andy Bershak (1915-1943)
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End—(North Carolina) [All-American 1937]
He is a great pass receiver and the sparkplug of the North Carolina team.
Jim Crowley
Jim Crowley
Lamar "Pappy" Blount (1920-2007)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back/Halfback—(Mississippi State/Duke) Miami Seahawks (AAFC) 1946, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1947, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947
My only service football was with Duke Univ. in 1943 while serving in the Marine V-12 program.
Lamar Blount, note to Mel Bashore, 1992
Lamar Blount, note to Mel Bashore, 1992
Maurice "Footsie" Britt (1919-1995)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Arkansas) Detroit Lions 1941 [first soldier in U.S. history to be awarded the nation's three highest military honors in a single war—Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, and Silver Star; arm amputated]
We were in a farmhouse, and it was hit directly by artillery fire. It killed a couple of guys, injured seven or eight others and blew my arm off. [I decided to go to law school] because I didn’t think the Lions needed any one-armed ends.
Footsie Britt
Footsie Britt
Bill Chipley (1920-2002)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back—(Clemson/Washington & Lee) Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1942; Boston Yanks 1947-48, New York Bulldogs 1949; Coach—Washington & Lee 1955-57
George [McAfee] and I connected on a pass play against Duke covering 97 yards that was the longest touchdown pass of '42, college or service teams.
Bill Chipley, excerpt from letter to Mel Bashore, Sep. 25, 1991
Bill Chipley, excerpt from letter to Mel Bashore, Sep. 25, 1991
Ed Cifers (1916-2005)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Tennessee) Washington Redskins 1941-42,1946, Chicago Bears 1947-48; Del Monte Pre-flight Navyators 1943
Paul "Rip" Collins (1907-1988)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Pittsburgh) Boston Braves 1932, Boston Redskins 1933-35
I have always enjoyed playing football especially during my college career at Pitt.
Paul Collins, 1931
Paul Collins, 1931
Joe Crowley (1919-2008)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back—(Dartmouth) Boston Yanks 1944-45
Billy Dewell (1917-2000)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(SMU) Corpus Christi Naval Air Station Comets 1942, Chicago Cardinals 1940-41,1945-49
[I was] captain of [the] 1947 NFL Championship team.
Billy Dewell, note to Mel Bashore, 1993
Billy Dewell, note to Mel Bashore, 1993
Dave Diehl (1918-1994)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Michigan State) Cincinnati Bengals (AFL) 1939, Detroit Lions 1939-40,1944-45
Joe Donchess (1905-1977)
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End—(Pittsburgh) [All-American 1929, College Football Hall of Fame 1979]
Joe was a great team player. He was hard to hurt--easy to coach and took his football seriously. He was a very clean player, excellent on the defense and most outstanding on the offense. Above all he was a gentleman.
Jock Sutherland
Jock Sutherland
The year was 1929 and in those days if you were 6-0 and weighed 175-pounds you could be a terror on the football field. Such was Joe Donchess, a standout end from Pittsburgh. Although Donchess left school in the fifth grade to work in a steel mill, his education did not end there. Five years later, he was "discovered" by an alumnus of Wyoming Seminary, who sent him to that famous prep school. Donchess turned out to be a brilliant scholar and made up three grades in one year. Donchess then went on to attend Pittsburgh where he earned scholastic as well as athletic distinction. The Panthers were undefeated in 1929, the year Donchess was chosen as a consensus All-American. Pittsburgh went to the Rose Bowl that season, but despite its four All-Americans and a label as one of the great teams in the history of Eastern football", Pitt was resoundingly stomped by the University of Southern California, 47-14. Donchess also participated in the 1928 Rose Bowl against Stanford, and again, despite a powerful team, suffered a bitter 7-6 defeat. In 1937 Joe became Assistant Chief Surgeon at U.S. Steel and then Chief Surgeon there in 1943, a position he held until his retirement in 1965. He died in 1977.
Johnnie Druze (1914-2005)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Fordham) Brooklyn Dodgers 1938
On my 1989 request letter he wrote that Bruiser Kinard was the toughest, hardest hitting player he faced during his football days. Druze was the captain of Fordham's 1937 team that went 7-0-1, the school's last undefeated season. He was inducted into the university's athletic hall of fame in 1974. Druze teamed with Al Babartsky, Alex Wojciechowicz, Nat Pierce, Ed Franco, Leo Paquin and Vince Lombardi in 1936 and 1937 to form a line known as the "Seven Blocks of Granite." The Fordham coach was Jim Crowley, who had been one of Notre Dame's "Four Horsemen" in the 1920s. The line coach on those teams was Frank Leahy, later the head coach at Notre Dame. See autographs of other members of the famed "Seven Blocks" in entries for Alex Wojciechowicz, Ed Franco, and Harry Jacunski (a left end on the 1936 and 1937 Fordham line).
Joe Duckworth (1921-2007)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Colgate) Western Army All Stars 1942, Air Transport Center Rockets 1945; Washington Redskins 1947, Paterson Panthers (AFL) 1948-49
Harry "Irish" Ebding (1906-1980)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(St. Mary's, CA) Portsmouth Spartans 1931-33, Detroit Lions 1934-37 [#1 Receiving Yards 1934]
Dan Edwards (1926-2001)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Georgia) Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949, New York Yanks 1950-51, Dallas Texans 1952, Baltimore Colts 1953-54; British Columbia Lions (CFL) 1955-58 [All Pro 1950, #15 All-Time AAFC Pass Receiving]
That franchise [Brooklyn Dodgers] was a total wreck! . . . . We weren’t getting very big crowds, but they did pay our salaries. By the end of the year, it got to be a joke. All the players could recognize the trouble we were in. We were lucky to get paid. . . . We [Chicago Hornets] played in Soldier Field and it looked like just a few buzzards up in the stands. The Hornets folded after that season. It looked like everything I got a hold of would collapse.
Dan Edwards
Dan Edwards
Don Eliason (1918-2003)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Hamline) Brooklyn Dodgers 1942, Fort Warren Broncos 1945, Boston Yanks 1946 [played with Boston Celtics in 1946-47]
Buddy Elrod (1918-1998)
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End—(Mississippi State) [All-American 1940, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame 1975]
Dick “Whitey” Evans (1917-2008)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back/Defensive End—(Iowa) Green Bay Packers 1940,1943, Chicago Cardinals 1941-42; El Toro Marines 1944; Coach—Santa Barbara Marine Corps Air Station Bombers 1945 [he played in the NBL from 1940-43 for the Hammond Ciesar All-Americans, Sheboygan Red Skins, Chicago Bruins, and Chicago Studebaker Flyers]
Tom Fears (1923-2000)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back—(Santa Clara/UCLA) Second Air Force Superbombers 1944-45; Los Angeles Rams 1948-56; Coach—New Orleans Saints 1967-70 [College Football Hall of Fame 1976, #1 Receiving 1948-50, All-Pro 1949-50, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1970]
In '56 we were playing the Rams in Baltimore, and [Don] Shula had a little thing going with Los Angeles' great end Tom Fears. He must have been holding Fears every time he ran downfield, because all day as we were walking back to the defensive huddle after the play we'd hear Fears screaming, "Shoes, goddamnit, keep your mitts off me. Don't hold me anymore." Finally Fears had had enough, and toward the end of the game he coldcocked Shula with an elbow that put his lights out. Smashed Shula's jaw.
Art Donovan
Art Donovan
Jack "Black Jack" Ferrante (1916-2006)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—Churchill Pros (Independent) 1941, Wilmington Clippers (AA) 1939-42, Philadelphia Eagles 1941,1944-50 [All-League American Association 1939]
Wes Fesler (1908-1989)
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End—(Ohio State) Coach—Wesleyan 1941-42, Pittsburgh 1946, Ohio State 1947-50, Minnesota 1951-53 [All-American 1928-30, College Football Hall of Fame 1954; Basketball—All American guard 1931]
Fesler was the greatest athlete I've ever seen. I've never seen a human animal so well coordinated.
Dick Larkins
Dick Larkins
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In the days before the Heisman Trophy, Ohio State produced two of its greatest players. Chic Harley was a star running back in the late teens, while a decade later Wes Fesler became one of the Buckeyes' greatest linemen. Fesler came to Ohio State from Youngstown, Ohio, where he was a four-sport star. At Ohio State, Fesler was Phi Beta Kappa, a baseball star, a basketball All-America, and a three-time football All-America. He played end and in 1929 he picked off a fumble and ran 95 yards for a touchdown against Northwestern. In 1930, he was voted the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten. Jock Sutherland, the Pittsburgh coach, called him "a one man team. It is unbelievable how that boy can do so many things." He was Ohio State's leading receiver and on some plays moved into the backfield and threw passes. Fesler coached Wesleyan University 1941-42, Pittsburgh 1946, Ohio State 1947-50 and Minnesota 1951-53. His Ohio State coaching record was 21-13-3. His 1949 team was Big Ten co-champion and beat California in the Rose Bowl.
Bill Fisk (1916-2007)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(USC) Detroit Lions 1940-43, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1943, Hollywood Rangers (AFL) 1944, Hollywood Bears (PCFL) 1945, San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) 1946-47, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1948 [AFL All-League 1944, PCFL All-League 1945]
It was a beautiful setup. Nice park, nice practice field, out in the country. I'm a fisherman, so after practice or early in the morning before practice, Bob Winslow and I would go out there and fish a little bit in the pond. The fishing was great. We'd catch trout and give 'em away.
Bill Fisk, on the Lion’s training camp at Cranbrook School in suburban Detroit
Bill Fisk, on the Lion’s training camp at Cranbrook School in suburban Detroit
Paul "Pep" Florence (1900-1986)
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End—(Loyola, Chicago/Georgetown) Chicago Cardinals 1920 [he played in the MLB in 1926 for the New York Giants]
Hank Foldberg (1923-2001)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Texas A&M/Army) Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949; Coach—Wichita 1960-61, Texas A&M 1962-64 [All-American 1946]
Ed Frutig (1918-2011)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back/Defensive End—(Michigan) Green Bay Packers 1941,1945, Detroit Lions 1946, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station Comets 1942
He's got the grace and the speed. And the tips of his fingers appear coated with glue.
Fielding Yost
Fielding Yost
John Giannoni (1914-2000)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(St. Mary's) Cleveland Rams 1938; Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Transport Command Skymasters 1944 (player-coach)
Clyde "Nip" Goodnight (1924-2002)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back—(Tulsa) Green Bay Packers 1945-48, Washington Redskins 1949-50
I considered myself an "above average" pro player.
Clyde Goodnight, note to Mel Bashore, Aug. 9, 1994
Clyde Goodnight, note to Mel Bashore, Aug. 9, 1994
Gene Goodreault (1918-2010)
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End—(Boston College) North Carolina Pre-flight Cloudbusters 1942; Coach—Jacksonville Naval Air Station 1944 [All-American 1940, College Football Hall of Fame 1982]
Johnny Greene (1920-2010)
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Offensive End/Defensive End/Defensive Back/Blocking Back—(Michigan) Detroit Lions 1944-50
Vic Hanson (1903-1982)
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End—(Syracuse) [All-American 1926, College Football Hall of Fame 1973; Basketball All-American 1925-27, Basketball Hall of Fame 1960]
Called by Grantland Rice, "the best all-around athlete Syracuse ever had," Victor Hanson was a three sport star for the Orangemen. In addition to being an All-America end, Hanson was an All-America in basketball and good enough in baseball to be signed by the New York Yankees. Hanson began his collegiate career in 1924 as the only sophomore on the varsity. A teammate on that 1924 team was future Hall of Fame coach Lynn Waldorf. During three varsity seasons Syracuse posted a 23-5-3 record. Hanson, playing end, called the plays for the offense. He captained the football, basketball and baseball teams. After graduation he played one year in baseball's minor leagues. He returned to Syracuse as an assistant coach in 1928 and 1929. In 1930, at the age of 27, Hanson was named head football coach. In seven seasons he posted a 33-21-5 record. He later became a prominent insurance counselor. Hanson was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
John Harrington (1921-1992)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Marquette) Second Air Force Superbombers 1944, Fourth Air Force Fliers 1945, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1946, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1947
Ralph Heywood (1921-2007)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(USC) El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Flying Marines 1945; Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946, Detroit Lions 1947, Boston Yanks 1948, New York Bulldogs 1949 [All-American 1943]
We made up pass routes in the huddle and used hideout plays and anything we could think of. In a game at Detroit, a receiver named Ralph Heywood hid out in front of one of the benches. I think it might have been the Detroit bench, right near Bo McMillin, the Detroit coach. Anyway, nobody saw him. Then he ran down the sideline and I hit him for a touchdown. The Detroit fans threw snowballs at Bo McMillin.
Bobby Layne
Bobby Layne
Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch (1923-2004)
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Offensive End/Halfback/Defensive Back—(Wisconsin/Michigan) Camp Lejeune Marines 1944, El Toro Flying Marines 1945, San Diego Bombers (PCFL) 1945, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946-48, Los Angeles Rams 1949-57 [College Football Hall of Fame 1974, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1968]
I could always run fast as a kid . . . .I used to run back and forth from my house to school and try to step on each crack in the sidewalk, thinking it would make me more shifty. There was a park in town, and I'd go at top speed, heading straight for a tree, then shift the football as I dodged right or left just in time to miss it. I never pivoted, just dodged. It's hard to fake out a tree, and sometimes I'd plow right into one. Maybe that's what's been wrong with me all these years.
Elroy Hirsch
Elroy Hirsch
In the early 1990s I drew colored pencil portraits of about a dozen players and sent them off in the mail to request they be autographed. It was rather time and labor intensive and there was no guarantee they would be returned, but I'm glad I did it. I have signed portraits of such football luminaries as Red Grange, Frank Sinkwich, Steve Van Buren, Frank Filchock, Ernie Caddel, Sam Baugh, Ollie Matson, Jay Berwanger, etc. I first sent him a request for his autograph on a 3x5 card in 1988. On my request letter he wrote that Chuck Bednarik was the hardest hitting player who he played against.
Jerome "Brud" Holland (1916-1985)
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End—(Cornell) [All-American 1937-38, College Football Hall of Fame 1965]
Dick "Banana Hands" Humbert (1918-2007)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back—(Richmond) Philadelphia Eagles 1941,1945-49
Mack "Mousie" Hummon (1901-1992)
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End—(Wittenberg) Dayton Triangles 1926-28
We had a play where it was my duty to take the end out, and listen, if you think he wasn't about the hardest fellow to take out of a play, you're wrong. He was really good.
Harry Wagstaff
Harry Wagstaff
Don “Alabama Antelope” Hutson (1913-1997)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back/Defensive End—(Alabama) Green Bay Packers 1935-45, East Chicago Indians (AFL) 1940 [All-American 1934, College Football Hall of Fame 1951, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1963]
Don Hutson weighed about 178 pounds and was about 6 feet 2 inches when he came to us in 1935. He didn't have the size for a pro football player. But then we saw his speed and the way he just glided—when he ran he didn't put his knees up to his chin, just kind of flowed. The best way I can describe Hutson is if you could picture a gazelle, running through a defensive secondary in the National Football League. He had a deceptive stride, and he did the hundred in something like 9:7. And what great moves he had. One day I saw him fake Beattie Feathers of the Bears out of his shoes, literally fake him out of his shoes. They had to call time out so he could put them back on. Hutson was the greatest offensive end who ever lived, even by today's standards. He played defense, too, and he used to block these enormous tackles we used to play against. He could do a pretty good job blocking, even though he was awfully small for that aspect of the game. He did it well partly because he could get to whoever he was blocking so quickly. I remember running through many holes that he helped to open. [Curly] Lambeau played Don as a halfback on defense, and it worked out perfectly. He was a great pass defender by his very nature. He could use his hands and jumping ability as well on defense as on offense. But most of all, he made life easy for our passers. He would run the basic patterns and all Arnie Herber and Cecil Isbell had to do was throw to a spot. Hutson might be ten yards away from the spot, but he would get there and catch the ball. Hutson could outrun the wind.
Clarke Hinkle
Clarke Hinkle
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Fluid in motion, wondrously elusive with the fake, inventive in his patterns and magnificently at ease when catching the ball, Don Hutson set the standard for pass receivers. Hutson and fellow Hall of Famer Millard "Dixie" Howell became football's most celebrated passing combination as they thrilled Alabama fans in the 1930's, the infant years of the aerial weapon. Tall, willowy and blessed with deceptive speed and varied gifts, Hutson was the first to perfect the techniques of catching the ball "in traffic." He made the end-around a devastating threat and shifting speeds a must. When Hutson grabbed six passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns in the Crimson Tide's 29- 13 victory over Stanford in the Rose Bowl, West Coast writers hailed him as "the greatest pass-catching speed merchant end". Hutson made All-America at Alabama in 1934. He scored the winning touchdown on a 9-yard, end-around play as Alabama beat Tennessee 13-6. He caught six passes, two for touchdowns, against Clemson. Hutson, 6-1 in height, 183 pounds, was at one end for Alabama. The other end was Bear Bryant, a future coaching great. Hutson also played centerfield for the baseball team and ran for the track team. He was timed in 9.8 seconds for the 100-yard dash. On one occasion he ran track, then donned a uniform and played a baseball game-all on the same day. After his Alabama days, Hutson played 11 years with the Green Bay Packers, 1935-45. He was all-pro 9 times, led the league in pass receptions 8 times, led the league in scoring 5 times, and twice was named Most Valuable Player. He finished his pro career with 488 pass receptions. The next best player at that time had 188. Hutson was named to the all-time college football team in 1969, the all-time pro team in 1996. In his last pro season his salary, highest in the league, was $15,000.
Frank "Pop" Ivy (1916-2003)
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Defensive End/Offensive End—(Oklahoma) Pittsburgh Steelers 1940, Chicago Cardinals 1940-42,1945-47, Coach—Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) 1954-57; Chicago Cardinals 1958, St. Louis Cardinals 1960-61, Houston Oilers 1962-63
Some of the head coaches involved themselves with every detail. They said of Pop Ivy, the Cardinal coach, that he handed out the players’ equipment in the morning for practice and at the end of the day ran the projection machine at the team meetings.
George Plimpton
George Plimpton
Harry Jacunski (1915-2003)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Fordham) Green Bay Packers 1939-44
I went out to Chicago to play in the College All-Star game. A coach for the Green Bay Packers came around and asked if I'd be interested. By then I was. We were good. Although we only made about $100 a game, the Packers took care of us. We had a team doctor and a trainer. Money was tight. We had to buy our own shoes. I always felt it was just a job. I picked up iron rods used to reinforce concrete and moved them around eight hours a day. That's what made my legs strong.
Harry Jacunski
Harry Jacunski
Jacunski spelled one of the starting ends on “The Seven Blocks of Granite,” the famous line at Fordham (see photo on Ed Franco entry on Tackles page) on which Lombardi was a starting guard. With the Packers, Jacunski played opposite the legendary Don Hutson. Jacunski was a member of two of the Packers' NFL championship teams, in his first year and his last.
Val "Blackie" Jansante (1920-2008)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Duquesne/Villanova) Fleet City Bluejackets 1945; Pittsburgh Steelers 1946-51, Green Bay Packers 1951
Ralph Jones (1922-1995)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Union/Alabama) Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets 1945; Detroit Lions 1946, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947, Charlotte Clippers (Independent) 1948-49
Jack Karwales (1920-2004)
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Offensive End—(Michigan) Third Air Force Gremlins 1944; Akron Bears (AFL) 1946, Paterson Panthers (AFL) 1947; Chicago Cardinals 1947
Ken Kavanaugh (1917-2007)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(LSU) Chicago Bears 1940-41,1945-50 [#1 Receiving NCAA 1939, Knute Rockne Award 1939, All-American 1939, College Football Hall of Fame 1963, #1 Receiving Average 1941, All Pro 1946-47]
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Single-wing football hardly emphasized the passing game, but that didn't curb the incredible ball-hawking talents of Louisiana State's Ken Kavanaugh. A fast and elusive receiver, Kavanaugh teamed with Leo Bird to give the Tigers an aerial combination unrivaled in the South during the late 1930s. Despite the reluctance to pass in those days, Kavanaugh snared 30 Bird throws in nine games, netting 467 yards to lead the nation's receivers in 1939 and earn the Most Valuable Player award in the Southeastern Conference. For his exceptional efforts, Kavanaugh was presented the Knute Rockne Memorial Award that year, the first lineman so honored. Following graduation, Kavanaugh joined the Chicago Bears and was an all-pro end. During World War II, Kavanaugh served as a bomber pilot and flew 30 missions over Germany, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four Oak Clusters. After the war, he rejoined the Bears to continue a brilliant career. In 1951, he moved to the New York Giants as assistant coach.
Jim Keane (1924-2011)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Iowa/Northwestern) Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1944, Chicago Bears 1946-51, Green Bay Packers 1952 [#1 Pass Receiving 1947]
Larry Kelley (1915-2000)
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End—(Yale) [All-American 1936, Heisman Trophy 1936, College Football Hall of Fame 1969]
He was the greatest football opportunist of a generation, a superb inspirational leader who makes his teammates rise to great heights.
Andy Kerr
Andy Kerr
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/kelley66.jpeg?1612734803)
Larry Kelley was an innovator, a creator, an adventurer who played end for Yale. Allison Danzig of the New York Times called him a "genius who gets the touchdown regardless of the odds." Against Princeton in 1934, Kelley caught a pass, ran 30 yards and was trapped by two defenders at the goal line. He rammed between them and scored for a 7-0 Yale victory. Again against Princeton in 1936 Yale was down 16-0, rallied to win 26-23. Kelley straight-armed a defender and bulled his way to a crucial touchdown. He played six games against Harvard and Princeton, scored a touchdown in each game, and Yale won five of the games. After the 1936 season he was voted the Heisman Trophy. He was named Most Valuable Player in the East-West Shrine Game. At Yale he was captain of the football and baseball teams, also lettered in basketball and gave the Senior Oration. Lawrence M. Kelley was born in Conneaut, Ohio, May 30, 1915. He attended high school in Williamsport, Pennsylvania then attended Peddie School in New Jersey. After graduating from Yale, he taught math and history at Peddie and Cheshire Schools. He retired in 1975 and moved to Pensacola, Florida.
Walt Kichefski (1916-1992)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Miami, FL) Pittsburgh Steelers 1940-42, Card-Pitt Steagles 1944
Frank “Big Duke” Kimble (1917- 2001)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(West Virginia) Pittsburgh Steelers 1945
My career ended [with a] broken back.
Frank Kimble, note to Mel Bashore, 1995
Frank Kimble, note to Mel Bashore, 1995
Lafayette "Dolly" King (1922-1983)
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Offensive End—(Georgia) Cherry Point Marines 1943-44, El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Flying Marines 1945, Buffalo Bisons (AAFC) 1946, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1947, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1948, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949
Ed Klewicki (1912-1997)
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Offensive End/Defensive End/Wingback—(Michigan State) Detroit Lions 1935-38
John "Sticky Fingers" Klumb (1916-1998)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Washington State) Cincinnati Bengals (AFL) 1939, Chicago Cardinals 1939-40, Pittsburgh Steelers 1941; Mather Field Army Air Base Flyers 1942 (player-assistant coach)
Larry "Soupie" Knorr (1917-1996)
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Offensive End/Defensive End/Defensive Back—(Alabama/Dayton) Melville Torpedo Boat Training Center Night Raiders 1945; Detroit Lions 1942,1945
I played end on P.T. Raiders . . . . I left at the middle of the season and joined Detroit.
Larry Knorr, note to Mel Bashore
Larry Knorr, note to Mel Bashore
Elmer Kolberg (1916-1994)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back/Defensive End/Halfback—(Oregon State) Wilmington Clippers (AFL) 1939; Philadelphia Eagles 1939-40, Pittsburgh Steelers 1941; Melville Torpedo Boat Training Center Night Raiders 1945 (player-assistant coach), Fleet City Bluejackets 1945
Alvin "Antelope Al from Southern Cal" Krueger (1919-1999)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back/Defensive End—(USC) Washington Redskins 1941-42, Hollywood Bears (PCFL) 1945, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1945, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1946
Bert Kuczynski (1920-1997)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Pennsylvania) Bainbridge Naval Training Station Commodores 1944, Pearl Harbor Pacific All Stars 1945; Detroit Lions 1943, Philadelphia Eagles 1946; Bethlehem Bulldogs (AFL) 1946-47, Wilmington Clippers (AFL) 1947-49, [All-American (Look Magazine) 1942, Blue-Gray Bowl Game MVP 1942; he also played major league baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1943]
Mal Kutner (1921-2005)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back—(Texas) Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks 1942, Bunker Hill Naval Air Station Cloudbusters 1943-44; Chicago Cardinals 1946-50 [All-American (AP) 1941, College Football Hall of Fame 1974, #1 Receiving Average 1947, All Pro 1947-48]
. . . in our last game [1946] — with the Bears . . . . With time for one play we had the ball on their 5-yard line with the score tied 28 to 28. I tried to get [Paul] Christman's attention by kicking my foot. I wanted a field goal. Mal Kutner had told Christman he could beat the Bears' halfback so Paul called for a pass. I almost keeled over, but Kutner caught the ball and we won the game 35 to 28.
Jimmy Conzelman
Jimmy Conzelman
Pat Lahey (1919-2009)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(John Carroll) El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Flying Marines 1944-45; Hollywood Rangers (PCFL) 1944, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1945; Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946-47
Ted Lapka (1920-2011)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(DePaul/St. Ambrose) 2nd Air Force Superbombers 1945; Washington Redskins 1943-44,1946
Dante "Gluefingers" Lavelli (1923-2009)
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Offensive End—(Ohio State) Cleveland Browns 1946-56 [Pro Football Hall of Fame 1975]
Dante Lavelli thought he was wide open if he was an inch in front of his man . . . .A lot of today's receivers actually change their patterns and run something different than the play called in the huddle. A quarterback will throw the ball and miss a receiver by twenty yards . . . .We didn't have too much of that when I was playing, but Lavelli, who was one of my great receivers, would occasionally change one on me. Maybe he was supposed to go down to the corner, but it looked open at the post. He'd go there instead, and more than once we'd get a touchdown . . . .We had a lot of great receivers on the Browns but, when it came to great hands, there was nobody like "Old Spumoni." As a competitor, he had few peers.
Otto Graham
Otto Graham
Jim Lawson (1902-1989)
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End/Wingback—(Stanford) Jacksonville All-Stars (Independent) 1926, Los Angeles Wildcats (AFL) 1926-27, New York Yankees 1927; Coach—Stanford 1942 [All-American 1924]
Frank Liebel (1919-1996)
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Offensive End/Defensive End/Defensive Back—(Norwich) New York Giants 1942-47, Chicago Cardinals 1948, Erie Vets (Independent) 1949
Don Looney (1916-2015)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back—(TCU) Philadelphia Eagles 1940, Pittsburgh Steelers 1941-42, Randolph Field Army Air Force Training Command Ramblers 1944
Nolan Luhn (1921-2011)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Kilgore JC/Tulsa) Green Bay Packers 1945-49
At the end of the '49 season, I asked Lambeau for a three-year contract. He said, "I can't do that." I reached out and shook his hand and said, "Hey, I've got a company that wants me to come and work, I'll see you around." So we packed up and left town. I was making $6,000 and asked for $10,000, $12,000 and $15,000 for three years. They didn't have the means.
Nolan Luhn, on retiring after five seasons
Nolan Luhn, on retiring after five seasons
Bill McCarthy (1912-2006)
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End—(Notre Dame) New York Yanks (AFL) 1937
One year when I was playing with the New York Yankees, we booked a game with the Los Angeles Bulldogs for Randalls Island Stadium in the middle of New York City's East River. That place seldom even drew flies and this particular day was no exception. Our team came out to warm up and when we looked around the empty stands we didn't feel very happy. We went back to the dressing room just before game time and then we got the pep talk. "Don't worry about the crowd," said Jack McBride the promoter, "you'll get paid." "Yeah, don't worry about the crowd," echoed Jim Mooney, the coach. "If they start anything, we've got 'em outnumbered."
Bill McCarthy
Bill McCarthy
William "Wild Bill" McKalip (1907-1993)
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Offensive End/Defensive End/Wingback/Defensive Back—(Oregon State) Portsmouth Spartans 1931-32, Detroit Lions 1934,1936
1931—Portsmouth Spartans, started all 13 games at left end—1st team All-Pro . . . .1933—coached with "Dutch" Clark, Colorado School of Mines . . . .1934—Detroit Lions, started all 13 games at left end . . . .1936—Detroit Lions, played left and right end and right halfback and assisted in coaching under Potsy Clark . . . .
Bill McKalip, note to Mel Bashore, 1990
Bill McKalip, note to Mel Bashore, 1990
Paul "Beaver" McKee (1923-1999)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Syracuse/Rochester) Camp Lejeune Marines 1944, Fleet Marine Force Pacific 1945; Washington Redskins 1947-48
Ned Maloney (1923-2011)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Purdue) San Francisco 49ers 1948-49
Bob Mann (1924-2006)
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Offensive End—(Michigan) Detroit Lions 1948-49, Green Bay Packers 1950-54 [#1 Receiving Yards 1949]
Bob was a quiet man with a dry sense of humor. He could always find humor in almost any situation. He was very perceptive and had an even temper. That served him well in football.
Wally Triplett
Wally Triplett
Edgar "Eggs" Manske (1912-2002)
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Offensive End/Defensive End/Halfback/Defensive Back—(Northwestern) Philadelphia Eagles 1935-36, Chicago Bears 1937-40, Pittsburgh Pirates 1938, St. Mary's Pre-Flight Air Devils 1942 [All-American 1933, College Football Hall of Fame 1989]
After about five or six games [in 1938], Pitsburgh started unloading some of its bigger salaries. I was making $210 a game and the rumor was I was going to Brooklyn. I went in to see Art Rooney and told him I would much prefer to go back to Chicago since I was still going to school there. The next thing I knew, I was on the train back to Chicago.
Eggs Manske
Eggs Manske
A Scrambled Request Letter to Eggs
Joel Mason (1912-1995)
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End—(Western Michigan) Chicago Cardinals 1939, Boston Bears (AFL) 1940, Kenosha Cardinals (Independent) 1941, Long Island Indians (American Assoc.) 1941, Milwaukee Chiefs (AFL) 1941, New York Americans (AFL) 1941, San Diego Bombers (PCFL) 1941, Green Bay Packers 1942-45 [appeared in one game in the NBL in the 1942-43 season for the Sheboygan Red Skins]
Fred "Okie" Meyer (1919-1996)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Stanford) Del Monte Pre-flight Navyators 1943, Fairfield-Suisun Air Transport Command 1944; Philadelphia Eagles 1942,1945
Max Morris (1925-1998)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Northwestern) Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946-47, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948 [All-American 1945, #20 All Time AAFC Pass Receiving; he was a basketball All-American in 1946, he played in the NBL for the Chicago American Gears (1946-47) and the Sheboygan Red Skins (1947-50)]
He was in all probability the finest end in the Middle West [in 1945] and the man most responsible for Northwestern's showing this fall.
Harry Stuhldreher
Harry Stuhldreher
Ray "Butch" Morse (1912-1995)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Oregon) Detroit Lions 1935-38,1940, Los Angeles Bulldogs (AFL) 1939; Randolph Field Ramblers 1943
James "Monk" Moscrip (1913-1980)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Stanford) Detroit Lions 1938-39 [All-American 1934-35, College Football Hall of Fame 1985]
Paul Moss (1908-1999)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Purdue) Pittsburgh Pirates 1933, St. Louis Gunners 1934 [All-American 1932]
Kelley Mote (1923-2015)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back/Defensive End—(South Carolina/Duke) Detroit Lions 1947-49, New York Giants 1950-52
Elbie Nickel (1923-2007)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Cincinnati) Pittsburgh Steelers 1947-57
Elbie was a great player, a better player than people really know. In those days, there wasn't a position called tight end, but he really was a tight end. He could block, and he caught the tough passes over the middle.
Dan Rooney
Dan Rooney
Bill "Bucky" O'Connor (1923-1990)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Notre Dame) Great Lakes Naval Training Center Bluejackets 1945, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1948, Bethlehem Bulldogs (AFL) 1949, Paterson Panthers (AFL) 1949, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1949, Jersey City Giants (AFL) 1950, New York Yanks 1951
O'Connor was versatile. He was possessed of a lot of speed, was heavy enough for all practical purposes, and was solidly built. There were few plays which could not be entrusted to him.
Frank Carideo
Frank Carideo
Pete "Big Dog" Pihos (1923-2011)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Indiana) Philadelphia Eagles 1947-55; Coach—Tulane 1958-60 [All-American 1943,1945, College Football Hall of Fame 1966, #1 Receiving 1953-55, All-Pro 1948-49,1952-54, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1970]
The Philadelphia Eagles had Steve Van Buren running behind Pete Pihos. It was like a freight train coming at you, so [coach] Hunk Anderson moved me out from tackle and said, “Wherever Pihos goes, you go. If he takes a drink of water, you take a drink of water. If he goes to the bathroom, you go to the bathroom.” The first play, Van Buren goes 37 yards for a touchdown. The second play, we stop him and go on to win 38-21. That's how the three-linebacker set began.
George Connor
George Connor
Joe Pilconis (1912-1993)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Washington & Jefferson/Temple) Paterson Panthers (American Association) 1937-39; Philadelphia Eagles 1934,1936-37
Joyce Pipkin (1924-2017)
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Offensive End/Defensive End/Blocking Back—(Arkansas) Camp Pendleton Marines Amphibious Boat Basin Amphibs 1945, New York Giants 1948, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1949
Jim "Buster" Poole (1915-1994)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Mississippi) New York Giants 1937-41,1945-46, Chicago Cardinals 1945, Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers 1942, Iowa Pre-flight Seahawks 1944 [All Pro 1939-40,1946]
Harold "Ace" Prescott (1920-2002)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back—(Hardin-Simmons) Fort Knox Armor Raiders 1943; Paterson Panthers (AFL) 1946; Green Bay Packers 1946, Philadelphia Eagles 1947-49
Glenn Presnell (1905-2004)
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Tailback/Defensive Back/Wingback/Fullback/Linebacker—(Nebraska) Ironton Tanks (Ohio Valley League) 1928-30, Portsmouth Spartans 1931-33, Detroit Lions 1934-36; Coach—Ironton Tanks (Ohio Valley League) 1928-29, North Carolina Pre-flight Cloudbusters 1944 (Asst. Coach), Eastern Kentucky 1953-63 [All-American 1927, All Pro 1933, #1 Scoring 1933, #1 Field Goals 1933; Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame 2020]
The Tanks had a triple-threat tailback by the name of Glenn Presnell who was my idol in those days. What he could do on a football field! Presnell went on to play in the NFL for the Portsmouth Spartans and then the Detroit Lions and was a player who should be in the Hall of Fame today.
George McAfee
George McAfee
My Efforts to Try to Get Glenn Presnell into the College Football Hall of Fame
Pro football Hall of Famer George McAfee believed that Presnell ought to be in the Hall of Fame (see quote above). In 1991, I tried to help Glenn get recognition by the College Football Hall of Fame. They had argued that he wasn't under consideration because he had never been an All-American. I wrote Glenn that I had found him on a 1927 Lawrence Perry All-American team (see news article below left). Glenn asked me (see above letter on left) to send a copy of the news article that I had found to Bob Devaney. "He insists I never made All-American and would not recommend me for Hall of Fame," Presnell wrote. In early December 1991, I sent Devaney a letter promoting Presnell's consideration and enclosing a copy of the Perry All-American news article. In a letter (December 20, 1991) written back to me (see below right), Devaney offered his reaction to this new information. "I think that he should be in the College Football Hall of Fame," Devaney wrote. "This year, I will do everything I can to promote his recommendation." In a follow-up letter after sharing with him the news about Devaney's positive response, Glenn thanked me for trying to set the record straight: "I appreciate your efforts in my behalf in promoting me for admission to College Hall of Fame." Despite evidence supporting his All-American career, he unfortunately still has not received nomination to the College Hall of Fame.
Bob Priestly (1920-2015)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Brown) Philadelphia Eagles 1942, Lowry Field Bombardiers 1943
Steve Pritko (1920-2015)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Villanova) New York Giants 1943, Cleveland Rams 1944-45, Los Angeles Rams 1946-47, Boston Yanks 1948, New York Bulldogs 1949, Green Bay Packers 1949-50
Holt Rast (1917-1998)
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End—(Alabama) Western Army All-Stars 1942 [All-American 1941]
He was the best end I have ever coached.
Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas
Herbert "Bummie" Roton (1913-2002)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Auburn) Philadelphia Eagles 1937
Jack Russell (1919-2006)
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Offensive End/Defensive End/Defensive Back—(Baylor) Eastern Army All-Stars 1942, Blackland Army Air Field Eagles 1943, Randolph Field Army Air Force Training Command Ramblers 1944, Fourth Air Force Fliers 1944; New York Yankees (AAFC) 1946-48, Brooklyn-New York Yankees (AAFC) 1949, New York Yanks 1950, Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) 1951-52 [A.P. Service All-American 1943-44, All Pro 1946, #12 All-Time AAFC Passing]
Paul Salata (1926-2021)
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Offensive End—(USC) Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1948, San Francisco 49ers (AAFC/NFL) 1949-50, Baltimore Colts 1950, Calgary Stampeders (CFL) 1951-52, Ottawa Rough Riders (CFL) 1953
Bernie Scherer (1913-2004)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Nebraska) Green Bay Packers 1936-38, Pittsburgh Steelers 1939
Hutson was the Jerry Rice of my era. He'd just jump up against two guys and get the ball; and when he hit the ground he wasn't tethered down, he was gone. He was just so tricky. He wasn't big, but he was fast and agile and he ran with a peculiar lope. I used to consider myself a pretty good pass catcher, but when people ask me about it, I say, “Hell, I was just a decoy for Hutson.”
Bernie Scherer
Bernie Scherer
Perry Schwartz (1915-2001)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(California) Brooklyn Dodgers 1938-42, Iowa Pre-flight Seahawks 1943-44, Fleet City Bluejackets 1945, New York Yankees (AAFC) 1946 [All-American 1937, All Pro 1940-41]
George "Dirty George" Seemann (1916-1998)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Nebraska) Green Bay Packers 1940, Western Army All-Stars 1942
Paul Vincent Severin (1918-2006)
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End—(North Carolina) [All-American 1939-40]
John Siegal (1918-2015)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Columbia) Chicago Bears 1939-43
Ed “Rabbit” Skoronski (1910-1996)
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Offensive End/Defensive End/Center/Linebacker/Guard/Tackle—(Purdue) Pittsburgh Pirates 1935-36, Brooklyn Dodgers 1937, Cleveland Rams 1937
There wasn’t any money in football. We’d play—what?—nine or ten games, and we had to pay our own expenses when we were at home, so a lot of money went for hotel rooms and your food. Of course, when you were travelling, the club would pay all your expenses. On the teams I played for, the only thing they furnished was a jersey and maybe a helmet.
Ed Skoronski
Ed Skoronski
Frank Souchak (1915-2006)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh Steelers 1939
Mike Stramiello (1907-2000)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Colgate) Brooklyn Dodgers 1930-32,1934, Staten Island Stapletons 1932; Coach—Newark Tornadoes (American Association) 1937-38
My first NFL game was in 1930 and was against the Chicago Bears. It was also the first NFL game for Bronco Nagurski . . . .I caught a pass and started on my way to score a touchdown when something hit me from behind. It was Bronco.
Mike Stramiello, excerpt of note on 3x5 card to Mel Bashore
Mike Stramiello, excerpt of note on 3x5 card to Mel Bashore
Woody Strode (1914-1994)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(UCLA) March Field Fliers 1943-43, Fourth Air Force Fliers 1944; Hollywood Bears (PCFL) 1945; Los Angeles Rams 1946; Calgary Stampeders (CFL) 1948-49
Evar Swanson (1902-1973)
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End/Wingback/Blocking Back—(Lombard) Milwaukee Badgers 1924, Rock Island Independents 1925, Chicago Cardinals 1925-27 [major league baseball player 1929-30, 1932-34]
Chuck “The Great Opportunist” Sweeney (1914-1999)
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End—(Notre Dame) [All-American 1937]
Cecil Isbell from Purdue and I were offered the highest price in the country, one dollar less than Sammy Baugh of Texas Christian. He got $8000.00. We were offered $7999.00. Isbell took it. I did not. I was to be the other end from Don Hutson.
Chuck Sweeney
Chuck Sweeney
Bob Tanner (1907-1994)
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End/Tackle—(Minnesota) Frankford Yellowjackets 1930
Hugh "Bones" Taylor (1923-1992)
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Offensive End—(Northeastern Louisiana/Tulane/Oklahoma City) Washington Redskins 1947-55; Coach—Houston Oilers 1965
Bones is the best end for pass-catching the Redskins ever had. He was an altogether different type. He had speed, he had height, he had great hands, he had everything. I would say he was the best end I ever threw to.
Sam Baugh
Sam Baugh
Gaynell “Gus” Tinsley (1915-2002)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(LSU) Chicago Cardinals 1937-38,1940 [All-American 1935-36, College Football Hall of Fame 1956, #1 Receiver 1938, All Pro 1937-38]
I tell you what, he was the best football player I ever saw. And I saw a lot of them.
Rock Reed
Rock Reed
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Gaynell Tinsley autographed the copy of this 1936 All-America news article announcing his selection. I also copied my '55 Topps card with the article. Of Tinsley, the article states: "Tinsley of Louisiana State is perhaps the greatest single star in the south today, this despite the fact that Dixie is abundantly supplied with outstanding players. Coach Thomas of Alabama says if he were picking a one-man all-America the vote would go to Tinsley."
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End Gaynell Tinsley and halfback Abe Mickal provided Louisiana State with one of the stellar passing combos of the mid-1930s. Tinsley was a great receiver, latching on to record-breaking throws from his remarkable teammate and earning All-America honors in both 1935-1936. As a sophomore, Tinsley teamed with Mickal on a 65-yard pass play against Southern Methodist. This stood for several years a record for the longest pass in Southern football history. Tinsley was a magnificent athletic specimen, standing 6-0, and weighing 196-pounds, size he used equally well as a defensive stalwart who was a blocking master. Born on February 1, 1915, at Ruple, Louisiana; Tinsley was a three-year letterman in both football and baseball at LSU, serving as team captain in each sport. Following graduation, Gaynell played two seasons as a professional with the Chicago Bears before returning to Baton Rouge and LSU to serve as end coach for the Tigers from 1939-1942. He moved up to the head coaching duties in 1948 and directed Tiger fortunes for the next six campaigns.
Flavio "Bull" Tosi (1912-1994)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Boston College) Boston Redskins 1934-36
I had [pro] offers from five different teams: the Redskins, the New York Giants, the Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cardinals and Green Bay Packers . . . .Why did I choose the Redskins? Well, the money was the same and it was local. Being very young, I didn't want to go far from home.
Flavio Tosi
Flavio Tosi
Jim Tyree (1922-2010)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Oklahoma) Boston Yanks 1948
Louis J. "Luke" Urban (1898-1980)
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End/Blocking Back—(Boston College) Buffalo All Americans 1921-23, Buffalo Bisons 1924, Rock Island Independents 1926 [All-American 1920]
Never was Urban boxed out. His catches were miraculous . . . in his meteoric career at BC.
Nathaniel Hasenfus
Nathaniel Hasenfus
Dominic "Nick" Vairo (1913-2002)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Notre Dame) Green Bay Packers 1935
I've played against a lot of good hard hitting men and also the other kind. My philosophy was that a dirty player admits his opponent is better than he is.
Dominic Vairo, note to Mel Bashore, 1994
Dominic Vairo, note to Mel Bashore, 1994
John Vesser (1900-1996)
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End—(Idaho) Los Angeles Wildcats 1926, Chicago Cardinals 1927,1930-31
Johnny Dell Isola would get up in the morning and run all through the place stark naked. Johnny was like that, you see. That was his way of opening every day.
John Vesser, on the Giant’s training camp at Blue Hills Country Club in Pearl River, N.Y.
John Vesser, on the Giant’s training camp at Blue Hills Country Club in Pearl River, N.Y.
Don "Huck" Vosberg (1919-1997)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Marquette) New York Giants 1941
John Weiss (1922-1976)
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Offensive End/Defensive Back— New York Giants 1944-47; Jersey City Giants (AFL) 1946-50
John S. "Long John" Wilson (1915-2002)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Western Reserve) Cleveland Rams 1939-42
Joe Zapustas (1907-2001)
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Offensive End/Defensive End—(Fordham) New York Giants 1933, Boston Shamrocks (AFL) 1936-38; Owner/Coach—Boston Shamrocks (AFL) 1938 [major league baseball player, outfielder, 2 games with Philadelphia Athletics 1933]
In those days we played both ways. There were no specialists like today. I don't think football was as injury prone as it is today. Because we played both ways, we all got tired around the same time in the second half. The Shamrocks went out of business because of the Great Hurricane of '38. We postponed our game against Whizzer White and his Pittsburgh team three times. People had too many things to think about instead of football, like putting things back to normal after the storm.
Joe Zapustas
Joe Zapustas