Tony Aiello (1921-2012)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-2-30-51-pm.png?1611530176)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Youngstown) Detroit Lions 1944, Brooklyn Tigers 1944
Jules "Julie" Alfonse (1911- 2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-05-at-12-59-19-pm.png?1609876836)
Wingback/Defensive Back/Tailback—(Minnesota) Cleveland Rams 1937-38, Columbus Bullies (AFL) 1939-41; Hollywood Rangers (AFL) 1944, Personnel Distribution Command Comets 1945
I played with the Cleveland Rams and the Columbus Bullies. In those days we played on both offense and defense. The hardest hitting and most bruising player I played against was Clarke Hinkle, Green Bay Packers. We didn't make much money in those days, but we had more fun. Traveling by train was great.
Julie Alfonse, excerpt of note to Mel Bashore
Julie Alfonse, excerpt of note to Mel Bashore
Teddy "Tufky" Andrulewicz (1904-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/tuffy2.jpg?1609254265)
Wingback—(Villanova) Newark Tornadoes 1930; Coach—Mount Carmel Professionals 1932
Andrulewicz signed his nickname--Tufky. The story goes
that the nickname Tufky came as the shortened version of “tough kid.”
that the nickname Tufky came as the shortened version of “tough kid.”
Elmer Angsman (1925-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-8-21-50-am.png?1613179122)
Halfback—(Notre Dame) Chicago Cardinals 1946-52
He was . . . a straight ahead, north and south runner who would just as soon leave cleat marks on your balls as run around you.
Don Paul
Don Paul
Emil Banjavic (1915-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-7-17-42-am.png?1610461182)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Arizona) Detroit Lions 1942
Herman “Reds” Bassman (1913-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-07-at-7-10-08-am.png?1612707053)
Tailback/Halfback/Defensive Back—(Ursinus) Philadelphia Eagles 1936, Olney Yellow Jackets (Independent) 1937
Back then, they didn't have a draft like they do now. They invited me to training camp, and I made the team. I got pretty banged up in '36 and reinjured my knee the next year in training camp. In those days, if you got hurt that was it. Your career was over. It was just a great experience. We played against some great teams. You also had to play both ways, and if you went out in one quarter, you couldn't come back in the game until the next quarter. If a coach made a signal then [to send in a play], it was a penalty. The formations were tight then, not spread out like they are today. Going both ways, I was a wingback and cornerback, and we traveled a lot. It was great.
Herman Bassman
Herman Bassman
Cliff Battles (1910-1981)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-18-at-5-44-38-pm.png?1613695577)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Wingback/Fullback—(West Virginia Wesleyan) Boston Braves 1932, Boston Redskins 1933-36, Washington Redskins 1937, El Toro Marines Flying Marines 1944 (Player-Asst. Coach); Coach—Fleet Marine Force Pacific 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1946-47 [All Pro 1933-34,1936, #1 Rushing 1932,1937, #1 Rushing TDs 1937, College Football Hall of Fame 1955, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1968]
Winnie Baze (1914-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-5-56-45-pm.png?1613091490)
Wingback/Tailback/Defensive Back—(Schreiner Institute/Texas Tech) Philadelphia Eagles 1937
I made pro history by playing 60 min. of the first pro game that I started.
Winford Baze, note to Mel Bashore, 1994
Winford Baze, note to Mel Bashore, 1994
George Benson (1919-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-25-at-5-47-43-am.png?1611578935)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Northwestern) Iowa Pre-flight Seahawks 1942; Brooklyn Dodgers 1947
J. Howard "Nig" Berry, Jr. (1894-1976)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-7-15-44-am.png?1610460990)
Tailback/Wingback—(Muhlenberg/Pennsylvania) Rochester Jeffersons 1921-22 [he also played major league baseball with the NewYork Giants in 1921-22]
Jay "The Flying Dutchman" Berwanger (1914-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/berw060.jpeg?1612143662)
Halfback—(Chicago) [All-American 1935, Heisman Trophy 1935, College Football Hall of Fame 1954; #1 NFL Draft Choice 1936]
My biggest thrill when I got the wire telegraph at the fraternity house was that they were going to send me two tickets to fly to New York [to receive the Heisman Trophy]. The biggest thrill was I was going to get my first airplane ride. They awarded it the same as they do today — they really treated you like royalty. But, it only got about 2 or 3 inches in the newspaper back then. That's the thing everyone was interested in making back then — making All-American. First you make all-Big Ten, then All-American. And, back then, only 11 players were picked for All-American. You had to play both ways. Years later, the other awards like the Heisman began to get more of the prestige.
Jay Berwanger
Jay Berwanger
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/berw55.jpeg?1612831227)
John Jacob Berwanger, known as "Jay" and nicknamed "The Flying Dutchman," was a two-time All- America halfback for Chicago. He was the first winner of the Heisman Trophy in 1935. He was the number one pick in the first pro football draft. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted him and traded his negotiating rights to the Chicago Bears, but Jay never played pro ball. Instead he started a career in business. In 24 college games he scored 22 touchdowns, averaged 4.2 yards a try from scrimmage and 25.7 yards on 34 kickoff returns. On defense he played linebacker until fourth down, when he became the punt return man. Against Ohio State in 1935 he made an 85-yard run in which, as recorded in the NCAA guide, "Berwanger bowled over four tacklers, outwitted two others, and outran the last." In the final minute of his final college game, he made a rambling, evading 49-yard punt return to the 1-yard line against Illinois. He plunged over for a touchdown from scrimmage, place-kicked the extra point, and won the game 7-6. He also had runs of 65 yards against Dartmouth, 57 against Michigan and 97 against Indiana.
Johnny Biancone (1911-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-12-58-53-pm.png?1610395174)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Oregon State) Brooklyn Dodgers 1936, Paterson Panthers (American Association) 1936,1938
Broke my leg before season started in 1936, was released during season and finished with Paterson, N.J.
John Biancone, note to Mel Bashore, 1994
John Biancone, note to Mel Bashore, 1994
Dick Bilda (1919-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-7-32-38-am.png?1610462009)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Marquette) Green Bay Packers 1944
John Binotto (1919-2016)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-21-at-1-53-27-pm.png?1613940895)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Duquesne) Pittsburgh Steelers 1942, Philadelphia Eagles 1942
Mel Bleeker (1920-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-31-at-6-57-27-pm.png?1612144707)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(USC) Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1943, Philadelphia Eagles 1944-46, Los Angeles Rams 1947
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/bleek060.jpeg?1612144576)
Mel Bleeker (far right) signed this 8x10 black & white photo in blue ballpoint for me. Of the five Philadelphia Eagles football players in this 1944 backfield photo, I was fortunate to have it signed by four of them: Ernie Steele, Jack Hinkle, Steve Van Buren, and Bleeker. All except Jack Banta (far left) autographed this wonderful photograph. I wasn't able to have Banta sign it because he died in 1977, 11 years before I began collecting. I purchased the photo from the Eagles public relations man, Jim Gallagher, who also signed his name on the back side.
Bill Boedecker (1924-2014)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(DePaul) Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1947-49, Green Bay Packers 1950, Philadelphia Eagles 1950
J. R. “Junior” Boone (1925-2012)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-07-at-7-15-49-am.png?1612707401)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Tulsa) Chicago Bears 1948-51, San Francisco 49ers 1952, Green Bay Packers 1953
In the early 1950s we had this little halfback from Tulsa by the name of J. R. Boone. He was quick and a good pass receiver. We’d played an exhibition game in Mishawaka, Indiana, and we lost it. We were taking a shower afterward, and J.R. was singing in the shower. Halas came by and said, “What the hell are you singing about?” J.R. said, “What do you want me to do, cry?” That week Halas traded J.R. to the 49ers.
Ed Sprinkle
Ed Sprinkle
Albie Booth (1908-1959)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-1-00-43-pm.png?1610395297)
Tailback—(Yale) [All-American 1930; College Football Hall of Fame 1966]
Albie Booth has been described as "the most exciting and crowd pleasing of all Yale football players." At 5-6, and 144- pounds, the Yale halfback was appropriately known as "Little Boy Blue." Despite playing well in the first three games of his 1929 sophomore season, Booth was not yet a starter when Yale met Army. Trailing 13-0 in the second quarter, Booth entered the game and delivered perhaps the greatest single game performance in Yale history. Scoring two touchdowns and drop-kicking both extra points, Booth put Yale into a 14- 13 lead. Later he clinched the victory with a 70- yard punt return and again added the extra point. On the day Booth scored all of Yale's 21 points, and gained 223 yards on 33 carries. Leg and hip injuries slowed Booth during his junior season. Returning to form in 1931 he played in one of the most exciting games in Yale history. Against Dartmouth, he scored three touchdowns. His first score was a 94 yard kickoff return, followed by a 22-yard pass reception and a 53-yard run from scrimmage. The contest ended in a 33-33 tie. At the time it was the highest scoring tie in college football history. Football historian Parke Davis called Booth, "A football genius, one of the greatest broken-field runners of our time." In 1931 Booth beat Harvard 3-0 with a drop-kicked field goal. The following spring he beat Harvard in a baseball game 4-3 by hitting a home run with the bases loaded. Booth served as assistant football coach at Yale and New York University and was a high-ranked football official.
Vic Bottari (1916-2003)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-7-45-45-am.png?1610462792)
Halfback—(California) St. Mary's Pre-flight Air Devils 1942 [All-American 1938, College Football Hall of Fame 1981]
Vic was only about 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, and he was no speed demon. But boy could he follow his interference, he was great at that. He never hollered or yelled much. He would always say that he only did things because of the guys blocking for him. Everyone respected him because he set the highest standards for himself.
Perry Connor
Perry Connor
Frank X. "Bullet" Briante (1905-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/fxb_orig.jpg)
Tailback/Fullback/Halfback/Blocking Back/Wingback—(NYU) Staten Island Stapletons 1929, Newark Tornadoes 1930 [All-American 1927]
In this 2-page typewritten letter dated 15 February 1995, Briante was just shy of his 90th birthday. His daughter typed the information that he dictated. Pro football wasn't as lucrative as today and Briante wrote that he "had to give up playing professional football in order to pursue a business career." That was very common.
Rex Bumgardner (1923-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-7-51-06-am.png?1610463111)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(West Virginia) Luke Air Force Base Mustangs 1945; Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1948-49, Cleveland Browns 1950-52
Dale Burnett (1909-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/edited/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-12-51-16-pm.png?1609271518)
Wingback/Defensive Back/Fullback/Blocking Back—(Emporia State) New York Giants 1930-39; Paterson Panthers (AFL) Player/Coach 1940-42
Ernie "The Blond Antelope" Caddel (1911-1992)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-1-31-27-pm_orig.png)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Stanford) Portsmouth Spartans 1933, Detroit Lions 1934-38 [All-American 1931, All Pro 1935]
Jim Camp (1924-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-8-29-10-am.png?1610465394)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Randolph Macon/North Carolina) Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948
Tony "The Grey Ghost of Gonzaga" Canadeo (1919-2003)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-6-01-27-am.png?1611406946)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Tailback/Fullback—(Gonzaga) Green Bay Packers 1941-44,1946-52; Fort Bliss Anti-Aircrafters 1944 [Little All American 1939, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1974]
When I was first drafted by the Packers, I had to go in the Army and when I came back they had drafted a couple of defensive ends from different schools. I met Tony on the corner of Pine and Washington streets, and I got to talking with him. He said, “Jim, every year there's a draft and they'll be bringing someone in your position. All you have to do is be a better man and a better football player than they are.” I never forgot that. That was a very important bit of sage advice to give to a young Packer. He was one tough guy for his size. He wasn't a big man, but he was well-respected. I knew a lot of the fellows he played with, and he was very well-respected as a professional as far as football was concerned and also definitely for his personality and integrity and honesty.
Jim Temp
Jim Temp
Lloyd "Wild Hoss" Cardwell (1913-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-3-41-11-pm.png?1610491316)
Wingback/Defensive Back/Fullback—(Nebraska) Detroit Lions 1937-43 [All Pro 1938]
If you ever had the opportunity to try and tackle Cardwell, or got hit by him, you would well remember him forever.
William Pfeiff
William Pfeiff
Ray Carnelly (1916-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-1-09-14-pm.png?1610395953)
Tailback/Halfback/Defensive Back—(Carnegie Tech) Brooklyn Dodgers 1939
Charles O. "Chuck" Carroll (1906-2003)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-3-45-13-pm.png?1610491552)
Halfback—(Washington) [All-American 1928, College Football Hall of Fame 1964]
Carroll is a great straight ahead runner . . . . The Washington player is the kind that never loses ground. You can always count on him to make a gain of some kind.
Glenn "Pop" Warner
Glenn "Pop" Warner
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/carrlll60.jpeg?1617566159)
Chuck Carroll signed the copy of the news article that I sent him reporting his selection as an All-American in 1928. This is the All-American selection "made" by Pop Warner, Knute Rockne, and Tad Jones. The sports writer wrote, "Carroll was a brilliant player when Washington was a winner, but this year, with a loser, he has been twice as brilliant as before. Never a team man in the past, with the responsibility up to him, he has suddenly become a helper of the other fellow. He can do anything any back ever could do and this year has done most of them, except lead the conference in scoring, as he did last year. Now he has forgotten all about personal scoring honors in his fervor for the team. Chuck Carroll this season, losing team or not, certainly is the outstanding epic football personality on the Pacific coast."
Cy Casper (1912-1968)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-8-06-22-am.png?1611414471)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Blocking Back/Wingback—(TCU) Green Bay Packers 1934, St. Louis Gunners (NFL) 1934, Pittsburgh Steelers 1935
Sam Chapman (1916-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-3-52-32-pm.png?1610491985)
Running Back/Defensive Back—(California) [All-American 1937, College Football Hall of Fame 1984]
Chapman, a rangy fellow, is a power runner with a fine burst of speed, and he can pass and kick with the best.
Henry McLemore, UPI
Henry McLemore, UPI
Bob Chappuis (1923-2012)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-16-at-1-39-57-pm.png?1615923659)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Michigan) Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949 [All-American 1947, College Football Hall of Fame 1988]
Bobby Cifers (1920-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-7-45-43-pm.png?1610505987)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Blocking Back—(Tennessee) Detroit Lions 1946, Pittsburgh Steelers 1947-48, Green Bay Packers 1949; Randolph Field AAFTC Ramblers 1944, Army Air Force Training Command Skymasters 1945
Earl "Dutch" Clark (1906-1978)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-18-at-4-48-02-pm.png?1613692125)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Colorado College) Portsmouth Spartans 1931-32, Detroit Lions 1934-38; Coach—Colorado Mines 1933, Detroit Lions 1937-38, Cleveland Rams 1939-42, Seattle Bombers (AFL) 1944, University of Detroit 1951-53 [All-American 1928, All Pro 1931-32,1934-37, #1 Rushing TDs 1934,1936-37, College Football Hall of Fame 1951, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1963]
He is one of the most intelligent men who ever played football. He knows the game thoroughly. He rarely makes a mistake. But his main asset is ability to gain the confidence of players. He makes them absolutely believe in him. They never question any play he calls, they regard him as infallible. This confidence is not misplaced. I have never known 'Dutch' to criticize any player. Any time a play goes wrong he takes the entire blame, regardless of who is responsible.
Potsy Clark
Potsy Clark
Ray Coates (1924-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-16-at-3-21-49-pm.png?1615929762)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(LSU) New York Giants 1948-49
Harry "Mickey" Connolly (1920-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-8-09-38-pm.png?1610507444)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Boston College) Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1946
Bert Bell offered me $100 a game to go with the Steelers in the NFL and Bob Cox, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers in the All-America Conference, offered $175 a game. There were no long-term contracts in those days. You just played game to game. The NFL was actually quite weak. They didn't play well and no team was very good. The All-America Conference had the Cleveland Browns, and teams in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. They were pretty well-funded, and they saw that there was a wealth of talent becoming available with all the kids returning from the service.
Harry Connolly
Harry Connolly
Bill "Bud" Cooper (1913-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-1-14-00-pm.png?1610396096)
Tailback/Fullback/Defensive Back/Kicker—(Penn State) Cleveland Rams (AFL/NFL) 1936-37, Cincinnati Bengals (AFL) 1937
Don Cosner (1917-2004)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-8-21-43-pm.png?1610508160)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Montana State) Chicago Cardinals 1939
Bob Cowan (1923-2004)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/cowan784.jpeg?1614860512)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Indiana) Salt Lake Army Air Base Wings 1943, Lincoln Army Air Field Wings 1944; Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1947-48, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1949
“Jackrabbit” Jack “Nocona Nugget” Crain (1920-1994)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-5-23-53-am.png?1610541147)
Halfback—(Texas) Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers 1942, Pearl Harbor Pacific All-Stars 1945 [UPI 2nd-Team All-American 1941]
Jack was a fine leader and quick-kicker.
Dana X. Bible
Dana X. Bible
Jim "Sleepy Jim" Crowley (1902-1986)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-08-at-6-20-43-pm.png?1610155269)
Tailback/Halfback—(Notre Dame) Waterbury Blues 1925, Green Bay Packers 1925, Providence Steam Roller 1925; Coach—Michigan State 1929-32, Fordham 1933-41, North Carolina Pre-flight Cloudbusters 1942, Sampson Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1944, Chicago Rockets 1947 [College Football Hall of Fame 1966]
Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne looked out to the field and sized up his football candidates of 1922, his eyes settling upon the 162-pound body of sophomore fullback Jim Crowley. "Except for a nimble wit, Crowley shows me nothing," Rockne would say to a nearby aide, jokingly nicknaming the Green Bay, Wisconsin youngster, "Sleepy Jim." Even Rockne was fooled by the slow-paced, relaxed motion of this stoop- shouldered campus cut-up. As was normally the case, Crowley would have the last laugh. He was destined to gain 1841 yards during his three-year career as a member of Notre Dame's famed Four Horsemen backfield, helping the Irish to a 27-2-1 record. It wasn't long before Rockne had changed his opinion, calling Jim "the nerviest back I've ever known." For certain, it seemed Jim Crowley knew no fear as he frequently hurled himself against the churning, crunching bodies of charging defenders. The ultimate tribute to Crowley's talents came in 1962 when a panel of 400 sports writers and broadcasters made him the only one of the Four Horsemen selected to their all-time Notre Dame team. Following graduation, Crowley went on to head coaching jobs at Michigan State and Fordham, posting a 78-27-6 record. At Fordham, he developed the famed "Seven Blocks of Granite" line.
Ward Cuff (1913-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-5-33-51-am.png?1610541268)
Wingback/Defensive Back/Halfback/Fullback—(Marquette) New York Giants 1937-45, Chicago Cardinals 1946, Green Bay Packers 1947 [All Pro 1943-44, #1 Field Goals 1938-39,1943,1947, #1 Rushing Average 1943]
Ward Cuff, the great wingback of the Giants, was the equal of any Iron Man I ever saw for taking punishment. Sometimes when Cuff played he would be bandaged in so many places, to hold minor sprains together and protect bruises, that he looked like a mummy before he put on his uniform . . . .One of the few who seemed to be without nerves was Ward Cuff. He was a cucumber, a pail of ice water.
Steve Owen
Steve Owen
Glenn "Mr. Outside" Davis (1924- 2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-7-07-55-am.png?1611410916)
Halfback—(Army) Los Angeles Rams 1950-51 [#1 Scoring NCAA 1944, All-American 1944-46, Maxwell Award 1944, Walter Camp Trophy 1944, Heisman Trophy 1946, College Football Hall of Fame 1961]
As a defensive back, I had an acute hatred for receivers. If a guy caught a ball against me, I'd try to hit him so hard he wished he hadn't. And nothing made me madder than to have someone catch a touchdown pass on me. I remember one day against the Los Angles Rams, their great halfback and former Army star, Glenn Davis, got past me. I was more than 5 yards behind him when he gathered in a perfect Van Brocklin pass and raced down the field. No way I could ever catch Glenn Davis, but I was mad. Though he crossed the goal line 10 yards ahead of me, I never stopped. When he slowed to a touchdown trot, I slammed into him from behind. He leaped back to his feet, snarled, "You want the ball so bad . . . .Here!" and slung it at my head. I chased him all the way to his bench where, realizing I was greatly outnumbered, I turned and beat a hasty retreat to my own side of the field.
Tom Landry
Tom Landry
Al Dekdebrun (1921-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-29-at-8-21-40-pm.png?1609298544)
Tailback/Quarterback/Defensive Back—(Cornell) Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1947-49, Toronto Argonauts (CFL) 1950-54, Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 1953 [#1 Passing NCAA 1945, #13 All-Time AAFC Passing]
[I] led the nation in passing—1945 . . . .[and] led Toronto Argonauts to Grey Cup victory in 1950.
Allen Dekdebrun
Allen Dekdebrun
Babe Dimancheff (1922-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-17-at-6-16-35-pm.png?1613611026)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Butler/Purdue) Boston Yanks 1945-46, Chicago Cardinals 1947-50, Chicago Bears 1952; Coach—Canton Bulldogs (United Football League) 1964, Philadelphia Bulldogs (Continental Football League) 1965
Glenn Dobbs (1920-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-5-55-07-am.png?1610542552)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Tulsa) Randolph Field Ramblers 1943, Second Air Force Superbombers 1944; Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1946-47, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1948-49, Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) 1951-52 [All-American 1942, All-Service Team 1943, College Football Hall of Fame 1980, #15 All-Time AAFC Rushing, #4 All-Time AAFC Passing, #1 Punting AAFC 1946,1948, #1 Passing AAFC 1946]
My dad told me I could take all my newspaper clippings to the grocery store and they wouldn't buy me a thing. He said if I was going to be a professional football player, I better get the best money I could. I was the first professional player to get a $20,000 salary back in the days when a lot of men were playing for $5,000 or less. But I had to work for it. I not only threw the ball and punted, I also had to play safety on defense.
Glenn Dobbs
Glenn Dobbs
Al Donelli (1917-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-6-07-49-am.png?1610543474)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Duquesne) Pittsburgh Steelers 1941-42
His brother--and his coach at Duquesne--was Buff Donelli.
Noble Doss (1920-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-07-at-1-30-22-pm.png?1612729863)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Texas) Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers 1942, Iowa Pre-flight Seahawks 1944, Philadelphia Eagles 1947-48, New York Yankees (AAFC) 1949
We played old-time football. We played it for fun.
Noble Doss
Noble Doss
"Bullet" Bill Dudley (1921-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-06-at-5-40-47-pm.png?1612658468)
Halfback/Tailback/Defensive Back/Wingback—(Virginia) Randolph Field 1944, Pearl Harbor Army Air Forces Hawaiian Flyers 1945, Pittsburgh Steelers 1942,1945-46, Detroit Lions 1947-49, Washington Redskins 1950-51,1953 [#1 All-Purpose Running NCAA 1941, #1 Scoring NCAA 1941, All-American 1941, Maxwell Award 1941, Walter Camp Trophy 1941, Smith Memorial Trophy 1944, All-Service Team 1944, College Football Hall of Fame 1956, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1966]
It was at Virginia where I got the nickname "Bullet," which was a great misnomer because I wasn't very fast. In fact, there have been more articles written about how slow I was. I think my best time in the 100-yard dash was something like 11:2. But I did have a good takeoff, a quick start, and for the first 30 yards or so I was right on beat.
Bill Dudley
Bill Dudley
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/dudbullb66.jpeg?1612737331)
Bill Dudley must have firmly believed that the ball belonged to him. He wanted it all the time. And it seemed there wasn't anything he couldn't do with it. The 5-10, 182-pound halfback ran, passed, punted, and placekicked. He returned punts and kickoffs, caught passes, and was a deadly defender. Dudley, who was nicknamed “Bullet Bill,” even though he was never considered to be fast, was a first round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1942. He demonstrated from the start that his relatively small size and lack of blazing speed wasn’t a detriment. In the first game of his pro career he ran for a 55-yard touchdown and in his second game scored on a kickoff return. He finished his rookie season as the league’s leading rusher with 696 yards and earned all-league honors. Dudley’s nine-year National Football League career was unique in that he played three seasons each with the Steelers (1942, 1945-1946), Detroit Lions (1947-1949), and Washington Redskins (1950-1951, 1953). His career was interrupted in 1943 and 1944 when he served with the Army Air Corp during World War II. He returned to the Steelers during the 1945 campaign. The 1946 season was, for Dudley, one for the record book; as he led the league in rushing, punt returns, interceptions, and lateral passes attempted. Never before had an NFL player led the league in four distinctly different statistical categories, and it’s not likely to happen again anytime soon. Naturally, Bill was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player that year. The following season, Bill again demonstrated his tremendous versatility when he scored 11 touchdowns for the Lions on one punt return, one interception return, seven pass receptions, and two rushes. Six times Dudley was named first- or second-team All-NFL. He was also named to three Pro Bowls, and more than likely would have been named to more had the annual event not been temporarily discontinued.
Paul Duhart (1920-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-6-27-01-am.png?1610544466)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Florida) Fort Riley Cavalry Replacement Training Center Centaurs 1943; Green Bay Packers 1944, Pittsburgh Steelers 1945, Boston Yanks 1945
I am the only player in the NFL to be drafted from another NFL team. When I was discharged from the service in 1944 I signed with the Packers. As my college graduation class was 1945 my name came up in the draft and Pittsburgh took me No. 1.
Paul Duhart
Paul Duhart
Ralph "Scooter" Earhart (1923-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-6-34-30-am.png?1610544914)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Texas/Pittsburg State) Green Bay Packers 1948-49
Fred "Dippy" Evans (1921-2007)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-6-47-19-am.png?1610545715)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Notre Dame) Randolph Field Ramblers 1944, Army Air Force Training Command Skymasters 1945, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1946, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1947, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1947-48, Chicago Bears 1948
He fit right in as one of the backup halfbacks.
Dante Lavelli
Dante Lavelli
Evans is the only player in NFL history to return two fumbles for touchdowns in one game. It was at Notre Dame that Evans got the nickname of "Dippy." He was among some Fighting Irish players involved in horseplay at the dormitory as they were preparing for a big game against Southern Cal. The young men were squirting water onto each other as they ran through the building. Evans slipped on a wet spot and severely hurt his knee, setting into motion the injury problems that would later limit his time in the pros. Afraid of the ramifications he might face, Evans kept the incident from head coach Frank Leahy and instead had a trainer give him a shot of Novacain that sedated him and made him "dippy." That enabled Evans to work through the injury and play in the game, and as it turned out, he had a big performance in a Notre Dame win.
Ray Evans (1922-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-1-16-09-pm.png?1610396204)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Kansas) Second Air Force Superbombers 1944-45; Pittsburgh Steelers 1948 [#1 Passing NCAA 1942, All-American 1947, College Football Hall of Fame 1964; Basketball—All-American 1942-43]
He is the greatest back I've ever seen, including college and pro.
George Sauer
George Sauer
Beattie "Big Chief" Feathers (1908-1979)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-30-at-7-36-15-am.png?1609339015)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Tennessee) Chicago Bears 1934-37, Brooklyn Dodgers 1938-39, Green Bay Packers 1940; Paterson Panthers (American Association) 1939, Kenosha Cardinals (AFL) 1940 [All-American 1933, College Football Hall of Fame 1955, #1 Rushing 1934, All Pro 1934]
The Bears had this little scatback in those days by the name of Beattie Feathers. Well, Bronko [Nagurski] could open up the whole defensive line for him. He would burst it open, and Feathers would be right on his butt, following him through, and then he’d break one way or the other. It gave Feathers an advantage no other running back had, and he set a rushing record in 1934, over 1,000 yards, the first ever to do that. After that year we worked at special defenses to go up against that, and we were able to stop Feathers pretty well in later years.
Mel Hein
Mel Hein
Beattie Feathers scored 32 touchdowns in 30 games for Tennessee, 1931-33. Tennessee had a 25-3-2 record in that time. Beattie's career rushing total, 1,888 yards, lasted 37 years as the school record. He was All-America halfback and Southeastern Conference Most Valuable Player in 1933. His longest touchdown runs: 1931 - 60, 75, 80 yards vs. Mississippi, 70 vs. Kentucky, 65 vs. Duke, 65 vs. New York University 1932 - 54 vs. North Carolina, 33 vs. Mississippi. 1933 - 43 and 33 vs. Virginia Tech. In 1932 he averaged 46 yards on 23 punts in a driving rain against Alabama. In 1933 he made a 76-yard punt against Florida. Beattie played professionally 1934-40, and in his rookie year with the Chicago Bears set a pro record by averaging 9.9 yards per carry in rushing. He was head football coach at Appalachian State, 1942, and North Carolina State 1944-51, where he also coached baseball. He moved on to coach both sports at Texas Tech (1954-1960). Then came 24 years at Wake Forest as head baseball and assistant football coach. He was born William Beattie Feathers in Bristol, Virginia, August 20, 1909; he died March 11, 1979, in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He was a teammate of Gene McEver, another Hall of Fame halfback, in both high school at Bristol and in college. McEver was two years ahead of Feathers at both.
Chuck “Mighty Mouse” Fenenbock (1917-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-09-at-5-14-31-am.png?1612872918)
Tailback/Halfback/Defensive Back/Wingback—(UCLA) El Toro Flying Marines 1944; Detroit Lions 1943,1945, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1945, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1946-48, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1948 [#1 Punt Returns 1946, #1 Kick-off Returns 1946]
Bob "The Blond Blizzard" Fenimore (1925-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-09-at-5-19-50-am.png?1612873297)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Oklahoma A & M) Chicago Bears 1947 [#1 Rushing NCAA 1945, #1 All-Purpose Running NCAA 1945, #1 Total Offense NCAA 1944-45, All-American 1944-45, College Football Hall of Fame 1972]
He was the greatest one-man offense in college football history.
Homer Cooke
Homer Cooke
Frank Filchock (1916-1994)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-1-18-15-pm.png?1610396345)
Tailback/Quarterback/Defensive Back/Halfback—(Indiana) Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers 1942, Memphis Naval Air Technical Training Center Blues 1943, Pittsburgh Pirates 1938, Washington Redskins 1938-41,1944-45, New York Giants 1946, Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 1947-50, Baltimore Colts 1950; Coach—Denver Broncos 1960-61 [#1 Passing 1944]
Frank Filchock played for the Giants in 1946. The Giants got him in a trade for Howie Livingston, who was a defensive halfback. Frank led the Giants to the championship game against the Bears. Final score: Chicago 24, New York 14. After the game the commissioner suspended him for five years for being involved in a gambling scheme to shave points in the point spread. They could not prove he actually did it, but he knew it was going on and did not report it. The others were suspended for life. I lost my respect for him.
George H. Franck
George H. Franck
Bob "Chick" Forte (1922-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-6-58-44-am.png?1610546363)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Linebacker—(Arkansas) Fort Knox Armoraiders 1943, Green Bay Packers 1946-53
A class guy. Tough. Loved to hit. Captain Bob Forte.
Earl Gillespie, sportscaster/broadcaster
Earl Gillespie, sportscaster/broadcaster
James "Big Jim" Fraley (1912-1991)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-7-05-24-am.png?1610547221)
Halfback—(Kansas State) New York Yankees (AFL) 1936, Paterson Panthers (American Association) 1936, New York Tigers (American Association) 1937
George "Sonny" Franck (1918-2011)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-29-at-12-02-12-pm.png?1611946973)
Wingback/Defensive Back/Fullback—(Minnesota) Corpus Christi Naval Air Station Comets 1942, El Toro Flying Marines 1945, New York Giants 1941,1945-47, Jersey City Giants (AFL) 1948 [All-American 1940, College Football Hall of Fame 2002]
At 170 pounds, I was very light . . . .I made 12 of the 15 All-America teams. In 1940 the consensus backfield was: Frank Albert (Stanford QB), John Kimbrough (Texas A&M FB), Tom Harmon (Michigan HB), and me. Tom Harmon won the Heisman, Kimbrough was #2 and I was #3. . . .
Sonny Franck, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore
Sonny Franck, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore
Clint Frank (1915-1992)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/clingtf463.jpeg?1612227510)
Tailback—(Yale) [All-American 1936-37, Heisman Trophy 1937, Maxwell Award 1937, College Football Hall of Fame 1955]
Clint Frank at Yale was the best all-around back I had [coached] anyplace . . . .in addition to that he was a real miracle on defense. I've seen him play back to break up passes and still make his tackles at the line of scrimmage. He was all over the field—knocking down passes and smashing line plays, often tackling back of the line for heavy losses. Despite poor eyesight, Frank could do everything brilliantly.
Earle "Greasy" Neale
Earle "Greasy" Neale
Walt "Fitz" French (1899-1984)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-7-23-51-am.png?1610547868)
Wingback/Tailback/Blocking Back—(Army) Rochester Jeffersons 1922, Pottsville Maroons 1925 [All-American 1920-21, All-NFL 1925, he also played major league baseball with the Philaelphia Athletics 1923-29]
Benny Friedman (1905-1982)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-10-at-7-05-35-am.png?1610287602)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Michigan) Cleveland Bulldogs 1927, Detroit Wolverines 1928, New York Giants 1929-31, Brooklyn Dodgers 1932-34, Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1942 (Asst. Coach) [All-American 1925-26; College Football Hall of Fame 1951, Pro Football Hall of Fame 2005]
Benny revolutionized football. He forced the defenses out of the dark ages.
George Halas
George Halas
It was 1926, and Michigan was battling for the Big Ten championship when the Wolverines were trailing Ohio State 10-0 early in their conference showdown. Coach Fielding Yost suddenly decided to unleash the air attack of two great Hall of Famers, quarterback Benny Friedman and end Bennie Oosterbaan. With Oosterbaan making circus catches off Friedman's soft throws, Michigan roared from behind to win, 17-16. The Wolverines defeated Minnesota 7-6, the following weekend to clinch the league crown and complete a 7-1 season which was marred only by a 10-0 loss to powerful Navy. "He never makes a mistake", Yost said while watching Friedman capture All America honors in 1925 and 1926. He had poise and remarkable ability. The strapping, handsome son of a Cleveland, Ohio tailor, Friedman went on to play professional football, first in his hometown of Cleveland and then in Detroit before finishing up his career in New York for six seasons with the gridiron Giants and Dodgers. Friedman hated to lose, and his combativeness, wild inventiveness and determination to win drew thousands of fans Sunday after Sunday. In all of his years as a player, college or pro, Friedman never suffered an injury and never missed a game.
Hugh Gallarneau (1917-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/editor/kk6298.jpeg?1615035107)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Stanford) Chicago Bears 1941-42,1945-47; Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station 1943, El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Flying Marines 1945 [College Football Hall of Fame 1982]
Playing the T formation under [Clark] Shaughnessy was also my ticket to the Chicago Bears. They had instituted it in the pro game, and so George Halas drafted me in 1941. It worked out quite well because Shaughnessy, being the strict and adept type of teacher he was, had taught us the system thoroughly, and so I knew it as well as anybody on the Bears when I joined the team.
Hugh Gallarneau
Hugh Gallarneau
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/editor/hgallf84.jpeg?1612831174)
Hugh "Duke" Gallarneau was an all around athlete at Stanford who experienced the realities of defeat before the elation of victory. He played for Stanford teams that went 3-6 in 1938, and 1-7-1 in 1939. Then came a new coach, Clark Shaughnessy, who introduced the T-formation. Stanford went 10-0 in 1940. Gallarneau was co-captain and made All-American halfback. Stanford beat Nebraska 21-13 in the Rose Bowl. Gallarneau scored two touchdowns, on a 10-yard run and a 40-yard pass reception. He attended Morgan Park High School in Chicago but did not play high school football. He was on the swimming, track, and baseball teams. He went to Stanford on an academic scholarship and decided to try out for football. He also lettered in rugby and boxing and won the Pacific Coast Conference heavyweight boxing tournament. He was 6 feet tall, weighed 190, and once was timed at 9.6 seconds in the 100-yard dash. Gallarneau played with the Chicago Bears 1941-1942. He joined the Marines in World War II and rose to the rank of major. He was in 7 island invasions by Marines in the Pacific theater. He rejoined the Bears 1945-1947. Meanwhile, he also began working for a Chicago department store, Marshall Field. He moved in 1961 to Hart, Schaffner, and Marx. He retired in 1985 as vice-president. In his Chicago days he broadcast a radio show, On the Spot, and did and NBC TV show, Touchdown.
Tony "Hooks" Gallovich (1917-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-7-31-46-am.png?1610548371)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Wake Forest) Camp Peary Naval Training Station Pirates 1944; Cleveland Rams 1941, New York Giants 1945; Richmond Rebels (AFL) 1947
Bill Garnaas (1921-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-1-29-16-pm.png?1610396998)
Wingback/Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Minnesota) Pittsburgh Steelers 1946-47
Freshmen were not eligible and no one knew much about me in 1940. We were in Seattle to play Washington to open the season in 1941. On Friday, Bernie [Bierman] would gather the team and call out the names of the starters for the next day's game. When he said Garnaas would start at quarterback, all the newspaper reporters were so surprised that they ran to the phone, to call in a bulletin.
Bill Garnaas
Bill Garnaas
"Indian" Bill Geyer (1919-2004)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-07-at-7-28-15-am.png?1615127402)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Colgate) Chicago Bears 1942-43,1946
Earl "Jug" Girard (1927-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-8-59-17-am.png?1610553603)
Halfback/Offensive End/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Wisconsin) Green Bay Packers 1948-51, Detroit Lions 1952-56, Pittsburgh Steelers 1957
Fred Gloden (1918-2019)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-17-at-6-41-28-am.png?1615984930)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Tulane) Philadelphia Eagles 1941, Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1942, Miami Seahawks (AAFC) 1946
Red "Galloping Ghost" Grange (1903-1991)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/screen-shot-2020-12-31-at-7-55-18-am_orig.png)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Tailback/Blocking Back—(Illinois); Chicago Bears 1925,1929-34, New York Yankees 1926-27 [All-American 1924-25, College Football Hall of Fame 1951, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1963]
I was never taught to do what I did, and I know I couldn't teach anyone else how to run. I don't really know what I did, and I'd have a hard time telling you what I did on any individual run, even if it's one of the runs that everyone always talks about. I read about my change of pace, and it was news to me that I ran at different speeds. I know I used to have a crossover step, and I had an instinctive feeling about where the tacklers were. I read that I had peripheral vision. I didn't even know what that meant. I had to look it up.
Red Grange
Red Grange
Here's another one of my colored pencil sketches. Too bad I didn't get one drawn for Nagurski to sign before he passed away. Wouldn't that have been a pair! I just love those old leather helmets!
|
I wrote this article about using sports graphic drawings as an alternative to photographs in collecting autographs. It was published in Autograph Collector's Magazine, January 1991.
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/editor/grangred84.jpeg?1612831061)
Harold "Red" Grange was the miracle man of the 1920s, picked for the all-century team, named the Galloping Ghost because no one could catch him. He was fast, elusive, football's greatest open-field runner up to his time. Here are some dates: October 6, 1923, the Galloping Ghost makes his debut for Illinois against Nebraska with touchdown runs of 50, 35, 12 yards. October 18, 1924, he scores four touchdowns in the first 12 minutes against Michigan on runs of 95, 67, 56, 44 yards. For the day he carries the ball 21 times for 402 yards. November 8, 1924 he runs for 300 yards, passes for 177 against Chicago. October 31, 1925, Grange runs 36 times, gains 363 yards and has two 65-yard touchdowns against Pennsylvania. He played only 20 games in college but had 31 touchdowns and 3,362 yards. Grange was born June 13, 1903. Over his career - high school at Wheaton, Illinois; college at Illinois, pro with the Chicago Bears, he carried the ball 4,103 times, gained 33,920 yards, an average of 8.4 per try.
Don Griffin (1922-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-30-at-2-40-14-pm.png?1612042854)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Illinois) El Toro Marines 1944; Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946
George “Tarzan” Grosvenor (1910-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-7-48-07-am.png?1611413385)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Halfback—(Colorado) Kansas City Blues (AFL) 1934, Chicago Bears 1935-36, Chicago Cardinals 1936-37
George Gulyanics (1921-1990)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-29-at-6-36-53-pm.png?1611970672)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Alabama) Akron Bears (AFL) 1946, Chicago Bears 1947-52
Byron Haines (1914-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-09-at-6-31-48-am.png?1612877583)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Washington) Pittsburgh Steelers 1937
Henry L. "Hinkey" Haines (1898-1979)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-31-at-11-55-29-am.png?1609440972)
Tailback/Blocking Back/Fullback/Wingback—(Penn State) New York Giants 1925-28, Staten Island Stapletons 1929,1931
Haines specialized in speed running and was dangerous on passes and punts as well as from scrimmage.
Steve Owen
Steve Owen
He played on the New York Yankees in 1923. He has the distinction of being the only athlete to have played on national championship teams in both baseball and football. He won the 1923 World Series with the New York Yankees and the 1927 NFL championship with the New York Giants. I think I bought this autographed 3x5 card in the early 1990s for a few bucks.
Forrest "Scooter" Hall (1921-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-10-45-25-am.png?1611424085)
Halfback—(Duquesne/University of San Francisco) 4th Air Force Fliers 1944-45; San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) 1948-49, Erie Vets (AFL) 1950
Pound for pound, this 158-pounder was just plain dynamite. He could run, cut, hit, smash, smack and then keep on going.
Ernie Cope
Ernie Cope
Parker "Bullet" Hall (1916-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-1-31-27-pm.png?1610397118)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Mississippi) East Chicago Indians (AFL) 1940, Kenosha Cardinals (AFL) 1941, Cleveland Rams 1939-42, Del Monte Pre-Flight Navyators 1943, St. Mary's Pre-Flight Air Devils 1944-45, San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) 1946 [#1 All-Purpose Running NCAA 1938, #1 Scoring NCAA 1938, All-American 1938, College Football Hall of Fame 1991, #1 Passing 1939]
He is extremely fast. Often when he's trapped or can't spot a receiver, he'll put the ball under his arm and run it wide for a big gain. No other great passer has been as successful at this . . . .Passers just don't seem to be able to run. Hall is an exception.
Dutch Clark
Dutch Clark
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/parkhal463_orig.jpeg)
1939 Jack Sords cartoon. He also autographed a 1939 Art Krenz cartoon that was dual-signed by Andy Farkas (see his entry in the Fullback category). In November 2010, one of his granddaughters found my website and expressed interest, so I scanned all my Parker Hall autographs on the site for her to see. That included two newspaper clippings reporting his selection as a 1938 All-American. Those All-American news articles are also signed by several of the other '38 All Americans. He was a generous soul, responding to my requests three different times.
Robert "Bones" Hamilton (1912-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-10-52-30-am.png?1611424401)
Halfback—(Stanford) 1933-35 [College Football Hall of Fame 1972]
His excellence as a blocker and ball carrier is unquestioned.
Howard H. Jones
Howard H. Jones
Tom Hamilton (1905-1994)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-6-39-22-pm.png?1611452554)
Halfback/Quarterback/Kicker—(Navy) Coach—Navy 1934-36,1946-47 [All-American 1926, Football Writers' Association Man of the Year 1942, College Football Hall of Fame 1965]
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/hamtn55.jpeg?1612831041)
Rear Admiral Thomas J. Hamilton is best identified as a man who "served his country in war and peace." The National Football Foundation named him to its Hall of Fame as a player in 1965 and awarded him its Gold Medal in 1970. Hamilton attended the U.S. Naval Academy. He was class president and All-America halfback. In 1926 he led the nation in field goals by drop-kick, with six. Navy went 9-0-1 with a national championship. In a 21-21 tie with Army, Hamilton led the charge to Navy's last touchdown and drop kicked the last point with 30 seconds to play. He graduated from the Academy in 1927 and won his wings as a Navy pilot at Pensacola in 1929. He founded the Navy V-5 Pre-flight Training Program in World War II. He served on the U.S.S. Enterprise and was commanding officer some of the time. The Enterprise, an aircraft carrier, took part in the invasion of the Philippines, Palau, Hollandia, Formosa and Iwo Jima. Hamilton's other credentials were equally brilliant. He became Naval Academy head coach at age 28 and served twice, 1934-36 and 1946-47. He was also Navy's athletic director 1948-49. Hamilton moved to the University of Pittsburgh, where he was athletic director 1949-59 and also served as football coach a full season in 1951 and for three games in 1954. He was commissioner of the Pac-8 Conference 1959- 71. Hamilton served as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness, had 16 years on the U.S Olympic Committee, and was vice-president of the National Football Foundation. He received the Theodore Roosevelt Award from the NCAA, the Stagg Award from the National Association of College Directors of Athletics.
Cliff Hansen (1910-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-07-at-8-25-17-am.png?1615130791)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Fullback/Linebacker—(Luther) Chicago Cardinals 1933
Tom “Old 98" Harmon (1919-1990)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/th629.jpeg?1609599925)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Michigan) New York Americans (AFL) 1941, Los Angeles Rams 1946-47 [#1 All-Purpose Running NCAA 1939-40, #1 Scoring NCAA 1939-40, All-American 1939-40, Walter Camp Award 1940, Heisman Trophy 1940, Maxwell Award 1940, No. 1 Draft Choice 1941, College Football Hall of Fame 1954]
Harmon is one of the few backs I'd call terrific. I mean almost unbelievable. He is not only big and fast but exceptionally powerful. You might as well try to tackle a lion if you have only one or two tacklers in the road. We used seven and eight against him.
Bob Zuppke
Bob Zuppke
In the early years of my collecting, my two youngest sons also participated. They would make drawings of players I was sending to for autographs. They used photos or my old football cards to draw from. In 1989, my son, William, did this drawing of Tom Harmon which "Old 98" signed for him. William would have been twelve years old at the time. He has a scrapbook of drawings he did which were signed by the players. Quite a treasure. I wrote an article about their childhood collecting hobby which was published in the September 1990 issue of Autograph Collector's Magazine.
In this signed 3x5 card, Harmon replied to some questions in my request letter: "I don't believe any player I played against in college was more of a 'hitter' than my old team-mate Forest Evashevski, our blocking back and defensive line backer. He really hit people. Among the Pro's, the toughest tackler I faced was Joe Stydahar of the Bears. Joe later coached the Rams but that Bear team of 1940 was as good a football team as ever was fielded."
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/editor/harmn84.jpeg?1612831035)
Tom Harmon of Michigan reeled off a succession of big plays in his career. In 1939 he went 95 yards with an intercepted pass against Iowa, scored on Pennsylvania with runs of 65 and 35 yards, and made all his team's points in a 27-7 victory over Yale. "Old 98" opened the 1940 season on his 21st birthday at California and scored on runs of 94, 86, 70 and 65 yards. Tom's last college game was in Michigan's 40-0 victory at Ohio State. He ran for three touchdowns, passed for two, kicked four extra points, returned three kickoffs for 81 yards, intercepted three passes and punted three times for an average of 50 yards. The home crowd at Ohio State gave him a standing ovation. Tom led the nation in scoring in 1939 and 1940, was All-America both years and won the Heisman Trophy in 1940. He joined the Army Air Corps, was shot down twice, received the Silver Star and Purple Heart. Tom played with the Los Angeles Rams 1946-1947, then became a nationally acclaimed broadcaster
Bill Hartman (1915-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-11-58-22-am.png?1611428610)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Georgia) Washington Redskins 1938 [Christy Walsh All-American 1937, College Football Hall of Fame 1984]
Johnny Heimsch (1902-1991)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2020-12-31-at-5-10-53-pm.png?1609459918)
Tailback/Halfback—(Marquette) Milwaukee Badgers 1926
We played 60 minutes, offense and defense. I think we made $150 a game . . . . Johnny Bryan was our "backer." Rumor had it that an aunt was his angel. She was supposed to own Espenhains Dept. store on 5th and Wis. Ave. I can't prove this but I do know that Johnny was peeking through the cracks in the fence at the ballpark before the game to see how many fans were entering the stands.
John Heimsch, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore
John Heimsch, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore
I received this undated 6-page letter from Heimsch probably in about 1989. In it he recalls some of the players and teams he played with and against. On this page he recounts playing against the Duluth Eskimos and Hall of Famer Ernie Nevers: "He ran over the opposing players rather than around them. Just a hard hitting back." Heimsch was a teammate on the Badgers with Lavie Dilweg. They both went to the same high school in Milwaukee and played together at Marquette and were close friends. Many think it's an oversight that Dilweg isn't in the Hall of Fame.
Ken Heineman (1918-2012)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/screen-shot-2021-02-22-at-4-48-48-am_orig.png)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy) Cleveland Rams 1940, Brooklyn Dodgers 1943 [Little All-American 1937-38]
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/heinema07_orig.jpeg)
I picked two articles to copy on a page for Heineman to sign. The small article (right) reported his signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943. The lengthier article (left) reported on his accomplishments in a preseason game in 1940 when the Cleveland Rams clobbered the Chicago Indians 38-0. "Ken Heineman, diminutive substitute for Parker Hall, and Marty Slovak, first replacement for Johnnie Drake, were the spearhead's of the Rams' attacks. Heineman's bullet-like passes found their marks time on time, and he reeled off two 25-yard runs . . ."
Warren "Fats" Heller (1910-1982)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-09-at-6-57-41-am.png?1612879159)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Halfback—(Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh Pirates 1934-36 [All-American 1932]
Herb Henderson (1899-1991)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-01-at-9-08-06-am.png?1609517359)
Tailback—(Ohio State) Evansville Crimson Giants 1921-22
I did punting, forward passing, as well as backing up the line.
Herb Henderson, excerpt from letter to Mel Bashore
Herb Henderson, excerpt from letter to Mel Bashore
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/herbh967_orig.jpeg)
In late 1989, I learned that Henderson was still alive and wrote to him asking if he would recount some of his experiences playing for the Evansville Crimson Giants in the American Professional Football Association (forerunner of NFL). He kindly replied with a detailed hand-written four-page letter. He was just shy of being 91 years old. This is the last page of his letter.
I published the full-text of his letter in the February 1993 issue of PFRA's Coffin Corner entitled "More Crimson Giants." In a nutshell he assessed the Crimson Giants franchise: "Crowds were sparse. It was a losing proposition. Evansville [Indiana] was not ready for pro football." He recalled a funny incident that occurred in a game against the Hammond Pros on 16 October 1921. The Crimson Giants were beaten by Hammond in that contest 3 to 0. The record for the Crimson Giants in 1921 was three wins and two losses. Henderson wrote: "A funny thing happened in the Hammond game. The game was stopped by referee and Hammond wanted to talk to Herb Henderson in their huddle, which was allowed by referee. Players asked me not to hit so hard on defense as they had regular jobs on Monday. I told them I was the coach of one of the local high school teams and my players were on the sidelines watching the game and I had to show them how tackling was done. We all got a big laugh."
Arnie Herber (1910-1969)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-6-30-07-am.png?1611408637)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Quarterback/Blocking Back/Halfback—(Wisconsin/Regis) Green Bay Packers 1930-40, New York Giants 1944-45 [#1 Passing 1932,1934,1936, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1966]
Once in a game in St. Louis, Herber threw me a pass for a touchdown that I thought would never come down. It just stayed up there. The next day the paper said that it had traveled 77 yards in the air.
Don Hutson
Don Hutson
Billy Hillenbrand (1922-1994)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-12-08-23-pm.png?1611428941)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Indiana) Fort Benning Third Infantry Cockades 1944, Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947-48 [All-American 1942, #19 All-Time AAFC Rushing, #7 All-Time AAFC Pass Receiving, #7 All-Time AAFC Scoring]
I’m glad I didn’t want to make a pro career out of it. The first two years I played a little defense. No face mask or face guar. You know, in all that football I never had a tooth knocked out, never a broken bone and my knees are sound. Talk about luck. Playing longer I’d have been beat up. I made up my mind I was going to play three years and get out and I did. In 1946-48 I probably made, with working on the side and giving speeches, close to $15,000 a year. After three years I waltzed out of there.
Billy Hillenbrand
Billy Hillenbrand
Jack Hinkle (1917-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-12-19-25-pm.png?1611429611)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Blocking Back/Linebacker—(Syracuse) Jersey City Giants (AFL) 1940, New York Giants 1940, New York Americans (AFL) 1941, Phil-Pitt Steagles 1943, Philadelphia Eagles 1944-47 [AFL All League Second Team 1941]
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/hink439_orig.jpeg)
I contacted Jack Hinkle to ask if he'd be willing to sign a 1944 Eagles backfield photograph (see Mel Bleeker entry above). I hoped to have all of the players then-living autograph the photo. I wanted to make sure in advance that he would sign and return it because I had just had a bad experience in sending an Eagles team photo to Walter "Piggy" Barnes to sign--and it never was returned. This was a great disappointment as I had already had more than a half dozen players in the photo sign it. That taught me a lesson to check in advance with players if I was getting more than one player to sign a single item.
Bob "Hunchy" Hoernschemeyer (1925-1980)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-18-at-6-07-56-am.png?1613653720)
Halfback/Tailback/Defensive Back/Wingback—(Indiana/Navy) Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1946-47, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1947-48, Chicago Hornets (AAFC) 1949, Detroit Lions 1950-55
Les Horvath (1921-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-05-at-1-07-30-pm.png?1609877308)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Ohio State) Great Lakes Naval Training Station Bluejackets 1945 (Asst. Coach), Los Angeles Rams 1947-48, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1949 [All-American 1944, Heisman Trophy 1944, College Football Hall of Fame 1969]
Les Horvath was our wingback and did an outstanding job of blocking on the tackle on our off-tackle slants, plus being an excellent runner and pass receiver.
George Lynn
George Lynn
Les Horvath, the son of immigrant parents from Hungary, grew up in Cleveland. He lettered in football at Ohio State in 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1944. Horvath was right halfback on the 1942 national championship team. In 1943 he was in dental school and not eligible for football. In 1944 the rules were changed, and Horvath joined the Ohio State team as a tailback in the single wing and quarterback in the T formation. Ohio State went 9-0, won the Big Ten and ranked No. 2 nationally. Horvath rushed for 905 yards and passed for 345. He ranked second in the nation in rushing, third in total offense, was unanimous All-America, Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten, and won the Heisman Trophy. He graduated from dental school in 1945, joined the Navy as an ensign, and was discharged in July, 1947. Horvath played three years of pro football, 1947-49 (Rams and Browns), then practiced dentistry in Los Angeles.
Gene Hubka (1924-2017)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-17-at-6-47-46-am.png?1615985351)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Temple/Bucknell) Camp Lejeune Marines 1945, Pittsburgh Steelers 1947
Vern Huffman (1915-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-5-20-00-am.png?1610454067)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Blocking Back/Wingback—(Indiana) Detroit Lions 1937-38 [Basketball All-American 1936]
Elvin "Red Oak Express" Hutchison (1912-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-12-31-22-pm.png?1611430391)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Whittier) Detroit Lions 1939, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1940-41 [Little All-American 1936]
Bob Jenkins (1923-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-12-39-42-pm.png?1611430811)
Halfback—(Alabama/Navy) [All-American 1944]
[I] was drafted by Redskins but remained in service till 1950.
Bob Jenkins, note on 3x5 card to Mel Bashore, Aug. 10, 1991
Bob Jenkins, note on 3x5 card to Mel Bashore, Aug. 10, 1991
Dub Jones (1924- )
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-17-at-1-36-25-pm.png?1616009820)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Wingback/Tailback—(LSU/Tulane) Miami Seahawks (AAFC) 1946, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1946-47, Cleveland Browns (AAFC/NFL) 1948-55
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/dubjone45_orig.jpeg)
I sent him two copies of this 1951 Alan Maver cartoon, offering one for him to keep for himself. But he signed and returned both of them, personalizing one to me and another to my son, William. The latter is being offered for sale on my website devoted to AUTOGRAPHS FOR SALE (see button link to the site on Home page).
Edgar "Special Delivery" Jones (1920-2004)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-01-at-4-52-14-am.png?1612180375)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Pittsburgh) North Carolina Pre-flight Cloudbusters 1942, Fleet City Bluejackets 1945, San Francisco Clippers (PCFL) 1945, Chicago Bears 1945, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1946-49, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) 1950 [#8 All-Time AAFC Rushing, #9 All-Time AAFC Scoring]
Ed "Chug" Justice (1913-1991)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-12-59-55-pm.png?1611432034)
Wingback/Defensive Back/Offensive End—(Gonzaga) Boston Redskins 1936, Washington Redskins 1937-42, San Diego Bombers (PCFL) 1946
He was a fine wingback.
Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh
Abe "Sonny" Karnofsky (1922-2015)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-17-at-1-44-54-pm.png?1616010558)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Arizona) Philadelphia Eagles 1945, Boston Yanks 1946
Eddie Kaw (1897-1971)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-09-at-8-28-30-am.png?1610206187)
Tailback—(Cornell) Buffalo Bisons 1924 [All-American 1921-22, College Football Hall of Fame 1956]
A steady pouring rain made a quagmire of Penn's Franklin Field that day in 1921 when the Quakers hosted underdog Cornell. It was to be Eddie Kaw's greatest day in football. The little Cornell halfback slithered and slid through the slime, scoring five of Cornell's six touchdowns as the Big Red handed Penn its worst defeat since the series between the two schools began in 1893. The final score was 41-0. The 5-10, 168- pound Kaw was named an All-American, an honor he won again in 1922. After the victory over Penn, the NEW YORK TIMES correspondent wrote, "There was only one thing more slippery than the mud, and that was the open field running of halfback Eddie Kaw, who was far ahead of any other player on the field... skipped over the ooze and water as if he were running on a cinder track, sidestepping a small lake and a Penn tackler with one and the same motion." Cornell was unbeaten during the 1921 and 1922 seasons, and during Kaw's three- year career the team posted a 22-2 record. Kaw graduated from the School of Architecture in 1925 and became an executive with Fox Films and Pathe News before joining a national dog food company.
Bob Keene (1919-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-17-at-2-00-32-pm.png?1616011327)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Detroit) Detroit Lions 1943-45
Jack Kirby (1923-2007)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-09-at-7-13-46-am.png?1612880121)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(USC) Green Bay Packers 1949
John "Bones" Klasnic (1925-2012)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Auburn) Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1948
Julie "Bully" Koshlap (1917-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-29-at-7-12-28-am.png?1611929616)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Georgetown) Pittsburgh Steelers 1945, Newark Bombers (AFL) 1946, Bloomfield Cardinals (AFL) 1947, Paterson Panthers (AFL) 1948, Jersey City Giants (AFL) 1949
Howie "Buckeye Bullet" Kriss (1907-1992)
Halfback—(Ohio State) Ashland Armco Yellowjackets (Ohio Valley League) 1929, Cleveland Panthers (Ohio Valley League) 1929, Akron Awnings (Ohio Valley League) 1930; Cleveland Bulldogs 1930, Cleveland Pennzoils (Independent) 1931, Cleveland Indians (NFL) 1931, Cleveland Panthers (Independent) 1932
Bill Lazetich (1916-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-09-at-5-06-14-pm.png?1612915669)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Montana) Columbus Bullies (AFL) 1939, Cleveland Rams 1940-42
William "Wild Bill" Leckonby (1917-2007)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-5-01-47-pm.png?1611446571)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(St. Lawrence) Danbury Trojans (American Association) 1939; Brooklyn Dodgers 1939-41; Pensacola Naval Air Station Goslings 1942, Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1944, Honolulu Naval Air Station 1945, Fleet City Bluejackets 1945, Pearl Harbor Pacific All-Stars 1945
Verl "Giant Wallet" Lillywhite (1926-2007)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-5-08-48-pm.png?1611446999)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(USC) San Francisco 49ers (AAFC/NFL) 1948-51
Bill Lund (1924-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-5-13-12-pm.png?1611447245)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Case) Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1946-47
George "One Play" McAfee (1918-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/mcafeeg8856.jpeg?1612969643)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Duke) Chicago Bears 1940-41,1945-50, Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1942 [College Football Hall of Fame 1961, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1966]
I was late in signing with the Bears that first year, and they were already into training camp when I arrived. . . . I will never forget my first impression. I walked into camp—it was on a Sunday morning, and the Bears were having a scrimmage. The first thing I saw was Harry Clark catching a punt and running it back. Bill Osmanski came flying in and hit him and knocked Clark out cold. I said, Lord of mercy, what am I getting myself into? I made up my mind there and then that I would do everything in my power to run as fast as I could and be as elusive as I could.
George McAfee
George McAfee
John McAfee (1912-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-5-19-49-pm.png?1611447841)
Halfback—(Ohio State) Cincinnati Bengals (AFL) 1937
Banks McFadden (1917-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-5-27-05-pm.png?1611448086)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Clemson) Brooklyn Dodgers 1940 [All-American 1939, College Football Hall of Fame 1959; Basketball—All American center 1938-39]
If McFadden drank a can of tomato juice, they could have used him as a thermometer. I can remember the first time I saw him on the practice field. He looked like one of those whooping cranes. I thought sure as the devil that Coach (Jess) Neely had made a mistake by giving this boy a scholarship, but he proved me wrong.
Frank Howard
Frank Howard
Charles "Dub" McGibbony (1915-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-5-41-46-pm.png?1611449034)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Alabama/Arkansas State Teachers) Brooklyn Tigers 1944
Bob “Wildfire” Macleod (1917-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-6-08-14-pm.png?1612984041)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Dartmouth) Pensacola Naval Air Station Goslings 1941, El Toro Flying Marines 1944; Chicago Bears 1939 [All-American 1938, College Football Hall of Fame 1977]
He was a tremendous running back.
Sid Luckman
Sid Luckman
Bo McMillan (1895-1952)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-08-at-8-25-43-pm.png?1612841187)
Tailback/Blocking Back—(Centre) Milwaukee Badgers 1922-23, Cleveland Indians 1923; Coach—Centenary 1922-24, Geneva 1925-27, Kansas State 1928-33, Indiana 1934-47, Detroit Lions 1948-50, Philadelphia Eagles 1951; Geneva 1925-28 (basketball) [All-American 1919-21, AFCA Coach of the Year 1945, Amos Alonzo Stagg Award 1952, College Football Hall of Fame 1951]
Walter "Waddy" MacPhee (1899-1980)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-6-16-52-pm.png?1611452670)
Wingback/Tailback—(Princeton) Providence Steamroller 1925-26
Sam Maniaci (1912-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-6-19-47-pm.png?1611453142)
Halfback—(Columbia) 1933-34
Howard Maple (1903-1970)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-6-37-08-am.png?1611495477)
Wingback—(Oregon State) Chicago Cardinals 1930
Hank "Bob" Margarita (1920-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-16-at-5-51-45-pm.png?1613523157)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Brown) Chicago Bears 1944-46; Coach—Georgetown 1949-50
Joe "Whistle Britches" Margucci (1921-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-6-46-33-am.png?1611496039)
Wingback/Quarterback/Halfback/Defensive Back—(Santa Ana JC/USC) Santa Ana Army Air Base Flyers (PCFL) 1942, Personnel Distribution Command Comets 1945; Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1946, Detroit Lions 1947-48
Joe "Duke" Marhefka (1902-2003)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-10-at-8-42-38-am.png?1612971847)
Halfback—(Lafayette) All-Lancaster Red Roses (Eastern Professional League) 1925-28, Philadelphia Quakers (AFL) 1926
Our opening game [1926] in Municipal Stadium, Phila. was against Red Grange and his Bears and we won 6-0. We played in Municipal Stadium, where the Army-Navy game used to be. Our coach was Bob Folwell, who also coached at Lafayette (1909-1911), Virginia and Georgia Tech. . . .
Joe Marhefka, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore
Joe Marhefka, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore
Walt Masters (1907-1992)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-7-54-28-am.png?1611500115)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Pennsylvania) Baltimore Orioles (Dixie League) 1936, Wilmington Clippers (Indep.) 1938, Wilmington Clippers (AA) 1939-40 ; Philadelphia Eagles 1936, Chicago Cardinals 1943, Card-Pitt 1944; Coach—Wilmington Clippers (AA) 1938-40 [All-League Dixie League 1936, All-League American Association 1939; MLB baseball player 1931, 1937, 1939]
Lew "Mickey" Mayne (1920-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-22-at-5-50-30-am.png?1613998476)
Halfback/Tailback/Defensive Back—(Texas-Austin) Lincoln Army Air Field Wings 1944, Bergstrom Army Air Field Troop Carriers 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) 1946, Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1947, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1948
Abe Mickal (1912-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-8-06-13-am.png?1611500824)
Tailback—(LSU) [College Football Hall of Fame 1967]
Because my dad wanted all his children to work, he was against my playing football. I'll never forget my first game in high school. I was holding the ball for the opening kickoff when he ran into the stadium and pulled me off the field.
Abe Mickal
Abe Mickal
Creighton Miller (1922-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-8-11-22-am.png?1611501132)
Halfback—(Notre Dame) [#1 Rushing NCAA 1943, All-American 1943, College Football Hall of Fame 1976]
He was the finest ball carrier I've ever played with in pro or college football. Very fast and shifty with very good weight, 195 pounds. He could break up a game at any given moment and did so many times. He captained the All-America team that year [1943]. A good defense man and pass defender. A great pass receiver. Creighty is the finest running back I have ever played with, college or pro. We never had an argument because Creighty didn't listen to anything I said, and I didn't listen to anything he said.
Johnny Lujack
Johnny Lujack
Tony "Skip" Minisi (1927- 2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-8-18-40-am.png?1611501549)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Pennsylvania) New York Giants 1948 [College Football Hall of Fame 1985]
We had gone to great pains to get Minisi for our wingback position. He was one of the celebrated players in the country. But somehow he could not make it in our system. Maybe he could in another. He just didn't in ours.
Steve Owen
Steve Owen
Rudy "Little Doc" Mobley (1921-2003)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-8-39-52-am.png?1611502835)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Hardin Simmons) Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947 [#1 Rushing NCAA 1942,1946, #1 All-Purpose Running NCAA 1946, Little All-American 1942,1946]
Little Doc has an exceptionally fast pick up. He is going full blast when he reaches the line of scrimmage. Little Doc has an uncanny ability to pick holes. He darts through the smallest opening like a ray of light. He has a great sense of balance. He can cut back and sidestep without losing speed or equilibrium.
Warren Woodson
Warren Woodson
Hal Moe (1910-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-11-11-46-am.png?1611511994)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Oregon State) Chicago Cardinals 1933
Avery "Lefty" Monfort (1918-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-06-at-6-35-27-am.png?1612618573)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(San Bernardino Valley Union JC/New Mexico) Corpus Christi Naval Air Station Comets 1942, Bogue Field 1944; Chicago Cardinals 1941
Cliff “Monty” Montgomery (1910-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-6-04-30-am.png?1610456781)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Columbia) Brooklyn Dodgers 1934; Mt. Vernon Cardinals (AFL) 1936 [College Football Hall of Fame 1963]
Tipp Mooney (1919-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-30-at-5-29-59-am.png?1612010123)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Oklahoma Baptist/Altus JC/Abilene Christian) Chicago Bears 1944-45, Akron Bears (AFL) 1946
Gonzalo "Gonzo" Morales (1922-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-11-17-35-am.png?1611512341)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(St. Mary's) Alameda Coast Guard Sea Lions 1943-44; Pittsburgh Steelers 1947-48
I just played my best at all times. Once the game was completed, I forgot what had happened and just began preparing for the next game. I liked to run more than anything, but we all did a lot of different things in those days. It wasn't specialized the way it is now. I don't think the players today would be able to go both ways the way we did. And we didn't even have face masks. They didn't come in until a couple of years later. It never dawned on us to wear them.
Gonzalo Morales
Gonzalo Morales
Emmett Mortell (1916-2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-11-22-11-am.png?1611512576)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Notre Dame/Wisconsin) Philadelphia Eagles 1937-39, Wilmington Clippers (American Assoc.) 1940-41
Jumped my Eagles contract in 1940 over salary dispute, DuPont employment, but Pearl Harbor ended it all.
Emmett Mortell, note to Mel Bashore
Emmett Mortell, note to Mel Bashore
Norman "Monk" Mosley (1922-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-22-at-6-11-18-am.png?1613999561)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Alabama) Pittsburgh Steelers 1948
Chet Mutryn (1921-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-12-55-07-pm.png?1611518136)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Xavier) Buffalo Bisons (AAFC) 1946, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1947-49, Baltimore Colts 1950 [#3 All-Time AAFC Rushing, #8 All-Time AAFC Pass Receiving, #5 All-Time AAFC Scoring, #1 AAFC Scoring 1948, #1 AAFC Receiving Average 1948]
I enjoyed playing in Buffalo a great deal. I thought the people were tops as far as accepting us goes. They supported the team well. . . . we would draw 30,000, 32,000 at War Memorial Stadium. The crowds didn’t drop off the way they did in some cities. . . . the Bills were just about breaking even, I think. The players were local heroes there. I guess I was out once or twice a week speaking at some lodge or church event, something like that.
Chet Mutryn
Chet Mutryn
Andy Natowich (1918-2014)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-17-at-2-31-58-pm.png?1616013212)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Holy Cross) Washington Redskins 1944
Harry Newman (1909-2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-06-at-10-47-04-am.png?1609955266)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Michigan) New York Giants 1933-35, Brooklyn Tigers (AFL) 1936, New York Yanks (AFL) 1936, Rochester Tigers (AFL) 1937 [All-American (Grantland Rice) 1932, Douglas Fairbanks Trophy 1932, College Football Hall of Fame 1975, All Pro 1933, #1 Passing 1933]
After I got out of college, I had several offers to go with the pros. I wasn’t very big, and that was a drawback. I was only about 175 pounds in college and I was only 5'8". But George Halas of the Chicago Bears came up with an offer. It wasn’t a very good one. The New York Giants came up with a better one. I talked with Tim Mara and I got the feeling they really wanted a passer and that I’d fit in with them right away. The contract deal he came up with was that I was actually to receive a percentage of the gate. That was a very good deal in those days. As I remember it, the first year I was supposed to get 10 percent of the gate after $11,000 had been deducted for expenses. The second year I was to get 20 percent. . . . In 1935, I had a contract dispute with the Maras. I decided to hold out. In that last game that I played in, in 1934, the one against the Bears, we filled the Polo Grounds. Because I was on a percentage, they had to pay me a lot of dough. As a result, they wouldn’t give me the same kind of contract for the next year. . . . I felt my days with the Giants were over. They were never going to pay me the money I wanted. I knew that. So the next year I got out of the NFL altogether. Along with a couple of others, I started the American Football League.
Harry Newman
Harry Newman
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/hnewm84.jpeg?1612831101)
Michigan's Wolverines were driving toward the national championship in 1932, but the points weren't coming as easily as were the victories. Supported by one of the game's outstanding defenses, quarterback Harry Newman took personal charge of the offense and scored 31 of his team's 123 points that year. With a perfect 8-0-0 record, the nation's title belonged to Michigan, while Newman claimed unanimous All- America selection and the Helms Foundation Player of the Year award. They were the glory years for Michigan coach Harry Kipke, himself a Hall of Fame back from the Wolverine successes of the 1920s. With Newman at the helm, Kipke rarely had to worry about his team, because the crafty quarterback was a magnificent field leader and directed UM to three Big 10 titles. He piloted three teams to a combined record of 24-1-2. Following graduation, Newman played for the New York Giants. When Newman retired from football he became an executive with the Ford Motor Company.
Ray Nolting (1912-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-06-at-11-02-20-am.png?1609956197)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Cincinnati) Chicago Bears 1936-43
He could hit a line as fast as any man I've ever seen.
Sid Luckman
Sid Luckman
Ray Novotny (1907-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-06-at-12-54-37-pm.png?1609962945)
Tailback/Halfback/Wingback/Blocking Back/Quarterback—(Ashland) Portsmouth Spartans (Ohio Valley League) 1930, Cleveland Indians 1931, Brooklyn Dodgers 1932, Cleveland Rams (AFL) 1936
Jerry "Bruiser" Nuzum (1923-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-12-59-54-pm.png?1611518458)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Cameron JC/New Mexico State) Pittsburgh Steelers 1948-51
"Rated as the greatest power runner in the league—next to Steve Van Buren."
1950 Bowman card #20, sent to me by Nuzum
1950 Bowman card #20, sent to me by Nuzum
Bob Odell (1922-2012)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-08-at-5-53-07-pm.png?1612832031)
Halfback—(Pennsylvania) Coach—Bucknell 1958-64, Pennsylvania 1965-70, Williams College 1971-86 [All-American 1943, Maxwell Award 1943, College Football Hall of Fame 1992]
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/odell63.jpeg?1612831851)
Bob Odell did it all for Pennsylvania in 1943. He ran, passed, punted, caught passes, returned kickoffs and punts, and played defense. He made four major All-America teams, won the Maxwell Trophy, and was runner-up to Angelo Bertelli for the Heisman Trophy. He was an honor student and graduated with a degree in economics and history. Odell was an assistant coach at Yale, Temple, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, then head coach at Bucknell 1958-1964, Pennsylvania 1965-1970, and Williams 1971-1986. In his three playing seasons at Penn, the team record was 18-6-2 overall and 13-0-2 against Ivy League opponents. In the 1943 tie with Army 13-13, Odell scored the final touchdown by catching a pass over his shoulder and outrunning Glenn Davis to the end zone. He was captain his senior year and was given the Class of 1915 Award as Penn's outstanding man based on character, personality, scholarship, and athletic ability.
Mel Odelli (1920-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-04-04-at-2-17-41-pm.png?1617568653)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Duquesne) Pittsburgh Steelers 1945
Elmer "Ollie" Oliphant (1892-1975)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/screen-shot-2021-01-07-at-8-00-14-am_orig.png)
Wingback/Tailback—(Purdue/Army) Rochester Jeffersons 1920, Buffalo All-Americans 1921 [All Western 1912-13, All-American 1916-17, All-American (basketball) 1913-14, 1914-15; Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame 1953, College Football Hall of Fame 1955, Indiana Football Hall of Fame 1975, Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame 1997, Army Sports Hall of Fame 2004]
A man for all sports and an exceptional achiever in each, "Ollie" Oliphant played a brand of swivel-hipped football which would never be forgotten. Born in Bloomfield, Indiana, Oliphant started his college career at Purdue, where he won letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. But it was later, at Army, that his competitive versatility posed an unusual problem for the Academy's athletic council. Until Oliphant's arrival, only two cadets, George Patton and George Beavers, had won letters in three major sports. Elmer won four, forcing the athletic council to design a special monogram which remains the only one of its kind. During a career at Purdue, Oliphant developed his swirling, wriggling style of ball-carrying. But it was his toe which provided one of Purdue's most dramatic victories. Oliphant had suffered a broken ankle early in a game with Illinois, yet returned to action and kicked a field goal that defeated the Illini, 3-0. At Army, Oliphant established Academy records for most points in a single game (45), and most points in a season (125).
Elliott "Bus" Ormsbee (1921-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-29-at-12-15-04-pm.png?1611947790)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Bradley) New London Submarine Base Tars 1944; Philadelphia Eagles 1946; Bethlehem Bulldogs (AFL) 1947-48 [Little All-American 1941-42, AFL All League 1947]
Bob Paffrath (1918-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-1-25-40-pm.png?1611520057)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Blocking Back—(Minnesota) Fort Douglas 1943, Amarillo Army Air Force Sky Giants 1944, First Air Force Aces 1945, Miami Seahawks 1946, Brooklyn Dodgers 1946, Toronto Indians (CFL) 1947, Ottawa Roughriders (CFL) 1948-49, Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) 1950-52
I vaguely recall a couple names from Ft. Douglas but I shipped out so soon for basic training, it seems like a dream.
Bob Paffrath, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore
Bob Paffrath, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore
Ace Parker (1912-2013)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/aceprk47856.jpeg?1612967493)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Duke) Brooklyn Dodgers 1937-41, Boston Yanks 1945, New York Yankees 1946 [All-American 1936, All Pro 1938,1940, College Football Hall of Fame 1972; played MLB for Philadelphia Athletics 1937-38]
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/acep63.jpeg?1612830481)
Parker attended Wilson High School, earning 16 varsity letters in 5 sports: football, basketball, baseball, track and golf. He enrolled at Duke University, and he quickly established himself as one of the most versatile stars to ever set foot on the college gridiron, playing quarterback, halfback, wide receiver, punter, kicker, safety while also returning punts and kickoffs. His athletic prowess extended to Blue Devil basketball and baseball teams as well. Playing for Hall of Fame coach Wallace Wade, Parker led he Blue Devils football team to a 24-5 record and two Southern Conference Championships during his career. In 1935, he averaged 7.4 yards rushing while punting for an average of 46.7 yards. During his 1936 All-American season, he averaged 5.8 yards for a total of 647 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. That season he recorded a 70-yard punt return against North Carolina State and a 105-yard kickoff return against North Carolina, which remains a Duke school record. His punting average was 42.2, including 11 punts that went out of bounds inside the 10-yard line. His outstanding career led to his election to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. Parker went on to a pro career in two sports. He played 94 games as a shortstop for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1937-38. He played pro football for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1937-41, earning MVP honors in 1940 and taking part in the first-ever televised football game in 1939. After serving as a lieutenant for three years in the Navy during World War II, he returned to football for two more seasons, playing for the Boston Yanks in 1945 and the New York Yankees in 1946. His career earned him enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. After his playing days, Parker returned to Duke as an assistant football coach from 1948-66 while also serving as the school’s head baseball coach from 1953-66. During that time, he was a player-manager for the Durham Bulls semi-pro baseball team from 1949-52. He went on to serve as a scout in the NFL before retiring to his home state of Virginia. Parker passed away at the age of 101.
Jim Parmer (1927-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-1-31-22-pm.png?1611520337)
Halfback/Fullback/Defensive Back—(Texas A&M/Oklahoma A&M) Philadelphia Eagles 1948-56
He was one of the giants in scouting. He was as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. He started scouting when scouts were almost all ex-players in the league. He was well liked and everybody knew him.
Bill Tobin
Bill Tobin
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/parm95_orig.jpeg)
Parmer didn't see action in this game on December 19, 1948, but he kept the bench warm during a driving snow storm. I'm fortunate that six Eagles players who were on the roster for this game signed the copy of this newspaper article. Steve Van Buren scored the lone TD in the game. Parmer signed his name on the questionnaire that I mailed to him on March 15, 1993, and also signed a 3x5 card.
Bert Piggott (1920-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/piggoi67.jpeg?1614348451)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Illinois) Tuskegee Army Air Field Warhawks 1944-45; Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1947
Erny Pinckert (1908-1977)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-07-at-10-45-50-am.png?1610041600)
Wingback/Defensive Back/Blocking Back/Linebacker—(USC) Boston Braves 1932, Boston Redskins 1933-36, Washingon Redskins 1937-40
Johnny Pingel (1916-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-1-55-34-pm.png?1611521804)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Michigan State) Detroit Lions 1939, Eastern Army All-Stars 1942 [All-American 1938, College Football Hall of Fame 1968]
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/ping47_orig.jpeg)
1942 Tom Paprocki cartoon. He wrote, "I was Captain of the army All-Star team coached by General Neyland, the Tennessee head coach in peace-time. We played 4 games in 2 weeks. Yale, where we trained & played a practice game we were pressed to win 7-0. The[n] we beat N.Y. Giants 16-0 in the Polo Grounds. Baltimore 13-7 and lost to the Chi. Bears in Fenway Park in Boston 7-13. Then we went back to war & I went to Europe. I remember Al Wolff of St Clara well. He was a great player. He beat us 7-7." I had interviewed Frank Christensen of the Detroit Lions and Jack Johnson was a Utah product (as am I). I asked Pingel about his memories of them and, on the 3x5 card, he said "both were great guys."
Al Postus (1920-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-2-01-14-pm.png?1611522166)
Tailback/Defensive—(Villanova) Pittsburgh Steelers 1945-46
C. W. "Cotton" Price (1918-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-12-at-6-54-47-am.png?1610459724)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Texas A&M) Detroit Lions 1940-41,1945, Miami Seahawks (AAFC) 1946; Camp Peary Naval Training Station Pirates 1944
Abisha "Bosh" Pritchard (1919-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-2-08-54-pm.png?1611522570)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(VMI) San Diego Bombers (PCFL) 1945, Cleveland Rams 1942, Philadelphia Eagles 1942,1946-49,1951, New York Giants 1951
When I was playing football in high school, a newspaper man named Morris Siegel—he used to write for a Richmond, Virginia, paper—did an article on me. He asked me, "What's your name?" I said "Bish." He said, "Bosh?" I said, "No, its' Bish." "Bosh?" "No, Bish." "Did you say Bosh?" Finally I said, "Call me Bosh."
Bosh Pritchard
Bosh Pritchard
Fred "Fleet Freddie" Provo (1922-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-2-15-31-pm.png?1611522993)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Washington) Green Bay Packers 1948
Duane Purvis (1912-1989)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-5-43-32-pm_orig.png)
Halfback/Fullback—(Purdue) [All-American 1933-34; NCAA Javelin Champion 1933-34, Track All-American 1932-34]
I've had just about enough football. It's a great game when you're in college and the best game to forget about when you're out. I'm going to get to work as soon as they hand me that old A.B. at Purdue.
Duane Purvis, on being asked if he intended to play pro football
Duane Purvis, on being asked if he intended to play pro football
He was selected as an All-American in 1933 and 1934. Considered an all-around player, Purvis averaged five yards per carry in 1934 with touchdown runs of 80 and 73 yards. He was also considered to be an excellent defensive player and "without peer" as a long passer, using a strong right arm that also made him a world-class javelin thrower. For more than 30 years, Purvis held the career rushing record at Purdue with 1,802 yards. His record was broken in November 1968 by both Leroy Keyes and Perry Williams.
Ben Raimondi (1925-2020)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-28-at-8-07-30-pm.png?1611889699)
Tailback—(William & Mary/Indiana) New York Yankees (AAFC) 1947, Jersey City Giants (AFL) 1948, Richmond Rebels (AFL) 1948-49, Brooklyn Football Brooks (AFL) 1950
|
Guy "Zeke" Roberts (1900-1993)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-4-35-04-pm.png?1611531352)
Wingback/Tailback/Fullback—(Iowa State) Canton Bulldogs 1926, Cleveland Panthers 1926, Pottsville Maroons 1927
I remember standing in the end zone doing practice punting. I could not punt the ball as far as Jim [Thorpe] did but tried to tell myself that maybe there were times when I placed my kicks better . . . [I was] dubbed as [a] triple threat player.
Guy Roberts, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore
Guy Roberts, excerpt of letter to Mel Bashore
In 1993 I wrote an article about my correspondence with Guy Roberts that was published in PFRA's Coffin Corner, vol. 15, issue number 5 entitled "I Played With Thorpe." Click on the link to read the article.
Bobby Robertson (1917-2009)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-10-at-6-39-44-am.png?1612964608)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(USC) Brooklyn Dodgers 1942, St. Mary's Pre-flight Air Devils 1945, Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1945
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
Burr Baldwin
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/rbtson59_orig.jpeg)
This is the first and part of the last page (showing his signature) of a 4-page letter dated February 6, 1993, sent to me by Robertson. Included with the letter were 4 photos of an annual reunion of PCFL players. In the photos were players including Woody Strode, Al Krueger, Moose Mulleneaux, Red Morgan, Ned Mathews, Gus Shaver, Nick Pappas, Bill Fisk, and Ben Agajanian.
Doug Roby (1898-1992)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-4-38-34-pm.png?1611531560)
Tailback—(Michigan) 1920-22, Cleveland Indians 1923
Roby served as president of the U.S. Olympic Committee and for most of his time on the USOC was one of two U.S. representatives to the International Olympic Committee.
Cullen "Slick" Rogers (1921-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-4-44-59-pm.png?1611532004)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Texas A&M) Ft. Benning 176th Infantry Rockets 1943, Fort Benning Infantry Doughboys 1945; Pittsburgh Steelers 1946
George "Rowdy" Roudebush (1894-1992)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-07-at-7-15-51-am.png?1610029024)
Tailback/Fullback—(Denison, 1911-15) Canton Bulldogs 1915, Dayton Triangles 1919-21
When [Nelson] Talbott took over the Triangles in 1919, he wanted me to come down and play . . . .For those two seasons I commuted from Cleveland to play on the weekend. My legal work was building and prospering and it got too much for me to continue playing.
George M. Roudebush
George M. Roudebush
Kent "Ripper" Ryan (1915-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-24-at-4-55-46-pm.png?1611532599)
Wingback/Defensive Back/Fullback—(Utah State) Detroit Lions 1938-40 [All-American 1937]
He is a football natural, possessing that innate ability which enables him to do the right thing at the right time. Kent is a big rugged fellow, with a fine competitive spirit.
Ike Armstrong
Ike Armstrong
Sam “Smoke” Salemi/Dana (1903-2007)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-13-at-5-48-48-am.png?1610542160)
Wingback—(Columbia/St. John’s/Canisius) Hartford Blues 1926, New York Yankees 1928; Orange Tornadoes (Independent) 1928,1933
The salaries weren't made public. But in those days they weren't getting the phenomenal sums that players get paid today. Some of the great players were only getting 150 dollars a game . . . there may have been some others that got a few hundred more. I myself was supposed to be getting $125, but [the owner] held back $25 of that, he was supposed to pay it at the end of the season . . . but he was broke.
Sam Dana
Sam Dana
Known as Sam "Smoke" Salemi (he legally changed his last name in 1945 so his children wouldn't have to put up with "the wisecracks." He earned $100 a game playing for the New York Yankees in 1928.
Orban “Spec” Sanders (1918-2003)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-10-at-6-49-38-am.png?1612965037)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Wingback/Halfback—(Cameron JC/Texas) Georgia Pre-flight Skycrackers 1942, North Carolina Pre-flight Cloudbusters 1944, New York Yankees (AAFC) 1946-48, New York Yanks 1950 [All Pro 1946-47, #1 AAFC Rushing 1946-47, #1 AAFC Scoring 1947, #1 Interceptions 1950, #2 All-Time AAFC Rushing, #8 All-Time AAFC Passing, #4 All-Time AAFC Scoring]
Buddy used to say, “That Buckets [Goldenberg] is crazy. The way he hits you, he'll kill you.” One time he hit Spec Sanders of the Yankees head on. There was blood everywhere. Spec didn't play any more that day.
Lou Tomasetti
Lou Tomasetti
Curt "Two Tone" Sandig (1918-2006)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-10-at-2-15-53-pm.png?1612991800)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(St. Mary's, Texas) Fleet City Naval Training Station 1944, Fleet City Bluejackets 1945; Pittsburg Steelers 1942, Buffalo Bills (AAFC) 1946 [Little All-American 1942]
Curt was our best ball carrier. He was awfully, awfully fast. Once he got past that line of scrimmage, he was gone. All you could see was the flat of his shoes. No one could catch him. He was a tough little rascal and we all liked him.
Homer Burkett
Homer Burkett
Mickey Sanzotta (1921-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/sanz599.jpeg?1613600281)
Wingback/Defensive Back/Tailback—(Western Reserve) Detroit Lions 1942,1946, Jacksonville Naval Training Station Air Raiders 1943, Fleet City Bluejackets 1945
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/editor/sanz597.jpeg?1613600659)
In 2015, I traded a Vic Marino 3x5 autograph to an Ohio State collector for a 1945 service football game program filled with autographs. Mickey Sanzotta is among the autographs in the program. The collector had purchased the Dec. 16, 1945 Fleet City Bluejackets vs. Fort Warren Broncos football game program in an auction. The program came from the estate of Perry Schwartz, his name embossed in gold on a blue slip cover over the original program.
Paul Sarringhaus (1920-1998)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-29-at-7-34-01-am.png?1611930893)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Ohio State) Fort Bragg 3rd Field Artillery Replacement Training Center Cannoneers 1943; Wilmington Clippers (AFL) 1946-47; Chicago Cardinals 1946, Detroit Lions 1948, Jersey City Giants (AFL) 1949, Bethlehem Bulldogs (AFL) 1949
He had exceptional speed. He was about 195 and was a deceptive runner.
George Lynn
George Lynn
George Sauer (1910-1994)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-07-at-5-12-41-pm.png?1612743230)
Halfback/Fullback/Defensive Back/Linebacker/Tailback—(Nebraska) Green Bay Packers 1935-37, Pensacola Naval Air Station Goslings 1942 (player/assistant coach)
Vic "Stumpy" Schwall (1925-2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/schwall65.jpeg?1612994496)
Halfback—(Northwestern/DePauw) Bunker Hill Naval Air Station Blockbusters 1944, Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1945; Chicago Cardinals 1947-50
I was drafted by the Giants. Meanwhile, the Cardinals drafted Tex Coulter. The teams then switched drafted picks. As a rookie in the Cardinal camp, I had to imitate someone on the team in a skit. I selected head coach Jimmy Conzelman and sat there smoking cigarettes and drinking soda pop. Conzelman said he didn't drink that much pop. He was a terrific gentleman. [My greatest days were] when I raced 81 yards for a touchdown against Ohio State. There was no platooning. I played both ways and lost 13 pounds that day. Also, when the College All-Stars upset the Bears 16-0 in 1947. There were 106,000 in the Soldier Field stands. And when the Cardinals beat the Eagles for the 1947 NFL title.
Vic Schwall
Vic Schwall
Marchmont "Marchy" Schwartz (1909-1991)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-2-16-16-pm.png?1610399816)
Halfback—(Notre Dame) Coach—Creighton 1935-39, Stanford 1942,1946-50 [All-American 1930-31, College Football Hall of Fame 1974]
Schwartz was fast and elusive. He was a fine passer and, as it developed in 1930, perhaps the most consistently effective ground-gainer of all . . . .Schwartz was an excellent kicker.
Frank Carideo
Frank Carideo
Bernie Semes (1919-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-10-at-8-06-09-pm.png?1613012874)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Duquesne) Card-Pitt 1944
Dean Sensanbaugher (1925-2005)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-10-at-8-15-15-pm.png?1613013389)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Army/Ohio State) Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1948, New York Bulldogs (AAFC) 1949
Lin Sexton (1926-2017)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-23-at-7-53-26-am.png?1614092084)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Wichita State) Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1948 [Wichita State Hall of Fame 1979, Kansas Sports Hall of Fame 2001, Missouri Valley Conference Athletics Hall of Fame 2011]
Floyd Simmons (1925-1996)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-10-at-8-32-39-pm.png?1613014433)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Notre Dame/Willamette) Chicago Rockets (AAFC) 1948
Frank "Fireball Frankie" Sinkwich (1920-1990)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/editor/sinkw060.jpeg?1612142291)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Halfback—(Georgia) Detroit Lions 1943-44, Second Air Force Superbombers 1945, New York Yankees (AAFC) 1946-47, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947, Erie Vets (Independent) 1949; Coach—Erie Vets (Independent) 1949, University of Tampa 1950-51 [#1 Rushing NCAA 1941, #1 Total Offense NCAA 1942, Walter Camp Award 1942, All-American 1941-42, Heisman Trophy 1942, No. 1 Draft Choice 1943, College Football Hall of Fame 1954, #1 Punting 1943, All Pro 1943-44, MVP 1944]
He was a fine back . . . .In fact, of all the players I went up against the toughest to tackle were Sinkwich, Steve Van Buren, and Tony Canadeo. It was almost impossible to get a clean shot at any one of them and it was really difficult to bring them down one on one. But Nagurski could freeze Sinkwich. I don't know what it was about Bronko but he had this thing over Sink. I mean Sinkwich would run with the ball and when Nagurski would zero in on him old Sink would just freeze up and Nagurski would nail him every time. Nobody else in the game could do that to Sinkwich.
Jim Benton
Jim Benton
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/sink55.jpeg?1612831129)
He didn't want to be a halfback because, in those days, halfbacks had to throw the football. "Make me a fullback," Frank Sinkwich begged Georgia coach Wally Butts. But Butts wouldn't budge, insisting the Youngstown, Ohio, native had a good arm and needed nothing more than confidence. So it was that Sinkwich ended up as one of the nation's great passers. "Good passers are both born and made," Butts said of him. "He acquired, through hard work and endless practice, the ability to pick the open receiver better than anybody I ever saw." Flat-footed and broad-bottomed, Sinkwich posed an unlikely football candidate. But his achievements in 1942 proved his awkward appearance only camouflaged an incredible talent. He established a national total-offense record of 2187 yards, 1392 of those coming through the air. In Georgia's 40-26 victory over Texas Christian in the 1942 Orange Bowl, he completed 9 of 13 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown - a total of 382 all-purpose yards. Sinkwich was the Heisman Trophy winner as a result of his amazing play as a senior in 1942. Following his collegiate playing days, Sinkwich broke into the NFL with the Detroit Lions and, in 1944, was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player.
Stan Skoczen (1920-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/screen-shot-2021-02-12-at-6-17-47-am_orig.png)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Western Reserve) Cleveland Rams 1944
Ed Smith (1923-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-18-at-6-21-26-am.png?1616070294)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Texas-El Paso) Green Bay Packers 1948-49, New York Bulldogs 1949
Gene Spangler (1922-2010)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-12-at-3-49-24-pm.png?1613170356)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Tulsa) Detroit Lions 1946
Harrison Stafford (1912-2004)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-10-at-8-37-13-pm.png?1613014669)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Texas) New York Giants 1934 [All-American 1932, College Football Hall of Fame 1975]
He was a ferocious blocker. For years, they would tell the story of a TCU game where Johnny Vaught was trying to get in position to tackle Bohn Hilliard. Vaught was a two-time all-American. When Stafford hit him, he leveled him. After that play, whenever people talked about a block, that talked about "the Vaught block."
Bill Sensing
Bill Sensing
Harold R. "Curly" Stebbins (1917-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-5-37-17-am.png?1613047136)
Halfback—(Pittsburgh) 1936-38 [College All-Star Game 1939]
My mother started calling me Curly. I didn't even know my name was Harold until the first grade. Every once in a while, I managed to go to a matinee in town. The Pathe Newsreel always had Pitt playing someone. When the colleges started to call, I hoped it was Pitt who would come to recruit. Apparently colleges had the same interest in prospects as they do now. It really hasn't changed. I got my books, room and board, and tuition. I didn't play pro ball but was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in 1939.
Curly Stebbins
Curly Stebbins
Ernie Steele (1917-2006)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Washington) Philadelphia Eagles 1942,1944-48, Phil-Pitt Steagles 1943
John "Johnny Strike" Strzykalski (1921-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-5-55-36-am.png?1613048164)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Marquette) Second Air Force Superbombers 1944, Fourth Air Force (March Field Fliers 1945, San Francisco 49ers (AAFC/NFL) 1946-52
He had no fear. One frozen day in Green Bay, he caught a pass, was hit from the back and went down. We didn't have nose guards in those days and his nose was splattered all over his face. There was a lot of blood in the snow, but John just got up and kept on playing. [If you were tackled] you could get up and keep running in those days. And he was a master at it. He knew how to bounce up.
Gordy Soltau
Gordy Soltau
Harry Stuhldreher (1901-1965)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-23-at-8-27-56-am.png?1611415727)
Tailback—(Notre Dame) Waterbury Blues (Independent) 1925-26, Brooklyn Horsemen/Lions (AFL/NFL) 1926; Coach—Villanova 1925-35, Wisconsin 1936-48 [College Football Hall of Fame 1958]
"Carry yer bag, Mr. Rockne?", the curly-haired moppet would ask, reaching for Knute's gear and a free entry to Tiger Stadium in Massillon, Ohio. Knute Rockne was a star for the professional Massillon Tigers in those days - and his bag-toter was a wisp of a lad named Harry Stuhldreher. Fate had drawn the two together and fate would bring them mutual immortality, for not too many years later when Stuhldreher followed Rockne's star to South Bend, Indiana. Stuhldreher would emerge as the quarterback in the famed Four Horsemen backfield which dazzled opponents and left an indelible mark upon the pages of gridiron history. "As a freshman, Harry had the most promise of the Four Horsemen," Rockne was to claim. "He sounded the leader on the field." Leadership! It was a Rockne trademark, and it became the one characteristic in young Harry Stuhldreher which convinced the Irish coach to make him his signal-caller. Although Harry was the smallest of the Horsemen at 5-7 and 151 pounds, he was equally as fast and shifty as the others - the ideal quarterback with a sound grasp of the game. He was head coach at Villanova 1925-35 and Wisconsin 1936-48 with a combined record of 110-87- 15.
Ray "Spud" Terrell (1919-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-6-15-52-am.png?1613049402)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Mississippi) Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1942, Camp Lejeune Marines 1943; Cleveland Browns (AAFC) 1946-47, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1947
Tuffy Thompson (1914-2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-6-23-08-am.png?1613050058)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Tailback—(Minnesota) Pittsburgh Pirates 1937-38, Green Bay Packers 1939, Jacksonville Naval Air Station Fliers 1942
Bob Thurbon (1918-2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-6-31-07-am.png?1613050436)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Pittsburgh) Phil-Pitt Steagles 1943, Card-Pitt 1944, Buffalo Bisons (AAFC) 1946
Eric “Eric the Red” Tipton (1915-2001)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-6-43-45-am.png?1613051075)
Halfback—(Duke) [All-American 1938, College Football Hall of Fame 1965]
I was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1939 when I graduated from Duke, but . . . I signed a baseball contract and played fourteen years.
Eric Tipton, note to Mel Bashore, 1990
Eric Tipton, note to Mel Bashore, 1990
Andy Tomasic (1919-2008)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-6-48-54-am.png?1613051361)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(Temple) Pittsburgh Steelers 1942,1946 [baseball: pitcher—New York Giants 1949]
I thought that I made my reputation in football even though I did a lot of baseball pitching . . . .Overseas, I did get to pitch against quite a few big leaguers in the Philippines, at Manila and at Clark Field. In football at Clark Field, I did play against quit a few college players and also a few N.F.L. players and if I may [say] so, I thought I did rather well against them.
Andy Tomasic, letter to Mel Bashore
Andy Tomasic, letter to Mel Bashore
Charley Trippi (1921-2022)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-18-at-6-34-18-am.png?1616070909)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Quarterback—(Georgia) Third Air Force Gremlins 1944-45,
Chicago Cardinals 1947-55 [Maxwell Award 1946, All-American 1946, All Pro 1948, College Football Hall of Fame 1959, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1968]
Chicago Cardinals 1947-55 [Maxwell Award 1946, All-American 1946, All Pro 1948, College Football Hall of Fame 1959, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1968]
Eddie "Cannonball" Tryon (1900-1982)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-08-at-8-26-33-am.png?1612798031)
Wingback/Tailback—(Colgate) New York Yankees (AFL/NFL) 1926-27 [All-American 1924-25, College Football Hall of Fame 1963]
He was the answer to a coach's fondest dream.
Dick Harlow
Dick Harlow
Darrell Tully (1917-1997)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-12-at-6-43-25-am.png?1613138094)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(East Texas State) Detroit Lions 1939; Georgia Pre-flight Skycrackers 1942 [Little All-American 1938]
In 1940, I returned to Detroit but came back to Texas . . . when Lion's owner did not offer me a $25 per game raise.
Darrell Tully
Darrell Tully
Steve Van Buren (1920-2012)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-18-at-6-44-37-am.png?1616071524)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(LSU) Philadelphia Eagles 1944-51 [All Pro 1944-49, #1 Rushing Yards 1945,1947-49, #1 Rushing TDs 1945,1947-49, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1965]
Harold Van Every (1918-2007)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-6-58-25-am.png?1613051972)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Halfback—(Minnesota) Green Bay Packers 1940-41; Will Rogers Field Eagles 1942, Second Air Force Bombers 1942, Eastern Army All-Stars 1942, Second Air Force Superbombers 1945 (Asst. Coach)
Joe "The Toe" Vetrano (1918-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-8-01-25-pm.png?1610420536)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Punter/Place Kicker—(Southern Miss) Fourth Air Force Fliers 1944-45; San Francisco 49ers (AAFC/NFL) 1946-50
A star tailback at Southern Mississippi, Vetrano played for the 49er team that joined the All-America Football Conference in 1946. He kicked a league-record 108 straight points after touchdown. After four years with the 49ers, he served the team as an assistant coach and chief scout.
Jack Vetter (1920-2012)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-03-18-at-6-50-47-am.png?1616071955)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(McPherson) Brooklyn Dodgers 1942
Paul Vinnola (1922-1994)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-7-09-30-am.png?1613052747)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Santa Clara) Fourth Air Force Fliers 1943-44, First Air Force Aces 1945; Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1946-47
"Squirmin" Herman Wedemeyer (1924-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-7-45-26-am.png?1613054771)
Halfback/Tailback—(St. Mary's, Calif.) First Air Force Aces 1945, Los Angeles Dons (AAFC) 1948, Baltimore Colts (AAFC) 1949 [All-American 1945, College Football Hall of Fame 1979]
He was a terrific open field runner and an exciting player to watch.
Y. A. Tittle
Y. A. Tittle
Byron "Whizzer" White (1917-2002)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/screen-shot-2021-02-06-at-8-29-50-pm_orig.png)
Tailback/Defensive Back/Halfback/Fullback/Wingback—(Colorado) Pittsburgh Pirates 1938, Detroit Lions 1940-41 [#1 Rushing NCAA 1937, #1 All-Purpose Running NCAA 1937, #1 Total Offense NCAA 1937, #1 Scoring NCAA 1937, All-American 1937, College Football Hall of Fame 1954]
In 1938 I did something I thought would bring a little class to the game. I signed Whizzer White out of Colorado University for a salary of $15,800, which was easily the highest salary pro football was paying. White was very hard to sign . . . .Anyhow, the fifteen [thousand dollars] got pro football a lot of publicity, and of course White was an asset to the game, an extremely high-class fellow . . . .Everybody on the team respected White highly. If he had been bigheaded, he could have got himself in a lot of trouble, but he fit in right. He was a fine back, and he was right with the boys. So we didn't mind paying him the highest salary in football.
Art Rooney
Art Rooney
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/whizlllb66.jpeg?1612741499)
Byron "Whizzer" White, playing for Colorado against Utah in 1936, scored on runs of 90, 41, 40, and 38 yards. Colorado won 31-7. Against Utah in 1937, he had touchdown runs of 85 and 37 yards, a field goal, and two extra points. Colorado won 17-7. In 1937 he led the nation in scoring, rushing, total offense, and all-purpose running. He averaged 246 yards a game in all-purpose running, a record until 1988. White, the champion athlete, was surpassed by White the student. He was Phi Beta Kappa and a Rhodes Scholar. He played pro football with Pittsburgh in 1938, studied at Oxford University in England in 1939, played professionally with Detroit in 1940- 1941. In two of his seasons, he led the National Football League in rushing. White served in the Navy in World War II. Then he studied law at Yale and graduated first in his class in 1946. He returned to Colorado to practice law. In 1962, he was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. That same year, the National Football Foundation awarded White its Gold Medal. He was born June 8, 1917, in Fort Collins, Colorado; and grew up in Wellington, Colorado. This was a rural town, population 350. There were only 13 players on the high school football squad, but they played a full season. His longest run in college was a 102-yard kickoff return against Denver in 1936. He retired from the Supreme Court in 1993.
Bobby Wilson (1913-1999)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-08-at-7-36-58-am.png?1612795068)
Tailback/Defensive Back—(SMU) Brooklyn Dodgers 1936 [All-American 1935, College Football Hall of Fame 1973]
Wilson was a great breakaway runner. He possessed fine speed, a great change of pace, and wonderful springy legs for pass receiving and pass defense.
Iron Man Wetzel
Iron Man Wetzel
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/wilsobob66.jpeg?1612795269)
It was fourth down and four yards to go in the final quarter, the score tied at 14-14. Southern Methodist lined up in kick formation at the Texas Christian 37-yard line. Unexpectedly, Bob Finley broke from his punting stance and lofted a long pass toward the goal as Bobby Wilson raced across the chalk lines. Wilson grabbed the falling football on the four, and tumbled into the end zone for the score that gave SMU a 20- 14 victory which many feel was the most important in Southern Methodist gridiron history. Why? Because it led to a Rose Bowl appearance, and despite a 7-0 loss to Stanford, brought $85,000 in revenue - the exact amount needed to pay off the mortgage on the new SMU Stadium. Thus, Wilson's TD catch became known as the $85,000 touchdown. Bobby was one of the game's top little men, an All-America choice in both 1934 and 1935. Coached by Ray Morrison and Matty Bell, his long runs from scrimmage, his punt and kickoff returns and his team leadership not only helped SMU to a 12-game winning streak, but made him the first Southwest back to win All-America laurels. In 1934, Bobby led the Southwest Conference in scoring (48 points), then repeated the feat with 72 points in 1935, when SMU won the Southwest Conference Championship.
George B. "Mike" Wilson (1905-1990)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-8-09-14-am.png?1613056200)
Wingback/Tailback/Fullback—(Lafayette) Frankford Yellowjackets 1929 [All-American 1926, College Football Hall of Fame 1988]
"Lighthorse" Harry E. Wilson (1902-1990)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-8-15-20-am.png?1613056589)
Halfback—(Penn State/Army) [All-American 1926, College Football Hall of Fame 1973; Basketball—All-American 1927; College Lacrosse Hall of Fame 1963]
He was one of Army's greatest backs.
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Albert "Ab" Wright (1905-1995)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-8-51-03-am_orig.png)
Tailback—(Oklahoma A&M/George Washington) Frankford Yellowjackets 1930; Tulsa Professionals (Independent) 1933, Alexandria Celtics (Dixie League) 1936-38 [All-League Dixie League 1936, Second Team 1937; major league baseball player 1935, 1944]
Howard L. "Howie" Yeager (1915-2000)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-11-at-8-57-34-am.png?1613059122)
Wingback/Defensive Back—(Santa Barbara State) Jersey City Giants (AA) 1938, New York Giants 1941; Los Angeles Bulldogs (PCFL) 1945
Wally Yonamine (1925-2011)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-29-at-5-46-08-am.png?1611924460)
Halfback/Defensive Back— Honolulu All-Stars/Leilehua Alumni (Independent) 1946, San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) 1947, Hawaiian Warriors (PCFL/Independent) 1948-49 [first Asian-American to be drafted into pro football and first person of color to play for the 49ers]
Claude "Buddy" Young (1926-1983)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-02-17-at-12-07-44-pm.png?1613588951)
Halfback/Defensive Back/Fullback—(Illinois) Fleet City Bluejackets 1945, New York Yankees (AAFC) 1947-49, New York Yanks 1950-51, Dallas Texans 1952, Baltimore Colts 1953-55 [All-American 1944, College Football Hall of Fame 1968]
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/editor/youngbuddy5.jpeg?1613589170)
In 2015, I traded a Vic Marino 3x5 autograph to an Ohio State collector for a 1945 service football game program filled with autographs. Buddy Young is among the autographs in the program. The collector had purchased the Dec. 16, 1945 Fleet City Bluejackets vs. Fort Warren Broncos football game program in an auction. The program came from the estate of Perry Schwartz, his name embossed in gold on a blue slip cover over the original program.
John Yurchey (1917-1994)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/5/2/135250581/published/screen-shot-2021-01-11-at-8-35-52-pm.png?1610422644)
Halfback/Defensive Back—(Duquesne) Pittsburgh Steelers 1940