The Almost All-Time Cleveland Browns Offense

The Cleveland Browns are a franchise that got off to a fast start at establishing their legend in professional football.

They joined the fledgling All American Football Conference in 1945, and won the leagues championship by the next season.

Cleveland would then win the next three championships, and dominated the AAFC.

The AAFC would fold after 1949, and the Browns jumped to the NFL in 1950.

The Browns proved to the NFL they were a true force to be reckoned with in their first game with the league.

They destroyed the two-time defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, thus setting a tone of what was soon to follow.

Cleveland won the 1950 NFL Championship, and would do so again in 1954 and 1955.

After winning the 1964 championship, the Browns went back to the title game in 1965, 1968, anf 1969 and lost.

The Browns have not been back to a title game since, but did almost make it twice.

Both times they made the AFC Championship Game, only to lose to the Denver Broncos in 1986 and 1987.

The original Cleveland Browns franchised moved to Baltimore after 1995, and were renamed the Ravens.

In 1999, Cleveland was granted an expansion team by the NFL. They were called the Browns, and all of the original Browns records, statistics, and legacy were given to this new incarnation.

Remember, this is a list of players who are not, or perhaps never will be, members of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

The Almost All-Time New England Patriots Offense

Nothing has come easy for the game of football when it comes to the New England area.

It always has seemed to take a backseat to baseball, basketball, and even hockey.

They had their first professional football franchise in 1929, when the Boston Bulldogs came to town.

The Bulldogs were actually the Pottsville Maroons, the 1925 NFL Champions who had their title stripped from them in a controversial move by the league.

They had moved to Boston for financial reasons, but only lasted one season before folding.

The Boston Braves were formed in 1932, but soon moved to Washington D.C. because of the lack of support from the community.

They were a team that featured three Hall Of Fame members, and played their games in Fenway Park.

After losing in the 1936 NFL Championship Game before a sparse crowd, owner George Preston Marshall moved the team out of town. They are now known as the Washington Redskins.

The Boston Yanks came to town in 1944, and struggled to gain a fan following. They left for New York after the 1948 season.

The area would not have another professional football team until the 1960 season.

The American Football League was starting out, and the Boston Patriots were one of their charter teams.

The Patriots did enjoy rather early success, making it to the AFL Championship in 1963.

They also had a tough time gathering a following and a consistent home field.

They bounced all around the New England area, and played on four different home fields in just 11 years before settling into Foxborough Stadium in 1971. Their owner, Billy Sullivan, was determined to make professional football work in the area. His perseverance was a fortunate happening for the entire community.

The Patriots have been competitive each decade of their existence. They appeared in their league championship game in each decade except the 1970’s. That decade saw them win one division title, but fall short of reaching the title game.

The 2000’s have been the best decade the franchise has ever had. The Patriots have won three Super Bowls in four appearances. Some might go as far to say that their popularity may have passed all professional franchises in the area today.

We finish with the offense, and you can see the link to the defense on my profile page.

Remember – This list, as the title implies, consists of players who aren’t, nor maybe never will be, members of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

The Almost All-Time New England Patriots Offense

Nothing has come easy for the game of football when it comes to the New England area.

It always has seemed to take a backseat to baseball, basketball, and even hockey.

They had their first professional football franchise in 1929, when the Boston Bulldogs came to town.

The Bulldogs were actually the Pottsville Maroons, the 1925 NFL Champions who had their title stripped from them in a controversial move by the league.

They had moved to Boston for financial reasons, but only lasted one season before folding.

The Boston Braves were formed in 1932, but soon moved to Washington D.C. because of the lack of support from the community.

They were a team that featured three Hall Of Fame members, and played their games in Fenway Park.

After losing in the 1936 NFL Championship Game before a sparse crowd, owner George Preston Marshall moved the team out of town. They are now known as the Washington Redskins.

The Boston Yanks came to town in 1944, and struggled to gain a fan following. They left for New York after the 1948 season.

The area would not have another professional football team until the 1960 season.

The American Football League was starting out, and the Boston Patriots were one of their charter teams.

The Patriots did enjoy rather early success, making it to the AFL Championship in 1963.

They also had a tough time gathering a following and a consistent home field.

They bounced all around the New England area, and played on four different home fields in just 11 years before settling into Foxborough Stadium in 1971. Their owner, Billy Sullivan, was determined to make professional football work in the area. His perseverance was a fortunate happening for the entire community.

The Patriots have been competitive each decade of their existence. They appeared in their league championship game in each decade except the 1970’s. That decade saw them win one division title, but fall short of reaching the title game.

The 2000’s have been the best decade the franchise has ever had. The Patriots have won three Super Bowls in four appearances. Some might go as far to say that their popularity may have passed all professional franchises in the area today.

We finish with the offense, and you can see the link to the defense on my profile page.

Remember – This list, as the title implies, consists of players who aren’t, nor maybe never will be, members of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

The Almost All-Time Dallas Cowboys Offense

This list, as the title implies, pays tribute to greats NOT in Canton.

The Dallas Cowboys are a team that has etched a significant image in the NFL landscape over a short period of time.

Their inception year was 1960, and this was also when the legendary trio of Tom Landry, Gil Brandt, and Tex Schramm came on board to the team.

This group of men worked quickly into building the Cowboys as a perrenial contender. They would appear in back to back NFL Championship games within just seven years, and would soon set an NFL record for having a winning record twenty straight seasons.

The Cowboys also went to the playoffs eight straight years, an NFL record, then broke that streak by appearing in the playoffs nine straight years. They also have appeared in a record eight Super Bowl games, winning five.

They are a team most either love or hate. This might have mostly spawned from an NFL Films editor dubbing the Cowboys “America’s Team” just before the 1979 season.

This expression has brought the team and league a lot of coin. The Cowboys have sold out a record 160 games in all stadiums they have played in since the 1990 season.

Though Dallas has not been to the Super Bowl since 1995, they are a team most fans speak of as a contender yearly. This aura was created by that trio of Tom, Tex, and Gil, and it should continue in the forseeable future.

I hope you enjoy the list, and any debate on my selections is welcome.

The Almost All-Time Defense will my next post in the upcoming days, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Crazy Canton Cuts : Harold Carmichael

Harold Carmichael
6’8″ 225
Wide Receiver
Philadelphia Eagles
1971 – 1984
14 Seasons
182 Games Played
590 Receptions
8,985 Receiving Yards
79 Touchdowns
4 Pro Bowls
1980 NFL Man Of The Year

Lee Harold Carmichael was a seventh round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1971 NFL Draft. He was the 161st player chosen overall.

Carmichael attended Southern University in his collegiate career. While starting all four years at wide receiver, he never led the Jaguars in receptions.

Allen Jubilee Dunbar led Southern in receptions for two of those seasons, and he would go on to be a third round draft choice by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1972 draft. Though he did not make the team, Dunbar averaged over 19 yards on 23 receptions for the New Orleans Saints the next year. He was out of the league the following season, after playing with the Cleveland Browns.

Carmichael was named All Conference and All American in his senior year, while also serving as the team captain.

Harold Carmichael is a member of the Southern Hall of Fame, the State of Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame.

The Eagles decided to move Carmichael to tight end for his rookie campaign, starting in six of the nine games he played. He led all Eagles tight ends with 20 receptions, which was the fourth most on the team that year.

He was then permanently moved to wide receiver the following season, and he started in five of the 13 games he appeared in. He caught another 20 passes, and scored the first two touchdowns of his career.

The 1973 season saw Carmichael establish himself as one of the top receivers in the league. He led the NFL with 67 receptions for 1,116 yards. His 79.9 receiving yards per game also led the league, which are all career best marks. While scoring nine times, he also ran the ball a career high three times for 42 yards and was named to his first Pro Bowl team.

The Eagles struggled to find a steady quarterback over the next three seasons, and Carmichael suffered somewhat because of this. He caught 147 balls over that time, along with 20 touchdowns, but his yard per catch average never exceeded 13 yards over that time.

Ron Jaworski was named the starting quarterback for the 1977 season, and provided much needed stability for the team. Carmichael averaged 14.5 yards on 42 receptions, along with seven scores, while helping break in the young signal caller.

He averaged a career best 19.5 yards on 55 receptions the next season, gaining 1,072 yards and scoring eight times. He was named to his second Pro Bowl as well, an honor he would attain in each of the two following seasons.

Carmichael caught 100 passes over that time, averaging 17 yards a reception, and scored 20 times. His 11 touchdowns in the 1978 season was a career high.

The 1980 season was special to many Eagles and their fans. The team would win the NFC crown, and appear in Super Bowl XV. Carmichael was a key member of that team. Though Philadelphia lost to the Oakland Raiders in that game, he led led the team with six receptions for 91 yards.

He followed that year up by gaining 1,028 yards on 61 receptions, along with six scores, in the 1981 season. He also caught a pass for a career long 85 yards.

The NFL went on strike in the 1982 season, and this event cut into Carmichael’s production. He was on his way to having another stellar year, catching 35 balls and scoring four times.

Now at 34 years old in 1983, Carmichael was nearing the end of his career. He snagged 38 passes, and scored the last three touchdowns of his career. He also tossed a 45 yard touchdown pass, the only one of his career.

The Eagles then released him after the season completed.

He joined the Dallas Cowboys the next year, and caught one pass for seven yards in the two games he suited up for. Carmichael then decided to retire from the game.

Harold Carmichael’s name is all over the Philadelphia Eagles record books. His 180 games played with the club is the most ever. He is still on top of the teams list for most receptions, reception yards, and receiving touchdowns for a career. He is still ranked 12th in receiving yards for a season, and 18th for receptions in a season.

Carmichael once held an NFL record by catching a pass in 127 straight games, and ranked sixth all time in league history in career receptions at the time of his retirement.

His 590 receptions still rank as the 53rd most in league history, his 8,985 receiving yards is the 42nd most, and his 79 total touchdowns is the 48th most ever.

Harold is also well known for his off the field accomplishments in community work. He was named the 1980 NFL Man of the Year, the Jacksonville Pro Athlete of the Year, and the New Jersey General Assembly Man of the Year.

Carmichael is a member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, and is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll.

I have wondered, through the years, why Carmichael has not been inducted into Canton yet. Looking at his statistics, one might consider him a fringe prospect. If you look beyond that, you can easily see he is worthy.

Carmichael was the target on every down the Eagles dropped back to pass. Not only because of his enormous size, but because of his sure and steady hands. His long strides often got him far into enemy territory, as one can see by his 15 yards per catch average over his career.

He was much more than a very dangerous red zone threat. He was tough, and an excellent blocker. His battles with Pat Fischer, another CCC profilee, are legendary. Those two men would spend several Sunday’s putting welts on each others bodies.

Carmichael had to achieve his successes in an era where the ten yard chuck rule was in play, making it much more difficult to get open. Cornerbacks then were much more adept at man to man coverage than they are in these times. A receiver not only had to get open then, but he had to literally fight his way to the spot on the field where a ball was to be thrown.

Harold Carmichael has joined a long list of many of his contemporaries. This list is of forgotten players on a forgotten era by a society today that has little to no idea of the path paved to present time. Many of the Hall Of Fame voters never saw Carmichael play, nor the era he played in.

You will see inferior players inducted before Carmichael most likely. Men who benefited from the five yard chuck rule, the offensive linemens ability to hold, as well as the defenders inability to hit anyone like they used to.

It is more than a shame. It is a disgrace. Harold Carmichael certainly belongs in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame, but time and opportunity for his respect trudge onward into obscurity.

Notable Players Drafted In 1971 ( * Denotes Canton Inductee )

1. Jim Plunkett, QB, New England
2. Archie Manning, QB, New Orleans
3. Dan Pastorini, QB, Houston Oilers
4. J.D. Hill, WR, Buffalo
6. John Riggins, RB, NY Jets *
8. Frank Lewis, WR, Pittsburgh
9. John Brockington, RB, Green Bay
10. Isiah Robertson, LB, LA Rams
14. Clarence Scott, DB, Cleveland
19. Jack Tatum, DB, Oakland
20. Jack Youngblood, DE, LA Rams *
27. Julius Adams, DE, New England
34. Jack Ham, LB, Pittsburgh *
43. Dan Dierdorf, OT, St. Louis Cardinals *
45. Phil Villapiano, LB, Oakland
48. Charlie Weaver, LB, Detroit
56. Lynn Dickey, QB, Houston
57. Jim Braxton, FB, Buffalo
67. Ken Anderson, QB, Cincinnati
79. Lyle Alzado, DE, Denver
99. Joe Theismann, QB, Miami
104. Dwight White, DE, Pittsburgh
106. Larry Brown, OT, Pittsburgh
142. Doug Dieken, OT, Cleveland
147. Mel Gray, WR, Saint Louis
206. Ron Jessie, WR, Dallas
230. Vern Den Herder, DE, Miami
268. Mike Wagner, DB, Pittsburgh
272. George Starke, OT, Washington

 

Fair Hooker: When a Name Is Not Just Words

Fair Hooker—The Football Player

Fair was the fifth round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns in 1969. He went to college at Arizona State University where he lettered in track and football.

Hooker was part of an impressive receiver corps at ASU. John Pitts and J.D. Hill were drafted in the first round by the Buffalo Bills, albeit four years apart. Larry Walton was drafted by the Detroit Lions the same year Hooker was. Pitts played safety for the Bills, while Hill earned one Pro Bowl berth in his career.

The 1968 season was Hooker’s biggest year on the ASU gridiron. He caught 42 passes for 665 yards. Both were school records at the time, and led the team. He also caught six touchdown passes. He was All-WAC that year in track that year as well. He won the 120-yard hurdles with a time of 14 seconds.

Fair Hooker played six seasons in the NFL. He didn’t play much on offense his rookie year, catching two passes.

Hooker became a bigger part of the Browns offense by his second season. He caught 28 passes and scored the first two touchdowns of his career.

His third NFL season was in 1971, which turned out to be the best season of his career. He established his career highs in catches and reception yardage that year, ending up with 45 catches for 649 yards. He scored once that year as well. Hooker caught 32 passes the next season, to go with two touchdowns.

One of his biggest NFL moments came in 1972. The Browns went 10-4 and earned a Wild Card berth. They faced the Miami Dolphins, who were in the midst of completing the only perfect season in modern day NFL history.

Cleveland gave Miami all they could handle that day. Fair caught a big touchdown pass from Mike Phipps in the fourth quarter. This put the Browns up 14-13. Miami squeaked out the win on a late touchdown.

Hooker got hurt in 1973, and caught 18 passes and scored twice.

Fair was only able to play seven games in 1974. He caught four passes and scored the last touchdown of his career. He retired after that season.

In total, Fair Hooker had 129 receptions for 1,845 yards at a 14.3 YPC average, and scored eight touchdowns in his career.

Fair Hooker certainly has one of the most unique names in all of sports history. He had an excellent career in sports as well.

Was 1975 The Best NFL Draft Ever For Defensive Tackles?

During my Crazy Canton Cuts series, I have come across several outstanding drafts to review.

Whether its coming across a Hall of Fame player drafted early or late in drafts, it is fun to see.

1975 caught my eye especially for defensive lineman.

Rams and Chargers fans may remember this year as being one of the best overall drafts in their teams histories.

The Chargers and Rams both found seven starters each.

San Diego drafted five starters on defense alone.

Here is a review of how excellent a draft that was for linemen especially.

San Diego Chargers :

All they did was draft two multiple Pro Bowl Defensive Tackles in Gary “Big Hands” Johnson and Louie Kelcher.

Then they drafted Hall of Fame Defensive End Fred Dean.

They also drafted cornerback Mike Williams and safety Mike Fuller. They even added offensive tackle Billy Shields and running back Rickey Young.

Young would later be traded to Minnesota for NFL Great guard Ed White, a Crazy Canton Cuts profilee, and once caught 88 passes for the Vikings.

That was an NFL record for running backs for many years. He got 74 the next year, and had 408 for his career.

After dominating for the Bolts, Johnson, Kelcher, and Dean would go on to help the 49ers win a Super Bowl together.

Johnson holds the Chargers’ season record for sacks with 17.5 in 1980.

Los Angeles Rams:

The got guard Dennis Harrah, a Crazy Canton Cut profilee, and tackle Doug France for their offensive line. Both were multiple Pro Bowlers.

They also got two serviceable defensive linemen in DT Mike Fanning and DE Leroy Jones.

They drafted Pro Bowl QB Pat Haden, and Pro Bowl cornerbacks Monte Jackson and Rod Perry as well.

Dallas Cowboys :

You COULD say : they drafted Hall of Fame defensive tackle Randy White. Leaving it at the Manster would work.

Yet, they drafted 3 starting linebackers in Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, Mike Hegman, and Bob Bruenig as well.

They also drafted 2 multiple Pro Bowlers for the offensive line in guard Herbert Scott, and offensive tackle Pat Donovan. They even added special teams gunner Scott Laidlaw, who helped at running back too.

San Francisco 49ers :

They drafted two starting defensive tackles in Jimmy Webb and Cleveland Elam. Elam lasted just 4 years in the NFL, but made 2 Pro Bowls in his injury riddled career.

Ed White said Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly was the best player he ever faced, but said Elam was just as good when healthy.

Remember, White faced Hall of Famers Alan Page, Carl Eller, and Fred Dean, as well as Gary Johnson and Louie Kelcher, in practice every day for years. This is high praise for a man who knows greatness first hand.

Webb also battled injuries in his 6 NFL seasons, but was solid. Another guy drafted that year was wide receiver Freddie Soloman, but by Miami. 49er fans surely remember him.

Cleveland Elam

Denver Broncos :

The Broncs got two key members of their famous Orange Crush defense that year. cornerback Louis Wright, a Crazy Canton Cut profilee, and defensive tackle Rubin Carter.

They also drafted wide receiver Rick Upchurch, a great punt returner, and safety Steve Foley. They could have drafted linebacker Robert Brazile too, yet another Crazy Canton Cut profilee, but they had traded that pick to the Houston Oilers.

Detroit Lions:

They drafted multiple Pro Bowl defensive tackle Doug English. They also added running back Horace King, and wide receiver Leonard Thompson.

 

There were some good defensive ends drafted too that year. Here is a few.

Chicago Bears :

Not only did they get defensive end Mike Hartenstine, but they drafted a few running backs you may have heard of. Hall of Famer Walter Payton and Roland Harper.

They added strong safety Doug Plank, quarterback Bob Avellini, and guard Revie Sorey too.

Hartenstine laid one of the most brutal hits I ever witnessed on a quarterback. It was on Ron Jaworski.

Of course, it knocked Jaworski out of the game. Jaws was back the next week though to set the record for consecutive starts by a quarterback eventually.

If this hit took place today, the NFL might have banned Hartenstine for life.

Ahhhh, when MEN played FOOTBALL!

WISH I could show you, but the No Fun League took the clip off of youtube.

The New York Giants drafted George Martin. He scored five touchdowns in his 14 year career with the Big Blue as a defensive end. Many know what a great player George was, but I’d like to mention what a great man he is.

George walked across the ENTIRE United States for a 9/11 charity. He raised money and awareness, but most importantly, he raised the spirits of many!

Bless you George Martin!!

In summary, you see a few Hall of Famers in Randy White and Fred Dean. Two guys are on the Canton fringe in Gary Johnson and Doug English. Carter and Kelcher were fantastic as well. Elam was one of the best in his short time, and guys like Webb and Fanning were very solid.

What do you think?

If you know of a better class of DT’s in one draft : tell me.

The Almost All-Time Pittsburgh Steelers: Defense

This continuing series pays tribute to greats who aren’t, or may never will be, members of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a rich tradition and one of the longest histories of all teams in the NFL. They originally were named the Pirates.

They have been in Pittsburgh since 1933, and are the fifth-oldest franchise in the league today. They twice merged with other teams during World War II due to the inability to dress enough players to form a complete team.

They merged with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 1943 season and were called the Steagles.

The 1944 season saw them merge with the Chicago Cardinals. They got dubbed the Carpets by many, or Card-Pitt.

Defense has always been king in the Steel City, and many of the best defenders in NFL history have been Steelers.

Hope you enjoy this list.

Crazy Canton Cuts : Coy Bacon

Coy Bacon
6’4″ 270
Defensive End
1968 – 1981
14 Seasons
180 Games Played
130 Sacks
2 Touchdowns
3 Pro Bowls

Leander McCoy Bacon was an undrafted rookie signed by the Los Angeles Rams right before the 1968 season. Bacon had just come from playing in the Continental Football League.

Coy had signed with the Charleston Rockets in 1966, after leaving Jackson State University upon completion of his sophomore year.

At JSU, Bacon played linebacker and defensive end. While playing with the Rockets, Coy was named an All-Star as a defensive end in 1966.

Other NFL luminaries like Bill Walsh, Ken Stabler, and Garo Yepremian also were in the Continental Football League.

Coy Bacon is a member of the Jackson State University Hall Of Fame.

Coy joined a Rams team that had one of the best defensive lines in football, featuring Hall Of Famers Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen.

They were called “The Fearsome Foursome”, and Bacon played just 7 games as a reserve in his rookie year. Coy cracked the starting lineup the next year, and started 13 games at defensive tackle.

He was moved to defensive end in 1970, recorded 20 sacks,and took a fumble 14 yards for a touchdown. Bacon then had 21 sacks and intercepted a pass the next year.

Coy made his first Pro Bowl Team in 1972, and then was traded to the San Diego Chargers after that season as part of a blockbuster deal. He picked off a pass that year, and took it 80 yards for a touchdown. Bacon also led the Chargers in sacks in two of his three seasons with them.

Right after the 1975 season, the Chargers traded Bacon to the Cincinnati Bengals for Hall Of Fame Wide Receiver Charlie Joiner.

Coy responded with 21.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries for 48 yards and a safety. He was named to the Pro Bowl Team. Coy then made his last Pro Bowl Team the next year for the Bengals, despite missing two games.

The Bengals then traded Bacon to the Washington Redskins right before 1978. Coy was the pass rusher the Redskins desperately needed, and he recorded double digits in sacks in each of his first three seasons with them.

Coy was 39 years old in 1981, and started the three games he played before being injured for the rest of the season. The Redskins released him in the off season, but Coy was not done playing.

He joined the Washington Federals of the United States Football League in 1983, and had a few good games. He then retired permanentely after that year.

Coy played in an era where sacks were not a recorded statistic. Some researchers have credited him with over 130 sacks in his career. If you discount the three games he played in 1981, you can easily see he averaged ten sacks every year of his career. That includes his first two seasons as a defensive tackle.

Bacon was one of the best pass rushers I have seen play the game. He was noted as a character who would not like to practice during the week of a game, reserving his energies for Sunday. He wasn’t always stout against the run in the latter part of his career, but he made several spectacular plays when his team needed it most.

He is considered a fringe player for many as far as induction into Canton, but I look at a guy like Fred Dean get in and wonder why Coy is.

He was just as good a pass rusher, and had 37 more sacks than Dean did. Coy mostly played on lesser defensive lines too, meaning the primary focus was on him. Bacon was also better versus the run.

Coy Bacon is a victim of times passing, as the newer voters don’t probably know who he is. He never played on any teams that won anything, so he never got the press he probably deserved.

But even if you look at the statistics, like many do, you can see Coy Bacon is worthy of induction into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

Notable Players Drafted In 1968   (* Denotes Hall Of Fame)

1. Ron Yary, OT, Minnesota *
2. Bob Johnson, C, Cincinnati
3. Claude Humphrey, DE, Atlanta
4. Russ Washington, DT/ OT, San Diego
8. Larry Csonka, FB, Miami *
9. Haven Moses, WR, Buffalo
11. Greg Landry, QB, Detroit
13. MacArthur Lane, RB, St. Louis Cardinals
14. Tim Rossovich, LB, Philadelphia
15. Forrest Blue, C, San Francisco
23. John Williams, OT, Baltimore Colts
26. Bill Lueck, G, Green Bay
31. Curley Culp, DT, Denver
33. Charlie West, DB, Minnesota
42. Bob Atkins, DB, St. Louis
43. Bill Lenkaitus, C, SanDiego
47. John Garlington, LB, Cleveland
48. Mike Livingston, QB, Kansas City
52. Ken Stabler, QB, Oakland
69. Skip Vanderbundt, LB, San Francisco
73. Dick Anderson, DB, Miami
74. Charlie Sanders, TE, Detroit *
77. Elvin Bethea, DE, Houston Oilers *
80. Art Shell, OT, Oakland *
81. Dick Himes, OT, Green Bay
82. Paul Robinson, RB, Cincinnati
84. Jess Phillips, RB, Cincinnati
98. Johnny Fuller, DB, San Francisco
105. Jim Beirne, WR, Houston
110. Charlie H. Smith, RB, Oakland
117. Mike Bragg, P, Washington
118. Jim Kiick, RB, Miami
124. Mark Nordquist, G, Philadelphia
127. Cecil Turner, WR, Chicago
130. Blaine Nye, G, Dallas
156. Essex Johnson, RB, Cincinnati
159. D.D. Lewis, LB, Dallas
167. Oscar Reed, RB, Minnesota
176. Bob Brunet, RB, Washington
181. Willie Holman, DE, Chicago
190. George Atkinson, DB, Oakland
222. Paul Smith, DT, Denver
249. John Outlaw, DB, Boston Patriots
261. Tommy Hart, DE, San Francisco
275. Greg Brezina, LB, Atlanta
277. Marv Hubbard, RB, Oakland
288. Henry Davis, LB, NY Giants
289. Rich Coady, C, Chicago
291. Dennis Partee, K, San Diego
297. John Pergine, LB, LA Rams
301. Bob Trumpy, TE, Cincinnati
305. Jim Cheyunski, LB, Boston
317. Jeff Queen, RB, San Diego
323. Harold Jackson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
330. Charlie Greer, DB, Denver
351. Dean Halverson, LB, LA Rams
357. Marlin Briscoe, WR, Denver
375. Robert Holmes, RB, Kansas City
417. Rocky Bleier, RB, Pittsburgh
428. Larry Cole, DE, Dallas
441. Bob Lee, QB, Minnesota

 

CHARM CITY SPORTS HISTORY

Baltimore may be known today for crab cakes, or perhaps the Orioles and Ravens, to many tourists. The city is much more than that.

It was where our National Anthem was born, it is where the first Washington Monument was erected (Baltimore was once known as “monument city” due to its skyline), and was an integral part of Americas success in the fight for Independence in the Revolutionary War.

The British called the city a “nest of pirates”. It has survived enemy occupancy, devastating fires, and riots. The people have maintained in such fine fashion that it is long known as Charm City. Sports have been a very big part of the history of Baltimore.

Baseball has always been king in Baltimore. The very first Orioles team was formed in 1882 and lasted until 1899. This team invented the famous “Baltimore Chop”, “small ball” and the first no-hitter from 60 feet 6 inches was thrown by an Oriole pitcher.

Some notable players on that club were John McGraw, Wee Willie Keeler, Hughie Jennings, and Joe Kelley.

They also played soccer in the winter months to stay in shape. They then became the first U.S. Soccer Champions, but never defended their title due to the inability to organize the event for several reasons.

In 1899, the National League eliminated the Orioles. John McGraw formed a Oriole team in the American League in 1901. The Orioles stayed in Baltimore for two seasons before becoming the New York Highlanders.

A minor league team was formed in 1903 and were also called the Orioles. This team employed local hero Babe Ruth in 1914.

There was another minor league team in Baltimore called the Terrapins. Their popularity forced the Orioles to disband after 1914. Ruth was sold to the Boston Red Sox after being turned down by the Philadelphia A’s (wanna talk about a curse?). The Terrapins were disbanded after 1915.

The Orioles would reform in the minor leagues in 1916 and lasted until 1953. That is when the Saint Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and were renamed the Orioles and now occupy Camden Yards. Coincidentally, the house where Babe Ruth was born sat in the general area of center field in Camden Yards.

 
The Baltimore Black Sox were first formed in 1916 as an independent team and stayed that way until 1922. In 1923, they joined the Eastern Colored League. They stayed in that league until 1928.

They then joined the American Negro League for 1 season in 1929. This team featured the “Million Dollar Infield”, which referred to their worth if they had caucasian skin. They won the leagues championship easily, then went back to being an independent team until 1931. Satchel Paige pitched for them in 1930. In 1932, they joined the East-West League and won the championship, then moved to the National Negro League in 1933 to 1934 , when they disbanded.

 
The Baltimore Elite Giants played in the Negro National League from 1938 to 1948. They won the championship in 1939. They moved over to the Negro America League in 1949 and won the championship. The league, and team, folded after 1950. The teams legacy includes Hall of Fame players Roy Capanella, Junior Gilliam, Joe Black, and Leon Day.

Football is a strong second love to many in Baltimore. There are currently two indoor teams, the Mariners and Blackbirds. They even had a Canadian Football League team, the Stallions (called the Colts by locals still upset at the NFL Colts for moving), for 2 seasons. The Stallions are the only American based team to win the CFL Championship (1995). They also had a USFL team for one year, the Stars (which had moved from Philadelphia), and won the leagues final championship game, as the league folded, in 1985.

The Colts were first formed in 1947. They played in the All American Football Conference until 1949. Though they were not strong financially, they did join the NFL in 1950 (along with the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers). They lasted one year, with Hall of Fame QB Y.A. Tittle at the helm.

In 1953, the current Colts franchise was born in Baltimore. They would stay in Baltimore until 1983, when the infamous “Midnight Move” transpired on their way to Indianapolis

The Baltimore Colts were the first team to use cheerleaders. This team was “Americas Team”. Every kid in America almost had a Johnny Unitas haircut and the team was beloved even in opposing cities. They won the NFL Championship 1958, ’59, and ’68. They also won Super Bowl V in 1970.

They also won a conference championship in 1964 before losing to the Browns in the championship. They won division titles in 1968 (Coastal), 1970, ’75’, ’76, and ’77 (East).

Several Hall of Famers played on these teams. Johnny Unitas, still considered by many to be the greatest quarterback to have ever played the game, Raymond Berry, John Mackey, Art Donovan, Ted Hendricks, Jim Parker, Lenny Moore, Gino Marchetti, as well as coaches Weeb Eubank and Don Shula. All of those players numbers are retired.

The first Colt to have his number retired is not in Canton, but should be, is Buddy Young. Young was one of the first black pro football players. He was diminutive, at 5’4″, but blazing fast. Young once showed off his speed by beating a racehorse in a 100 yard dash inside of Memorial Stadium. Young is the shortest man to have ever played in the NFL.

The way the Colts left Baltimore was classless by Bob Irsay, and many still find his actions unforgivable to this day. It is STILL is a VERY sore subject to many in Baltimore. Coincidentally, Art Modell pulled a similar stunt on Cleveland (without the theatrics of a midnight move) with the Browns by moving them to Baltimore in 1996 and renaming them the Ravens. The Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV in 2000.

Lacrosse is also a very popular sport in the area. Though there have been 3 pro teams that failed, the Tribe, Thunder, and Bayhawks, the college scene has long boasted elite teams in Johns Hopkins and Maryland University.

 Hopkins has won 9 NCAA titles, 29 USILA titles, and 6 ILA titles. They also represented the United States in the 1928 and ’32 Olympics. In 1974, Hopkins went to Australia to win the World Lacrosse Championships.

Marylands men’s team has won 2 NCAA Championships, while their women’s team has won 10 NCAA Championships since 1981.

Basketball also has a rich tradition in Baltimore. The Bullets were first formed in 1944, playing in the American Basketball League until 1947. They won the 1946 championship. The Bullets joined the Basketball Association of America in 1948 and won the leagues championship. They lasted until 1949. In 1949, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League to form todays NBA. The Bullets lasted in the NBA until 1955.

Hall of Famer Buddy Jeanette was a player, then coach of the team. He was succeeded by Hall of Fame coach Clair Bee. In 1963, a new Bullets team was formed in the NBA. This team lasted until 1972. The team had good success and won division titles in 1969, ’71, and ’72. They won the conference title in 1971 before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Finals.

Hall of Famers like Wes Unseld, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Gus Johnson, and Elvin Hayes played basketball for Baltimore. In 1973, the team moved 40 miles down I-95 to Landover, Maryland and were renamed the Capitol Bullets before changing it to the Washington Bullets the following season. This team is now known as the Wizards.

Soccer has done fairly well in Baltimore. The Bays were formed in 1967 in the North American Soccer League, yet dissolved in 1969. They made one championship in 1967, but lost.

The Comets came into town in 1974, but left for San Diego in 1976.

The Baltimore Blast was formed in 1980 and joined the Major Indoor Soccer League. They won the championship in 1983-84. The league, and team, folded in 1992.

The Baltimore Spirit were formed in 1992 and joined the National Professional Soccer League. The team was renamed the Blast in 1998 and joined a newly formed Major Indoor Soccer League. The team is still playing and has won 4 championships in 2002 to 2004, then 2005-06, and 2007-08. The team has had 10 Hall of Fame players and 1 Hall of Fame coach in their organization.

Hockey had moderate success in Baltimore. The Clippers were formed in 1962 and joined the World Hockey Association. They left for the Southern Hockey League in 1977 before disbanding at seasons end.

In 1975, the Blades were part of the World Hockey Association. The team folded after that season.

There was a minor league hockey team called the Skipjacks. They were formed in 1981 and lasted until 1993. They were affiliated with NHL teams such as the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals. They were part of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League their inaugural year before moving to the American Hockey League.

Such NHL players like Don Beaupre, Phil Bourque, and Olaf Kolzig played with them, as well as NHL coaches Claude Julien, Ted Nolan, and Michel Therrien. Steve Carlson (one of the “Hanson Brothers” in the movie Slap Shot) was also on the team. They won one championship in 1983-84. The team was relocated, and still exists today, as the Portland Pirates.

This is a brief history of sports in Charm City. If you ever find yourself in Baltimore to eat a crab cake, or to watch the Ravens, Blast, or Orioles, take time to look around and soak in the atmosphere. Baltimore is a great city full of many fine people.

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