New York Yanks (5-1) 35, Green Bay Packers (2-4) 17
Thursday October 19th 1950 (at New York)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(NEW YORK) - Battered, bruised and certainly a little tired after their rugged battle with the Chicago Bears last Sunday, the new Green Bay Packers dropped a slam bang thriller to a fresh and well rested New York Yank eleven before a disappointing "crowd" of 13,661 fans in huge Yankee stadium Thursday night. The Packers muffed four chances to score - twice inside the 10-yard line - and presented their murderously-swift opponents with two gift touchdowns during the sixth NFL contest for both clubs. That about explains the cold mechanics of the Yanks' second victory over Green Bay (they won 44-31 here Oct. 8, before 23,891 fans), but the Packers were in the game until midway in the fourth quarter when Chris Iverson intercepted a Paul Christman pass and ran eight yards for an easy TD. The Packers provided the spectacular. Teddy Fritsch, the Packers' field goal expert for years, got off a tremendous 52-yard boot early in the second quarter to narrow the count to 14-3. The partisan crowd responded with a huge ovation as the kick, splitting the uprights with a good five yards to spare, missed the National league record by only two yards. Glenn Presnell of Detroit established the league FG mark of 54 yards against Green Bay in 1934. It was the second 52-yarder in the history of the league, Lee Artoe booting the first for the Bears against New York's Giants in 1940. That kick spurred the Packers on because, three minutes later, they were on the Yanks 15, where the officials killed off a first down attempt on a hastily-placed ball. But the Packers slammed back again as Rebel Steiner made the first of two interceptions, the TD payoff coming on a 16-yard pass from Christman to Ted Cook in the end zone. Only four points behind, the Packers quickly moved to midfield where a fumble by Al Baldwin on the tailend of a 15-yard pass backfired into a 42-yard scoring TD from George Ratterman to Art Weiner, leaving the score at 21-10 at the half. Actually, it should have been 14-10 because the Yanks' second TD was on the gift side. After Zollie Toth crashed over from the three to climax a 48-yard drive to start the game, the Yanks swarmed over Tobin Rote on the Bay 7, Jack Russell falling on the ensuing fumble in the end zone for the free TD. The Yanks threatened to run away in a spectacular third period as Ratterman and Buddy Young combined on a 69-yard pass play. But the Packers went 16 yards better as Rote and Baldwin worked a nifty 85-yard TD maneuver. That was the extent of the Packer scoring but a moment later they scorched to the Yank seven on Christman's passes to Floyd Reid and Billy Grimes - only to miss fire. Again in the fourth heat after Iverson grabbed Christman's pass for a TD, the Pack drilled to the Yank 10 but an interception ended the last hope. The Packer backers-up, led by Clayton Tonnemaker, played hob with the Yank rushers and the best the three colored speedsters gained by rushing was 22 yards by Sherman Howard. Tonnemaker made a raft of tackles at the line of scrimmage, and in the Yank backfield while Alex Wizbicki and Steiner messed up a lot of running plays. As it turned out, the big differences were the two free touchdowns, without which would have left the Yanks with 21 points, and the four failures to score from deep in Yank territory. Little Mr. Reid came off 92 yards in eight trips to lead all runners, including the league's top ground gainer, Toth, who snagged 60 in 15 attempts. Grimes, who entered the game three yards behind Toth in league statistics, tried eight times for 22 yards, while Larry Coutre got 32 in four tries. Grimes, after the first quarter, played back alone on punts and got off a 52-yard return to the Yank 30 on the last play of the first quarter. But a 14-yard loss for Christman on a pass attempt set the stage for Fritsch's field goal. As the game progressed, Yank punter Spec Sanders wisely aimed the ball away from Grimes, twice booting out of bounds on the Packer eight-yard line. Here are the details, and you'll note that the Packers tried a daring tackle-eligible play on fourth down, plus a quick lineup play after a punt: The Yanks threatened to blow the Packers back to Green Bay in the first quarter. Young took Fritsch's opening kickoff on the goal line and raced back 47 yards and the Yanks had a touchdown seven plays later. The big blow besides consistent gains by Toth, Taliaferro and Young was a spectacular catch of a 25-yard Ratterman pass on the Packer 7. Toth rammed it over on third down and Adams converted. The Packers' kid backfield of Rote, Coutre, Boedeker and Cloud started on offense and had little luck. The middle of the Yanks caved in on Rote on third down, forcing him to fumble. Russell recovered on the five and and raced into the end zone for the score. Adams converted again and it was 14-0. The Packers' young backfield managed three yards next time and Girard had to punt. The Yanks promptly slammed from their own 15, with Ratterman passing to Young for 23 as a starter, to the Packer 15 where the Bays stiffened. Adams tried a field goal from the 23 and it went wide. The Bays stated to come to life as Rote hurled to Reid for 26 yards and a first down at midfield. Grimes ran for five and then took a pass from Rote for 14 yards to the 28 where Joe Golding intercepted a third down Rote pass on the five and returned to the 25. With Tonnemaker, Steiner and Summerhays busting in, the Packer forced the Yanks to punt for the first time. Grimes, standing alone on the 18, took Spec Sanders' kick on the 18 and wheeled 52 yards up the sidelines to the Yank 30. With Christman getting smacked back 14 yards trying to pass on third down, Fritsch got off his 52-yard field goal and the crowd gave him a tremendous hand. The kind noise spurred the Packers some as they forced Sanders to punt. The Packers tried a quick play after the punt but the officials wouldn't allow it. On the second down, Reid ripped off right end and cut inside for 46 yards to the Yank 24. Grimes ripped eight yards in two tries and Christman made a yard on a quarterback sneak. The officials messed up the Packers' first down as Grimes advanced two yards but was tossed back. The officials put the ball down on the 15 instead of placing it at (legally) the farthest point of advance. The Packers got the ball right back when Steiner intercepted Ratterman's pass on the Yank 30 and again charged to the 25. Christman fired to Cook for nine and then to Cook again for 16 in the end zone for the score. Fritsch's kick was good. Green Bay quickly got its hands back on the ball thanks to sharp tackles by Tonnemaker, Alex Wizbicki and Carl Schuette, who tossed Ratterman for a 14-yard loss. Grimes ripped off seven yards to the 27 and Reid hit the middle for 22 yards to midfield. After Grimes and Canadeo were held at the line, Christman threw to Baldwin for 15 yards but Al fumbled and Ray Poole recovered on the Yank 40. The Yanks quickly made it 21-10 as Toth ran for eight and Ratterman hurled to Art Weiner for 10 and then for 42 yards for the score. Weiner got behind Steiner on the five. Adams converted. After the Packers missed fire to start the second half, the Yanks made it 28-10 with an easy one. Ratterman pitcjed a wide flat pass to Young who zoomed three Packers for a 69-yard pass-run TD play. Wally Dreyer caught up to him on the Pack 35 but slid off. Adams converted again. Girard and Sanders exchanged punts and the Packers lashed back with a seven-pointer. On first down on the 15, Rote lined a long pass to Baldwin who took it on the Yank 25, pulled out of the grip of a Yank and went the distance, the play covering 85 yards. Fritsch's kick was good and that was the extent of the Bay scoring, though they continued to threat. Fritsch kicked off three times and the Yanks finally started from their 24. The Packers were offside on the first boot. The second, from the 35, was an onside kick but it went out of bounds. The third, from the 30, was a low skidder down the middle, Howard taking it on the 22 and moving two yards. Howard moved 18 yards around the Packer left end and Carl Schuette was banished for fighting, giving the Yanks 15 more yards and a first down on the Bay 37. Wizbicki slashed in to smash Taliaferro for a six-yard loss and Howard recovered his own fumble for a 10-yard loss. Steiner then made his second interception on the Packer 40 and moved back to midfield. The Packers immediately moved into scoring land but again the attack failed. Christman hurled to Reid for a 20-yard gain and then to Grimes for 21 yards to the Yank 10. Reid lost four at guard and Christman pitched to Baldwin for seven yards to the seven. The attack fizzled as Christman's pass to Grimes went wide and his pass to Baldwin was broken up on the goal line. As the game moved into the fourth quarter, Sanders punted out of bounds on the Packer 8 to put the Bays in a hole but Larry Coutre scooted up the middle for 31 yards. Rote fired a pass to Bob Forte for nine and Canadeo addded three for the first down on the Yank 49. Again the attack stalled and, worse yet, Girard was forced to run instad of punting on fourth down as Bruce Alford broke in to block it. Girard was thrown back on the Packer 38. A five-yard penalty for too much time, and a 10-yard loss for Howard on the end of a Tonnemaker tackle, forced Sanders to kick and again he booted out of bounds on the eight. This time, the punt paid off. After Canadeo got no blocking on an end run. Christman's short pass over the middle was intercepted by Iverson who ran 10 yards for the score. Adams converted and it was 35-17. With time running out, the Packers, starting on their 38, gambled daringly and succeeded. It was fourth down and 17 yards to go as a Rote to Coutre pass lost seven. Then, instead of punting, Christman lashed a short pass to Leon Manley on a tackle-eligible play for a gain of 16 yards to the 50. Christman hurled to Reid for six yards and the Yanks interfered with Baldwin on Christman's next pass and the Bays had a first down on the 23. Christman hit Cook for seven to the 16 and on third down after a Christman-to-Grimes pass mised fire, interference was called on a pass to Cook on the 10. With a chance to score, Christman threw low to Reid on the goal line and Rote tried his luck. His first was incomplete to Baldwin, and his next bounced out of Baldwin's mitts on this one. On fourth down, Christman's pass was intercepted by Golding on the one. The Yanks moved up to their own 11 as the game ended.
GREEN BAY - 0 10 7 0 - 17
NY YANKS - 14 7 7 7 - 35
GREEN BAY NEW YORK YANKS
First Downs 14 16
Rushing-Yards-TD 32-147-0 35-106-1
Att-Comp-Yd-TD-Int 39-16-246-2-3 23-12-244-2-2
Total Yards 240 244
Fumbles-lost 6-2 3-0
Yards penalized 6-40 6-58
SCORING
1ST - NYY - Zollie Toth, 2-yard run (Chet Adams kick) NEW YORK YANKS 7-0
1ST - NYY - Jack Russell, 5-yard fumble return (Adams kick) NEW YORK YANKS 14-0
2ND - GB - Ted Fritsch, 52-yard field goal NEW YORK YANKS 14-3
2ND - GB - Ted Cook, 16-yard pass from Paul Christman (Fritsch kick) NEW YORK YANKS 14-10
2ND - NY - Art Weiner, 42-yard pass from George Ratterman (Adams kick) NEW YORK YANKS 21-10
3RD - NYY - Buddy Young, 69-yard pass from Ratterman (Adams kick) NEW YORK YANKS 28-10
3RD - GB - Baldwin, 85-yard pass from Rote (Fritsch kick) NEW YORK YANKS 28-17
4TH - NYY - Duke Iverson, 10-yard interception return (Adams kick) NEW YORK YANKS 35-17
RUSHING
GREEN BAY - Breezy Reid 8-92, Larry Coutre 2-32, Billy Grimes 8-22, Tony Canadeo 5-6, Paul Christman 1-2, Bill Boedeker 3-1, Tobin 2-1, Jug Girard 2-(-10)
NEW YORK YANKS - Zollie Toth 15-60 1 TD, Sherman Howard 8-32, Buddy Young 5-18, George Taliaferro 6-5, George Ratterman 1-(-9)
PASSING
GREEN BAY - Paul Christman 25-11-117 1 TD 2 INT, Tobin Rote 14-5-129 1 TD 1 INT
NEW YORK YANKS - George Ratterman 23-12-244 2 TD 2 INT
RECEIVING
GREEN BAY - Ted Cook 5-48 1 TD, Al Baldwin 3-106 1 TD, Billy Grimes 2-35, Breezy Reid 2-32, Willie Manley 1-18, Bob Forte 1-10, Tony Canadeo 1-3, Larry Coutre 1-(-6)
NEW YORK YANKS - Dan Edwards 3-31, Buddy Young 2-92 1 TD, Art Weiner 2-52 1 TD, Jack Russell 2-33, George Taliaferro 2-24, Sherman Howard 1-12
DOCTOR DIDN'T ORDER IT BUT PACKERS TAKE A VACATION
OCT 21 (Green Bay) - The Packers today continued a vacation that the doctor didn't order. It was enforced by (1) the World Series and (2) an open date in the NFL schedule. The 16-day layoff from NFL competition - probably the longest midseason idle period in Packer history - officially closes on Nov. 5 when the Packers resume action at Baltimore. The following Sunday, Nov. 12, the Packers meet Los Angeles in Milwaukee after which they'll invade Detroit Nov. 19; battle the San Francisco Forty Niners at City stadium Nov. 26, and then close regular season play on the west coast, facing Los Angeles Dec. 3 and San Francisco Dec. 10. Here's how the vacation came about. Originally, Green Bay was scheduled to platy the Yanks in New York on Oct. 8 and the return game was to be played at City stadium Oct. 22 (next Sunday). The baseball Yankees, however, won the American league pennant and needed the park on Oct. 8. So, the Yank-Packer game on that date was switched to Green Bay and the return game in New York was carded for Oct. 19 (last Thursday). The Yanks couldn't play on Oct. 22 in NY because the Giants are home that day - against the Browns, at that...BLAME BASEBALL YANKEES: When the schedule was arranged by Commissioner Bert Bell last spring, the Packers received Oct. 29 as their open date. Thus, our boys are out of work on two successive Sundays - Oct. 22 and 29. The Packers can blame the baseball Yankees for the extended layoff and a circumstance that required them to play the hated Chicago Bears and the powerful Yanks in the short distance of four days.
And it's difficult to figure out which is worse - (1) playing the Bears and Yanks with practically no rest in between or (2) the long layoff which could dull the club's intricate offense and sharpness in general. Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani, taking note of the fact that the Bays finished battles with the Bears, the Yanks, the Bears and Yanks in that order, will call the Bays back to practice Wednesday morning. They'll work gradually up to the Baltimore game. There has been some discussion of an exhibition game for Oct. 29, but nothing is definite yet. The Bears, incidentally, will play Richmond, Va., in a non-league game tomorrow - the Bears' open date...PRACTICALLY UNABLE TO WALK: The weekend rest will give the Packers a good opportunity to shake off injuries incurred in both the Bear and Yank games. Some of the Packers came out of the Yank test practically unable to walk because they hadn't had time to get over soreness received in the Bear test. Right end Abner Wimberly was held out of the Yank game because of rib injuries sustained in the Bear game. Captain Dick Wildung played on a sore ankle and tackle Joe Spencer went the route on offense despite a sore shoulder...The big game Sunday sends the Browns against the Giants in New York. They'll be fighting for the American conference lead. Other contests send Baltimore to Los Angeles, Chicago's Cardinals to Washington, Detroit to San Francisco and Philadelphia to Pittsburgh...PACKER PACKINGS: A couple of truckloads of Wisconsin GI's stationed at Camp Kilmer, N.J., came in for the Packer-Yank contest. They included Ed Paplham, Jr., Dick Johnson, Bob Peot, Bob DeMuth, Dean Flietner, Ralph Van Oss and Vernon Beauleau. Orv Thomas of Green Bay, stationed with the Coast Guard in New York, assisted with Packer equipment. Coming over a convention in Atlantic City to cheer the Packers was Tom Lutsey of Green Bay...When Chris Iverson intercepted Paul Christman's pass and ran eight yards for a touchdown, it was the first time Paul ever had one of his passes run back for a TD. Christman said he couldn't understand it. "The backers-up were faked out of position (thinking it was a run) and I had plenty of 'stuff" on the ball; it's funny he was able to hang onto it much less get there," Paul remarked...We can't figure out New York's pro football fandom. Only 13,661 persons turned out - more than 10,000 less than the attendance for the Packer-Yank game in City stadium Oct. 8. Yet, the Yanks are certainly one of the more colorful and more powerful clubs in the circuit. The Yanks are leading the league in scoring and have speed to burn. The Yankee stadium PA announcer referred to the Yanks as "your Yanks" in announcements during the game. Maybe, the Yanks will have to sell themselves by winning a championship. Well, maybe they will! Jack Mara, co-owner with his father of the New York football Giants, said he was "happy to see that the Packers are drawing well and looking good on the field."...Joe Labrum, publicity chief of the NFL, represented the league in the absence of Commissioner Bell, who remained in Philadelphia due to the illness of his wife.
ABE WATNER WANTS TO BE COLT OWNER
OCT 21 (Baltimore) - Abe Watner said Friday he'd like to be owner of the Baltimore Colts, since he's putting up the money to keep them going. As it is, Watner gets only the title of president for this season for guaranteeing all financial losses of the NFL team. Losses seem certain since the Colts never have made money in four seasons. This year, they're operating on a $820,000 budget and home attendance has to average 23,303 to break even. The gate has averaged 18,627 in three games so far. Watner revealed he became president in a peculiar agreement with a board of directors that has been operating the Colts since 1948. He got a one-year contract as president for guaranteeing "financial stability". This meant underwriting all losses. However, this is a way out for him if the board doesn't want him in. "Any money I lay out this year is covered by notes," said Watner. "If the stockholders revert to ownership, the corporation takes up the notes for the 1950 losses." He has asked the board to decide whether it wants to give him sole ownership next year or take over his notes. "As a corporation," Watner said, "they don't want to put any more money into the organization." William F. Hilgenberg, chairman of the board whose stockholders put up $200,000 in 1948 and 1949, said a decision will be made next week. He said an alternative to Watner's sole ownership or reversion to the corporation might be formation of an entirely new group to underwrite the Colts. "Regardless of what plan is worked out," Hilgenberg promised, "professional football is assured here next year."
MIGHT-HAVE-BEENS CAN'T CHANGE SCORE
OCT 21 (Milwaukee Sentinel-Lloyd Larson) - Hashing over the might-have-beens after a losing ball game is just as futile as second guessing - and just as tempting, especially when you have the bundle of dream stuff left over after the Packers' 35-17 defeat by the New York Yanks in Yankee Stadium Thursday night. Besides, it's fun. Consider these situations and it becomes apparent that Gene Ronzani's Cinderella boys did another great job of recovering after the brutally discouraging start. On the first play from scrimmage following the Yanks' initial touchdown blast, Tobin Rote fired a long pass intended for Larry Coutre, who was in the clear. If the pitch was six inches lower or Coutre a yard farther downfield, the score would have been tied AND the Yanks wouldn't have had the chance to pick up their gift second marker a moment later. Rebel Steiner dropped a touchdown pass on the Yanks' five with the score 14-0. A few plays later Joe Golding intercepted another flip to snuff out the first real countercharge. Billy Grimes' 51 yard punt return would have been an 82 yard scoring thriller if he had had another foot or two of operating room along the sidelines. At that it took a great save by Spec Sanders, the kicker and last defender, to stop Billy the Whiz...REID ALMOST WENT THE ROUTE: Floyd Reid was close - oh, so close - to going all the way on his 47 yard dash to the Yanks' 24 early in the second quarter. The drive was stalled when the Packers failed to make first down on the 14 by an inch or two. Everybody on the team, incidentally, thought Grimes made it with plenty to spare on a fourth down quick opener before he was hit and pushed back. That failure was balanced, fortunately, when Steiner's interception paved the way for Paul Christman's scoring pass to Ted Cook. Four minutes before the end of the half, with the score still 14-10, Al Baldwin fumbled after a 16 yard gain on a pass to the Yanks' 35. Without the bobble, the Packers might have led at the half, 17-14. Instead, the Yank opportunists went on to score again to lead, 21-10, at the intermission. A possible 14 point differential there alone. Clarence McGeary had his hands on Buddy Young on the line of scrimmage but couldn't quite hang on. Result: The little man who runs like a scared rabbit was off on his third quarter 70 yard TD jaunt. "A half inch closer and I'd have him pinned," McGeary remarked sadly after the game...SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR: Though the score was 28-17 against them, the Bays were still in there pitching and challenging when they swept to the Yanks' seven yard line after Steiner's second interception late in the third period. If they could have knocked it over, there's no telling what might have happened. But they couldn't make it. And there went their last chance. None of this is meant to be criticism of Rote, Steiner, Coutre, Reid, Grimes, Baldwin, McGeary or any of their teammates. The "ifs" only emphasize the fact that they played outstanding ball against one of the best clubs in the league - terrific ball considering the almost impossible handicap of tangling with those Yanks only four days after the Bear game. They were dog tired, bruised and battered. But, once they got warmed up, no one could have guessed it. Teams with the will to play are that way. Looking back on Yank games, it almost seems they have the hex on the Cinderellas. At Green Bay, too, there was a series of wrong things at the right time. A fielding error on a TD pitch. An overthrow on a pass that could have been the game winner. A good throw deflected into a damaging interception. Always something. Maybe it's just as well the Rozanimen have closed the books with the New York flyers for 1950.
PACKERS' COMEBACK FOILS OUSTER ATTEMPT - OTHER NFL CLUBS DRAW SLIM CROWDS
OCT 22 (Milwaukee Sentinel-Lloyd Larson) - Last winter, all through the spring months and into the summer, it was freely predicted "this is the last year for the Green Bay Packers." You remember the line: This state simply could not support big time pro football any longer...the parade had gone by...the league would have to get rid of the small town anchor...only major metropolitan areas could survive. There were even hints that the Packers would fold before the middle of the 1950 season. In the east, particularly out of New York, the talk was rather loud and sharp about pulling the rug on the hick town out here in Wisconsin. Sneers came from other sections as the wishful thinkers foresaw the dawn of a huge crowd era with the end of the ruinous war between the leagues. The one important man who chose not to join in the premature burial rites for the Packers was Bert Bell, National League commissioner. Bert took the opposite view in stating flatly: "Green Bay belongs in any big time pro football setup and I, for one, will do everything in my power to keep it there. There isn't the slightest doubt in my mind that the Packers will come back strong."...RECORD TELL DIFFERENT STORY: Check the records to date. That's all. Then you'll know who was barking up the wrong tree. What's happening in New York tells a vivid story in itself. The Yanks, leading the National conference, loaded with glamour boys and playing a really sparkling brand of ball, drew 6,000 customers to Yankee Stadium 10 days ago and only last Thursday had an official count of 13,661 for the Packers. The same Packers who attracted a record crowd of 51,000 plus at Wrigley Field Sunday. The same Packers who put on a 44-31 wingdinger with the Yanks before 23,781 at Green Bay two weeks ago. The Giants, winners over the mighty Cleveland Browns and surprising even to themselves, played to 21,000 in the Polo Grounds last Sunday. Ted Collins, boss of the Yanks, is reported to have taken a rap of at least $100,000 already. Strange eye opening reports elsewhere, too. Detroit drew 17,000 the week after walloping the Packers, 45-7. A week later the Lions settled for about 18,000. The team with Leon Hart, Doak Walker and sundry other big names well known in the trade!...CARDS DREW ONLY 14,000 FOR GAME: The Cardinals had only 14,000 for one of their games at Comiskey Park. Baltimore generally considered one of the top sports centers had one big turnout, yet has averaged only 18,000. The customers aren't exactly storming the gates at Washington, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. And the prize kick in the attendance teeth came in Los Angeles where the mighty Rams and mightier Bears played to what amounted to privacy, considering the importance of the game. Grant that television had a lot to do with it. Explain it any way you choose. The turnstile count still showed only 18,000. It all adds up to this: Pro football, instead of having easy sailing with the return to a one league setup, is in a bit of trouble. The moguls won't find the solution in dropping the Packers. On the contrary, they need the Packers and more of the same if they can be found. The Packers are proving that they can and will draw at home and away when they play interesting football - the type of football they're playing this year. So the league should be concerned only with giving them every possible break in the way of schedule and material...PACKERS HAVE COLLEGE SPIRIT - EASTERNER: A New York newspaperman, usually a provincial Easterner, indicated that others are becoming aware of this fact when he commented after the game at Yankee Stadium: "If teams all around the league could only stir up fan interest like the Packers, everything would be all right. That's the closest to college spirit I've ever seen among the pros. They'll be dropping New York long before Green Bay and that's for sure." Here's an interesting sidelight on the Packers' value to the league. They do as well in dollar volume with a capacity crowd of 24,000 as other cities do on a crowd of 35,000. Enough said?
PACK TAKES SPECIAL NOTE OF 'FRISCO WIN OVER LIONS
OCT 23 (Green Bay) - Things just aren't normal today, what with no Packer game to report. The Bays, due to a schedule switch resulting from the World Series and an open date, won't explode their talents until Sunday, Nov. 5, when they invade Baltimore to start the last half of their 1950 NFL schedule. Head Coach Gene Ronzani will herd the boys back into action Wednesday morning. The Packers took special note of a game on the west coast Sunday - a 28 to 27 victory for the San Francisco Forty Niners over the Detroit Lions. If your memory is rusty, it can be reminded (1) that the Lions caught the Packer quarterback short-handed last Sept. 17 to the tune of 45-7 and (2) that the Forty Niners invade City stadium next Nov. 26 for your last look at the Packers this season...SOME TOUGH SLEDDIN': The Forty Niners, coached by the skilled Buck Shaw, have had tough sleddin'. Before nipping Detroit, they lost a five-point, 29-24 decision to the whizzing Yanks, who trumped our boys twice, 44-21 in Green Bay Oct. 8 and 35-17 out in New York last Thursday night. The news reports from 'Frisco say that Frankie Albert, the only lefthanded quarterback in the business, worked his greatest game of the season. Further: "The Forty Niners looked like a championship outfit in the first half when they ripped the Lions' defense to shreds in the three touchdown scoring sorties and stopped the visitors, except for a long pass scoring play. San Francisco scored its first touchdown six minutes after the game got underway. Jim Powers intercepted Bobby Layne's pass and returned 31 yards to Detroit's 26. Albert's 13-yard aerial to John Stryzkalski highlighted the march with Joe Perry going over from the two."...SOLTAU KICKS POINTS: "The Forty Niners came right back with a 51-yard touchdown drive. Perry's lateral to Stryzkalski netted 31 yards, after which Albert passed to Alyn Beals in the end zone. San Francisco made it 21-0 in the second quarter, traveling 46 yards, mainly on three passes. On the third toss, from Detroit's 4, Albert connected with Gordon Soltau in the end zone. Detroit broke into the scoring in the second period with Layne's 58-yard TD throw to Cloyce Box. The Lions added touchdowns by Walker and Cain in the third frame and by Rifenburg in the fourth. Walker kicked Detroit's first two extra points but then sustained an injury. Layne kicked the third but missed the fourth - the important one. Soltau kicked all of 'Frisco's extra points." The Packers got a double chill out of the Los Angeles Rams' 70-27 victory over the Baltimore Colts. The Bays figure they'll find the Colts that much tougher when they collide in Baltimore. Before that
test, the Colts face the Forty Niners next Sunday. Green Bay must still play the Rams twice - in Milwaukee Nov. 12 and in LA Dec. 3...16,026 SEE RAMS, COLTS: The Rams set a new scoring record in trouncing Baltimore. The three score and ten points surpassed the previous high of 65 scored by the Chi-Cardinals in Nov. 14, 1949. The Rams also tied the record for most touchdowns in one game, 10, set by Philadelphia Nov. 6, 1934. An all-time low of 16,026 fans saw the game. The big news Sunday, of course, was the New York Giants' second victory over the Cleveland (Greatest of the Great) Browns, 17-13, before 41,734 fans in the Polo grounds. The New York triumph knocked the Browns out of first place in the American conference in favor of the Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles, who downed the Pittsburgh Steelers, 17-10. In the other game Sunday, Curly Lambeau's Cardinals downed Washington, 38-28...The Chicago Bears and New York Yanks both were idle from National league competition yesterday. The Bears spent their time defeated Richmond, Va., 47-14, in a non-league game.
PUNT LUGGER GRIMES FOILS FOES
OCT 24 (Green Bay) - Nobody makes much fuss about a punt returner, but the Packers have a gent - Wheelin' Willie Grimes - who has been giving opponents a fit. Grimes, an ex-paratrooper who broke into professional football with the defunct Los Angeles Dons in 1949, has returned 14 punts for 327 yards. Well? Look: The entire Packer team - the punt returners, that is - lugged enemy boots only 310 yards all last season. In short, Billy - all by his lonesome plus some rugged blocking - has bettered the 1949 Packers total by 17 yards. And he has six more league games to go. The league doesn't keep a record for most yards punt returned, but you can bet that Grimes is working at a record clip. By comparison, Vitamin Smith of the Los Angeles Rams totaled 427 yards in 27 returns to pace the loop last fall. The established mark for most punts returned in 30 by George McAfee of the Bears in 1948. Mc made 417 yards on the returns...TWO FOR TOUCHDOWNS: Two of Grimes' returns went for touchdowns - an 85-yarder that gave the Packers a 14-7 lead against the Washington Redskins and a 68-yard job that put the Packers in front of the Bears, 24-14, here Oct. 1. His next best length was 52 yards against the Yanks in New York last Thursday night. His returns include 1 for 23, 1 for 18, 1 for 15, 1 for 13 and 1 for 10 - to mention a few. The Bears would have no part of Grimes in the return match in Chicago. They called for three quick kicks (when Grimes was on the bench) and booted four out of bounds. One was returned by Tony Canadeo for eight yards and another was downed by a Bear. With Grimes standing back there, generally alone, enemy punters are fast becoming sharp shooters. Spec Sanders had three out of bounds, two on the eight yard line Thursday night, and other kickers, especially Fred Morrison of the Bears, just aim for the sidelines regardless of their position. Billy seemed overanxious in the Yank game. After lugging one back for 52 yards, he fumbled twice but recovered in time to return for a total of nearly forty yards. Grimes also was looking into the powerful Yankee stadium lighting system and the Packers hadn't been able to work under the lights in practice before the battle. Despite Grimes' imposing total, Baltimore's Herb Rich led the league's punt returners with five catches and runs (nine less than Grimes) for 178 yards and an average of 35.6. Grimes' average is 23.4 yards. Rich’s total includes an 86-yard runback against the Chicago Cardinals. Remember who led the Packers in punt returns last year? Little Ralph Earhart was tops with 161 yards and one touchdown in 14 returns for an average of 11.5. He ranked 14th in the league. Jug Girard was second among the Bays with 11 returns for 70 yards, while Jack Kirby picked up 48 yards in eight trips…The Packers move back into action with a practice session Wednesday morning. They’ll drill daily until the opener with the Colts in Baltimore Nov. 5. No game is set for next Sunday due to an open date…STATISTICAL SURVEY: Official figures released today show that Grimes still ranks second in ground gaining despite a 22-yard total in the Yank game. The Yanks’ Zollie Toth has a 41-yard lead on Grimes. Joe Geri, Pittsburgh’s triple threat, ranks third in rushing with 313 yards and first in passing with 26 completions in 59 attempts for 521 yards and four touchdowns. The Packers still have no player among the first 10 pass receivers who are led by the Yanks’ Dan Edwards. The Bays’ Jug Girard is eighth in punting with an average of 39.9. Morrison of the Bears is tops with 44.7. With two interceptions against the Yanks, the Packers’ Rebel Steiner moved into a tie for fourth place in that department. Rebel is tops in yards interceptions returned with 123 – one a 94-yard TD run against the Bears. The Bays are not represented among the top 10 in kickoff returns.
'HATED TO LET GENE DOWN' IN BEAR CONTEST; SHORT AIR RIDE
OCT 24 (Green Bay) - All was quiet in the lobby of the Knickerbocker hotel in Chicago after the Bear-Packer game the other Sunday night. Steve Pritko was sitting in a big chair looking straight ahead. An elephant could have walked in the front door and Steve wouldn’t have blinked. A group of five or six players were discussin’ the game under a sprawling chandelier. Pritko shook his head: “We hated to let Gene down; wonderful coach; played under a lot of coaches, but he’s the best.” The hard-hitting right defensive end, currently in his eight season of professional football and first full campaign with the Packers, thought: “We have as good a personnel as the Bears or any team in the league, possibly outside of the Rams; we should have beaten’ em; it wasn’t a rough game.” Rugged-looking Steve wasn’t crying over spilled milk. “That’s football, though. The Bears pulled stuff on us that we weren’t prepared for. We did the same thing on them in Green Bay.” Pritko was referring to the reverses on which Bears Al Campana and Harper Davis gained long yardage in Chicago and did the same type of runs on which Packers Billy Grimes and Larry Coutre gained ditto yardage in the 31-21 win here…In the group of Packers, the boys were wondering “how in h--- Halas (George, Bear coach) got away with it.” A couple of times, Uncle George directed some pretty steaming language at the officials. Another time, Halas picked up an official’s cap (it had blown off, or something in front of the Bear sideline) and put it back on the owner’s head…Alex Wizbicki and Wally Dreyer, Bay defensemen, got to talking about Julie Rykovich getting hurt late in the game. Both Alex and Wally crashed into Rykovich when he went after a pass. Julie had to be taken out of the game, apparently with an injury. “Rykovich was hollering that ‘somebody kicked me’,” Dreyer said but “it wasn’t me because we were teammates (with the Bears) last year.” Wizbicki said, “he musta been faking.” Coach Gene Ronzani happened on the scene about this time, unpocketed a 10 dollar bill, and told the players to “have a few beers across the street, boys, and forget about the game!” What a coach!...Speaking about beer, the players are permitted a bottle or two after a game, but, of course, they are not allowed anything stronger. Several cases of canned beer and steak dinners were made available by Capital Airlines on the plane trip home from New York after the game Thursday night. The four-hour ride was probably the “shortest” on record, since most everybody slept the last three hours…Packer quarterback Paul Christman, in his recent article on how football has changed, told about the so-called “free down”. The Packer-Yank game had three instances where the offensive quarterbacks tried to cross up the defensive QBs. Take these paragraphs from Christman’s yarn first: “Here’s an example of how smart the current defensive teams are. Team A, the offensive team, makes nine yards on first down at midfield. In the olden days, the logical play to follow would have been a line plunger for first down. Professional teams today, however, refer to this as a free down. The thinking on a free down is to try for a long gainer – usually a pass – and, if it fails, you still have third down and one to go with plenty of time to make that yard. Consequently, instead if meeting the 7-man line the quarterback would have been confronted with in the past, he usually is greeted with a loose five-man line all set for that pass to come off.” Out in New York, the Yanks made nine yards easily in the second quarter on first down. On the free (second) down, George Ratterman tried a long pass to Don Edwards but it fell incomplete. The strategy really backfired as tackle Clink McGeary busted Zollie Toth for a three-yard loss and Spec Sanders had to punt. Just before the first half ended, Toth ripped off nine yards to the Yank 49. On the free down, Ratterman incompleted one to Edwards again but instead of running on third down for the first down, Ratterman hurled a screen to Art Weiner for 10 yards for the first down. On the next play, incidentally, Ratterman pitched to Weiner for a TD. The Packers tried a pass on their only free down situation early in the fourth quarter on their 39-yard line. On first down, Tobin Rote hit Bob Forte for nine yards. Then, on the free down, Christman tried a pass to Ted Cook, but it fell incomplete. On third down, Tony Canadeo slammed three yards up the middle for the necessary yardage.
GRIMES OF GREEN BAY TOPS PRO AVERAGES
OCT 25 (Philadelphia) - Billy Grimes, rookie right halfback of the Green Bay Packers, has the best ball carrying average in the NFL, statistics released Wednesday revealed. Grimes has gained 337 yards in 48 carries for a seven yard average. Rookie Zollie Toth of the New York Yankees retained the top spot as best ground gainer, however, with 378 yards in 70 attempts. His average is 5.4 yards per try. Joe Geri of Pittsburgh jumped from fifth to third place in total yards as Jack Strzykalski, San Francisco, moved up from eighth to fourth and Frank Ziegler of the Philadelphia Eagles from seventh to fifth. Strzykalski is the former Milwaukee South Division and Marquette university star. Geri also maintained his leadership as the best passer in the league with an average of 8.83 yards per attempt. He has attempted 59 passes, completed 26 for 521 yards and has thrown four touchdown passes. George Ratterman of the New York Yanks has completed the most aerials for touchdowns - 14. Tom Fears, the league's record holder from Los Angeles, moved into a first place tie with Dan Edwards of the New York Yanks in pass receiving. Each has caught 30. But Edwards has gained 493 yards to Fears' 483. The scoring list is topped by Doak Walker, Detroit's all-American rookie. With Johnny Lujack of the Chicago Bears idle, Walker moved into first place with 58 points. Lujack has scored 55.
PACKERS RESUME PRACTICE FOR LAST HALF OF SEASON
OCT 25 (Green Bay) - How many games will the Packers win in the last half of their 1950 NFL schedule? They’ll play Los Angeles and San Francisco twice each for four of the contests and Detroit and Baltimore in singletons. Can the Packers gain a split with the powerful LA Rams? Can they take the improved SF Forty Niners apart twice? Can they get revenge on the Detroit Lions? Will the winless Colts provide unexpected trouble? These questions, of course, can’t be answered in full until about 4:30 on the afternoon of Dec. 10 when the regular season ends, but it is interesting at the moment to compare the Packers against the National conference’s present leaders – the Chicago Bears and New York Yanks. The Bays have just finished playing four game against the Bears and Yanks in 19 days, opening with a 31-21 victory over the Bears here Oct. 1; and following with a 44-31 loss to the Yanks here Oct. 8; a 28-14 loss to the Bears in Chicago Oct. 15; and a 35-17 loss to the Yanks in New York Oct. 19…3 TO 1 EDGE IN FGS: The Bears and Yanks outscored the Packers 128 points to 93. They got 18 touchdowns to the Bays’ 12, while the Packers, with Fritsch booting, produced three field goals, one a 52-yarder against
the Yanks, to one for the opposition. The Packers did their most point damage in the first two tests – both at City stadium. They totaled 62 points and got eight of their 12 TDs. In the real fine print department, the Packers led in four sections of play – yards rushing, 807 to 603; yards intercepted passes returned, 159 to 90; yards punts returned, 267 to 85; and yards kickoffs returned, 352 to 325. The 204-yard bulge in rushing reveals chiefly that the Packers ground game is some shakes, with Billy Grimes, Larry Coutre, Floyd Reid and Tony Canadeo ripping off most of the yardage. As a matter of fact, the Packers rank second in the league in yards gained rushing. Philadelphia is first with 1,163, the Packers second with 1,062, and the Bears third with 920. The Packers have the best average gain per rush with 4.8 yards per try while the Chicago Cardinals and Cleveland are tied in second with 4.6…LUJACK WITHOUT TD PASS: The advantages in interceptions and punt return figures are important because the Packers scored three – or one-fourth – of their TDs against the Bears and Yanks in these two departments. Grimes returned a kickoff against the Bears for one TD and Wally Dreyer and Rebel Steiner each returned interceptions for TDs. Other numerous punt and interception returns kept the Packers in a contending position most of the distance in each of the games. The passing department, of course, is where the Yanks and Bears have the edge. They gained 1,373 yards to the Packers’ 1,282. The Packers pitched 104 times and the Terrible Twosome threw exactly the same number, but the opponents had the edge in completions, 50 to 38. Oddly enough, the Bears didn’t score any touchdowns by passing against the Pack while the Yanks, with George Ratterman throwing all of them, hurled five for touchdowns. The Bears’ Johnny Lujack has yet to throw a scoring pass in all league play this season thus far. The Packers, on the other hand, counted five on the ground and three in the air. The longest scoring pass of the four-game set was an 85-yarder negotiated by quarterback Tobin Rote and end Al Baldwin. The Yanks proved to be the Bays’ biggest jinx. Twice in the opener here, the Packers were stalled inside the 10 and any one of the TDs (that didn’t materialize) might have boosted the Packers over the hump. The Bays were held four times inside the 25 against the Yanks in New York – twice inside the 10. Any two of them might have turned the tide…NEXT GAME ON NOV. 5: In fact, a break or two in that opener against the Yanks would have left the Packers with an even split in the four games. With a victory and three close calls against the Bears and Yanks under their belts in the last four tests, the Packers are ready for anything the Colts, Rams, Forty Niners and Lions have to offer. The Colts will be the Packers’ first opponent – out in Baltimore Sunday, Nov. 5. After a layoff of four days, Coach Gene Ronzani called the Packers back into action this morning. They’ll polish up offensive maneuvers this week and then bear down next week in preparation for the start of the last half.
PACKERS' T TO T BOYS ALLOWING 3.2 YARDS PER
OCT 26 (Green Bay) - Whenever Ed Neal doesn't have much to say (which isn't often), he's liable to remark, "Don't forget us linemen, old boy." That's Ed's quaint way of reminding the writer not to overlook the muscle boys up front when it comes to measuring cups of ink. Well, "old Ed" seems to have a point there; the backs and ends actually do get most (if not all) of the headlines. It's a cold day in you-know-where when the tackle-to-tackle boys get into the big print. The reason is pure and simple: The backs and ends are permitted to carry the ball across the goal line, thus producing the coveted point which, in the end, decide the winner and loser. So, leave us dedicate today's gospel to the burly business up front. A glance over our play by plays of the Packers' first six National league game shows that the tackle-to-tackle crew has been doing some elegant work. The six opponents gained only 3.2 yards per try in plays run between the Packer tackles. The New York Yanks and Chicago Bears, in two games each against the Pack, and the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins in singletons gained a total of 297 yards in 92 carries between the T and T area. That boils down to slightly under 49 yards per game - or half the length of the field in each contest. Yep, the T and T boys are working. On offense, the Packers ripped between the tackles for a total of 344 yards in 80 tries for an average of 4.3 per attempt. That's close to 60 yards per game, which isn't bad when you consider that the Bays are also tough close outside the tackles and on wide sweeps. The Packers' 3.2 T and T defense is also a tribute who are pivoted by the celebrated rookie bruiser, Clayton Tonnemaker. The big Minnesota clubber is flanked by Carl Schuette, Bob Forte and Bob Summerhays. Tonnemaker, by the way, was complimented for his play in his first pro game against the Chicago Cardinals here last August, but the slammer shrugged it off with "How can you miss with that big Neal playing up there in the middle." The Packers' entire T and T corps have been playing exceptional ball, which is clearly indicated in the defensive and offensive rushing statistics. There are not particular heroes in the group led by Captain Dick Wildung, the left tackle. Wildung works with fulltime tackles Joe Spencer, Clink McGeary, Ed Ecker and Don Stansauk and part-timers Len Szafaryn and Leon Manley, who play defensive tackle and offensive guard. The murder men among the guards is Chuck Drulis, the former Bear who has found a new life here. Besides Szafaryn and Manley, Drulis works with Buddy Burris and Ray DiPierro. Neal is the only full-fledged offense and defense center, although Tonnemaker sees action occasionally as an offensive center. The other center by trade is Schuette, who works as a backer-up. When it comes to defensive linemen, a couple of ends can't be overlooked - Dan Orlich at left and Steve Pritko at right. Abner Wimberly doubles on offense and defense at right end...The Packers unkinked all their muscles with a long passing, punting and play drill Wednesday morning. The athletes had been idle since finishing the Yank game in New York last Thursday night. Coach Gene Ronzani, pronouncing all of the boys in good physical condition, has planned morning workouts for today, Friday and Saturday. Some thought was given to the next game - against the Colts in Baltimore a week from Sunday - during today's practice. Several offensive maneuvers were installed but the real work for the Colts won't start until next week. The Colts will be active Sunday, meeting the Forty-Niners in San Francisco.
RONZANI FEARFUL OF BALTIMORE, QB CLUB TOLD
OCT 27 (Green Bay) - "The Baltimore Colts figure they can beat the Packers!" That's Head Coach Gene Ronzani's belief and that's why he fears the winless Colts. He said it at practice this week and he repeated it at the Quarterback club meeting for the benefit of more than 1,000 armchair strategists at East High school auditorium last night. At the moment, the Colts, Green Bay's opponent in Baltimore a week from Sunday, have a record of no victories and five defeats. Baltimore will play the Forty Niners in San Francisco Sunday and then head for home and new life. Ronzani said he hopes "our Packers don't look at the record because records don't mean a thing starting at 2 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon."...LED EAGLES IN 4TH QUARTER: The head coach reminded club members, as he had his squad, that the Baltimore team led the powerful Philadelphia Eagles midway in the fourth quarter and then lost out in the last few minutes. "It shows you what the Colts are capable of doing," Ronzani said. Ronzani isn't letting the Packers forget their narrow experience with the Colts in a non-league game in Milwaukee Sept. 10. The Packers eked out a 16-14 victory on the strength of two miracle catches of Tobin Rote passes by Al Baldwin. One scored a touchdown and the other set up a short TD pass from Rote to Tony Canadeo. The difference in the end was a 12-yard field goal by Ted Fritsch. The game in Baltimore will launch a six-game league card - the last half of the Packers' regulation schedule. The Packers draw a bye this Sunday. After the Colts, Green Bay will face Los Angeles in Milwaukee. Ronzani told the Quarterback club that "we are expecting an entirely different club the last six games."...BREAK HUDDLE SOONER: He reminded quarterbacks that the Packers were absorbing a new system against the toughest opposition (Detroit, Washington, the Bears and Yanks) and that most of the time the boys had to think first before reacting. In the last six games, "we expect them to think and react automatically." Quicker reaction, he pointed out, will "permit us to break the huddle sooner and possibly run 10 more plays in each game. We hope that some of these extra 10 plays will bring touchdowns." Referring to the recent road trip on which the Packers battled the Bears and Yanks in five days, Ronzani said that the Packers were handicapped some by playing the Yanks so soon after the Bears (The Bear game was on a Sunday and the Yank test was on the next Thursday). He said the Yanks were not a bruising club like the Bears but they had plenty of speed. Ronzani made mention of a particularly bad break in the Yank game and the pictures backed him up. Ronzani said that "one time we needed six inches for a first down, made two yards on the play and finally came with a yard and a half loss."...OFFICIALS MOVE BALL BACK: The pictures showed that in the second quarter, with the Packers on the Yank 15-yard line, mind you, and only a half a foot to go for a first down (it was a fourth down play), Grimes smashed a full two yards but the officials pulled the ball back a good yard and a half. "But maybe Bear Mountain (the Packer training camp before the Yank game) jinxed us because Shaw (Buck, coach of the Forty Niners) trained there and they lost to the Yanks by only five points," Ronzani laughed, adding "the Yanks probably had the bills loaded with scouts." Ronzani also answered questions taken from the question boxes and then answered a few queries from the floor. One fan wanted to know if the Bears were taught to play "dirty football". He was referring to Fred Davis and Ray Bray, who were responsible for "blacking out" Clayton Tonnemaker for several plays. Gene said: "As long as I have been affiliated with that club, no dirty football was taught. However, what happened since I left, I don't know about. Times seemed to have changed." This brought the house down with laughter...THAT "BIG" SURPRISE: Gene picked up one "question" and discovered that it was a letter of praise for the Packers and coaching staff. The gathering seconded the motion with hearty applause. That big surprise? It was none other than Jug Earp, the Packers' publicity chief, who served as the club's first chief quarterback last year. Jug served as chief quarterback in the absence of Verne Lewellen, the 1950 CQB. Earp reviewed the 1950 club's performances and told a bit about the new Packers' appear along the publicity front. He stated that the advance sale for the Packer-Ram game in Milwaukee Nov. 12 has doubled that of the Packer-Colt non-loop game in Milwaukee Sept. 10. He figured the crowd for the Ram game would exceed 25,000. The meeting was in charge of Fee Klaus, president of the Packer Alumni association. Ray (Bert) Nolting, backfield coach, narrated the film. Klaus announced that the next meeting - at Washington Junior High school Thursday night - will feature showing of the Wisconsin-Iowa game picture, a 14-0 victory for the Badgers. It will be narrated by Red Wilson, Badger coaching aide.
SOCIALLY SPEAKING
OCT 27 (Green Bay) - Newest conversation piece among Green Bay women is the prospect of the formation of a Women's Quarterback club, somewhat similar to the successful Quarterback group organized a while back by the men. Most women welcome the idea of a Packer-backing organization of their own. Certainly such a club would bring more fans to the fold, provide better understanding of the football game and, at the same time, give the enthusiasts a feeling of "belonging". "If a Women's Quarterback club is organized, I'll join, " said one eager fan. Another thought the club would be a combined organization with the men's group. However, if started at all, the Quarterback club will be for women only. More about the tentative plans for organization will be known after Monday noon's luncheon meeting of the eight women already selected to "get the ball rolling". In the meantime, interested women who would become members of the club may send their name, address and telephone numbers to the society editor, Press-Gazette, or to the various sports announcers of local radio stations.
Detroit 155, Philadelphia 152 and Cleveland 143...On defense, the Packers are the second most generous club in the league. They have permitted 194 markers in this order - 45 to Detroit, 21 to Washington, 21 to the Bears, 44 to Yanks, 28 to Bears, 35 to Yanks. On two occasions, the Packers exceeded their opponents' points, 35-21 over Washington and 31-21 over the Bears. The Colts bottom the defensive list, having allowed 218 markers. However, 70 of those points were scored by the Rams alone last Sunday. The Giants are the league's defensive marvels, allowing only 54 in five games. On the other hand, the Giants have scored only 68 points themselves - the same number as the winless Colts. Giant Coach Steve Owen seems to be proving that the defense (at least the Giants) is catching up with the offense. With the assistance of defenses suggested by Giant Scout Jack LaValle, the Giants whipped the point-happy Cleveland Browns twice, 6-0 and 17-13. The Browns made all their points on a TD and two field goals...Professional fans in Green Bay and area can listen to the Chicago Bear-New York Yank football game by tuning to Press-Gazette station WJPG or WJPG-FM at 1 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Bert Wilson will be at the mike...A total of 36 games have been played in the National league thus far - about the halfway mark. There are 42 games left on the 78-tilt regulation schedule. The 79th game, barring playoffs in either conference, will be for the league championship between the winners of the two division. The 1950 playoff is scheduled in the home city of the American conference champ. Starting Nov. 5, the Packers will be busy for six consecutive Sundays. After the Colt game, the Bays play Los Angeles in Milwaukee Nov. 12; the Lions in Detroit Nov. 19; the Forty Niners in Green Bay Nov. 26; the Rams in Los Angeles Dec. 3; and the Forty Niners in San Francisco Dec. 10. The Packers closed out practice for this week with a "pad" session this morning. The drill was designed to give the passer better protection and perfect the offense. It was the first contact work since the Yank game Oct. 19. Coach Gene Ronzani will herd the athletes back into action Tuesday, and possibly Monday, to start intensive work for the Colt game. By Tuesday, Ronzani expects to have scouts' reports on the Colt-Forty Niner game.
COLTS TOUGHEN UP FOR PACK SUNDAY
OCT 30 (Green Bay) - "Each loss makes 'em tougher for us." That's how Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani looked today at the Baltimore Colts' 17 to 14 defeat at the hands of the San Francisco Forty Niners out on the west coast Sunday afternoon. It was the sixth straight setback for Coach Clem Crowe's scrappy Colts, who returned to Baltimore today to prepare for the Packers' visit next Sunday afternoon. Both clubs will be starting the second half of their 1950 schedule next Sunday. The Packers won two and lost four in a suicide first half which closed with successive battles with Bears, Yanks, Bears and Yanks - the last two within five days. The fighting Packers, itching to get back into action, enter the final regulation six confident of much better than an even break. After Baltimore, they face Los Angeles in Milwaukee Nov. 12; the Lions in Detroit Nov. 19; the Forty Niners in Green Bay Nov. 26; the Rams in Los Angeles Dec. 3; and the Forty Niners in San Francisco Dec. 10. The Packers, who launch defensive practice for Colt maneuvers this morning, took special note of a couple of games - besides the Colt-Forty Niner affair - yesterday. The Yanks, who the Packers figure they should have beaten here Oct. 8 (but lost 44-31), defeated the Bears, 35-27, and the Los Angeles Rams passed over the Lions, 65-24, with a 41-point splurge in the third quarter. In the opposite (American) conference, Curly Lambeau's Chicago Cardinals upset the New York Giants, 17 to 3, while Philadelphia crushed Washington, 35-5, and the Browns downed Pittsburgh, 45-7. The Giants somehow remained as a mystery team today. Each of their two victories over the powerful Browns was followed by losses - one to Pittsburgh and the one to the Cards.
COLTS HAVE A CHANCE AGAINST GREEN BAY
OCT 30 (Baltimore) - As the Colts wing across the country from San Francisco to prepare for next Sunday's test here with the Green Bay Packers, seven of the 13 teams in the NFL have been eliminated from all pennant consideration. After next week's game, two more may find their hopes for 1950 shattered, but the New York Yanks, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams seem as likely to stay in contention for American Division honors to the finish as do Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants in the National Division. It may well be that the title will be settled in one of the two races, with the top team showing two losses and a tie. Only the Yanks and Eagles have been able to escape with a single loss and the season is just entering its second round. In contrast, the Colts and Green Bay will show 10 defeats between them when they meet here Sunday. Yet the best football is always played between two evenly matched teams. The Colts and San Francisco demonstrated that yesterday when the Forty-Niners finally won 17-14 with the Baltimore eleven threatening up to the last play. If the club is in good shape, the Colts should have an excellent chance against Green Bay.
FEMININE PACKER FANS FORM QUARTERBACK CLUB
OCT 30 (Green Bay) - Feminine fans of the Green Bay Packer football team Monday organized the "Women's Quarterback Club", believed to be the first of its kind in pro circles. The women plan on meeting three times this season to see movies of Packer games and to continue their club next year. At the organizational meeting, Mrs. Art Daley and Mrs. Robert Savage were elected co-chairman. Other officers named were Mrs. Sydney Rosenberg, secretary-treasurer, and Miss Bernice Campbell, program chairman. Mrs. Earl Girard, wife of Packer halfback Jug Girard, will assist Miss Campbell. A "chief quarterback" will be selected at a general meeting November 15. Club officials said the organization is open to all women in the state.
PACK SURROUNDED BY HIGH SCORING ELEVEN
OCT 28 (Green Bay) - The new Green Bay Packers, facing their second consecutive bloodless Sunday, looked over the points today and found themselves smack in the middle of the scoringest bunch of teams in the NFL. Idle tomorrow due to an open date, the Packers will keep a special eye on the Baltimore Colt-Forty Niner game in San Francisco for the simple reason that the Bays resume the second half of their regulation schedule against the Colts in Baltimore Sunday, Nov. 5. The Forty Niner angle will be sifted, too, because the Friscos will furnish the Packers with two games - one at City stadium Nov. 26. The so-called "big game" Sunday sends the Chicago Bears into New York to face the Yanks, with the winner taking over the National conference lead. Other games send Detroit to Los Angeles, New York Giants to Chicago Cardinals, Pittsburgh to Cleveland and Washington to Philadelphia...The points are interesting, to be sure. The National conference, which houses the Packers, has produced 1,021 points in 20 contests compared to the American conference's 688 in 16. That gives the NC an offensive average of 51 points per test and the AC 43. The difference is even greater on defense. The AC, led by the stingy Giants, allowed only 583 points for an average of 36.4, while the NC gave 1,126 for an average of 56.3. Now let's see how our Packers fit in the point picture. Actually, they rank sixth in scoring among the loop's 13 clubs with 135 points. Topping them are Los Angeles with 220, Yanks 201,
MORE POWER IN PACK RUSHING?
OCT 31 (Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers' rushing game, which ranks near the tops in the league, still hasn't reach its peak. This was indicated today in Packer yardage figures for the first six games. The Packers' total of 1,072 yards on the ground includes 571 yards for the right halfbacks; 297 for the left halfbacks; 164 for the fullbacks; and 40 for the QBs who run mostly by accident. The figures, of course, show that the right halfback slot is the Bays' strong position what with Wheelin' Willie Grimes peeling off 337 yards, Larry Coutre 221 and Bob Forte 13. Floyd (Breezy) Reid dominates left half on 244 yards, with Jug Girard's 34 and Bill Boedeker's 19 bringing up the rear. That leaves fullback where Tony Canadeo, who gained 1,052 yards last year as a left halfback, is carrying the load with 153 yards in 52 tries. Fullback Ted Fritsch gained 11 yards in five tries earlier in the season while FB Jack Cloud has yet to carry a ball...PASSING CHIEF HOPE: The fullbacks, though they have carried less than the halfbacks, have a per-try average of 2.9 yards. Compare this with the RH's 7.1 and the LH's 4.1 and you can see where more power at FB is needed. The fullbacks carried 57 times, the right halfbacks 81 and the left halfbacks 72. While Canadeo is below his usual four-yard-plus average, the veteran's efficiency as a blocker has been nothing short of spectacular. Tony has cut down many an enemy to make the halfback plays "go" - not to mention blocking for the passer. It's interesting to note that the Bay quarterbacks, Tobin Rote and Paul Christman, averaged 3.7 yards in 11 trips for a total of 40 yards, Rote picking up 37 in nine tries. While the rushing attack could use balancing, the Packers' chief hope against the Colts in Baltimore next Sunday will probably be passing - the quickest, although not always the safest way to touchdowns. Rote has the edge on Christman in completions but Paul has thrown three TD passes compared to Rote's one - an 85-yarder to Al Baldwin against the Yanks. Rote completed 22 out of 75 for 387 yards - or 17.6 yards per completion, while Christman completed 25 out of 69 for 278 yards or 11.2 per completion...11 TAKE PART IN SCORING: Baldwin paces the club in pass receiving, 14 for 314 yards and one touchdown, but Ted Cook has two TD receptions - both from Christman. Ted caught 10 for 127 yards. Grimes caught five for 73 yards; Reid four for 44; and Canadeo 8 for 42. Eleven different players participated in the Packers' 135-point total, with 10 of them scoring TDs. The Bays scored 18 touchdowns and kicked all 18 extra points - not to mention three field goals, one a 52-yard job against the Yanks. Grimes leads the scoring with 30 points on five TDs, while Fritsch is second with 27. Canadeo is third with 18 points and Reid and Cook each have 12. Wally Dreyer, Dan Orlich, Rebel Steiner, Coutre, Christman and Baldwin counted one each...The Packers mixed offensive and defensive maneuvers in Monday's long practice. After the drill, the athletes chased around the baseball park in an effort to get their "wind" back after the long layoff. The Packers haven't played a game since Oct. 19 - 12 days ago. Just about everybody got a shot at offense Monday - even the members of the defensive platoon, while a couple of offensive ends, new father Al Baldwin and Ted Cook, worked on defense. At one stage, quarterback Paul Christman went to right and caught a pass from Tobin Rote. The reception was greeted with much applause. We're not giving away secrets because Mr. Christman won't be playing right end against the Colts Sunday. The Injun Summer has been a big help
to the Packers in breaking out of the long layoff. They got a good start on new sun tans Monday morning and more was on tap for today.
BELL CALLS HARDER 'CLEAN PLAYER'; LOOP HAS 'GROWING PAINS'
OCT 31 (New York) - Pro football's family squabbles are nothing but growing pains, Commissioner Bert Bell said Monday. "For four years, the two leagues were busy fighting each other and now that we have that straightened out, we are starting to growl at each other," he said in response to a question at the weekly luncheon of the New York Football Writers. He was asked how serious was the discontent rumored at Cleveland, San Francisco and Baltimore. All three are former All-American Conference teams added to the NFL last winter. "With 100 rugged young men playing football each Sunday it is expected that tempers will flare somewhere," he added. The commissioner, a former football player at Penn, said he had watched Pat Harder of the Chicago Cardinals play for five years and rated the former Big Ten star as a "clean player. He never has been kicked out of a game." Len Ford, Cleveland end who was hospitalized after an altercation during a game with Harder, also was listed as a clean played by Bell. Asked if he thought Baltimore's status as the swing team in the 13-club league was responsible for the Colts' winless record, he replied: "I don't think so. The thing that would help Baltimore most would be about a dozen good reserve players." He added that several teams in the circuit wanted to be the swing team. The swing team plays one game with each of the other teams in the circuit. The remaining 12 clubs are divided into two circuits of six each and play home and home schedules plus the swing team. "Despite the growing pains," Bell declared, "the remodeled National League was enjoying one of its best years at the gate, with the Chicago Bears and the New York Yanks showing the biggest attendance increases."
RONZANI LAMENTS LAYOFF
OCT 31 (Green Bay) - Gene Ronzani ran his team through a brisk drill Tuesday and said after it was over that he wasn't happy. "We haven't had a game for 12 days and I'm afraid it's going to hurt us Sunday," moaned Ronzani. "It'll be 16 days by the time we get onto the field at Baltimore and that's too long." The Packers haven't seen any league action since October 19th when they dropped a 35-17 thriller to the New York Yanks. That tilt rounded out a torrid 19-day stint in which the club played four games against the Chicago Bears and Yanks, winning one from the Bears and losing the others. "That was too much, too," muttered Ronzani. "But this long layoff is just as bad." Ronzani figures it may take a quarter or so against the Colts next Sunday before his players get accustomed to the contact, but he indicated he might try to speed up the process of refamiliarization by a scrimmage or two before taking off for Baltimore. A wide-open offensive battle is in prospect, since neither team boasts much of a defense. The Colts, as a matter of league records, have the worst defense in the circuit. They've yielded 2,776 yards while losing six games. The Packers have given up 2,173 over the same span but have won two and lost four. In the matter of offense, the teams are about as evenly match as you'd expect to find. The Packers have a minute edge in total yardage, 1,758 to 1,751, but the way it was gained is interesting. Green Bay has made 1,062 yards rushing to Baltimore's 455, but the Colts have picked up 1,296 passing to only 696 for Green Bay.
FRITSCH WARMS UP FOR SHOT AT NFL'S FG MARK
NOV 1 (Green Bay) - Teddy Fritsch stopped at his hometown, Superior, Wis., the other day to help dedicate a high school football field. Between halves, the burly Packer fullback was asked to give a kicking demonstration - field goal, that is. Well, Mr. Fritsch calmly kicked a number of 65-yard jobs. Maybe the capacity audience watching the grid immortal did not know it, but each of those kicks was 11 yards longer than the NFL record of 54 yards, established by Glenn Presnell of the Lions against Green Bay back on Oct. 7, 1934. Big Teddy, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Tuesday, undoubtedly would welcome the chance to crack that record in one of the Packers' six remaining NFL games - if the opportunity and need present themselves. The Packers will invade Baltimore for their seventh NFL game against the Colts and you'll recall that a Fritsch field goal spelled the difference in favor of Green Bay, 16 to 14, over these same Colts in a non-league game in Milwaukee last Sept. 10. The Packers, including Fritsch, hope there won't be any similar narrow escape but Old Reliable will be ready - just in case...CLOSE TO 53 YARDS: Fritsch warmed up for a possible shot at the record with a 52 yard field goal against the Yanks out in New York Oct. 19. It was a tremendous boot, clearing the crossbar by about five yards and splitting the uprights. Actually, the boot was a fraction short of 53 yards. The ball was placed smack between the Packers' 45 and the midfield stripe, but the official scored ruled 52 yards instead of 52 1/2 or 53 yards. It was the second time a pro gridder had belted a 52-yarder, Lee Artoe of the Chicago Bears getting the first against the New York Giants, Oct. 27, 1940. Fritsch had kicked a large number of FGs in the high-40-yard bracket. He booted a 50-yarder against the Bears in Chicago in 1947. Now in his seventh season, Fritsch is seven field goals short of tying Ward Cuff's league most-field goals record, 43. Cuff, present Central Catholic High School football coach, established the mark over 11 season - nine with the the Giants and one each with the Cardinals and Packers..22 POINTS BEHIND HINKLE: With three field goals thus far this year, Fritsch has kicked a total of 36 in his career despite the fact that he didn't start "heavy" booting until Don Hutson retired after the 1945 season. From 1946 through 1949, Fritsch kicked 26 field goals. His best season was '46 when he booted nine in 17 attempts. Fritsch is 23 points away from becoming the Packers' second all-time scorer. In eight-plus seasons (which includes the first six games this year), Fritsch counted 368 points on 35 touchdowns, 50 extra points and 36 field goals. He is 22 points behind Clarke Hinkle, who counted 390 points on 46 TDs, 30 extra points and 28 field goals.
Hutson, of course, holds the Packers and league top with an unbelievable 825 points on 105 TDs, 174 extra points and seven field goals. Fritsch's 100 points in 1946 topped the league. His 36 field goal total is the highest ever concocted by a Packer. Next is Hinkle with 28. Only other member of the current Packer team high in the all-time scoring table is Tony Canadeo with 24 touchdowns, including three this year, for 144 points - sixth on the list. The Packers' present scoring leader is right halfback Billy Grimes with 30 points on five TDs, while Fritsch is second with 27 points. Incidentally, Fritsch led the Bays in scoring for four straight seasons, 1946 through 1949...The Packers worked on defense yesterday, with quarterback Tobin Rote and Paul Christman handling the pitching duties of the Colts' Y.A. Tittle and Adrian Burk. The defense responded well to some of the Baltimore plays but others clicked for what would be long gains. Coach Gene Ronzani is fearful of the long layoff, the last game being played Oct. 19. "It'll be 16 days by the time we get onto the field at Baltimore and that's too long," he commented. The Packers are going from one extreme to another. From Oct. 1 to 19, they played four games - with the Bears and Yanks. Then, came the 16-day layoff.
COLTS ACQUIRE SPANIEL; SALATA MOVIE 'STUNTER'
NOV 1 (Baltimore) - Frank Spaniel, a rookie halfback who played more minutes for Notre Dame's undefeated 1949 team than any other back, joined Baltimore's football Colts today. The pro club picked him up on waivers from the Washington Redskins and simultaneously asked waivers on halfback Gene Mazzanti, freshman halfback from Arkansas university. Mazzanti's release keeps the Colt roster at 32, one under the National League limit. Spaniel can play both offense and defense, packing plenty of agility and speed....'SKINS RECALL SEBEK: The Redskins let him go to make room for Nick Sebek, recalled to aid their destitute quarterback corps. Both Sammy Baugh and Harry Gilmer, the 'Skins T-general, are laid up with injuries. Baugh has a chipped right elbow and Gilmer a chipped right shoulder. Spaniel, a product of Vandergrift (Pa.) High School, was one of the Fighting Irish's stars last fall. In the South Bend eleven's rout of North Carolina in New York, the 185-pound Frank ripped off a 75-yard touchdown sprint to start the Irish rolling. Mazzanti had been used sparingly, being bothered by a sacroiliac ailment in recent weeks. His best effort was against the Redskins here in the season's opener, when he scored a TD on a seven-yard off-tackle smash....TRICKSTER: After 19 straight losses, a mere Colt win here Sunday would go down as quite a stunt. The Colts are working on it. In fact, they'll use a professional "stunt man" just to prove they aren't kidding. He's Paul Salata, the 192-pound end Coach Clem Crowe brought back this week from the west coast...GRABBED FROM MOVIES: Crowe whisked the former San Francisco Forty-Niner player off a movie lot in Hollywood to sign him. Paul was busy driving off a submarine with John Wayne on a Warner Brothers stage set when he got word Baltimore wanted him to help it out of the pro football wilderness. "Naturally, I jumped at the chance," grins the big Yugoslavian. "Making movies is okay if you haven't anything better to do. It's a job. But I would rather play football any time."...FOOTBALL PAY IS BETTER: For one thing, Salata explains, the pro grid pays better. "You might make $3,000 a year on bit jobs if you're lucky," Paul says. "Of course, if you got a regular job as a stunt man you could do pretty well. But there's a clique in Hollywood and it's tough to break into. Most of my jobs have been been for $15 or $20 a day, followed by a long layoff."...PLAYED MANY CHARACTERS: Paul calls himself a "usable type", in the film vernacular. Rugged features, a strong physique and dark complexion make him a versatile camera subject. He has played Cubans, Indians, bums in skid row - and even footballers. He's also sat in the stands and cheered wildly to provide background for those college "rah rah" shots you've seen on the screen. "That's easy work," he says. "You get 15 bucks for a couple of hours." In the new picture with John Wayne, Salata rescues a comrade by diving off the sub into 15 feet of water...FACES PACKERS SUNDAY: "When you see it, you'll sweat I'm out in the ocean, but it'll alone in a big pool of water. It's amazing the way they can create illusion. Warners built the sub to scale, down to the fines detail. Even the guns. Shadows are thrown in the background to look like clouds." Crowe hopes Salata has a few pass catching stunts to show the Packers Sunday. He is impressed with Paul's coordination, his ability to get open and to hang onto passes from Colt quarterbacks Y.A. Tittle and Adrian Burk...RICH TOPS IN RETURNS: Before the Forty-Niners mysteriously let him go two weeks back, the 24-year old flanker made three touchdown grabs of Frankie Albert aerials. He caught 24 throws for 289 yards and four TDs in '49. Officials NFL statistics released today show Burk ranks No. 10 with a 6.54-yard average for 84 passes; Tittle No. 11 with 6.28 for 119 tries. Rookie Herb Rich continues to lead the league in punt returns, averaging 34.2 yards on six runbacks.
PACKERS MAY NEED HELP FROM 'GREAT MAN' OUT IN BALTIMORE
NOV 2 (Green Bay) - Will the Packers get some help from the "Great Man Upstairs" in Baltimore Sunday? They got a little assistance from the GMU against Baltimore in that non-league game in Milwaukee Sept. 10, winning a 16-14 tussle to close out preseason activity with a 3-1 record. Al Baldwin, the Packers' offensive left end, had a big day against the Colts, pulling two miracle catches to score one touchdown and set up the other, and making a "normal" catch to establish position for the game-winning field goal by Ted Fritsch. Brother Baldwin, on the train ride back from Milwaukee, said "I must have had some help from the Great Man Upstairs on those catches," and his Packers teammates were willing to agree. The Packers entered that game as a favorite of some sorts since the Colts had just dropped a 70-21 decision to those Los Angeles Rams and the Packers had just blanked the New York Giant Brown-Beaters, 10-0, out in Boston. The Packers go into next Sunday's game, opening the second half of their 1950 regulation NFL schedule, as a favorite for the first time in league action this season - chiefly on the basis of the two club's records thus far, 0-6 for the Colts and 2-4 for Green Bay...BRIEF 16-14 ESCAPE: But, lest you get to drooling over the possibility of the Packers winning No. 3, let's brief that 16-14 escape in Milwaukee: The game wasn't two minutes old when Billy Stone intercepted a Tobin Rote pass and the Colts moved 55 yards to the Packer 24 before stalling. A moment later, Leon Campbell bolted 40 yards to put the Colts deep in Packerland again early in the second heat, but the Bays held. Jug Girard as forced to punt and Stone promptly returned the ball 60 yards to a TD but it was nullified by a clipping penalty. Starting on their own 25, the Colts rolled to a TD in 14 plays, Adrian Burk pitching to Jim Owens for the score. With 22 seconds left in the half, the Packers tied it up, 7-7. Rote hurled a liner to Baldwin, who tipped it up on the Colt 20, caught it on the rebound between a couple of Colts and jogged to the 10, the play covering 53 yards. With eight seconds left, Rote hurled to Tony Canadeo for the score. Campbell wheeled off 54 yards early in the third quarter to the Bay 32 and a field goal attempt by Rex Grossman missed fire from the 37. Just before the end of the third frame, Rote fired to Baldwin on the 10 and Al tipped it up in the air, caught it on the way down and scampered into the end zone. Fritsch, who made the first extra point but missed the second, slammed in a field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 16-7. But the Colts almost were back in the game almost immediately. Chet Mutryn took Fritsch's kickoff on the goal line and scrambled 100 yards into pay dirt and Grossman's second extra point put the Colts within two points. Near the end, the Colts moved up to midfield from their own 15 when Bob Forte intercepted a Burk pass. Well, now, does that sound easy? No sir! The Packers may need some time to warm up Sunday since they will have gone some 16 days without action come game time. The Packers haven't competed since Oct. 19 when they met the Yanks in New York...LONG LAYOFF LAST TIME: Oddly enough, the Packers went into that Colt non-looper after a long layoff - 12 days after battling the Giants Aug. 29. There's another striking similarity. Back in September, the Colts had just dropped a 70-21 decision to the point-crazy Los Angeles Rams. Presently, the Colts are still smarting from a 70-27 licking at the hands of the same Rams a week ago last Sunday. Last Sabbath, however, the Colts lost a heart-breaking 17-14 verdict to the Forty Niners in San Francisco. The Colts will be playing their first home game since Oct. 15 when they lost a close one to the Philadelphia Eagles. That's right - the Philadelphia Eagles, defending NFL champions who haven't lost a game since dropping that opener to Cleveland. And as Ronzani and Assistant Coach Dick Plasman chimed after practice Wednesday: "Any team that can play the Eagles to 14-14 late in the fourth quarter is tough to beat!" That's what the Colts did with the Eagles. Beware, Packers!...The Packers worked into offense again this morning, with emphasis on passing. Wednesday's drill featured defense against Baltimore plays, with Coach Ronzani handling the Colt quarterbacking duties. Everybody and his brother, including Coaching Aides Ray Nolting and Plasman, had a hand in snatching throws. The Packers will be busy for the next six Sundays. After the Colt game, the Packers play the Rams in Milwaukee; the Lions in Detroit; the Forty-Niners in Green Bay; the Rams in LA; and the Forty Niners in SF.
PACKERS AIM FOR 20,000 CROWD AT FORTY NINER GAME
NOV 2 (Green Bay) - The Packers are shooting for a 20,000-plus crowd at the San Francisco game at City stadium Sunday, Nov. 26. Packer Prexy Emil R. Fischer feels such a crowd would "climax a great comeback season for our community football team." The Packers are asking all trucking firms in Green Bay and the area to assist in advertising the game with posters on their vehicles. Before the Packer-Yank game here. Fred Cobb, the bakery man, devised truck posters which could be put on trucks in five minutes and taken off in less time, leaving no marks and doing no injury to the truck part or finish. Cobb had had a new poster drawn up for the 'Frisco game. It features a covered wagon of Forty Niners invading Green Bay and pinpoints the message, "Get Your Tickets Early". The posters, 68 inches long and 26 inches high, are being made available for a nominal cost. The deadline for orders is Nov. 4, and they will be available Nov. 11, providing two weeks use. The Forty Niners replace the Chicago Cardinals as a two-game opponent this season, the Packers and 'Frisco being in the same conference and the Cards moving over to the American conference. The Forty Niners will be something "new" for Packerland fandom since they will be the only full-fledged former All-America team to play here this year (the Yanks who played here Oct. 8 are a combination of AAC and NFL teams). Coaching 'Frisco is handsome Buck Shaw - one of two charter AAC coaches, the other being Paul Brown of Cleveland. Shaw's Forty Niners ranked as the No. 2 team in the old AAC behind Cleveland, winning 38, losing 14 and tying two for a .731 percentage. Another description for San Francisco is the name Frankie Albert. Frankie is the only lefthanded quarterback in professional football and Shaw claims that "he has no equal as an all-around T-formation quarterback". Albert, the only first-string QB the Forty Niners ever had, ranked second (behind Cleveland's Otto Graham) in total offense during four years in the AAC with 6,948 yards passing and 767 running. With the exception of veteran backs like Albert, John Strzykalski, Joe Perry and Norm Standlee and end Alyn Beals, the Forty Niner team is young. For example, the Forty Niners' leader tackles are all rookies - Leo Nomellini of Minnesota, Don Campora of College of Pacific, and Ray Collins of LSU. They were one, two, three in the college draft last winter. Perry, the colored Negro fullback, led the AAC in rushing last year with 783 yards in 115 rushes for an average of 6.8. Strzykalski, who answers to "Strike", was a star at Marquette five years ago. Before their game here, the Forty Niners play at Los Angeles Nov. 5; Cleveland Nov. 12 and at Chicago Bears Nov. 19 - a rather ambitious trio of opponents. They should be quite ferocious when they invade Green Bay. The Packers won't see Albert's slants until they play Baltimore, Los Angeles and Detroit.
NFL ATTENDANCE BEHIND 1949
NOV 2 (Philadelphia) - Attendance in the NFL is running behind that of 1949, an Associated Press survey disclosed today. With one-third of the 1950 season gone, 1,151,040 fans have witnessed 42 games. The first 41 contests of 1949, involving NFL and All-America conference teams, drew 1,236,574 spectators. Six clubs reported increases in home games played to date. Seven said their books showed a decrease. Up from last year are the champion Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions and New York Giants. The Green Bay Packers are running practically even with 1949 in attendance. The figure for four games last year was 88,494 against 84,494 for the same number of contests this year. The sharpest decline in attendance is at Los Angeles, where the Rams' gate has slumped by 66,000 fans - even though there is no competition from a rival Los Angeles team as in 1949. Last year, the Rams drew 151,098 for three games. In four 1950 games, Los Angeles attracted only 84,969. Tex Schramm, Rams' publicity director, scoffed: "What, our attendance down?" "Why," he added cheerfully, "more than 2,000,000 fans see the Rams every time they play at home. By television, that is." He pointed out that the Rams are the only NFL club televising all home games "live". Other teams televises games but often do not show the films until later. This move was taken to guard against loss of attendance by fans staying home to watch games by television. The biggest increases this season are shown by the Eagles (up 39,000) and the Cleveland Browns (up 34,000). The Eagles and Browns are preseason favorites in the league's American conference. Other teams showing sharp declines in attendance are the Chicago Cardinals, down 37,000, and the Baltimore Colts, down 35,000.
CROWE LOOKS FOR WIN AGAINST TOUGH PACKERS
NOV 2 (Baltimore) - This business of meeting a new NFL opponent every weekend is a rugged like for the "swing shift" Colts, but there is never a dull moment. Green Bay's Packers, who come to town Sunday, are fully rested from the rigors of their first six games. They present another formidable roadblock in the path of Coach Clem Crowe's win-hungry Colts...CROWE STILL HOPEFUL: The Packers beat the Washington Redskins (35-21) and the Chicago Bears (31-21) during their first-half schedule trek while the Crowe-men haven't been able to crack the victory column in six starts. Moreover, they were idle last weekend while the Colts were battling on the West Coast. All this brings new wrinkles to Crowe's furrowed brow, but the 47-yard old strategist has learned to take adversity in stride. He is confident, he said, that one of these Sundays Baltimore is going to win - and this looks as good a time as any to do it....ROTE AND CHRISTMAN: "We could have won the San Francisco game with a little luck," he said. "The spirit of the boys is high despite our losses, and we came out of the Forty-Niner game without any serious injuries. The Packers have a sound ball club, but we are improving, too. We may be able to take them." Green Bay, coached by Gene Ronzani, the ex-Chicago Bears quarterback, uses - you guessed it - a "Bear-type" offense. Mainsprings of the attack are T-generals Tobin Rote, the Rice rookie once sought by Baltimore, and Paul Christman, aging vet obtained from the Chicago Cards...PACKER STARS: When Walter Driskill was the Colts' boss man last fall, he tabbed Rote as his No. 1 draft choice. Crowe, moving in from the Buffalo Bills, swung over to Adrian Burk of Baylor. Both Rote and Burk have shown promise of developing into top pro passes. Burk, at the moment, has the edge, however. He is tenth in the league, averaging 6.54 yards a thrown on 84 flips...TITTLE AVERAGES 6.28: Y.A. Tittle, the 24-year old veteran who almost pitched the Colts to an upset of the Forty-Niners, is the likely starter this week in Crowe's latest quarterback juggling act. Yard-Arm is averaging 6.28 yards on 119 throws. Burk, however, is certain to be used. He has the edge on Tittle in already having faced the Packers in a preseason exhibition. He went all the way in the Marylanders' 14-to-16 loss in Wisconsin September 10 and gave a good account of himself. Other Big Berthas on the Packer firing line include end Alton Baldwin, Crowe's ex-receiving ace at Buffalo whose 85-yard catch is the longest this season; center Clayton Tonnemaker, the All-American from Minnesota; halfback Billy Grimes, the pro draftee from Los Angeles' defunct Dons, who paces Green Bay's ball carriers with a 7-yard average; and Ted Fritsch, placekicking fullback.
LOSING '11" TOUGHEST, GENE
NOV 3 (Green Bay) - Packer Head Coach Gene Ronzani looked over his shoulder at the Men's Quarterback club meeting last night and envied: "Look! One's undefeated, the other hasn't lost a game and club meeting last night and envied: "Look! One's undefeated, the other hasn't lost a game and the other has a three-game winning streak agoing." Ronzani was pointing at our town's three high school coaches - East's Al Reed with a 7-0 record, Central Catholic's Ward Cuff with 5-0, and West's Frosty Ferzacca with the three-triumph skein that he'll take into the East-West game next Wednesday night. With tongue in cheek and both fingers crossed, Ronzani added: "Hope our little acorns can come along as fast in their last six games as our city's fine high school teams." The Packer Acorns will be facing what Ronzani called "the toughest kind of job in Baltimore Sunday." He pointed to two factors: (1) The Colts haven't won a game yet and (2) the Packers have been idle for 16 days. "A team that's losing is always the toughest opponent," Gene said. Ronzani said considerable time answering queries removed from the question and answer boxes. Two of the written remarks were particularly amusing. One fan quarterback asked: "Will you please tell me what a bootleg play is. We want to know before the women's quarterback club finds out."...WHAT ABOUT BOB MANN?" The 600 QBs and guests roared with laughter, but Ronzani, explained that a bootleg play (also called a keeper), is nothing more than a back, generally the quarterback, hiding the ball after faking a handoff and running with it himself. He pointed to Bob Waterfield, Los Angeles QB, as one of the game's best "bootleg" players. The other laugh producer was a thank you note "for not letting me into practice because by remaining at work instead, business has picked up 12 percent." Ronzani announced that the writer of the note was Savvy Canadeo, brother of the Packers' Tony. Speaking about Tony, a questioner wanted to know why Canadeo wasn't running more with the ball. Ronzani said that he has been trying to keep an "even balance" among the ball carriers, thus making it difficult for an opponent to defense the Packers. A number of quarterbacks inquired about Bob Mann, former Detroit and New York Yank end, who said earlier this week he had been "blackballed" out of the National league. Ronzani stated flatly that "no club in the league had instructions not to sign him." He said that many "factors might have entered the picture - possibly too high a salary or the fact that he could play only offense."...COMPLIMENTS TO EAST BOYS: Ronzani explained that since the merger, the teams went after players who could work some on both defense and offense. He pointed out that Lou Groza, Cleveland tackle, did little more than kick points and field goals before the merger but now he's playing considerable tackle. Joe Vetrano, Forty Niner placekicking specialist, was released because "that's all he could do," Gene said, adding that "Mann, at 165 pounds, couldn't fill in on defense anywhere." Asked if Clark Shaughnessy (former Packers assistant coach) would be back for the Los Angeles game, Ronzani said "no", and added that Clark is busy with his scouting on the west coast...Reed, Cuff and Ferzeca each gave brief talks. The East High mentor said that "all I can say is that I got a bunch of boys who want to play football. I'm sure it's all their doing, judging by the way they exert themselves in practice and in games. As far as compliments are concerned, they all go to the boys and not me." Cuff told about the first pro contract he ever signed - with the New York Giants shortly after leaving Marquette. It was particularly interesting to Packer Line Coach Tarz Taylor, who was Cuff's coach at MU at the time. It seems that Cuff wanted more money and it developed that he had requested an additional $10 to the original offer of $125 a game (how time have changed) to which Steve Owen and Tim Mara of the Giants agreed. Ferzacca, a boyhood chum of Ronzani's at Iron Mountain, Mich., said that "I always knew gene would be a success in football." In a lighter vein, Frosty urged a large attendance at the East-West game - "we need the money for uniforms."...Badger Bob (Red) Wilson, the Big Ten's most valuable player last fall and currently assistant freshman coach at Wisconsin, told the quarterbacks that the Badger freshmen aren't as good this season as others. But, he added, "Michigan's freshmen are below part, too." After his talk, Wilson narrated movies of the Wisconsin-Iowa game...Chief Quarterback Verne Lewellen, back after a week's absence, complimented "the women folks" for organizing the women's quarterback club and "we wish them the best of luck - we hope they get 1,000 memberships." With a smile, he added: "It's one of the greatest things to happen here - outside of the men's QB club." Lewellen read an intriguing letter in which the writer suggested installation of new population signs depicting the Packers be placed on roads leading to Green Bay. The writer would have a figure of a Packer player holding a sign which would read: "You are now entering Green Bay, the biggest little football city in the nation - Population..." Lewellen said the letter will be turned over to the Association of Commerce. Packer Aide Ray Nolting spiced the meeting with a joke. Also guests were Packer Coaches Dick Plasman and Tarz Taylor and coaches and players of De Pere, West De Pere and St. Norbert High schools.
PACK OFF FOR COLTLAND; EYES NO. 3
NOV 3 (Green Bay) - A couple of prominent veteran quarterbacks will be meeting for the first time when the Packers battle for their third NFL victory against the Baltimore Colts in Baltimore Sunday. Paul Christman, the veteran T-ster, wasn't around when the Packers and Colts collided in a non-league game last Sept. 10. Paul was still a Chicago Cardinal and didn't report here until Sept. 22. The Colts' veteran QB, Y.A. Tittle, was present for that game, but rookie Adrian Burk did so well that YaYa never got off the bench as the Packers eked out a 16-14 verdict. Tittle has battled back and last Sunday his expert hurling left the Colts within 20 yards of a victory over the rugged San Francisco Forty Niners when time ran out. The West Coasters won, 17-14...ROOKIE EDGES VETERAN: The Packer quarterbacking duties are similarly divided between a veteran and rookie - Christman and Tobin Rote. In each case, the rookie has the edge on the veteran, according to NFL passing statistics. Burk has the
Game-used 1950 New York Yanks helmet
4 ROOKIES MAY START
NOV 3 (Baltimore) - Colt Coach Clem Crowe will start an all-veteran backfield here Sunday against the Green Bay Packer, but four rookies are scrambling his line selections for the NFL fray. The meditative headmaster admits he's buffaloed, but for the nonce at least, over his guard and end positions. At left guard, it's a tossup between Early Murray and John (Bull) Schweder, at right guard between Sisto Averno and Ken Cooper, and at left end between Jim Owens and Paul Salata...SEEKS WINNING COMBINATION: Murray, Schweider, Averno and Owens are the rookies. They've all drawn starting nods, off and on, this fall. This time, though, Crowe is being especially careful before naming them. He is determined to field a winning combination against the Packers and may wait until just before the kickoff to make the final decision. You can hardly blame him for exercising caution. The improving Colts are rated their best chance so far this season against rebuilt Green Bay. A lot depends on whether they can cash in on this one. For one thing, they can wipe out a 19-game losing streak (including seven exhibitions) by winning. For another, they can reacquaint home fans with the feeling of victory. The Colts have not won a game in Baltimore since December 5, 1948...CRISLER TO START: Shuffling Hal Crisler, says Crowe, is a definite choice to open again at right end. The slow-to-jell skyscraper caught his first pass for Baltimore in last Sunday's 14-17 squeeze-out in San Francisco, then proceeded to sizzle. He stretched his 6-foot, 4-inch frame over defender Sam Cathcart to catch a 31-yard touchdown pass from Y.A. Tittle; later he grabbed a 63-yarder from Tittle to set up the Colts' second TD. Tittle will be back at quarterback Sunday, backed up by Chet Mutryn and Rip Collins at the halves, and Jim Spavital at full. Besides Crisler, definite assignments along the line go to Ernie Blandin and Barry French at tackles and durable Joel Williams at center...NOWASKEY READY: The contest, featured as "Bob Nowaskey Day", in tribute to the hard-working 32-year old linebacker, will find a sound Nowaskey ready to go. Old humps and bruises have healed. Halfback Billy Stone, fullback Leon Campbell and end Johnny North are another story, though. Injuries will keep all three shelved.
PACKERS CHOICE OVER BALTIMORE COLTS
NOV 4 (Baltimore) - Coach Gene Ronzani's Green Bay Packers will be gunning for their third NFL triumph when they meet Baltimore here Sunday. The locals in hoping to stage an upset (the Packers are 9 point favorites) point to their exhibition loss to the Packers, 16-14, and are confident mistakes made in that game have been corrected. Adrian Burk, Chet Mutryn and Y.A. Tittle pace the Baltimore backfield, Burk's passing being counted upon to engineer the upset. The Packers, who have won two and lost four, depend on the passing of Tobin Rote and Paul Christman, the kicking of Tony Canadeo and Ted Fritsch and the ball carrying of Billy Grimes and Floyd (Breezy) Reid.
PACKERS TO FIELD WEIGHTY ELEVEN
NOV 4 (Baltimore) - The Colts will face some of the biggest men in the professional football ranks when they play Green Bay tomorrow afternoon in the Stadium. If beef means anything to a team, then the 7 1/2-point favorite role held by the Packers is too light. The two heaviest men on the Wisconsin squad are center Ed Neal, at 275 pounds, and tackle Ed Ecker, 270. Both of these players have the physique to carry such tonnage. Neal is 6 feet 4 and Ecker towers 6 feet 7. Lightest of the five Packer tackles is Dick Wildung, veteran of five season. His 220 pounds bring down the tackle average to 245 pounds per man. Besides such heavyweights in the line, the Packer can boast of a 220-pound fullback in Jack Cloud, rookie from William and Mary. His weight in itself isn't startling, but it is packed on a 5-foot, 10-inch frame.
highest rank, 10th (based on average per pass attempted), with 28 completions in 84 attempts for 549 yards, five TDs and an average gain of 6.54 yards. Tittle places 11th with an average gain of 6.28 yards on 62 completions in 119 attempts for 747 yards and one TD pass. Rote, ranking 16th, has completed 22 out of 75 tries for 387 yards and an average of 5.16 per completion. Christman has 25 completions in 69 throws for 278 yards and an average of 4.03. Between 'em, the four quarterbacks hurled 10 TD passes. Burk has five, Christman three, Rote two and Tittle one. Rote has the longest completion in the league - an 85-yarder to Al Baldwin...STANSAUK GETS FIRST LOOK: You'll never guess who ranks between Rote and Christman. None other than the New York Giants' Charlie Conerly, who has completed 22 out of 70 throws for 341 yards and an average of 4.87. Besides Christman, tackle Don Stansauk is the only other Packer going against the Colts for the first time. Don reported shortly before the Detroit game here Sept. 17. The ex-Bears, Charley Drulis and Floyd Reid, didn't play against the Colts for Green Bay but they had a taste when the Bears played at Baltimore Aug. 24. The Bears, incidentally, won that game in the last minute of a long Johnny Lujack pass...Barring a last-minute change in flight plans, the Packers are, at the moment, en route to Baltimore in their chartered Capital Airliner. They were scheduled to leave Austin Straubel field at 3:45 this afternoon. They'll stop in Detroit along the way and arrive in Baltimore at 8:30, GB times...Team statistics would lead the sideline observer to believe that Sunday's game will be a battle between the Packers' rushing game against the Colts' passing attack. For instance, the Packers gained 1,062 yards rushing (third high in the league) against the Colts' 455 - lowest in the circuit. In the air, the Colts piled up 1,296 yards against the Packers' 696. Only the Giants, with 489 yards, have a lower passing total. Defensively, the Packers have an edge in both rushing and passing departments, though the air figures are practically even. The Bays permitted enemies only 828 yards on the ground compared to the Colts' 1,398. In the air, the Packers allowed 1,345 and the Colts 1,378. In the important point department, the Packers outscored the Colts, 135 to 82, in six games for each club. The Bays scored 18 touchdowns, 14 by rushing and four by passing, compared to the Colts' 12 TDs - six each by rushing and passing.
BALTIMORE NOT FOR SALE; WATNER REJECTS OFFER
NOV 3 (Baltimore) - The Baltimore Colts, "losingest" team in the NFL, are not for sale. This was revealed today by Abe Watner, president of the Colts, who said he recently turned down an offer of $200,000 for the team from a Brooklyn businessman. The offer was made by a Baltimore advertising agency acting for Alex Radutsky, president of the Independent Candy company, who, it was understood, intended to transfer the Colts' franchise to Brooklyn. Watner, however, told the agency, "I'm not interested. My only interest is to keep pro football in Baltimore." The Green Bay Packers play at Baltimore Sunday.
COLTS FEEL THEY HAVE CHANCE TO CONQUER GREEN BAY SUNDAY
NOV 3 (Baltimore) - Practice out at Clifton Park doesn't have the grim do-or-die spirit with which the Colts prepared for most of their first six NFL games. This, of course, doesn't mean that Clem Crowe's covey isn't taking seriously its Sunday meeting with the Green Bay Packers in the Stadium. For, if anything, the Colts' mental attitude is better than at any other times...FEEL THEY HAVE CHANCE: The prospects of meeting a team in which they feel they have a very good chance of beating has pepped up the Baltimoreans' drills. In the only contest between the two squads, an exhibition before the regular season got underway, the Colts more than held their own, losing 14 to 16, after outplaying the Packers most of the way. It is the picture of his non- league game which has imbued the Crowe forces with such confidence. Also the potent passing attack which was flashed by Y.A. Tittle against the San Francisco Forty-Niners has whetted the Colt spirit...PACKERS BEAT REDSKINS: However, on the surface, the scores which are comparative would seem to indicate a Green Bay triumph. The Packers defeated the Washington Redskins, 35 to 21. Baltimore found the Capital eleven too strong, losing 14 to 38. Green Bay, coached by Gene Ronzani, ex-Chicago Bear quarterback, has had an up-and-down season, rising to heights on one Sunday and dropping to the depths the next Sabbath...ROTE CALLS SIGNALS: Paul Christman, aging veteran from Missouri, and Tobin Rote man the Packers' T-formation quarterback position. Rote, first choice in the college draft of Walter Driskill when he was running the Colt show, has proved his worth as a rookie. But, the Rice passing star who was bypassed by Crowe, when he assumed control of the Baltimore team, for Adrian Burk, is running a second best to the Colt rookie from Baylor...RANKED TENTH IN PASSING: Burk ranks tenth in the league in passing, averaging 6.54 yards a throw on 84 tosses. One of the men Crowe must plan a defense against is Alton Baldwin, who was one of the best offensive ends in the old All-America Conference with the Buffalo Bills last season. Crowe should know all about Baldwin, having coaching him last season, but trying to stop the Packers from catching passes is something else.
TITTLE, ROTE IN AIR DUEL AS COLTS BATTLE PACKERS
NOV 4 (Baltimore) - Calling on the law of averages to start working again, the harassed Colts make another bid to break their long losing streak when they go against the up-and-down Green Bay Packers tomorrow (2 o'clock) in Memorial Stadium. The Colts haven't won a game in 19 starts, or at home since December 5, 1948. Thirteen times they've gone to the post in the revamped NFL (seven of them exhibitions) and 13 times they've come out second best. The Packers have won two out of six regular season tests...CLUB UP, CROWE SAYS: Odds-smiths have established the Wisconsinites a seven-and-a-half point favorite. However, after last Sunday's run of bad luck in San Francisco, when they went down fighting with a 14-17 loss, the Colts figure it's about time the law of averages caught up with them. "We're 'up' for this one," says Coach Clem Crowe. "We can't keep losing forever. We have a couple of good men hurt, but we're in as good shape as we were last week. We ought to give Green Bay a battle."...BALDWIN A BIG MENACE: Speaking of hard luck reminds that the Colts had quite a run of it against the Packers when the two clubs met in an exhibition in Milwaukee. Green Bay eked out a 16-14 verdict in that one on the strength of Ted Fritsch's sharp-angled 13-yard field goal after end Alton Baldwin had offset Baltimore's attack with three circus pass catches. The Colts outrushed Green Bay, 208 yards to 51, but were outdistanced on passing, 160 to 215, as Baldwin personally accounted for 117 yards. Baldwin is a big menace tomorrow. The rangy terminal has legs like a jumping jack. He was one of the most feared receivers in the All-America conference last year with Crowe's Buffalo Bills...ROTE IN PASSING SHOT: Baldwin and Abner Wimberly, a draftee from the defunct Los Angeles Dons, are tabbed to start here, with rookie Tobin Rote, the Rice Institute offspring, in the passing slot at quarterback. Y.A. Tittle, who finally "found" himself last week against the Forty-Niners, will open as signal caller for Baltimore, flanked by all-pro Chet Mutryn and Rip Collins at the halves and the improving Jim Spavital at fullback...AERIAL FIREWORKS SEEN: With rookie Adrian Burk slated to alternate with Tittle and the veteran Paul Christman backing up Rote, there will be plenty of aerial fireworks popping. All 33 of the Packers' players are fit, while the Colts will have only 29 men available. Halfback Billy Stone, with a shoulder separation; fullback Leon Campbell, an injured knee; and end Johnny North, two banged up knees, are shelved. The Colt squad numbers only 32...IT'S "NOWASKEY DAY": The attraction is billed "Bob Nowaskey Day" in honor of the gallant 32-yard old linebacker. Elizabeth Folus, Miss Colt of 1950, will present the Colts Associates' trophy to Nowaskey before the game in recognition of Bob's stout efforts here the last three seasons. Fans will also contribute gifts. A model plane demonstration will take the spotlight at halftime.
PACKERS FACE UPSET-MINDED BALTIMORE COLTS SUNDAY
NOV 4 (Baltimore) - Gene Ronzani is sincerely worried about Sunday's Packer-Colt game. The Packer head coach figures the Baltimores are "bound to win one pretty soon, and they think the Packers are the team they can beat." The Packers enter tomorrow's NFL struggle, the seventh for both clubs, a 14-point favorite, which is enough to make any coach shudder - especially Ronzani, whose Packers had all sorts of trouble before downing the same Colts, 16-14, in a non-looper in Milwaukee last Sept. 10. The Colts go into activity trying to blast a 13-game losing streak, the last six of which were recorded in league competition. Overall, the Packers won five and lost five but the NFL record stands at 2-4. A crowd of 20,000 is expected to see the contest. Adding to Ronzani's woes is the fact that the Packer haven't played a game for 16 days, the last competitive effort being made against the Yanks in New York Oct. 19. Gene is afeared that the Packers might be considerably rusty and may need one or two quarters to restore sharpness to their offense. What the Colts do in the meantime is what's worrying Ronzani... RONZANI, STAFF SHUDDER: The combination of the Packers' long layoff and the Colts' losing streak makes Ronzani and his staff shudder. "And just how are you going to bring a team 'up' for a club that has yet to win?" asked Gene. While the coaches fretted, the Packer players appeared confident of posting their third victory and thus set the stage for the gigantic encounter with the point-sloppy Los Angeles Rams in Milwaukee the following Sabbath. The players did a lot of running this week in an effort to knock off weight added during the long layoff. They appeared in excellent condition. The head coach will likely call upon quarterback Paul Christman to handle a good share of the Packer offense. This will be Paul's first look at the Colts because he was still a Chi-Cardinal during the last Packer-Colt affair. However, Tobin Rote will likely get in a lot of pitching in view of his big day against Baltimore before. He hurled two touchdown passes, one each to Tony Canadeo and Al Baldwin, and completed another pass to Baldwin to set up Ted Fritsch's game-winning field goal. It’s possible defensive halfback Rebel Steiner and defensive end Steve Pritko may get a little offensive work Sunday. Both have been catching well in practice. Though Christman and Rote may do a lot of throwing, tomorrow’s game shapes up as a duel between the Packers’ powerful ground game and the Colts’ effective air machine. Y.A. Tittle, the veteran pass master, probably will handle the bulk of the hurling and it will be his first shot at GB. He sat on the bench while rookie Adrian Burk almost whipped the Bays in that non-leaguer. However, YaYa has won back the starting QB nod, chiefly by his work in the club’s 17-14 loss to San Francisco last Sunday. The biggest Colt threat is Chet Mutryn, one of the league’s top runners and pass receivers. Chet lugged a kickoff back 100 yards against the Packers to bring the Colts within two points in the non-looper…The Packers were thankful the air trip wasn’t made the night before the game because 10 or 15 of them developed air sickness on the trip from Green Bay Friday night. The team worked out in a park near Municipal stadium, site of Sunday’s game, this morning but the “recuperating” athletes took it easy. Coach Ronzani was afraid that the efficiency of some of the players might be reduced some for Sunday. The Capital Airliner charged through snow and rain at altitudes of 15,000 to 20,000 feet after leaving Detroit where hot dinners were placed on board. The ceiling above Baltimore dropped from 16,000 to 600 feet an hour before the squad arrived but the pilot skillfully brought the big ship in on the beam – practically a blind landing. The airliner was nearly two hours late in taking off from Austin Straubel field Friday afternoon because the Purdue University squad was two hours late in reporting at Lafayette, Ind. The plane took the Purdue team to Janesville (they played Wisconsin today) and then winged to Green Bay. The Packers left Green Bay at 5:30 and arrived here at 11:30 Green Bay time. The Packer party included, besides the players, coaches and trainers, H.J. Bero, handling business affairs, and Jimmy Manci of Iron Mountain, Mich. Publicity chief Jug Earp met the squad on arrival here.
SALUTE TO FAIRBAULT, MINN., FOR LOYALTY TO PACKERS
NOV 4 (Baltimore) - Let’s salute Fairbault, Minn, (population around 12,000) today. Thirty-six residents of that community about 50 miles south of Minneapolis are shelling out $39.50 each to attend the Packer-Los Angeles game in Milwaukee a week from tomorrow. The story of Fairbault and its “Boost the Packer Flight” was revealed by Glenn Random, Green Bay veterinarian remedy man, who travels through Minnesota for business purposes. “They’re crazy about the Packers out there. All you have to do is mention that you’re from Green Bay and you’re welcome anywhere,” Random said. The new interest, of course, resulted considerably from Packer game broadcasts over Fairbault’s KDHL and advertising by the local Miller High Life distributor. The broadcasts are sponsored by Fred Miller, Milwaukee brewer. To add to the interest, Random said, Bruce Smith, the former Packer halfback, has a sporting goods store in Northfield, which is only 15 miles away. Smith, of course, covers the territory with his business visits. Already 27 seats have been sold on the chartered Northwest Airlines plane, but Random said “the remaining nine are a cinch to go”. To make it tougher, the Fairbault fans must travel 50 miles by bus to St. Paul to catch the plane because the town doesn’t have an airport big enough to handle the big plane. The price of $39.50 (close to $1,440 for a full plane) includes a ticket to the game…PRO STUFF: Arnold Galiffa, the Army quarterback drafted by the Packers last January, is an infantry officer in Korea…Packer quarterback Tobin Rote’s record of 85 passes without an interception, established at Rice, has been snapped by Red Bagnall, Penn QB, who how has hurled 87 without an interception…Horace Smith, Michigan State back, has been signed by the Detroit Lions to replace the speedy Wally Triplett, who has been called into service…Commissioner Bert Bell advised the New York Yanks they were not guilty – but don’t do it again – in speaking of their “mistake of 10,000” in “estimating” the paid house at the Bear game last Sunday. The Yanks estimated 48,000 for a 38,000 house. Bell told the NY scribes that there was no reason to fake crowds…Two former Packers, center Jay Rhodemyre of Kentucky and tackle Bill Lee of Alabama, have been named on the second all-time Southeastern conference football team. Don Hutson, the Packers’ immortal pass receiver from Alabama, was announced as a member of the first all-time SEC team Thursday…Twenty tons of marble are used to make the chalk lines at City stadium and West stadium for one season.
