Joe Namath and the AFL's Spalding Ball

[JoeZagorski]

Hey Guys,

Just an opinion question here. Do you think that a big reason why Joe Namath had his best years before 1970 was because the AFL used a slightly slimmer football from the Spalding Company, rather than the slightly fatter Wilson football that the NFL used? I remember seeing a piece on television last year where Namath said that he could grip the Spalding ball better with more control. Now I know he had his greatest statistical day in 1972 with the Wilson ball, but he had several great years prior to the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. I look forward to reading your opinions!

Joe Zagorski

[superbowlfanatic]

A few years ago NFL Films had Boomer Esiason test/throw all the various balls used in pro football history. When he gripped and threw the AFL's Spalding J5-V, he said that it was easier to throw because it was more narrow than the Duke, and he could get his hand around the ball better, and that he'd have had an even better passing career if he'd thrown it.

[JohnTurney]

A few years ago NFL Films had Boomer Esiason test/throw all the various balls used in pro football history. When he gripped and threw the AFL's Spalding J5-V, he said that it was easier to throw because it was more narrow than the Duke, and he could get his hand around the ball better, and that he'd have had an even better passing career if he'd thrown it.

I saw that, it was an excellent piece, especially when he tried to throw the one that was so round----

[Ronfitch]

Hey Guys,

Just an opinion question here. Do you think that a big reason why Joe Namath had his best years before 1970 was because the AFL used a slightly slimmer football from the Spalding Company, rather than the slightly fatter Wilson football that the NFL used? I remember seeing a piece on television last year where Namath said that he could grip the Spalding ball better with more control. Now I know he had his greatest statistical day in 1972 with the Wilson ball, but he had several great years prior to the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. I look forward to reading your opinions!

Joe Zagorski

There was a magazine pictorial essay back in 1999 or 2000 which was really just a series of various quarterback's grips. I recall it covered several current (at that time) quarterbacks and I thought even players from the past, but have never located it since. I always thought it was the old "Sport" magazine ... does this ring any bells here?

[JohnH19]

Joe's steadily declining physical health in the 70s was a much larger factor than the ball.

[conace21]

Namath played the equivalent of two full seasons between 1970-1973. It doesn't matter what ball you're throwing if you're on the sidelines.

[oldecapecod11]

There was a magazine pictorial essay back in 1999 or 2000 which was really just a series of various quarterback's grips. I recall it covered several current (at that time) quarterbacks and I thought even players from the past, but have never located it since. I always thought it was the old "Sport" magazine ... does this ring any bells here?

If this is the article you mean, it was Time/Life but the issue is not known.
You can probably figure it out by checking the rosters when it was a 14-team league.

{Edited by Moderator}

Edited to add:
Sorry, Ron. That is not the article you seek. The photo is 1961.

{Edited by Moderator}

[Ronfitch]

There was a magazine pictorial essay back in 1999 or 2000 which was really just a series of various quarterback's grips. I recall it covered several current (at that time) quarterbacks and I thought even players from the past, but have never located it since. I always thought it was the old "Sport" magazine ... does this ring any bells here?

If this is the article you mean, it was Time/Life but the issue is not known.
You can probably figure it out by checking the rosters when it was a 14-team league.

{Edited by Moderator}

Edited to add:
Sorry, Ron. That is not the article you seek. The photo is 1961.

{Edited by Moderator}

A great photo, though. Thanks, Phil.

Sadly, like most things these days, I can tell you where I was, who I was with and other details of when I saw it, but which magazine? No, of course, that is lost to me.

[fgoodwin]

If you collect old Super Bowl programs, open up your copy of the SB III program; inside is an article entitled "F1100 vs. J5-V". The title makes it sound like it's about a dogfight between jet fighters, but its actually a comparison of the NFL's "The Duke" football and the AFL football (which I understand many colleges still use).