1950s Pro Football Hall Of Fame

[ChrisBabcock]

My hall for the 1950s. (alphabetically) Same deal as my previous decades. If the sculptor called and said “I’ve only got enough bronze for 15 busts.”

Discuss!.... or post your own.

Chuck Bednarik
Roosevelt Brown
Jack Christiansen
Lou Creekmur
Art Donovan
Len Ford
Frank Gifford
Otto Graham
Lou Groza
Elroy Hirsch
Billy Howton
Leo Nomellini
Joe Perry
Joe Schmidt
Emlen Tunnell

[JeffreyMiller]

Bobby Layne and Doak Walker
John Unitas won two titles in the 50s
Gino Marchetti
Night Train Layne
Jim Brown might fit better in the 60s, but ...

[Saban1]

Dante Lavelli
Mac Speedie
Norm Van Brocklin
Yale Lary
Mike McCormack
Dick Lynch
Dick Stanfel
Frank Gatski
Hugh McElhenny
Jim Ray Smith
Ollie Matson
Marion Motley (more 40's than 50's)
Jim Patton

[TanksAndSpartans]

50s are tough given specialization and still just 15 slots:

50s

OE: Hirsch, Fears, Pihos
OL/DL: L. Ford, Marchetti, Nomellini, St. Clair
LB: Bednarik, Schmidt
DB: Lane, Tunnell, Christiansen
OB: Graham, McElhenny, Perry

40s

E: Benton, Sprinkle, Lavelli
T: A. Wistert, B. Ray
G: Willis, Banducci
C: Turner, Wojciechowicz
B: Luckman, Waterfield, Van Buren, Motley, McAfee
Coach: Paul Brown

30s

E: Hutson, Hewitt
T: Hubbard, Edwards, Stydahar
G: Michalske, Fortman
C: Hein
B: Baugh, D. Clark, Nagurski, Blood, Hinkle, Herber, Battles

20s

E: Chamberlin, Dilweg
T: Healey, Slater, Lyman, Henry
G: A. Nesser, Youngstrom
C: Trafton
B: Driscoll, Friedman, Latone, Nevers, Lambeau, Pollard

[ChrisBabcock]

OE: Hirsch, Fears, Pihos

Pihos/Howton was one of my tougher choices. With Howton getting the nod for playing more years in the decade. Like I said earlier, I knew some guys who's careers split over two half decades would get the short end of the stick in these Halls.

[TanksAndSpartans]

Pihos/Howton was one of my tougher choices. With Howton getting the nod for playing more years in the decade. Like I said earlier, I knew some guys who's careers split over two half decades would get the short end of the stick in these Halls.

I really like Howton too - I've mentioned in other posts, I watch a lot of 50s highlights and he was one of the non-HOFers that really jumped out at me. Fears was a must have for me though as I personally see him as the original TE given his skill set and his role often playing a compliment to a deep threat. You're exactly right about Pihos crossing decades - I didn't want to cheat and put him in the 40s group, but it would have been easier and given me an open spot for the 50s. I might have had to fill it with an offensive Guard though as I don't have one of those.