1950's preseason games...tenor and procedure

[Bryan]

I was watching a great game between the 1954 Niners and Browns...spectacular runs by McElhenny, scoring passes by Tittle only to be answered by Otto Graham's own scoring passes, intense back and forth game ends up with the Niners finally defeating the Browns. Go to PFR to find the actual box score, and then I realize this was just a preseason game! I (almost) felt obliged to turn in my PFRA Membership Card and slink away in shame.

Was this typical of 1950's preseason games? The starters were in the entire game, there weren't that many players/numbers that I didn't recognize, both teams appeared to be giving full effort.

[JeffreyMiller]

I have a great broadcast of a 1982 Bills-Cowboys preseason contest--Tony Dorsett played well in to the third quarter!

[Reaser]

I was watching a great game between the 1954 Niners and Browns...

It's a great game to watch.

[JuggernautJ]

I am reminded of the title of the Lombardi biography When Pride Still Mattered.

When you're not being paid an exorbitant amount of money to play football you play for other reasons... amongst them, pride.
Pride in your team, yourself and your ability to overcome any obstacle can drive you and your compatriots to unequaled heights... even, amazingly, if there isn't a dime involved.

So, though I am far less an expert on these (1950's) times preseason games than many here I am willing to say that "Yes, this was far more common then than now because then, as opposed to now, money wasn't the only incentive to do one's best."

[BD Sullivan]

When the Browns had their preseason doubleheaders in the 60's, the games drew sellout crowds of 80,000+.

In 1970, the Browns played in Cincy, the first time Paul Brown had faced them since his 1963 firing. The Bengals won a close game, with Brown running off the field with a pumped fist in the air.

In short, teams played to win, a far cry from the joke of today's exhibitions.

[JuggernautJ]

In short, teams played to win, a far cry from the joke of today's exhibitions.

Much like the Pro Bowl...

I remember, as a kid, watching the NFL Champs play the College All-Stars...
Talk about a different kind of game from today's exhibitions.

[Jay Z]

Look at the attendance figures in 1954.

Two time defending champs the Lions drew well. Everyone else, it depended on the opponent. Could be a good crowd for a big rival, otherwise might be half capacity.

Attendance was certainly growing, TV was growing... but not nearly there yet.

Lots of neutral site preseason games. Many teams only played one of their six or so preseason games in their home park. Redskins, Giants, Cardinals didn't play any.

The preseason games really only had value as the game day gate. That is it. Probably no folding into the regular season season tickets. They existed to be watched for legit entertainment. So the starters played, maybe not the whole game, but a good portion of it.

And yes, the College All Star Game was a huge deal at the time. More attendance than any regular season game or the league championship.

[conace21]

I am reminded of the title of the Lombardi biography When Pride Still Mattered.

When you're not being paid an exorbitant amount of money to play football you play for other reasons... amongst them, pride.
Pride in your team, yourself and your ability to overcome any obstacle can drive you and your compatriots to unequaled heights... even, amazingly, if there isn't a dime involved.

So, though I am far less an expert on these (1950's) times preseason games than many here I am willing to say that "Yes, this was far more common then than now because then, as opposed to now, money wasn't the only incentive to do one's best."

Preseason games also used to be key in players rounding out into game shape. There wasn't much serious year round training in the 1950's and 60's, especially since most players had to work other jobs. Nowadays players stay in top shape year round. Players are also so much stronger and faster that the risk of injury is so much greater.

[JohnR]

The '67 preseason must have been fascinating with the AFL & NFL facing off for the first time. One league playing for legitimacy.

[Mark L. Ford]

I was watching a great game between the 1954 Niners and Browns...spectacular runs by McElhenny, scoring passes by Tittle only to be answered by Otto Graham's own scoring passes, intense back and forth game ends up with the Niners finally defeating the Browns. Go to PFR to find the actual box score, and then I realize this was just a preseason game! I (almost) felt obliged to turn in my PFRA Membership Card and slink away in shame.

Was this typical of 1950's preseason games? The starters were in the entire game, there weren't that many players/numbers that I didn't recognize, both teams appeared to be giving full effort.

Late in the preseason, at least, that was pretty typical for the starters to play the entire game, rather than having the first string play just a half, and it sometimes ended in a disaster. In the last exhibition before the regular season back in 1968, Johnny Unitas was kept in and had more than 200 yards passing until he hurt his arm and sat out the first nine games of regular play. In early August, then, as now, the starters made only token appearances while they were figuring out which new guys to cut from the team.