Three Games that made Pro Football Great

[LeonardRachiele]

These three games changed Professional Football into a big time sport. Oddly enough, all three were at Yankee Stadium, the country’s best known baseball park.

December 14, 1958
On the final weekend of the 1958 season, the Steelers had nationally televised Saturday game, freeing up my hometown of Pittsburgh for a game on Sunday. It was the Cleveland Browns at the New York Giants, the only important game. Baltimore clinched the Western Division title after ten games and was coasting. In addition to Pittsburgh and Cleveland, CBS probably televised the game to all areas that did not have teams.

A steady snowfall began the previous night and became a blizzard by the game’s end. Though the Giants had beaten the Browns earlier, their record was 8-3, a game back of the 9-2 Browns. The Giants needed a win that snow filled day to force a playoff the next week. Since the Giants would have swept the season series, the playoff would be in New York. If Cleveland won or tied, they would host Baltimore in the title game, after a week’s layoff.

On the first play Milt Plum pitched to Jimmy Brown who easily went 65 yards for the touchdown. After that the game degenerated into a comedy of errors equal to pro wresting. Players skidded and fell, receivers dropped passes, and defensive backs missed some easy interceptions. The two quarterbacks lost footing on drawbacks, threw limp passes, and had balls squirt backwards after cocking their arm.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Cleveland led 10 to 3 and would have wind at their backs. With about seven minutes left, the Giants got the ball at midfield after an awful punt. Charlie Connerly, the Marlboro man on billboards, pitched the ball to Frank Gifford. Gifford planted his feet firmly on the snowy field and threw a strike to Kyle Rote inside the five yard line. The next play the Giants scored. After a three and out, the Cleveland punter booted another dud. After a first down, the Giants stalled at the Cleveland 43. Jim Lee Howell sent in Pat Summerall to attempt a 50 yard field goal.

Most people thought this was really risky, especially with only two minutes remaining. After two seasons with the Chicago Cardinals as a reserve end and kicker, the Giants acquired Pat Summerall strictly for place kicking just before the 1958 season. Summerall spent only four years with the Giants and only in 1959 was he really consistent. There was no way either Summerall or holder Connerly could have seen the goal post. Nevertheless, it was a straight away kick that easily sailed through, or so the official signaled. The Giants had defeated the Browns twice and would host the playoff game the following week.

December 21, 1958
The Eastern Division Playoff. The Baltimore Colts, having clinched the Western title after 10 games, were happy the Giants defeated the Browns in that final game. Regardless of which team won the playoff, said team would have played a 13th game. Meanwhile the Colts had two games for horseplay, pun intended, and the playoff weekend off.

The weather was cold but with no snow for playoff Sunday. The Giants would key on Jim Brown and force Cleveland into third and long situations. Jim Brown had his worst game ever, gaining just eight yards. On Cleveland’s passing downs, the rush on quarterback Milt Plum was so fierce he barely had time to set up. That may be have been the finest defensive performance ever considering New York scored just twice. The Giants’ fans gave the defense standing ovations each time they walked off the field. Final: New York 10 Cleveland 0. The Giants had beaten the Browns three times.

December 28, 1958
The NFL Championship Game
As the title game neared, the media tossed around some key questions. Would Baltimore be fresh or rusty from three weeks without any pressure? Would the Giants remain sharp or have a letdown after 13 critical games?. The Giants had defeated the Colts by a narrow margin during the season but that was almost meaningless.

Though some historians believe this was the greatest game ever, I think they are wrong. The Colts led 14 to 3 after three dull quarters. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the action heated up showing viewers some of the game’s finer points

–When you have a team down put them away. Do not squander any opportunities. As they say in old west, when the sheriff draws a gun on a man make him walk to the jail with his hands up or shoot to kill,
–the remarkable poise of a 25 year old quarterback that never wavered through the next 17 years,
–punting or going for a first down on 4th and 1,
–athletes can be great despite physical drawbacks,
–a clash of two future Hall of Famers, arguably the best at their respective positions.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Colts were inside the Giants’ 20 pushing for the touchdown which would lock the game. Very quickly the Giants’ defensive line, which had not performed well all day, recaptured the zest of the previous week. Jim Katcavage, Roosevelt Grier, Dick Moduleski, and Andy Robestelli sacked Unitas on successive downs, pushing the Colts out of field goal range.

The Giants’ offense finally came together with two drives. Alex Webster made the big play picking up a teammate’s fumble and running 60 yards. Things were looking good for the Giants, as they led 17 to 14. Now it was Unitas’ turn, age 25, to show the country a two minute drill he did so often throughout his career. With a series of short passes to Jim Mucheller and Raymond Berry and the running of Lenny Moore, the Colts were inside the Giants’ 10. On came Steve Myhra, a little known kicker and offensive lineman. He put a chip shot through, holder George Shaw’s hand flew up, and overtime came.

New York won the toss for the overtime and took the ball. On 4th and one at their 39, Jim Lee Howell chose to punt. John Unitas moved the team for one first down. Next he hit wide open Raymond Berry for a 65 yard gain. Berry was nearest thing to a physical wreck that ever played. He was also the best receiver in Colts’ history and one of the game’s all time greats. Berry had severe myopia, one leg longer than the other, and almost no speed. He did have great hands, moves, and caught anything near. From the Giants one yard line Unitas handed to Alan Ameche Baltimore’s power runner. Guard Jim Parker put a great block on safety Emlen Tunnel Both of these men might have been the best ever at their positions. The Colts won the game and the Giants’ crowd was surprisingly quite orderly.

Pro football in a three week span had become big business and owners and networks began making plans for the future. Plans though are like asparagus or an elephant gestation. They take two years and in 1960 we would see the change.