Bo and Buckets

On this day in Packer history Bo and Buckets stood out.

In 1929, fullback Bo Molenda led the Packers 23-0 home whipping of the Bears by picking off three Chicago passes and gaining 78 yards on 20 carries, including a 10-yard touchdown romp. Molenda actually intercepted a fourth Bear aerial, but that one was negated by a Packer offsides penalty. Lavvie Dilweg and Jug Earpe also intercepted passes that day. Bo caught a pass from Johnny Blood for another 15-yard gain in week two of the Packers first championship season.

In 1940, popular veteran guard Charles “Buckets” Goldenberg received an automobile from his fans during halftime of a Packer 29-6 triumph over the Chicago Cardinals in Milwaukee. Goldenberg was a product of West High in Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin and his big day was noted in the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

And Charles ain’t-we-proud-of Buckets-day Goldenberg justified the faith of Milwaukee and Green Bay supporters who were responsible for his being presented with an automobile. It was Buckets’ day, according to the ping worn by his boosters, but for a short time between halves when the automobile was being presented, it looked as if Gov. Julius Heil has misread the advance publicity. The governor, it appears, is not a great favorite with football fans. He managed his benediction of Buckets only after hecklers tired of giving him the Wisconsin version of a Bronx cheer. On the other hand, Mayor Carl Zeidler of Milwaukee brought down the house with applause. It was Ziedler who made the actual presentation to Buckets. In 1924 Ziedler was a center on the Milwaukee West Division high school football team. The following year Buckets was the same school’s grid idol. Zeidler was hurt playing in his senior year in high school so he passed up the sport when he entered Marquette university. Concentrating on other talents, he is the extremely popular chief executive of a large city at the age of 32

 

Custom cards are colorized.

Packers by the Numbers Update: #92

No update here; the number was retired for Reggie White after the Hall of Famer retired from Green Bay…even though he later returned with Carolina for one final season. (2 was first worn in Green Bay by defensive tackle Rich Dimler in 1980. After a five-year gap, it was worn by defensive ends Matt Koart and Ben Thomas in 1986 and replacement tackle Steve Collier in 1987. Following another gap from 1988-90, popular nose tackle John Jurkovic donned 92 in 1991 and ’92 before Reggie arrived in 1993.

 

 

 

First four custom cards are colorized…and, no, I don’t have an image of Jurko in 92.

Team Set for the 1936 Champs, Part 2 of 4

The second installment of the 1935 National Chicle style set for the 1936 NFL Champions featuring the Packers in green and gold.

  

 

 

 

All custom cards are colorized.

Al “Hoagy” Carmichael, RIP

A couple weeks back, 1950’s halfback Al Carmichael died at age 90. Al was known for three things: 1. Scoring the only touchdown in the 1953 Rose Bowl won by USC 7-0 over Wisconsin. 2. Returning a kickoff 106 yards for a touchdown against the Bears on October 7, 1956, which was an NFL record 51 years until broken by Ellis Hobbs in 2007, and 3. Scoring the first touchdown in AFL history on September 9, 1960 when he caught a swing pass from Bronco quarterback Frank Tripucka and raced 59 yards for the score against the Patriots.

Drafted seventh overall out of USC in 1953, the 6’1” 200-pound halfback led the league in kick return average in 1955, and his career kick return average is fifth in team history. Al also averaged 7.5 yards per punt return and was an able receiver out of the backfield as a key role player.

Al led a full life that included his service as a Marine and a stint as stuntman in Hollywood for several years. I highly recommend his lavishly illustrated self-published memoir 106 Yards.

 

 

 

 

All custom cards are colorized.

Bobby Dillon, RIP

I have been away for the last few weeks, so I did not have a chance to offer a parting salute to one of the two best Packers of the lost decade of the 1950s: Bobby Dillon. Along with receiver Billy Howton, Dillon gave Green Bay fans something to cheer about while watching a series of bad teams play throughout that decade. He died on August 22 at the age of 89.

Bobby Dillon lost an eye at age 10 in an accident.  That hardship did not prevent him from becoming a star defensive back and punt returner at the University of Texas where he was team captain in his senior year.  He continued right on in the pros for the Packers, leading the team in interceptions every year but his final one, becoming a four-time All Pro, and going to four Pro Bowls.  Once he picked off a pass he knew what to do with it; he retired second all-time with a 18.8 yard average interception return, and took five in for touchdowns.  Three seasons he stole nine passes, and in one Thanksgiving game against the Lions he nabbed four.  Overall, he is still the leading Packer interceptor with a total of 52. Had the Packers been a better team throughout the 1950s, his numbers may have taken him to the Hall of Fame, however, he was elected to the Packer Hall of Fame in 1974 and to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.  His last season was Lombardi’s first, and it was the only year he played for a winner in Green Bay. Ron Wolf has been a steady advocate for Dillon’s Hall of Fame candidacy, so woth the “super-sized” class being elected this year, Bobby may achieve that honor posthumously.

(Adapted from Packers by the Numbers.)

 

 

 

 

All custom cards are colorized.

Team Set for the 1936 Champs, Part 1 of 4

In accord with the NFL’s 100 Seasons celebrations, I have put together some special period team sets for the Packer championship teams of the Hutson Era. Starting with the 1936 titlists, I used the 1935 National Chicle set as the framework. The ’35 Chicles was the first full set of pro football cards, although it consisted of just 36 cards. I used the backgrounds of all 36 for this Packer set.

 

 

  

 

All custom cards but Monnett are colorized.

Hutson’s First Game, September 15, 1935

While Don Hutson’s first reception in the NFL was the ballyhooed 83-yard touchdown catch on the first play against the Bears in the second game of the 1935 season, it was not his first professional appearance of even his first time facing Chicago. The Alabama All-America played against the Bears as a member of the College All-Stars on August 29, 1935. That night, he was targeted three times in the second quarter and caught one pass for four yards. Returning in the fourth quarter, Hutson ran two end-around plays for 17 and five yards before the Stars turned the ball over on downs at the Bear 8 in a 5-0 loss to the pros.

Hutson reported to the Packers later that week and made brief appearances in three tune up games against local semipro teams. On September 9, the Green Bay Press Gazette wrote, “Dominic Vairo, Bob Tenner and Don Hutson, added to Gantenbein and Al Rose, gives the Packers a strong potential end corps. It’s a matter of development and experience as to which improves the fastest.” Vairo, from Notre Dame, played in one game for Green Bay that year, while Tenner, from Minnesota, appeared in 11 and made three receptions. Neither played in the NFL beyond that.

Hutson made his NFL debut 84 years ago today in the opener against the Chicago Cardinals in Green Bay. In the second quarter, he substituted for Al Rose, and on the first play, Bob Monnett threw him a pass, but Don was held up at the line and the ball fell incomplete. Three plays later, he gained nothing on an end around. He subsequently downed Johnny Blood’s punt at the Cardinal five.

On the Packers’ sole touchdown drive that day, Hutson was removed for Rose once the team reached the Cardinal 12. Don returned in the middle of the fourth period on defense and later fumbled and lost 12 yards on still another end around. Ultimately, he played in nine games as a rookie, caught 18 passes and led the league with six touchdown receptions. It would only get better from there.

 

Custom cards are colorized.

A Card for Everyone: Kranz and Matuszak

September 12 marks the birthday of two one-year Packers: Ken Kranz and Marv Matuszak.

Kranz, a Milwaukee native, was born in 1923 and was a decorated Air Force veteran when he returned to Milwaukee State Teachers’ College (now Wisconsin-Milwaukee) in 1945. Curly Lambeau drafted the halfback in the 21^st round in 1949 and moved him to defense. Ken appeared in seven games as a rookie and started the last three contests of Lambeau’s final season. Disappointed by the contract offer of new coach Gene Ronzani in 1950, Kranz got on with his life’s work as an elementary school teacher instead. He taught in the Milwaukee school system for 32 years before retiring in 1984. Ken, who was married for 70 years and had three children, six grandchildren, died in 2017 at the age of 93.

Matuszak was a 12-year pro football linebacker born in 1931. Drafted by the Steelers out of Tulsa in the third round in 1953, he played for Pittsburgh for three seasons, for the 49ers for 1 ½, for the Packers for four games, for the Colts for three years, the Bills for two and the Broncos for one before retiring to go into coaching in 1965. Pittsburgh traded Marv along with a number one draft pick to San Francisco for Earl Morrall and guard Mike Sandusky in 1957. That season, he was named All-Pro and went to the Pro Bowl as a middle linebacker.

However, in November of ’58, the 49ers picked up Jerry Tubbs from the Cardinals and cut Matuszak. Frisco defensive coach Phil Bengtson was quoted as saying that Marv’s “legs were gone,” due to injuries despite that fact he was just 27 years old. Matuszak contended the problem was that he was switched from middle linebacker to left linebacker. The desperate Packers signed him on November 17, and he appeared in three of the team’s four remaining games, including two against the 49ers.

Marv did not quite make it to the Packers training camp in 1959 under new head coach Vince Lombardi and new defensive mentor Phil Bengtson, though. He was traded to the Colts for Fuzzy Thurston on July 22, right before the start of camp. Matuszak would go on to coach for the Broncos, Saints and Falcons through the 1976 season. He died in 2004 at age 72.

 

Custom cards are colorized.

Tim Harris Turns 55

Tim Harris had the size to have a long career as an impact player, but lacked the right attitude. Harris did lead the Packers in sacks all five years he played in Green Bay, but the 6’6” 260-pound physical specimen could have been an all-time great.

Drafted out of Memphis in the fourth round of the 1986 draft, Harris saw spot duty for the first half of his rookie year before Forrest Gregg moved him into the starting lineup at left outside linebacker in week seven. Shifted to the right side in 1987, he put together back-to-back All-Pro seasons in 1988 (13.5 sacks, over 100 tackles and two safeties) and 1989 (19.5 sacks). Gregg told the Milwaukee Sentinel, “He’s a good pass rusher. He’s great in pursuit. I think he’ll do an excellent job in pass coverage because he’s so tall.” In 1990, teams began to scheme for Harris and his sacks dropped to seven, but the team reported that his pressures remained at the same level as 1989.

Harris was also a trash-talking showman whose signature sack celebration was giving a six-gun salute with his hands. Bears coach Mike Ditka memorably said of Tim, “Sometimes God blesses people with talent and takes away their brains.” Gregg recalled to the Journal Sentinel, “He liked to talk to opponents and gave them a lot of lip. He wanted to distract them, and I’m sure many veteran players didn’t appreciate all the talking. But he loved the game and played hard every down on Sundays.”

On days other than Sundays, Harris could be a problem. He didn’t always practice, walked out of meetings and let himself get badly out of shape in the offseason. In 1988, he tested positive for marijuana and was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife. In 1989, there were curfew violations. In 1990, he took 15 stiches from a boating accident. In 1991, he had thumb surgery from an off-field incident, was arrested for drunk driving and held out into the season before Green Bay finally traded him to San Francisco for two draft picks.

In his last five years, four with the 49ers and one with the Eagles, Harris only had one last big year with 17 sacks in 1992. Tim was as talented a pass rusher as the Packers have ever had. In his five years in Green Bay, he averaged 11 sacks and over 80 tackles a year. That productivity should have lasted longer.

(Adapted from Green Bay Gold.)

 

Custom cards in Topps styles.

And a very Happy Birthday to my daughter Juliane!

Tom Hearden

Today in 1904, former Packer player and coach Tom Hearden was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. Hearden moved to Green Bay as a boy and followed his brothers Len and Les to East High School, where he played in the backfield from 1920-22. Like previous East backfield stars Curly Lambeau and Sleepy Jim Crowley, Tom next played under Knute Rockne at Notre Dame. As a sophomore, he was a member of the 1924 National Championship team that featured the Four Horsemen backfield (including Crowley). That team defeated Stanford, led by Ernie Nevers and coached by Pop Warner, in the 1925 Rose Bowl, although Hearden did not appear in that game.

Tom captained the 9-1 1926 Fighting Irish team as a senior and then signed with Green Bay where he appeared in six games from 1927-28 as a blocking back. Injuries limited his playing time, and he finished his playing career with one game for the Bears in 1929 when he worked briefly as a lawyer in Chicago.

He began his coaching career at Racine’s St. Catherine High School in 1930 and moved over to Racine’s Washington Park High in 1934. After compiling a 34-8-6 record at those two schools, Hearden returned to his high school alma mater in 1936 and achieved an impeccable 51-3-2 mark through 1942. East won 32 straight games at one point and won or shared six conference titles in that seven-year stretch.

Tom then joined the navy and was assigned to Iowa Pre-Flight where he coached the backfield of that service team under Missouri coach Don Faurot in 1943 and Auburn’s Jack Meagher in 1944. He was named the squad’s head coach for 1945, but the base cancelled its schedule that season. After mustering out of the service, Hearden signed to coach at St. Norbert in 1946. Over the next seven years, he led the Green Knights to a 41-13 record that included undefeated seasons in 1946, 1950 and 1952.

Tom returned to the Packers in 1954 as Liz Blackbourn’s defensive backfield coach, also in charge of the whole defense. Two seasons later, he took an assistant’s position at Wisconsin, but then rejoined Blackbourn’s staff in 1957. Unfortunately that May, well before training camp, Hearden suffered a stroke and was forced to retire. It was doubly unfortunate in that, according to Cliff Christl, a Packer Board member had told reporter Lee Remmell that Tom was a sure thing to be hired as the team’s head coach in 1958. The implication is that if Hearden were more successful than Scooter McLean in ’58, then Lombardi stays in New York and perhaps takes over the Giants in 1961, altering NFL history quite a bit.

As it was, Hearden was a celebrated local football figure who has a plaque commemorating his life and career placed by the football field at East, also the site of City Stadium where the Packers played for decades. Tom, whose brother Les played for the Packers in 1924, attained a rare trifecta of playing under three Hall of Fame coaches in Rockne, Lambeau and George Halas. He never got the opportunity to coach at the highest level himself, though, and died in 1964 at the age of 60.

 

 

Custom cards are all colorized.