Sunday, February 21, 2010

A Numerical Oddity

The original caption to today’s historical photo reads:

“Roy McKay, Packer fullback and the National League’s punting champion for the last two seasons, returns a kick against the Detroit Lions in Milwaukee in 1945. This was the game in which the Packers scored six touchdowns in the second quarter. McKay got back to the 27-yard line before he was stopped.»

McKay, out of the University of Texas, played for Green Bay from 1944-1947. For reasons unknown to us now, he wore the number usually worn by the great Packer back Tony Canadeo while he was in the service during the Second World War. When Canadeo returned, McKay switched to another number for the 1946 and 1947 seasons.