Today we spotlight the Green Bay Packers’ 1963 Yearbook, which has a cover image of running back Jim Taylor being tackled by four members of the Minnesota Vikings’ defense. While the Vikings were the menace when the cover game photo was taken, the Packers’ main nemesis in the 1963 season were their neighbors to the South — the Chicago Bears.
In 1962, the Packers won their second consecutive NFL title by beating the New York Giants in Yankee Stadium 16-7. They looked to be the favorites in ’63 as well, and indeed posted a 11-2-1 record in the Western Conference. But, the two losses that year were to the Bears — 10-3 in Green Bay in the opener, and again in November at Wrigley Field, 28-7. The Bears also won 11 games that year, lost only one, and tied two — and since they had beaten the Packers twice, they won the Conference and beat the Giants in the title game 14-10 in Chicago.
In the 1963 Yearbook, some of the stories were: “Three Straight”... “Masters and Skoronski”... “I’ll Be Back” (Hornung’s suspension)... “The First Year Men”... “The Best Team Won” (1962 championship)... “Hall of Fame” (the Canton, OH Hall opened in 1963)... “Lombardi and (Paul) Brown”... “Taylor Isn’t Human” (quote from Giants’ linebacker Sam Huff)... “Jerry Kramer Kicks”... “Defense — The Magnificent Eleven”... “Nearly a Million — 20 and 1”... “Thumbnailing the Packers”... “Meet Dave Robinson” (First Draft Pick)... “22 New Records in the Book”... “Loyalty — To a Husband — To a Cause” (Packer wives)... “The 1962 Story in Statistics”...
