War-time gas rationing didn’t keep the crowds away from welcoming the 1944 NFL Champions home at the Washington Street Milwaukee Road depot. The Packers defeated the New York Giants 14-7 at the Polo Grounds in New York on December 17, 1944. With peerless pass-catcher Don Hutson employed primarily as a decoy, fullback Ted Fritsch emerged the offensive hero in the Packers’ sixth world title victory.Fritsch scored both Green Bay touchdowns, a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal, and a 28-yard pass-and-run collaboration with Irv Comp in the third. Meanwhile, Ward Cuff scored the Giants’ touchdown with a 1-yard plunge on the initial play of the fourth quarter, a drive which saw New York advance past its own 35-yard line for the first time in the game. Joe Laws, the Packers veteran and 34-year-old all-purpose halfback, set a playoff record with three interceptions, and rushed for 74 yards on 13 carries.
