Chandler Punts Against the Packers

Before he joined the Green Bay Packers as punter/kicker for the 1965 season, Don Chandler performed the same roles for the New York Giants. He played for the Giants from 1956 through 1964, including during the so-called “Greatest Game Ever Played,” the overtime 1958 NFL championship — which placed him on the losing side against the Baltimore Colts. With New York, he was also on the losing team for the 1961 and 1962 title game losses to Green Bay. After joining the Packers, he snapped his “bad luck” and played on three consecutive NFL championship teams under Vince Lombardi. Falling to the ground to the left of Chandler is Green Bay Hall of Fame defensive lineman Willie Davis. Davis was an honorary captain at Sunday’s season finale against Detroit at Lambeau Field.

Another Lombardi Practice Photo — 1962

Today we share another image of coach Vince Lombardi making his feelings known at a November 1962 practice on the Oneida Street field. Linebacker Ray Nitschke stands to the right of Lombardi, intently listening to the instructions.

Packer-Bear Game Action — 1962

Bart Starr turns to hand off to fullback Jim Taylor during a muddy game in Wrigley Field on November 4, 1962. The Packers came out on the winning side of that contest, 38-7, on the North Side of Chicago. Other notable Green Bay players in this snapshot of history are tight end Ron Kramer (#88), tackle Bob Skoronski (#76), guard Fred “Fuzzy” Thurston (#63), running back Tom Moore (#25), guard Jerry Kramer (#64), and tackle Forrest Gregg (#75).

Taylor Around the Left Side

In another photo from the October 23, 1960 game at Milwaukee County Stadium, Packers’ running back Jim Taylor gains a couple of yards against the San Francisco 49er defense. Green Bay won big that day, 41-14. Note the logo-less Packer helmets.

Fumble!

In another photo from the November 18, 1962 game with the Baltimore Colts, we see Green Bay’s Dave “Hawg” Hanner (#79), Ray Nitschke (#66), and Jesse Whittenton (#47) going for the loose ball while Willie Wood (#24) is occupied with blocking a Colt player.

We wish all “Packerville” readers a very Merry Christmas!

Now This One IS the Colts in Green Bay

A sharp-eyed reader informed us of our mistake in yesterday’s blog entry. “Tom” pointed out that the image was the San Francisco 49ers — not the Colts — in Milwaukee, not Green Bay. Well, today we have a photo that we know is in Green Bay from November 18, 1962. We see Packers’ defensive players Jesse Whittenton (#47) and Bill Forester (#71), and at least one other unidentified player that may be Willie Wood, stopping a Colts’ player near the goal line.

Colts Touchdown in Green Bay

Today’s photo is an image of Baltimore Colts’ receiver R.C. Owens having just made a touchdown catch in the November 18, 1962 game in Green Bay. The Packers’ Hank Gremminger (#46) provided the coverage on this play, but he had the last laugh in the game as Green Bay came out on top, 17-13.

Lombardi and The Wives

Vince Lombardi believed that behind every great football player was a great woman. Evidence of his philosophy was provided by these gorgeous mink stoles that the Packers Hall of Fame coach gave to each of the players’ wives (or significant “other”) after the Packers' 1961 NFL Championship victory. This photo was featured in a November 1962 issue of LIFE Magazine with the coach and the wives and girlfriends showing off their new gifts.

Kramer vs. The Bears — 1962

No, not longtime Packers guard Jerry Kramer — tight end Ron Kramer from the University of Michigan. Here we see him catching a pass from Bart Starr across the middle against the Chicago Bears on November 4, 1962. Green Bay won big that day 38-7 in front of 48,753 fans at Wrigley Field.

San Francisco Huddle — 1961

Getting back to our favorite Packers era, we present today a recent find that we’ve never seen before. It is an outstanding photo of the Green Bay offensive huddle during the December 10, 1961 game with the 49ers at the old Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, California. Unfortunately for the Packers, they lost that day 22-21 in the second-to-last game of the ’61 season. But it was not enough to derail their outstanding year which culminated in the 1961 NFL title, of course.

Rare 1953 Team Photo

A special offering is up today for the ol’ blog here. A color 1953 Green Bay team photo — in green jerseys and pants, yet! We’ve never seen this color combination before in any photographs, and we also hope that they don’t get any ideas about trying this nowadays as some teams do. Our vote is to stay with the classic green jersey and gold pants. It’s been good for over 50 years. The wacky color combination didn’t help on the field, either... Green Bay finished with a 2-9-1 record that year.

Battling the Cardinals at State Fair Park

Another photo from the “olden days” — which is what we consider anything earlier than our favorite 1960’s Packers era — adorns our blog for today. We have a photo of our blue and gold-clad Green Bay heroes fighting the Chicago (yes, that’s right) Cardinals at Milwaukee’s State Fair Park in the 1940’s.

Nighttime Action in 1955

Today we dip deep into the archives to see some game action against the Baltimore Colts in what we believe is 1955. We are not sure whether this photo was taken during the early October game in Milwaukee, or during the late October game in Baltimore.

Score One for the Defense

Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Wood is seen in today’s photo, scoring a touchdown on what we assume to be an interception in a 1962 game at Green Bay’s City Stadium.

Colts at Packers — 1962

Quarterback Bart Starr (#15) maneuvers away from the defenders while Jim Ringo (#51) and another unidentified lineman provide protection during the November 18, 1962 game with the Baltimore Colts at City Stadium in Green Bay. The Packers won the contest, 17-13 to improve to 10-0 on the season.

A Light Moment with Lombardi

Vince Lombardi was captured by a LIFE magazine photographer in a lighter moment in his office in Green Bay during the 1968 season. This was when he was serving as general manager only, and not being with the team and making the coaching decisions wore on him to the point where he took the head coaching position with the Washington Redskins at the end of the season.

Taking on the 49ers at Milwaukee — 1960

Today’s post is an image of fullback Jim Taylor carrying the ball in the October 23, 1960 game between the Packers and the San Francisco 49ers at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. The Packers won this game in big fashion, 41-14, in front of 39,914 fans. Also of note are the Green Bay helmets without the familiar “G” logo, which wouldn’t debut until the next season.

This was Vince Lombardi’s second season as head coach, and the Packers finished with an 8-4-0 record — good for the Western Conference title. They would eventually lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1960 NFL championship game.

Lombardi “Runs” Practice

While often coming across as gruff and crabby, Vince Lombardi was not averse to having fun with his players if he thought it was appropriate or needed to loosen up his roster. Today, we see an obviously delighted coach leading his team in sprints on the Oneida Street practice field in November 1962.

Defense against the Colts

In another photo from the same November 18, 1962 game that we featured yesterday, we see Baltimore fullback #34 Joe Perry being pursued by the Packers’ (from left to right) #79 Dave Hanner, #83 Bill Quinlan, an unidentified player, #27 John Symank, and #24 Willie Wood. On this day, the Packers defeated the Colts 17-13 in front of 38,669 fans at City Stadium on a 36-degree sunny Fall day.

A Hornung Field Goal

Besides being a star halfback during the Green Bay Packers’ “Lombardi Era,” Paul Hornung also was a place kicker when needed. Today we see him kicking in a game with the Baltimore Colts in City Stadium in the early 1960’s, with quarterback Bart Starr as the holder. Also of note in the photo is the bench full of Packer cheerleaders in the background.

Lombardi on 1962 Sideline

Another shot of Vince Lombardi intently watching the offensive action on the sideline at an away game in 1962 is the subject for today.

Lonely Lombardi on Game Day

After Vince Lombardi relinquished the head coaching duties to longtime assistant Phil Bengston following Super Bowl II, he continued on as the Packers’ General Manager in 1968. By all accounts, he was miserable without the daily contact with the players and the X’s and O’s of the game he loved. To his credit, he minimized his meddling with Bengston’s team, but soon needed to get back into “the game.” Accordingly, he took the head coaching position with the Washington Redskins the next year.