The Pitchout

Continuing with our irregular blog updates, today we present a great photo of a Packer running play taking shape in Chicago’s Wrigley Field — the home of the Bears. Quarterback Bart Starr (#15) takes the snap and turns to pitch the ball to fullback Jim Taylor (#31), who is going to then take off behind the blocking of guard Jerry Kramer (#64) and tackle Forrest Gregg (#75) around the right side of the line of scrimmage. Just an outstanding shot of some early 1960’s away-game action.

Some Vintage Color for Christmastime

Today we offer up an image from either 1935 or 1936 (our estimate) of the Packers playing the Chicago Cardinals. We don’t have much more to offer, information-wise, so just enjoy the snapshot of football in the olden days.

City Stadium — 1931

Keeping up with our irregular schedule of updates here (sorry), we today have a really nice aerial shot of Green Bay’s City Stadium at East High School during a 1931 game. As we’ve mentioned before, the field is still there, minus all the stands and the surrounding walls, etc. We were fortunate enough to attend a Packers Training Camp practice held there a couple of years ago... our first chance to enter the facility rather than just peering through the gates.

Packers at Chicago — 1962

In celebration of the Packers’ victory in Chicago today, we present a few photos from another Green Bay-Chicago game 47 years ago in 1962. On that November 4th afternoon, Vince Lombardi’s men were also victorious 38-7 in Wrigley Field with 48,763 football fans watching. Above, QB Bart Starr (#15) goes back to pass as RB Tom Moore (#25) stays back to protect him, and FB Jim Taylor (#31) swings out to the left.

On this play, Moore takes the hand-off and heads through the line.

Starr has again handed the ball off, but the unidentified ballcarrier (probably Taylor) doesn’t look to have much room.

Going the other way, Starr barks out the signals for another offensive play.

The Packers’ defense or special teams have stopped the Bears from any further gain.

Taylor in the Mud

Our visual treat for today is a beautiful shot of Green Bay fullback Jim Taylor (#31) fighting for yardage in the mud of the 1965 NFL Championship game against the Cleveland Browns. The day was New Year’s Day — January 1, 1966 and a heavy snowfall rendered the Lambeau Field playing surface quite a bit less than frozen. The Packers triumphed that day for championship No. 3 under Vince Lombardi. Also visible in this photo are Jerry Kramer (#64), Boyd Dowler (#86), Ken Bowman (#57), and Paul Hornung (#5) on the ground, while Bart Starr (#15) watches the play after handing off the ball to Taylor.

Willie at Work

In a photo from the same game at Philadelphia that we described in yesterday’s post, we see Packer great and NFL Hall of Famer Willie Davis covering his area along the line of scrimmage. Who wouldn’t want to have a player of his caliber on their team today?

McGee and Thurston Block

In today’s photo, we see long-time Packer receiver Max McGee (#85) and guard Fred “Fuzzy” Thurston (#63) out blocking in front of an unidentified ballcarrier. This action is from a game in Philadelphia’s Franklin Field. We’re almost certain this is the November 11, 1962 contest which saw Green Bay demolish the Eagles 49-0, providing some measure of revenge for the 1960 NFL Championship game loss — Vince Lombardi’s only postseason defeat in his tenure in Titletown.

Jerry and Vince

In today’s little slice of Packers’ history, we have an image of Green Bay guard Jerry Kramer (#64) with head coach Vince Lombardi at a game in Chicago’s Wrigley Field, where the Bears played until 1970. Kramer, who many think should be in the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, played for the Packers from 1958-1968 after playing his collegiate football at the University of Idaho.