Colorized Sweep

Today’s photo is a simple, nice colorized image of Packers’ guard Jerry Kramer (#64) blocking for running back Paul Hornung (#5) on the Green Bay sweep play in a game against the Baltimore Colts at Lambeau Field.

Vince isn’t Happy

Today’s photo from the archives is another from a newspaper’s collection. It has the notes for use and cropping, etc. along with the image’s caption included along the left edge. It was taken during a woeful performance of the 1967 season where the Packers lost to the Steelers at home 24-17. As the caption states, Green Bay lost six — yes, SIX — fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Now do you wonder why coach Lombardi looks the way he does in this photo? Obviously, they would recover to win the NFL championship that year, but this had to be an embarrassing loss in front of 50, 861 home fans.

Don Hutson and the 1942 MVP Award

Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver Don Hutson is seen here being presented with the award for being selected as the Most Valuable Player following the 1942 National Football League season. The NFL awarded the Joe F. Carr Trophy (named after the league president, 1921-1939) to the league's MVP from 1938 to 1946. Hutson later was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the charter Class of 1963. He also won the Joe F. Carr trophy as NFL MVP in 1941.

It’s Always Time to Beat the Bears

The season may be over for the Green Bay Packers, but there’s always some historic game action to enjoy when we look back through the years of time. Today we see the Packers hosting the Chicago Bears at City Stadium in this mid-Sixties game, in which LB Bill Forester (#71) and LB Ray Nitschke (#66) tackle an enemy ballcarrier as DE Willie Davis (#87) rushes to assist.

The Offseason Begins

While we almost always deal with vintage Green Bay Packers photos, stories, etc. here on “Packerville,” today the 2009 season ended with a 51-45 loss to the Cardinals in the desert-land of Arizona. We have optimism with our young quarterback, and the hope of going further into the Playoffs after the 2010 season. Beyond that, the future of the 2011 season is filled with dark clouds and uncertainty and the very possibility of a lockout/strike if labor issues are not settled between The League and the Players’ Union. We will be around here in the offseason, providing the usual glimpses into Packers’ history, so please check back regularly through the Spring and Summer as we wait for Training Camp to begin in August.

Strategy Session in the Air

In a rare scene from the old days, we find the Packers on their way to an out-of-town contest while head coach Earl “Curly” Lambeau goes over some formations and plays on the team plane. Cramped under the overhead compartment at left is quarterback Arnie Herber, a Green Bay native, while sitting on the arm of the seat to the right is legendary receiver Don Hutson. How easy it must’ve been to fly back in those days. Exploding underwear was the last thing on Lambeau’s mind as he prepared for the game.

A Fine Group of Gentlemen

Here’s a photo we had not seen before... taken at an undetermined time and place, although with the white jerseys, it must be before an away game — perhaps an exhibition match. Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi poses with the key elements of his offensive backfield. From left to right, halfback Paul Hornung (#5), coach Lombardi, quarterback Bart Starr (#15), and fullback Jim Taylor (#31). A great image from a great time.

Action in the Stands Instead of On the Field

Well, here’s something the fans at today’s season-ending game in Phoenix will not have to deal with — ice on the seats. In this photo, fans arriving for the January 2, 1966 NFL Championship Game at Lambeau Field are seen chipping the ice off of their seats before settling down to watch the game. For those of you who have ever attended a Packers game in the winter, you know why you don’t want to sit on ice. The Packers defeated the Cleveland Browns 23-12 that day for their third championship under Vince Lombardi.

Animated Lombardi on the Sideline

Never one to hold in his emotions and stand stoically on the sideline like, say, his contemporary Tom Landry, Green Bay head coach Vince Lombardi is seen here making his point to either his team or the officials during a game. Some of the best NFL Films highlights that exist are the ones where Lombardi was “miked” for sound during games, and we are allowed to see what it was like to be the recipient of his anger.

Welcome to 2010

Packerville, U.S.A. welcomes you to another year of Green Bay Packers history with a photo from probably the classiest individual to ever wear the green and gold. To this day, we’ve never heard a negative word about Bart Starr, and we’ve had the pleasure of meeting him twice. He will always be the greatest all-around/on-and-off the field Packers quarterback in our book, even though the record book may point to another more recent player. A very unpleasant chapter of that story is still being written at this time. So anyway, we hope you’ll enjoy the history and trivia we’ll be bringing you this year, even if the frequency of the blog updates are irregular at times.