We sometimes get feedback from our readers, and also the occasional question or two. Today we received a note from “Jim,” who lived in Portland, Oregon in the late 1950’s-early 1960’s. He asked: “Do you know how to find out any history on the Packers when they would hold pre-season training camp at the University of Portland in Portland Oregon? It was sometime in 1958-1961 as I lived across the street from the field and would shag footballs for the kickers. I've lost my pictures and autographs and wondered if there was anything in the Packer history about those times.”
Jim, from our knowledge and research, we are wondering if you are recalling the 1959 season — Vince Lombardi’s first at the helm of the team — when they played the Philadelphia Eagles in Portland for the third exhibition game that year. They have not held training camp itself outside of Wisconsin since 1953 (when it was last held in Grand Rapids, Minn.) It was a regular practice to play preseason games in non-N.F.L. cities in the 1950’s and 60’s, and the Packers played in locations such as Minneapolis, Minn., Alexandria, Va., Latrobe, Penn., Spokane, Wash., Hershey, Penn., Raleigh, N.C., Akron, Ohio, Charleston, W.V., Bangor, Maine, and also Portand, to name a few. They played up to six exhibition games in those days, so they used these visits to other cities to build the N.F.L. brand in other markets, and perhaps to feel out areas for expansion.
So, we think that your experience with the team in Portland was when the Packers were practicing for their matchup with the Eagles on August 29, 1959. On that Saturday, they defeated Philadelphia by a score of 45-28 in front of 25,456 Oregonians.
If any of our readers have questions or comments, they can be sent to our direct e-mail:
packerville@sbcglobal.net
... rather than going through Google’s system here on the blog (which doesn’t let us reply to the question back to the reader).
Since we took the day off yesterday, we’ll put up two blog posts today, with this one being fairly lengthy. We’re heading back to the strike year of 1987, with selections from the Packers-Eagles game program from October 18th of that season. Forrest Gregg is on the cover, in what would be his last year as the Packers’ head coach before he resigned to join Southern Methodist University. This game was during the players’ strike, when the N.F.L. franchises put “replacement” players on the field while the “stars” were picketing outside.
Well, we’ve always thought that, but thanks for acknowledging it, Old Style.
Forrest Gregg’s page in the game program.
An ad for the local sporting goods store Bertrand’s with Alphonso Carreker, a defensive end who played five years in Green Bay, his last being the following year, 1988.
We have our “Psycho” defense this year, but in 1987, they had a player that went by the same nickname. Lee “Psycho” Morris ended up playing in just five games that year before his time in Green Bay was over. But, apparently he garnered enough attention to warrant his own article in the game program.
Replacement squad linebacker Jeff Drost gets his five seconds of internet fame here.
Here’s some of what the well-dressed Packers fan was wearing in 1987. We had (and still have) the green corduroy hat and the satin jacket.
Here’s what you’ve all been waiting for... a quality image of replacement quarterback Alan Risher (from L.S.U.) to print out and frame for your “man cave.”
A summary of the 1987 season stats so far is presented here. The replacements have been playing long enough to lead some categories.
After the game back then, as today, you didn’t want to miss the full three-hour “Packer Sunday” broadcast on the Packers Radio Network, originating from WTMJ Radio in Milwaukee, Wis. You can listen online by clicking the “Listen Live” button on their website here.
With these next three pages, you can take a look at all of the replacement players, a few of whom played with the team post-strike.
This is the full replacement team roster.
And their official team photo.
Since this is 1987, set your Betamax or VHS recorder so that you won’t miss The Forrest Gregg Show on Monday night at 7:30 p.m.
Lastly, here’s a shot of offensive line coach Jerry Wampfler talking with his players on the sideline. We hope you’ve enjoyed another look back into Packers history.
