Something Not Everyone Gets To See

Received this via e-mail from the Packers today. All we can say is, “Gee... you’re welcome!”

Breathtaking Action!

If you’re looking for that perfect Mother’s Day gift for Mom or the wife, this might be the one. Sorry, it is not Droid or iPhone compatible.

2014 Schedule Released

Now we can all plan the rest of our year — the 2014 Packers schedule has been released. For a printable version of the schedule, click on the link at right.

eBay Photo Day III

Another eBay Photo Day is at hand, following some extended time away from the blog. Things have been dead, fan-wise, in regards to the NFL, but that will change tonight with the release of the 2014 NFL schedule. Getting to the photos, above is an image from the 1938 NFL Championship, which saw the Packers fall short, 23-17. Bid on the photo here.

This shows the starting offense of the College All-Stars, who were defeated by the reigning NFL champion Packers by a score of 45-28 at Soldier Field in Chicago on August 29, 1940. Bid on the photo here.

The Packers attempt to gain some yardage agains the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 23, 1941. If that is correct, this game was played in Forbes Field, and Green Bay demolished their opponent, 54-7. Bid on photo here.

A nice colorful program cover for a November 1955 match-up at Green Bay’s City Stadium. The Packers won easily, 31-14. Bid on it here.

Hall of Fame HB Paul Hornung poses in a 1957 posed publicity shot. Bid on photo here.

Hornung is also depicted in this pencil illustration for the Wilson Sporting Goods Company in 1964. Love the face mask-less look. Bid on it here.

Apparently from a magazine (perhaps LIFE or LOOK?), CB Herb Adderley attempts to defense a pass against Cleveland WR Gary Collins. Bid on photo here.

A nice image of QB Bart Starr handing off to FB Jim Taylor in 1965 action. Bid on photo here.

The legendary Don Hutson takes a posed breather on the practice field in 1948. Bid on photo here.

Another beautiful photo of Starr barking out the signals for the snap from C Jim Ringo in early Sixties action from San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium. Bid on photo here. 

Jim Taylor in the mud-mania of the ’65 Championship game at Lambeau Field. Bid on photo here. 

Taylor makes the cover of SPORT in 1964. Bid on it here. 

RB Donny Anderson trying to avoid a fallen Jim Grabowski on the cover of this game program from 1968. Bid on it here.

Face Full O’ Sod

From the 1965 NFL Championship Game at Lambeau Field, RB Elijah Pitts gets some turf stuck in his helmet. On this muddy day against the Cleveland Browns, Pitts had one punt return for -10 yards. And this is the result.
Photo courtesy of eBay

The Vince Lombardi Show

We’ve mentioned this before, but we’ll bring it up again. Do the tapes remain from The Vince Lombardi Show that aired in Wisconsin during the Sixties? Obviously, at least some do, evidenced by the appearance of footage in a few documentaries, including the recent NFL Network production, Lombardi: A Football Life, from which these images were taken. From a historical standpoint, it is a crime to keep these locked up somewhere. If anyone knows anything, we’d love to hear from you.

COLUMBUS COMMUNITY CLUB

The Columbus Community Club, which opened in 1925 as a recreational and social center, played many roles in Packer history. In the 1920s, before radio broadcasts of Packer games, large crowds gathered on Sunday afternoons when the team was playing on the road. A play-by-play was transmitted by telegraph wire from the site of the game, and the results were posted here on a large board built in the shape of a football field. From 1927 until the mid-1930s, the Packers used the top floor as a clubhouse. For five years, starting in 1930, their ticket office was located here, as well.

The building also was the site of championship celebrations and rousing public rallies that helped save the franchise. Banquets were held in the first-floor auditorium after the Packers won NFL titles in 1936 and 1939. On April 11, 1950, more than 1,500 fans filled the auditorium to kick off the Packers' third stock drive. And on March 31, 1956, more than 1,000 fans attended a rally in support of building what is now Lambeau Field. George Halas and Curly Lambeau were among the speakers. Three days later, the city-wide referendum passed in a landslide. This also was where The Vince Lombardi Show was taped by WBAY-TV.

From wisconsinhistoricalmarkers.blogspot.com

Goodbye to Packers Pro Shop III

When we were in Green Bay the weekend before last, we made our final trip to Packers Pro Shop III. We call it that because we have seen all the incarnations of the Packers’ retail effort since the late 1980s. For our younger readers, there was a time not that long ago when it was hard to find Packers apparel even in Green Bay. The best bet was at a Montgomery Wards at the local mall. Then someone got the idea that maybe they should try and sell their own merchandise right at Lambeau Field. So they started with a small alcove off the main lobby of the old administration building (Packers Pro Shop I). Then, as the merchandising concept took off in the NFL, they built a whole store attached to the building (Packers Pro Shop II). When Lambeau was renovated and expanded in 2001-2003, the Pro Shop (III) as we have known it, came into being. Now, with the renovation of the Atrium, Packers Pro Shop IV promises to be much bigger and better. These photos are being offered for posterity regarding this era of Packers retail history. And many of our posts are for people who have never been to — and may never get to — Lambeau Field or Green Bay.

We are looking forward to the opening of the new Pro Shop (IV) in July.