A Couple of Things from ’63

We’re going back to December 1963 (almost 51 years ago) for this installment of Packerville, U.S.A. This issue of Sports Illustrated has a couple of things that we found interesting. But first, on the cover, we see former Packers QB Tobin Rote (1950-56), playing that position in San Diego. He would stay in the league through 1966.

The cover story, which begins here, was proposing this wacky idea that the American Football League — in its fourth season — and the more established National Football League should meet in a championship game, to determine the best pro football team (and league). Well, we all know that this idea never came to fruition, and that these two leagues have operated independently ever since, never playing each other head-to-head.

This article is about the Green Bay Packers, and how after back-to-back championships in ’61 and ’62, the team was showing some cracks in their ability to make it three-in-a-row in ’63. 

Lastly, here are some ads from that year to give us a feel for life 51 years ago. Above, nothing goes with alcohol like 7-Up.

Hot Dr. Pepper? Did this idea last? Anyone?

No iPhones in those days. 

Pan Am! 

Check out the size of that trunk in the Galaxie 500. 

Hertz was the big rental company in those days. Even Santa used them.