By John Turney
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| Steve Hartman |
We caught up with Steve Hartman in the last couple of months and realized he's still a monumentally busy man. He does TV in Los Angeles and Radio in San Diego, often on the same day.
He does research that envelops him for years and it's really the kind of guy you'd want as a lifeline if they ever had "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" on television again. In fact, he once was. And not just for sports—for Academy Awards as well. He can tell you the winners for that, who's in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and when (high school friend Jane Wiedlin's band the Go-Gos are up this year) and so on.
Then comes sports Halls of Fame, few, if anyone knows them better than Hartman. One of his research finds was the preliminary list for 1967 which included 77 people, including 15 coaches and contributors.
Way back when Bob Carroll published Steve's list in the Coffin Corner the magazine published by the Pro Football Researchers Association and Hartman bolded those on the list who had been elected to the Hall of Fame.
In speaking to Hartman we asked if we could update his article and he said that was fine so here it is with those elected since also bolded but also underlined. As can be seen, only five of this 1967 list have been added in the last twenty or so years but there are some names that we think should have at least made it with the Centennial Class, namely Wistert and Lewellen and some who were not on this list as well.
"We're all used to seeing the Pro Football Hall of Fame's "Final 15" at election time each year. In 1967, the entire list of nominees was published. Eventually, 34 of the 78 nominees would be enshrined. (They are marked in bold type.)
1920-32
BACKS LINEMEN Heinie Benkert Francis "Jug" Earpe Benny Friedman Luke Johnsos Verne Lewellen Jim McMillen Fritz Pollard George Murtagh Glenn Presnell Bob "Nasty" Nash George "Wildcat" Wilson Al Nesser Duke Osborn Duke Slater Herb Stein1933-1943
BACKS LINEMEN Cliff Battles Charley Brock Ward Cuff George Christensen Beattie Feathers Glenn "Turk" Edwards Marshall Goldberg Bill Hewitt Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans Jim Lee Howell Clarence "Ace" Parker Frank "Bruiser" Kinard Ken Strong Wayne Millner Byron "Whizzer" White Joe Stydahar1944-1963
OFFENSIVE BACKS OFFENSIVE ENDS Frankie Albert Tom Fears Tony Canadeo Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Charley Conerly Dante Lavelli Pat Harder Pete Pihos Bobby Layne Marion Motley OFFENSIVE LINEMEN Joe Perry Frank Gatski Charley Trippi Abe Gibron Norm Van Brocklin Lin Houston Doak Walker Al Wistert DEFENSIVE BACKS DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Jack Butler Chuck Bednarik Jack Christiansen Gene Brito Tommy James George Connor Warren Lahr Art Donovan Emlen Tunnell Len Ford Leo Nomellini Ernie Stautner Bill Willis Alex Wojciechowicz FOUNDERS-COACHES-OFFICIALS Charley Bidwill-St. Louis Cardinals owner, 1933-47 Paul Brown-Cleveland Browns head coach and general manager, 1946-62 Potsy Clark-coach, Portsmouth Spartans, Detroit Lions, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1931-40 Jack Cusack-Canton Bulldogs manager, 1911-17 Ralph Hay-Canton Bulldogs owner 1919-22 Lee Joannes-founder, Green Bay Packers, 1933-66 Ralph Jones-coach, Chicago Bears, 1930-32 Earle "Greasy" Neale-coach, Philadelphia Eagles, 1941-50 Dan Reeves-Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams owner, 1941-66 Harry Robb- game official, 1925-45 Clark Shaughnessy-coach, Los Angeles Rams, 1948-49 Buck Shaw-coach, San Francisco 49ers, 1946-54; Philadelphia Eagles, 1958-60 Jock Sutherland-coach, Brooklyn Dodgers 1940-41; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1946-47 Andrew Turnbull-Green Bay Packers owner, 1923-28 Arch Ward-founder College All-Star Game, 1934 and AAFC, 1944"
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Great list John ...
ReplyDeleteMissing HOF Players/Coaches
Lewellen
Nesser
Wistert
Conerly
Lahr
Brito
Shaughnessy
Shaw