The Way They Were: Hall-of-Famer Dante Lavelli's 'All Opponent Team'

By John Turney 

Dante Lavelli, #86

In the golden age of sports journalism, columns often captured the raw respect athletes held for rivals. Reporters and wire services would ask players to name their toughest opponents -- the ones who pushed them to their limits or the best they’d seen at any position -- and their responses sometimes made for gripping reads.

I recently came across one such gem in the Cleveland Press from March, 1957, written by Bob August after Cleveland Browns' legend and Hall-of-Famer Dante “Gluefingers” Lavelli retired. The article detailed Lavelli’s all-opponent team -- a roster of players who gave him fits or earned his admiration over his 11-year career (1946–1956) in the AAFC and NFL.

As it was an all-opponent team, no Browns made the cut. But Lavelli’s selections were a fascinating mix of household names you’d expect and obscure picks he drew from a decade of battles against the best in two leagues. His choices, as August relayed, reflected both personal duels and respect for raw talent.

A clutch end known for his sure hands, Lavelli played a key role in the Browns’ decades-long dominance, winning four AAFC titles (1946–1949) and three NFL championships (1950, 1954-55). Facing him meant covering a receiver who could change games, as he did with 11 catches in the 1950 NFL championship defeat of the L.A. Rams. 

It also could mean making this list. Here, then, is Dante Lavelli's all-opponent team, with my commentary in italics: 

OFFENSE

ENDS:  Elroy Hirsch, Alyn Beals, Bob Shaw, Pete Pihos and Tom Fears.

These are the usual suspects. Three are in the Hall of Fame (Hirsch, Pihos and Fears), while Beals was a 49ers' end who led the AAFC in touchdown catches each of the league's four years -- including 14 in 1948, a franchise record that stood for nearly four decades.  

Shaw was a big end who was solid and had one impressive year when he was second-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. He must have impressed Lavelli because his career didn't match up with the others.

TACKLES:  Nate Johnson and Lou Creekmur.

Creekmur ultimately earned a bronze bust in Canton, but Nate Johnson wasn't as fortunate. He played just five pro seasons, four in the AAFC and one in the NFL, and his only accolade came in 1947 when played with the New York Yankees and was named All-AAFC. 

GUARDS: Bruno Banducci and Duane Putnam.

Both guards were All-Pros, and Banducci was all-decade for the 1940s. But Putnam has a case to be included on the 1950s' all-decade team. In fact, Pro Football Reference included him on its list. The fact is: Putnam was a very good player, perhaps the best pulling guard of his era.

CENTERS: Bill Johnson, Vic Lindskog, and Vince Banonis.

Johnson was a long-time 49ers' center whom Lavelli would have seen a lot. The other two names, however, are interesting in that Lindskog was likely the least-known of fine Eagles' offensive linemen like Al Wistert, Buck Kilroy, Vic Sears and Banducci.  Banonis, meanwhile, is someone who gained some "all" notice when he was with the late-1940s' Chicago Cardinals and won back-to-back titles. He then went to the Lions and blocked for Bobby Layne.

Wouldn't it be great if we could go back in time and ask "Gluefingers" what stood out about Lindskog, Banonis, Nate Johnson and other lesser-known players? It had to be something. Unfortunately, Bob August didn't provide details.

QUARTERBACKS: Bob Waterfield, Frankie Albert and Bobby Layne.

Waterfield was part of two Rams' teams that rivaled Lavelli's Browns, barely losing to them in the 1950 NFL championship game before defeating them one year later for the league title. 

Otto Graham was the AAFC's best quarterback, but Albert was right behind as the leader of a 49ers' team that was competitive with the Browns. With Layne, the ultimate competitor, Detroit snatched two titles from the Browns, beating them in consecutive championship games in 1952-53.

Lavelli went with no sleepers in his picks for quarterbacks, choosing the elite passers of his era. Seems as though Lavelli was a "QB Wins" kind of guy, if you know what I mean.

FULLBACKS: Joe Perry, Ollie Matson and Rick Casares.

Perry and Matson have Gold Jackets. Casares does not. But he made an immediate impression on Lavelli, who only saw him in his final two pro seasons. He had an MVP-level year in 1956, Lavelli's last as a pro, when he led the NFL in yards rushing (1,126) and rushing touchdowns (12).

HALFBACKS: Spec Sanders, Steve Van Buren, Glenn Dobbs, Hugh McElhenny and Doak Walker.

Sanders and Dobbs were AAFC stars, tailback types who were their teams' passers, as well as top runners and punters. The other three Lavelli named are Hall of Famers.

DEFENSE

ENDS: Larry Brink, Jack Russell and Andy Robustelli, Hal Shoener and Vince Mazza.

Lavelli only picked one player who ended up in the Hall -- Robustelli. Brink and Russell are names historians would know, mostly because they earned some All-Pro notice, but Shoener and Mazza are relative unknowns. However, it's likely that these were pass-rushing ends who may have pressured Otto Graham enough that Lavelli never forgot them.

TACKLES: Arnie Weinmeister, Martin Ruby, Ernie Stautner, Bob Reinhard, Art Donovan, Leo Nomellini and  Al DeRogatis.

The name that stands out here is Martin Ruby, a Brooklyn Dodgers/New York Yankees tackle. The 6-4, 249-pounder may be to defensive interior players what Shoener and Mazzer were to edge players -- a problem for the Browns. The others are either former All-Pros or Hall of Famers.

MIDDLE GUARD: Les Bingaman and Riley Matheson.

These two remind me of the guards. They're players with Hall-of-Fame cases who have been overlooked by Hall-of-Fame voters. 

LINEBACKERS: Tank Younger, George Connor, Vern Torgeson and Jerry Shipkey.

Connor is a Hall of Famer, while Younger and Shipkey were fine players who often were Pro Bowl invitees. No real surprises here.

CORNERBACKS: Russ Craft, Emlen Tunnell, Dick "Night Train" Lane and Eddie Prokop.

Some people forget that Emlen Tunnell began his career as a cornerback, or what was then called a defensive halfback. He later shifted to safety and became one of the best ever. Lavelli, though, picks him at his original position. 

Lane's name makes sense, as does Russ Craft. He was considered one of the best cover men in the league at the time. Prokup is less-known, having played only in the AAFC without postseason honors or first-or-second-team all-leaguer recognition. He must have given Lavelli fits.

SAFETIES: Otto Schnellbacher and Jack Christiansen.

Christiansen is in the Hall, and Schnellbacher probably would be, too, had he played longer. In four pro seasons, he had a whopping 34 interceptions, including two seasons with 11. Lavelli clearly knew Otto was a menace.

***************

Some of the details provided in August's story included Lavelli's pick at quarterback, where he chose Rams' Hall-of-Famer Bob Waterfield over the 49ers' Albert.

"I have to give the edge to Waterfield over Albert," he said, "because he could do everything well. He could pass, run, punt and placekick."

However, when asked to name the best at a single position, Lavelli didn't choose anyone on offense. He went to the other side of the line of scrimmage.

"If I had to name one player for the ability to play his own position," he said, "I'd have to name Arnie Weinmeister."

I love it. Lavelli picking Weinmeister might be akin to someone who played in the NFL the past 11 years naming former Rams' defensive tackle Aaron Donald the game's best player, even though there's more so-called "value" at the quarterback position. 

But that's what made this story as enjoyable as it is intriguing. Lavelli trusted his instincts and didn't always go with obvious choices.