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1958 Colts
1. “It was dusk. The lights were on. Banners were flying. We were world
C6 | S U N DAY,
BA DECEM BER 28, 2008
champions, and I was in such awe. I didn’t want to leave.” – Don Joyce, Colts defensive end
AP
With a block from Lenny Moore, Alan Ameche runs into the end zone to cap The Greatest Game Ever Played.
Missed chances, goal-line stand set the stage
the lead. me many times he got the first down, game,” Gifford said. “Unlike the Bal- from a nearby ambulance, which was
By Ron Snyder
“Stopping Ameche on fourth- but I just keep asking him, ‘Who’s got timore players, most of the Giants transporting him to a hospital.
Examiner Staff Writer
and-goal was when the game got the ring?’” lived outside of New York. Most just “I thought someone was going to
Lenny Moore thought the game interesting,” Gifford said. “That was Then, it was all up to Johnny Uni- wanted to get out of town that night or die that day,” Marchetti said. “It was
was over — 17-17, a tie for the cham- the best defense we played all day.” tas. the next day right after the game.” unbelievable. They just wanted to see
pionship. The score remained the same late Starting from the Baltimore 14, “The When the Colts returned to Bal- us and thank us. Baltimore used to be
Sam Huff was ready to split the into the fourth quarter, when the Golden Arm” drove right down the field, timore, they were greeted by about just a stop between Philadelphia and
$372,310 in player prize money. Giants faced a third-and-four from connecting with receiver Raymond 30,000 fans, many of whom swarmed Washington. Now, it was home to the
Frank Gifford was just tired. their 40-yard line with 2:40 remain- Berry for three of his 12 receptions to the team bus at Friendship Airport. world champions.”
But there was more football to ing. Conerly handed off to Gifford, position Steve Myhra, who made just Marchetti witnessed the chaotic scene rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com
be played in the 1958 championship who made a sharp cut to his right and 4-of-10 field goals on the year, to tie the
game in front of 64,185 at Yankee was met by Marchetti as he crossed game with a 20-yard field goal with
Stadium in the first — and still only the line of scrimmage. Marchetti seven seconds remaining.
— sudden-death overtime title game threw Gifford to the ground, but “We basically invented the two-min-
in NFL history. during the play, 6-foot-6, 285-pound ute drill that day,” Berry said.
“Once we got to the end of regula- defensive tackle Gene “Big Daddy” In overtime, the Giants won the
tion no one knew what was happening,” Lipscomb fell on Marchetti’s right coin toss but managed nine yards
Moore said. “We thought we would ankle and broke it. before punting.
just go to the locker room, and it’s a The future Hall of Famer was Unitas quickly drove the Colts
tie. Not even the referees knew exactly carted off the field in a stretcher and down to the Giants’ 8-yard line but
what to do.” watched the rest of the game from the never considered going for a field goal.
The Colts led 14-3 in the third sidelines. And it wasn’t because the Colts — 3
quarter when they drove down to the But Marchetti has done his job: 1/2- to 5 1/2-point favorites — needed
Giants’ 1-yard line, but came up empty Referee Ron Gibbs placed the ball a touchdown to cover the spread, as
when Ameche got stopped for a four- short of the first down, and the owner Carroll Rosenbloom had been
yard loss on fourth down. Giants punted. known to bet on his team.
“That play wasn’t supposed to “If we had replay back then, we “We didn’t trust Myhra,” Moore
be a run,” Colts defensive end Gino wouldn’t be standing here talking said. “We felt like the only way to win
Marchetti said. “It was designed to about the game,” Gifford said. “The the game was score a touchdown.”
be a halfback option from Ameche game would have been over.” Two plays later, the prayers of
to [tight end] Jim Mutscheller. He That’s not true. ESPN proved Gif- Moore, who kept a Bible tucked in his
was wide open in the end zone, but ford’s assertion wrong when asked thigh pads, were answered, as running
Ameche didn’t hear the call. Had he traffic-accident reconstructionist Jeff back Alan Ameche plowed into the
[thrown] that pass, the game would Muttart to determine the exact spot end zone from three feet away.
have been over.” of the ball using the same technology Fans stormed the field, but there
Instead, the Giants used the to re-enact car crashes. were no fireworks or extravagant
momentum to score two touchdowns The result: Gifford was nine postgame ceremonies like after the
to take a 17-14 lead early in the fourth inches short. Super Bowl today.
quarter. Charlie Conerly’s 15-yard “I knew it when I was lying there,” “Most of our wives were at home COURTESY PHOTO
pass to Gifford gave the home team Marchetti said. “[Gifford has] told packed and ready to go after the Thirty thousand fans arrived at Friendship Airport to welcome their heroes home.
2. “Johnny told us in the huddle before we began that drive that we were going to take S U N DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 0 8 | B A C7
the ball right down and score. And we all believed him.” – Alan Ameche, Colts fullback (describing the winning drive)
Colts, Giants kicked off more than just a title game
By Ron Snyder
But on Dec. 28, 1958, inside a Yan-
Examiner Staff Writer
kee Stadium that wasn’t even filled
to capacity, Alan Ameche’s 1-yard
At the time, Raymond Berry
touchdown run changed the Ameri-
couldn’t understand how a football
can public’s perception of the National
game could make a man cry.
Football League.
The Colts’ receiver was leaving
“The game being played in New
Yankee Stadium after his team’s vic-
York, the media capital of the world,
tory over the Giants in the 1958 NFL
helped the game garner a lot more
title game when he saw tears rolling
attention,” said Bob Wolff, who called
down the cheeks of then-Commis-
the television play-by-play. “It wouldn’t
sioner Bert Bell.
have been the same if it had been
“I wonder what chord had been
played in Cleveland or Baltimore.”
struck in Bert Bell?’” he thought, as
By 1961, there were 22 professional
he headed to the team bus 50 years
football teams, including eight in the
ago today. “When you have tears in
upstart American Football League.
you eyes, that’s pretty strong.”
Lamar Hunt, with his Texas oil money,
Berry didn’t realize how strong
formed the AFL after watching — with
until years later. COURTESY PHOTO/LORI SNYDER
a then-record 50 million other viewers
Without the Colts and Giants com- From left, Lenny Moore, Jim Mutscheller, Gino Marchetti and Raymond Berry recently attended a reunion for the 50th anniversary of
— the 1958 title game on television.
peting in what has become know as the 1958 NFL championship game.
The AFL and NFL eventually signed
The Greatest Game Ever Played, the
lucrative television contracts and got
NFL wouldn’t have evolved into the 32-
into a bidding war over players before The players certainly did not. The Giants’ defensive coordinator merall said. “He told us when to be
team, $7 billion industry it is today.
merging in 1967. To the Giants and the Colts, winning was Tom Landry, who invented the 4-3 on the bus and what time practice
It wouldn’t be the country’s most-
“I have to believe [Bell] understood the game wasn’t just about bragging defense and went on to win two Super started. That was about all he had to
watched sport.
the tremendous significance of what rights: It was an opportunity to make a Bowls as head coach of the Dallas Cow- do with that staff.”
It wouldn’t have nine-figure national
happened to this league that he had little extra money at a time when play- boys. Vince Lombardi was the Giants’ “When you build a great house,
television contracts.
been nursing along,” Berry said. “He ers only earned between $10,000 and offensive coordinator before going on you have to have a great foundation,”
It would still be behind baseball
was probably one of the few people $20,000 a year. The winners picked up to win seven NFL titles as coach of the added Huff. “That game laid the foun-
and college football in the hierarchy
there who really understood it.” an extra $4,718.77; the losers received Green Bay Packers. The Super Bowl dation of just how great the NFL could
of sports coverage.
$3,111.33. trophy is named in his honor. be. That game helped spur the NFL to
“It started gaining popularity after “[Giants coach] Jim Lee Howell what it is today.”
that,” former Colts running back didn’t have to do a lot of work,” Sum- rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com
Lenny Moore said. “The NFL is what
it is today because of that game.”
Fifty years later, the players aren’t
sure if a game that featured seven
turnovers can be called The Greatest
Game Ever Played.
“No one in that game thought what
happened there would have the linger-
ing impact it has had,” former Giants
kicker and long-time broadcaster Pat
Summerall said. “It wasn’t the great-
est game ever played, but it might have
been the most important.”
The game had 17 future Hall-of-
Fame members, including some of
the sport’s all-time greats: the Giants’
Gifford, Sam Huff and Andy Robustelli
and the Colts’ Art Donovan, Gino Mar-
COURTESY PHOTO/LORI SNYDER
chetti, Moore, Berry and of course, a
The New York Giants and kicker Pat Summerall and running back Frank Gifford were good AP
quarterback named John Unitas.
in 1958, but not good enough to beat the Colts. Johnny Unitas became an instant star by leading the Colts to the title in 1958.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Colts Offense Giants Offense
Pos. Name Hall of Fame Status Pos. Name Hall of Fame Status
WR Raymond Berry 1973 Lives in Murfreesboro, Tenn. WR Kyle Rote N/A Died Aug. 12, 2002 at 73
LT Jim Parker 1973 Died July 18, 2005 at 71 LT Roosevelt Brown 1975 Died June 9, 2004 at 71
LG Art Spinney N/A Died May 27, 1994 at 66 LG Al Barry N/A Turned 78 on Wednesday
C Buzz Nutter N/A Died April 12, 2008 at 77 C Ray Wietecha N/A Died Dec. 14, 2002 at 74
RG Alex Sandusky N/A Lives in Key West, Fla. RG Bob Mischak N/A Turned 76 on Oct. 25
RT George Preas N/A Died Feb. 24, 2007 RT Frank Youso N/A Turned 71 on July 5
QB Johnny Unitas 1979 Died Sept. 11, 2002 WR Bob Schnelker N/A Turned 80 on Oct. 17
TE Jim Mutscheller N/A Insurance executive in Hunt Valley QB Charlie Conerly N/A Died Feb. 13, 1996 at 74
HB L.G. Dupre N/A Died Aug. 9, 2001 at 68 RB Frank Gifford 1977 Works in broadcasting in New York
HB Lenny Moore 1975 Lives in Randallstown HB Alex Webster N/A Is 77 and battling emphysema and lung cancer
FB Alan Ameche N/A Died Aug. 8, 1988 at 55 FB Mel Triplett N/A Died July 26, 2002 at 70
Colts Defense Giants Defense
Pos. Name Hall of Fame Status Pos. Name Hall of Fame Status
DE Gino Marchetti 1969 Lives in Westchester, Pa. DE Jim Katcavage N/A Died Feb. 20, 1995 at 60
DT Art Donovan 1968 Run a country club in Towson DT Roosevelt Grier N/A Is an actor, minister and community activist
DT Gene Lipscomb N/A Died May 10, 1963 at 31 DT Dick Modzelewski N/A Retired in 1990 after 23-year coaching career
DE Don Joyce N/A Turned 79 on Oct. 8 DE Andy Robustelli 1971 Turned 83 on Dec. 6
LB Don Shinnick N/A Died Jan. 20, 2004 at 68 LB Cliff Livingston N/A Turned 78 on July 2
LB Bill Pellington N/A Died April 27, 1994 at 66 LB Sam Huff 1982 Broadcaster for Redskins radio network
LB Leo Sanford N/A Lives in Shreveport, La. LB Harland Svare N/A Works as an athletic trainer
CB Milt Davis N/A Died Sept. 29, 2008 at 79 CB Carl Karilivacz N/A Died in 1969 at 39
CB Carl Taseff N/A Died Feb. 27, 2005 at 76 CB Lindon Crow N/A Is 75 and retired
S Ray Brown N/A Retired and lives in Maryland S Jim Patton N/A Died Dec. 22, 1973 at 40
S Andy Nelson N/A Runs BBQ business in Cockeysville S Emlen Tunnell 1967 Died July 22, 1975 at 53
![“It was dusk. The lights were on. Banners were flying. We were world
C6 | S U N DAY,
BA DECEM BER 28, 2008
champions, and I was in such awe. I didn’t want to leave.” – Don Joyce, Colts defensive end
AP
With a block from Lenny Moore, Alan Ameche runs into the end zone to cap The Greatest Game Ever Played.
Missed chances, goal-line stand set the stage
the lead. me many times he got the first down, game,” Gifford said. “Unlike the Bal- from a nearby ambulance, which was
By Ron Snyder
“Stopping Ameche on fourth- but I just keep asking him, ‘Who’s got timore players, most of the Giants transporting him to a hospital.
Examiner Staff Writer
and-goal was when the game got the ring?’” lived outside of New York. Most just “I thought someone was going to
Lenny Moore thought the game interesting,” Gifford said. “That was Then, it was all up to Johnny Uni- wanted to get out of town that night or die that day,” Marchetti said. “It was
was over — 17-17, a tie for the cham- the best defense we played all day.” tas. the next day right after the game.” unbelievable. They just wanted to see
pionship. The score remained the same late Starting from the Baltimore 14, “The When the Colts returned to Bal- us and thank us. Baltimore used to be
Sam Huff was ready to split the into the fourth quarter, when the Golden Arm” drove right down the field, timore, they were greeted by about just a stop between Philadelphia and
$372,310 in player prize money. Giants faced a third-and-four from connecting with receiver Raymond 30,000 fans, many of whom swarmed Washington. Now, it was home to the
Frank Gifford was just tired. their 40-yard line with 2:40 remain- Berry for three of his 12 receptions to the team bus at Friendship Airport. world champions.”
But there was more football to ing. Conerly handed off to Gifford, position Steve Myhra, who made just Marchetti witnessed the chaotic scene rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com
be played in the 1958 championship who made a sharp cut to his right and 4-of-10 field goals on the year, to tie the
game in front of 64,185 at Yankee was met by Marchetti as he crossed game with a 20-yard field goal with
Stadium in the first — and still only the line of scrimmage. Marchetti seven seconds remaining.
— sudden-death overtime title game threw Gifford to the ground, but “We basically invented the two-min-
in NFL history. during the play, 6-foot-6, 285-pound ute drill that day,” Berry said.
“Once we got to the end of regula- defensive tackle Gene “Big Daddy” In overtime, the Giants won the
tion no one knew what was happening,” Lipscomb fell on Marchetti’s right coin toss but managed nine yards
Moore said. “We thought we would ankle and broke it. before punting.
just go to the locker room, and it’s a The future Hall of Famer was Unitas quickly drove the Colts
tie. Not even the referees knew exactly carted off the field in a stretcher and down to the Giants’ 8-yard line but
what to do.” watched the rest of the game from the never considered going for a field goal.
The Colts led 14-3 in the third sidelines. And it wasn’t because the Colts — 3
quarter when they drove down to the But Marchetti has done his job: 1/2- to 5 1/2-point favorites — needed
Giants’ 1-yard line, but came up empty Referee Ron Gibbs placed the ball a touchdown to cover the spread, as
when Ameche got stopped for a four- short of the first down, and the owner Carroll Rosenbloom had been
yard loss on fourth down. Giants punted. known to bet on his team.
“That play wasn’t supposed to “If we had replay back then, we “We didn’t trust Myhra,” Moore
be a run,” Colts defensive end Gino wouldn’t be standing here talking said. “We felt like the only way to win
Marchetti said. “It was designed to about the game,” Gifford said. “The the game was score a touchdown.”
be a halfback option from Ameche game would have been over.” Two plays later, the prayers of
to [tight end] Jim Mutscheller. He That’s not true. ESPN proved Gif- Moore, who kept a Bible tucked in his
was wide open in the end zone, but ford’s assertion wrong when asked thigh pads, were answered, as running
Ameche didn’t hear the call. Had he traffic-accident reconstructionist Jeff back Alan Ameche plowed into the
[thrown] that pass, the game would Muttart to determine the exact spot end zone from three feet away.
have been over.” of the ball using the same technology Fans stormed the field, but there
Instead, the Giants used the to re-enact car crashes. were no fireworks or extravagant
momentum to score two touchdowns The result: Gifford was nine postgame ceremonies like after the
to take a 17-14 lead early in the fourth inches short. Super Bowl today.
quarter. Charlie Conerly’s 15-yard “I knew it when I was lying there,” “Most of our wives were at home COURTESY PHOTO
pass to Gifford gave the home team Marchetti said. “[Gifford has] told packed and ready to go after the Thirty thousand fans arrived at Friendship Airport to welcome their heroes home.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/1958colts-123838525139-phpapp02/85/1958-Colts-1-320.jpg)
![“Johnny told us in the huddle before we began that drive that we were going to take S U N DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 0 8 | B A C7
the ball right down and score. And we all believed him.” – Alan Ameche, Colts fullback (describing the winning drive)
Colts, Giants kicked off more than just a title game
By Ron Snyder
But on Dec. 28, 1958, inside a Yan-
Examiner Staff Writer
kee Stadium that wasn’t even filled
to capacity, Alan Ameche’s 1-yard
At the time, Raymond Berry
touchdown run changed the Ameri-
couldn’t understand how a football
can public’s perception of the National
game could make a man cry.
Football League.
The Colts’ receiver was leaving
“The game being played in New
Yankee Stadium after his team’s vic-
York, the media capital of the world,
tory over the Giants in the 1958 NFL
helped the game garner a lot more
title game when he saw tears rolling
attention,” said Bob Wolff, who called
down the cheeks of then-Commis-
the television play-by-play. “It wouldn’t
sioner Bert Bell.
have been the same if it had been
“I wonder what chord had been
played in Cleveland or Baltimore.”
struck in Bert Bell?’” he thought, as
By 1961, there were 22 professional
he headed to the team bus 50 years
football teams, including eight in the
ago today. “When you have tears in
upstart American Football League.
you eyes, that’s pretty strong.”
Lamar Hunt, with his Texas oil money,
Berry didn’t realize how strong
formed the AFL after watching — with
until years later. COURTESY PHOTO/LORI SNYDER
a then-record 50 million other viewers
Without the Colts and Giants com- From left, Lenny Moore, Jim Mutscheller, Gino Marchetti and Raymond Berry recently attended a reunion for the 50th anniversary of
— the 1958 title game on television.
peting in what has become know as the 1958 NFL championship game.
The AFL and NFL eventually signed
The Greatest Game Ever Played, the
lucrative television contracts and got
NFL wouldn’t have evolved into the 32-
into a bidding war over players before The players certainly did not. The Giants’ defensive coordinator merall said. “He told us when to be
team, $7 billion industry it is today.
merging in 1967. To the Giants and the Colts, winning was Tom Landry, who invented the 4-3 on the bus and what time practice
It wouldn’t be the country’s most-
“I have to believe [Bell] understood the game wasn’t just about bragging defense and went on to win two Super started. That was about all he had to
watched sport.
the tremendous significance of what rights: It was an opportunity to make a Bowls as head coach of the Dallas Cow- do with that staff.”
It wouldn’t have nine-figure national
happened to this league that he had little extra money at a time when play- boys. Vince Lombardi was the Giants’ “When you build a great house,
television contracts.
been nursing along,” Berry said. “He ers only earned between $10,000 and offensive coordinator before going on you have to have a great foundation,”
It would still be behind baseball
was probably one of the few people $20,000 a year. The winners picked up to win seven NFL titles as coach of the added Huff. “That game laid the foun-
and college football in the hierarchy
there who really understood it.” an extra $4,718.77; the losers received Green Bay Packers. The Super Bowl dation of just how great the NFL could
of sports coverage.
$3,111.33. trophy is named in his honor. be. That game helped spur the NFL to
“It started gaining popularity after “[Giants coach] Jim Lee Howell what it is today.”
that,” former Colts running back didn’t have to do a lot of work,” Sum- rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com
Lenny Moore said. “The NFL is what
it is today because of that game.”
Fifty years later, the players aren’t
sure if a game that featured seven
turnovers can be called The Greatest
Game Ever Played.
“No one in that game thought what
happened there would have the linger-
ing impact it has had,” former Giants
kicker and long-time broadcaster Pat
Summerall said. “It wasn’t the great-
est game ever played, but it might have
been the most important.”
The game had 17 future Hall-of-
Fame members, including some of
the sport’s all-time greats: the Giants’
Gifford, Sam Huff and Andy Robustelli
and the Colts’ Art Donovan, Gino Mar-
COURTESY PHOTO/LORI SNYDER
chetti, Moore, Berry and of course, a
The New York Giants and kicker Pat Summerall and running back Frank Gifford were good AP
quarterback named John Unitas.
in 1958, but not good enough to beat the Colts. Johnny Unitas became an instant star by leading the Colts to the title in 1958.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Colts Offense Giants Offense
Pos. Name Hall of Fame Status Pos. Name Hall of Fame Status
WR Raymond Berry 1973 Lives in Murfreesboro, Tenn. WR Kyle Rote N/A Died Aug. 12, 2002 at 73
LT Jim Parker 1973 Died July 18, 2005 at 71 LT Roosevelt Brown 1975 Died June 9, 2004 at 71
LG Art Spinney N/A Died May 27, 1994 at 66 LG Al Barry N/A Turned 78 on Wednesday
C Buzz Nutter N/A Died April 12, 2008 at 77 C Ray Wietecha N/A Died Dec. 14, 2002 at 74
RG Alex Sandusky N/A Lives in Key West, Fla. RG Bob Mischak N/A Turned 76 on Oct. 25
RT George Preas N/A Died Feb. 24, 2007 RT Frank Youso N/A Turned 71 on July 5
QB Johnny Unitas 1979 Died Sept. 11, 2002 WR Bob Schnelker N/A Turned 80 on Oct. 17
TE Jim Mutscheller N/A Insurance executive in Hunt Valley QB Charlie Conerly N/A Died Feb. 13, 1996 at 74
HB L.G. Dupre N/A Died Aug. 9, 2001 at 68 RB Frank Gifford 1977 Works in broadcasting in New York
HB Lenny Moore 1975 Lives in Randallstown HB Alex Webster N/A Is 77 and battling emphysema and lung cancer
FB Alan Ameche N/A Died Aug. 8, 1988 at 55 FB Mel Triplett N/A Died July 26, 2002 at 70
Colts Defense Giants Defense
Pos. Name Hall of Fame Status Pos. Name Hall of Fame Status
DE Gino Marchetti 1969 Lives in Westchester, Pa. DE Jim Katcavage N/A Died Feb. 20, 1995 at 60
DT Art Donovan 1968 Run a country club in Towson DT Roosevelt Grier N/A Is an actor, minister and community activist
DT Gene Lipscomb N/A Died May 10, 1963 at 31 DT Dick Modzelewski N/A Retired in 1990 after 23-year coaching career
DE Don Joyce N/A Turned 79 on Oct. 8 DE Andy Robustelli 1971 Turned 83 on Dec. 6
LB Don Shinnick N/A Died Jan. 20, 2004 at 68 LB Cliff Livingston N/A Turned 78 on July 2
LB Bill Pellington N/A Died April 27, 1994 at 66 LB Sam Huff 1982 Broadcaster for Redskins radio network
LB Leo Sanford N/A Lives in Shreveport, La. LB Harland Svare N/A Works as an athletic trainer
CB Milt Davis N/A Died Sept. 29, 2008 at 79 CB Carl Karilivacz N/A Died in 1969 at 39
CB Carl Taseff N/A Died Feb. 27, 2005 at 76 CB Lindon Crow N/A Is 75 and retired
S Ray Brown N/A Retired and lives in Maryland S Jim Patton N/A Died Dec. 22, 1973 at 40
S Andy Nelson N/A Runs BBQ business in Cockeysville S Emlen Tunnell 1967 Died July 22, 1975 at 53](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)