After finishing in 1st place 5 times between 1958 and 1963 (and losing the championship game each time), the Giants fell on hard times. They didn’t return to the post-season until 1981, and didn’t appear in a Super Bowl until 1986 (which they won – their first championship since 1956).
I got all these cards in the past 2 months. I’ve often wondered why the Giants have so many players wearing their helmets in the 1966 and 1967 card sets, while almost no other team’s players did so.
Morrall and Scholtz – The 2nd of 2 multi-player cards in the 1966 set.
Earl Morrall – The 49ers’ 1st-round pick (2nd overall) in 1956, Morrall quarterbacked the Steelers in 1957, the Lions (1958-64), and the Giants (1965-67). He started every game in ’65, but missed half the games in ’66. In 1967 the Giants traded for Fran Tarkenton, so Earl rode the bench.
He played for the Colts from 1968-71, starting every game in 1968 due to injuries to Johnny Unitas. From there he finished up with the Dolphins from 1972-76. Usually riding the bench, he started 9 games in both ’71 and ’72 ahead of the injured Bob Griese. Morrall was named first-team All-Pro in ’68 and ’72.
Bob Scholtz was drafted by the Lions in 1960 and was their starting center for his first 2 seasons. From 1962-63, he started about half the games at tackle, then was the backup center in 1964. He spent his last 2 seasons with the Giants – as the starting center in ’65 and a backup in ’66. He retired after being selected by the Saints in the 1967 expansion draft.
Tucker Frederickson was the first-overall pick in the 1965 draft. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie after starting 10 games at fullback. After missing the 1966 season with a knee injury, he started about half the games over the next 2 seasons, before missing all but 5 games in 1969. He played every game in 1970 and 10 games in 1971.
*Steve Thurlow – The Giants’ 2nd-round pick in 1964, Thurlow played 2 seasons with the Giants (starting 11 games in 1965), then played for the Redskins from 1966-68.
Joe Morrison was picked by the Giants in the 3rd round of the 1959 draft, and played for 14 seasons – all with the Giants. Playing both running back and flanker during his career, most of his starts came in 1960 and 1964-68. Despite never leading the league in any category, and accumulating no Pro Bowl or All-Pro nominations, Morrison is one of 14 Giants whose number is retired.
Greg Larson – The Giants’ 6th-round pick in 1961, Larson was a starting guard or tackle for his first 2 seasons, then was the starting center every year from 1963-73, except for 1965. He made the Pro Bowl in 1968, and only missed 3 games in his 13-year career.
*Rosey Brown was drafted by the Giants in 1953, and was their starting left tackle every year from 1953-65, missing only 4 games during his career. He made the Pro Bowl 9 times and was first-team All-Pro 6 times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.
No linemen, but a full defensive backfield!
*Jerry Hillebrand – The Giants’ 1st-round pick in 1962, he played for the Giants from 1963-66. After a season with the Cardinals, he played for the Steelers from 1968-70.
Spider Lockhart – Drafted by the Giants in 1965, Lockhart was a starting defensive back all during his 11-year career. Initially the left cornerback, he switched to free safety in 1967.
Clarence Childs was drafted by the Boston Patriots in 1961, but began play with the Giants in 1964. He was a starting cornerback for New York in 1966 and 1967, and finished his career with the Bears in 1968.
*Dick Lynch was picked by the Redskins in 1958. After a rookie season with Washington, he played for the Giants from 1959 to 1966, and was their starting right cornerback from 1959 to 1965, replaced by Childs in 1966.
Henry Carr – The Giants’ 4th-round pick in 1965, Carr had been a track star at Arizona State, and won 2 gold medals at the 1964 Olympics. He was drafted so that the team would have someone who could cover the Cowboys’ Bob Hayes. Carr was a starting safety for his first 2 years, then moved to cornerback in his final season, where a knee injury caused him to miss 5 games, and eventually ended his career.
Hall of Famers - 1
*Unknown to me before November 2023
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3 comments:
Thanks for the write-ups; I always enjoy them. I was surprised to learn that Joe Morrison never made the Pro Bowl. Maybe splitting time between running back and flanker hurt his chances, since his stats wouldn't have stood out at either position.
The website BigBlueInteractive.com has a list of the Giants' retired numbers.
For Morrison there is this footnote:
*** At the press conference after the final game of the 1972 season, Joe Morrison announced he was retiring. When coach Alex Webster had his turn at the mic, he stated nobody would wear #40 for the Giants again. Wellington Mara was in the room and when he heard Webster say that he was surprised as it had never been discussed, but he decided he was OK with it.
It's often forgotten that during the Dolphins' 17-0 season, 9 of those games were started by Earl Morrall. He also started every game for the Colts in 1968, on their way to Super Bowl III.
So although he was primarily a backup for the last half of his career, he was named 1st-team All-Pro in those 2 seasons.
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