Memorable Games of the 1960S That No One Remembers by David Villiotti
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Faded MeMories Memorable games of the 1960s that no one remembers by David Villiotti ost Steelers fans, even those with sufficient tenure to have witnessed all six of the team’s Super Bowl Mwins, have never seen many of the franchise’s memorable games during the 1960s. There are many reasons why the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers is relatively unknown prior to Chuck Noll being hired in 1969. Football had not yet captured the imagination of the country like it would the following decade when nationally televised games brought the game to the masses. The organization’s meteoric rise to success and sustained hegemony in the 1970s attracted a legion of new fans that had not paid much attention to the fledgling franchise for the first three and half decades of its existence. Then, of course, there’s the simple fact that nearly half a century has passed since then—a much longer period of time than most fans have even been alive. One will notice I have selected a preponderance of games from the second half of the decade. That’s because this writer doesn’t remember games pre-1965. There are other reasons too though, which I try to touch upon intermittently. I did not see the first two selections on the list, including them instead for different but equally meaningful reasons. I did however wit- ness the remaining games, all but one as a cheering spectator at Pitt Stadium after having made the climb up the summit of De Soto Street. Those walks up and down “Cardiac Hill” (fittingly dubbed for its forbidding incline) still hold a place in my heart and memory to this day, much like the games themselves. Some of these games are memorable for their impact, others for noteworthy individual performances (both famous and infamous), and some for their improbable and unusual Maple Street Press Steelers Annual 2010 | 125 SteelerS HiStory turn of events. The reasons why may vary, but all occupy a of fourth quarter field goals however. The Steelers’ 11-yarder place in the recesses of this writer’s mind. gave them the lead momentarily, but it was matched by an 18-yarder from the Bears, producing the eventual stalemate. The Olde Ballyards Perhaps unbeknownst to them, legions of NFL fans Prior to the construction of cookie-cutter bowl-shaped have actually seen footage from this game, as all Mike Ditka stadiums in the ’70s shared by football and baseball squads highlight films seems to feature the clip of him running over, in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and St. Louis, it was through, and around Steelers defenders on a play that led to often the case that a city’s gridiron entrant was a mere tenant the Bears’ tying field goal. Ditka, the Aliquippa native and Pitt in the baseball stadium, with ends (“receiver” being relatively alum, caught seven passes for 146 yards on the afternoon. modern lingo) running their patterns through the infield dirt. There was Chicago’s Wrigley Field, County Stadium in december 15, 1963 Milwaukee, Cleveland Municipal Stadium (“The Mistake by Giants 33, Steelers 17 the Lake”), Tiger Stadium, and Minnesota’s Metropolitan Heading into Week 14 of the 1963 regular season, the Stadium. Then of course, there was Forbes Field, home to the Steelers sported a record of 7–3–3. With just one game re- Steelers through the ’63 season, and Yankee Stadium, which maining on the schedule, Pittsburgh needed to beat the New the New York Football Giants occupied through 1973. York Giants in Yankee Stadium to claim their first conference championship in franchise history. They had pummeled the November 24, 1963 Giants in Week 2 by the score of 31–0, but the New Yorkers Steelers 17, Bears 17 were playing outstanding down the stretch, having won six of The late NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle repeatedly said their previous seven games heading into the rematch. that his greatest regret as commissioner was his decision to The prerecorded and locally produced studio pre-game proceed with a slate of games just two days after the assassina- show on Pittsburgh’s KDKA, Channel 2, featured Steelers tion of President John F. Kennedy. On the schedule that week receiver Buddy Dial, in suit and tie, which was standard TV was a match-up of the contending Steelers and the eventual garb for the era. At the show’s conclusion just minutes before league champions that season, the Chicago Bears. kickoff, Dial excited the television audience when he lifted A crowd of 36,465 was in attendance for the next-to-last both wing-tips off of the floor and revealed a chalk scribbling Steelers game played at Forbes Field. With the assassination of “Go” “Steelers” on the right and left soles of his shoes. A of President Kennedy still fresh in their minds, fans filed into struggling Swissvale barber, watching at home, exclaimed to their seats expecting a much needed diversion, only to hear his roly-poly eight-year-old son, “If I had a hundred bucks, I’d news that Jack Ruby had just minutes earlier shot and killed bet on the Steelers.” assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. The atmosphere in the stadium that day was predictably somber and tense. In fact, the NFL’s first official cheerleading corps, the Steelerettes, was asked to attend but refrain from cheering. Accounts describe not a dry eye amongst the Forbes Field crowd after the playing of the national Photo this page: Robert Riger/Getty Images anthem. The game itself, despite its unsatisfying conclusion, was tightly contested throughout and entertaining for the grief stricken crowd in attendance. The first half in particular was compelling, with both teams scoring 14 points prior to intermission. The second half produced just a pair The Steelers and Browns rivalry featured plenty of fierce battles in the 1960s. Photo on previous page: Robert Riger /Getty Images 126 | Maple Street Press Steelers Annual 2010 Faded Memories There were no pleasantries exchanged between the Bears and the Steelers during their 1963 match-up once the game began. Thankfully dad was broke, because alas, Steelers Nixon was trounced in his first game at the helm; Bill Austin quarterback Ed Brown had gone on the wagon for the big blew a substantial fourth quarter lead but salvaged a tie in his game. Absent from his usual Wednesday night haunt, Brownie initiation; Chuck Noll, who still holds the Steelers’ record entered the game sober and proceeded to have a miserable for most losses in a single season, began the ’69 campaign, his afternoon. Pittsburgh’s running game was humming, to the first, with a stirring victory. tune of 188 yards, and receivers were subsequently running free in the Giants secondary. But Brown misfired all day long, september 19, 1965 completing just 13-of-33 passes and throwing three costly Packers 41, Steelers 9 interceptions. The Packers, winners of NFL Championships in ’61 and The Giants, staked to an early 16–0 lead, benefited ’62 prior to the year-long suspension of Paul (Golden Boy) from a miraculous grab by Frank Gifford in the second half Hornung, resumed their domination of the decade on after the Steelers had narrowed the deficit to 16–10. Three this September afternoon. Green Bay captured the NFL touchdowns by New York’s Joe Morrison proved too much Championship in ’65, then won Super Bowls I and II (simply to overcome and the Giants went on to meet the Bears in the the NFL-AFL Championship Game at the time) in ’66 and ’67. NFL Championship Game while the Steelers fell just short of The Steelers started the game and the season well, their first ever conference title. jumping out to an early 6–0 lead on a pair of Mike Clark field goals. The momentum then shifted when Herb Adderly OpeNiNg day: WiN, Lose, aNd draW intercepted Steelers quarterback Bill Nelson and returned it The Steelers were led by three different head coaches in the for the game’s first touchdown. On his way in for the score, second half of the 1960s. All three had their Steelers coaching Adderly raced past the “Pay Dirt” signs at the ten yard line, debuts at Pitt Stadium. In hindsight, the results of all three with an arrow fittingly pointing him to the end zone. The debuts provided a glimpse of what fans could expect while pick-six was one of three interceptions tossed by Nelson Photo: Robert Riger/Getty Images they led the still floundering franchise. Hard-luck Mike during his putrid 7-for-26 passing performance. Maple Street Press Steelers Annual 2010 | 127 SteelerS HiStory The Steelers were able to temporarily steady the ship, when a third Clark field goal staked the Steelers to a 9–7 halftime lead. It was a different story after intermission, however. The Packers owned the second half, highlighted by a pair of Elijah Pitts touchdowns, much to the chagrin of the Opening Day crowd of 38,383. The ‘65 Steelers would go on to lose their first five games, failing to register a single scoring pass in the process. september 11, 1966 Steelers 34, Giants 34 The Opening Day gathering of 37,693 at Pitt Stadium was greeted by the Steelers’ new “Batman” jersey, minus striping but featuring gold shoulders to signify the renewed zest and energy of “The Golden Triangle,” Pittsburgh’s downtown. These resplendent new uniforms had just a two-year shelf Mike Ditka and the Bears tied the Steelers, 17–17, at Pitt Stadium life before being replaced by the current Steelers just days after the assassination of JFK in 1963.