History of the New York Giants (1925-1978)

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The history of the New York Giants from 1925 to 1978 covers 54 seasons. The Giants are an American football team which plays in the NFL's National Football Conference. The Giants were founded in 1925 by original owner Tim Mara in the then five-year-old NFL. Mara owned the team until his death in 1959, when it was passed on to his son Wellington. During this period in their history the Giants acquired four NFL championships, but also suffered some down times, including consecutive non-playoff seasons from 1964 to 1978.

In just its third season, the team finished with the best record in the league at 11–1–1 and was awarded the NFL title. In a fourteen year span from 1933 to 1946, the Giants qualified to play in the NFL championship game 8 times, winning twice. They did not win another league title until 1956, aided by a number of future Pro Football Hall of Fame players such as running back Frank Gifford, linebacker Sam Huff, and offensive tackle Roosevelt Brown. The Giants 1956 Championship team not only consisted of players that would eventually find their way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it also had a Hall of Fame coaching staff. Head coach Jim Lee Howell's staff had Vince Lombardi coaching the offense and Tom Landry coaching the defense. From 1958 to 1963, the Giants played in the NFL championship game 5 out of those 6 years, but failed to win.

From 1964 to 1978, the Giants registered only two winning seasons and were unable to advance to the playoffs. During this period the team also traded away Fran Tarkenton, who would later lead the Minnesota Vikings to three Super Bowls and end up in the Hall of Fame. It was not until 1981 that the Giants would return to the playoffs and develop a consistent playoff team.

This article or section is part of the New York Giants history series.

History of the New York Giants

History of the New York Giants (1925-1978)

History of the New York Giants (1979-1993)

History of the New York Giants (1994-present)

Contents 1 Birth and Success: 1925–1957 2 Greatest Game Ever Played: 1958 3 More success: 1959–1963 4 Wilderness Years: 1964–1972 5 Leaving New York: 1973–1978 6 References 7 External link

[edit] Birth and Success: 1925–1957

The Giants were founded in 1925 by original owner Tim Mara with an investment of $500,^[1] and became one of the first teams of the NFL. Mara owned the team until his death in 1959; when it was passed on to his son Wellington. The Giants played their first game against All New Britain in New Britain, Connecticut, on October 5, 1925.^[2][3]

Although the Giants were successful on the field in their first season, going 8–4 in 1925,^[4] their financial status was a different story. Overhadowed by baseball, boxing, and college football, professional football was not a popular sport in 1925. The Giants were in dire financial straints until the 11th game of the season when Red Grange and the Chicago Bears came to town attracting over 70,000 fans.^[5] This pushed the Giants into financial solvency and perhaps altered the history of the franchise.^[6]

They followed that up by going 8-4-1 in 1926.^[4] The 1927 season was a very successful one for the Giants, who finished 11–1–1.^[7] Their defense posted 10 shutouts in 13 games and was the best in the league.^[6] On offense they were led by halfback Jack McBride, who led the league in scoring, and his versatile backfield partner Hinkey Haines.^[8] New coach Earl Potteiger led the team into a game against the Chicago Bears late in the season with first place on the line. The Giants won 13–7 in what Steve Owen called, "the toughest, roughest football game I ever played."^[9] From then on it was an easy trip to the championship,^[1] as they had a 2 game lead over the Bears by virtue of their head to head tiebreaker (note: the championship was determined by record in that era; it was not until 1933 that the NFL had a championship game).

Despite solid performances by linemen Cal Hubbard and Steve Owen,^[10] the Giants had a disappointing 4–7–2 season in 1928.^[4] Following the season, Earl Potteiger was out and Roy Andrews in as the new coach. Before the 1929 season owner Tim Mara purchased the entire squad of the Detroit Wolverines, including star Benny Friedman, a team which had finished in third place the year before. Friedman's arrival in particular boosted tickets sales and fan interest,^[11] which more than covered the expense of his high salary ($10,000).^[12] The rosters of the two teams were combined under the Giants name and this led to immediate improvement as the Giants record soared to 13–1–1 in 1929.^[6] However, their only loss was a 20–6 November game to the Green Bay Packers who by virtue of this win, and their 12–0–1 record, would go on to win the NFL title.^[6]

In 1930 there were still many who questioned the quality of the professional game, claiming the college "amateurs" played with more fight and spirit. In December 1930 the Giants played a team of Notre Dame All Stars at the Polo Grounds to raise money for the unemployed of New York City. It was also an opportunity to establish the superiority of the pro game. Knute Rockne reassembled his Four Horsemen along with the stars of his 1930 Championship squad and told them to score early, then defend. Rockne, like much of the public, thought little of pro football and expected an easy win.^[13] But from the beginning it was a one way contest, with Friedman running for two Giant touchdowns and Hap Moran passing for another. Notre Dame failed to score. When it was all over, Coach Rockne told his team, "That was the greatest football machine I ever saw. I am glad none of you got hurt."^[14] The game raised $100,000 for the homeless, and is often credited with establishing the legitimacy of the pro game.^[15]

Following the 1930 season Friedman retired to become an assistant coach at Yale.^[16] The Giants struggled the next two season finishing with a combined record of 11–12–3.^[4] They rebounded in 1933 finishing 11-3, and narrowly losing to the Chicago Bears 23–21 in the championship game.^[17] The Giants resurgence was led by some of the league's best linemen, such as Ray Flaherty, and future Hall of Famers Red Badgro, and Mel Hein.^[18]

In 1934, the team defeated the previously unbeaten Bears 30–13 at the Polo Grounds on an icy field with temperatures peaking at 25 degrees. Before the game, team treasurer John Mara talked with coach Steve Owen and captain Ray Flaherty about the frozen field conditions at the Polo Grounds. Flaherty suggested the Giants wear sneakers on the frozen field, as he had played in a game under similar circumstances at Gonzaga and the sneakers proved to be effective. Mara dispatched equipment manager Abe Cohen to get as many sneakers as he could get.^[19] Due to traffic and the inability to find any athletic goods stores open on Sunday, Cohen was unable to return before the game started and the Giants, wearing conventional footwear, trailed 10 to 3 at the end of the first half.^[1] Realizing time was short, Cohen went to Manhattan College^[19]—where he had a key to the equipment and locker rooms—and returned to the Polo Grounds at halftime with nine pairs of basketball sneakers, saying that "nine pairs was all I could get." Players donned the sneakers and the Giants, after allowing the Bears another field goal late in the third period, would respond with 27 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to win their first NFL Championship game. The game would come to be known as "The Sneakers Game",^[1] and the 27 points the Giants scored in the 4th quarter set a single-quarter championship game scoring record that stood for decades. After the game offensive tackle Len Grant expressed his sincere gratitude by stating simply "God bless Abe Cohen."^[20]

The Giants were unable to repeat as champions in 1935 as they fell to the Lions 26–7 in the NFL Championship game.^[7] The Lion staked a 13-0 lead before the Giants were able to cut the lead to 13–7 in the third quarter. However the Lions defense would help their team score two late touchdowns with a blocked punt and an interception.^[7]

The Giants were very successful from the latter half of the 1930s until the United States entry into World War II. They were so successful that according to one publication, "From 1936 to 1941 the New York Giants annually fielded a collection of NFL all-stars."^[21] They added their third NFL championship in 1938 with a 23–17 win over the Green Bay Packers in front of over 48,000 fans at the Polo Grounds. The game was a tightly contested affair with the Giants having ridden two blocked Green Bay punts to an early lead, but the Packers would come back to take the lead 17–16. However, in the 4th quarter Ed Danowski threw a 23–yard touchdown pass to Hank Soar,^[7] and the defense held the lead to give the Giants their third NFL championship.

The Giants made the championship game again the next year losing to the Packers in a rematch 31-16.^[7] The Giants also advanced to the championship game in 1941, in which they lost to the Bears 37-9.^[7] Both games were close early before their respective opponents went on an offensive surge to break the game open late.^[7]

In 1944 the Giants reached the championship game where they faced the Green Bay Packers for the third time in ten seasons. They lost again, this time 14–7 as Ted Fritsch scored two touchdowns and the Packers defense was able to hold on to the lead despite a 4th quarter touchdown by the Giants.^[7] In 1946 the Giants advanced to their eighth championship game in fourteen seasons, where they were beaten by the Sid Luckman led Bears 24–14.^[7] They struggled from 1947 to 1949, never finishing above .500,^[4] but came back with a solid 10–2 record in 1950.^[4] However, they lost to the Cleveland Browns, who they had beaten twice in the regular season,^[22] 8–3 in the 1950 divisional playoff game.^[22] From 1951 to 1955 the Giants experienced 4 winning seasons in 5 years, but were never able to advance to the playoffs.^[4][6] This also included an important transition period in Giants history as Steve Owen, who had coached the team since 1930, resigned following the 1953 season and was replaced by Jim Lee Howell.^[6]

The Giants won their fourth NFL Championship in 1956. Playing their home games at Yankee Stadium for the first time, the Giants won the Eastern Division with an 8–3–1 record.^[4] In the NFL Championship Game on an icy field against the Chicago Bears, the Giants wore sneakers as they had 22 years previous. They dominated the Bears winning the championship by a score of 47–7. The 1956 Giants featured a number of future Hall of Fame players, including 1956 league MVP Frank Gifford, Sam Huff and Roosevelt Brown. Equally notable, the team featured as its coordinators future Hall of Fame head coaches Tom Landry (defense) and Vince Lombardi (offense). Combined, the pair would later win 7 NFL championships as head coaches. In addition, those Giants featured Frank Gifford, Kyle Rote, and Pat Summerall, who would go on to highly successful second careers as football announcers. The following season, the Giants lost their final 3 games to compile a 7–5 record,^[23] finishing second in the NFL's Eastern Division to the Jim Brown led Browns.^[24]

[edit] Greatest Game Ever Played: 1958

Main article: NFL Championship Game, 1958

The Giants had another successful year in 1958. They tied for the Eastern Division regular season title with a 9–3 record,^[25] and beat the Cleveland Browns 10–0 in a one game playoff to determine the division winner.^[25] They then played in the NFL Championship Game against the Baltimore Colts on December 28, 1958, in front of 64,185 fans at Yankee Stadium.^[26] This game, which would become known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played", was a watershed event in the history of the NFL and marked the beginning of the rise of the NFL into the dominant sport in the American market.^[27] Among other things it was the first game to be shown to a national broadcast audience (on NBC) and was the most watched football game to that date.

The game itself was highly competitive. The Giants got off to a quick 3–0 lead; however the Colts scored two touchdowns to take a 14–3 halftime lead.^[28] Late in the third quarter, the Colts appeared ready to put the game out of reach by driving deep into Giants' territory.^[28] However, they were stopped and turned the ball over on downs.^[28]

This would be a turning point of the game, as the Giants, who had trouble mounting many drives to that point, came back with a 95–yard drive.^[28] The key play of the drive was Charlie Conerly's pass to Kyle Rote, who after a 62–yard gain fumbled at the Colts' 25–yard line, where Alex Webster picked up the ball and ran it to the 1–yard line.^[27] The Giants then scored a touchdown, to make the score 14–10.^[27] The Giants drove again, with quarterback Charley Conerly throwing a 15–yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford to take the lead, 17–14.^[29]

With slightly more than two minutes left the Giants punted the ball back to the Colts, pinning them on their own 14 yard line.^[27] The Colts put together one last, desperate drive. The star of this drive was receiver Raymond Berry, who caught 3 passes for 62 yards,^[28] the last one for 22 yards to the Giant 13 yard line.^[27] With seven seconds left in regulation, Steve Myhra kicked a 20–yard field goal to tie the score 17–17,^[30] sending the game to overtime for the first time in NFL history.^[27]

After winning the toss and receiving the ball, the Giants offense stalled and was forced to punt. From their own 20, the Colts drove the ball down the field, with Alan Ameche finally scoring from the one yard line to give the championship to the Colts, 23–17.^[28]

[edit] More success: 1959–1963

The Giants enjoyed a run of success over the next several years. Led by league MVP quarterback Charlie Conerly, they finished 9–3 in 1959 and faced the Colts in a championship game rematch.^[31] They lost again, this time in a far less dramatic game 31–16.^[31] Conerly struggled with age and injuries in 1960, and was replaced by George Shaw. The team still finished with a solid 6–4–2 record,^[32] but were led to acquire former San Francisco 49ers quarterback YA Tittle in the offseason. Led by Tittle and newly hired head coach Allie Sherman, the Giants won three consecutive Eastern Division titles from 1961–1963. In 1961 they were beaten by the Packers, 37–0.^[26] In 1962, they went into the championship game with a league best 12–2 record,^[4] and a nine-game winning streak; but lost to the Packers again, 16–7.^[26]

Led by league MVP Tittle, who passed for over 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns,^[6] the Giants had an 11–3 record in 1963.^[4] They advanced to face the Chicago Bears in the NFL championship game. On an icy field the Giants defense played well, but the Bears newly invented zone defense intercepted Tittle 5 times (including one returned for a score)^[26] and injured Tittle in the first half (though Tittle finished the game).^[26] The Giants defense led by Hall of Famer Sam Huff held the Bears in check, but they lost 14–10, their 3rd straight NFL Championship Game defeat.^[26]

[edit] Wilderness Years: 1964–1972

After the 1963 season, the team fell apart quickly, finishing 2–10–2 in 1964,^[4] beginning an 18–season playoff drought. The team rebounded with a 7–7 record in 1965,^[4] before compiling a league-worst 1-12-1 record,^[33] and allowing over 500 points on defense in 1966.^[33] This season also included a 72–41 loss^[34] to the rival Washington Redskins at D.C. Stadium in the highest-scoring game in league history. Interest in the team was waning rapidly, especially with the rapid rise of the New York Jets, who featured a wide-open style of play and a charismatic young quarterback in Joe Namath. In a strange twist of irony, the Giants' landlord at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees, were suffering through the worst era in their history until the early 1990s. In 1966, while the Giants were posting their abysmal record the Yankees sunk to the cellar of the American League for the first time in franchise history.

Looking to improve their on-field product, and also to find a player with talent and star power to better compete with the Jets for New York fans' affections, the Giants acquired Fran Tarkenton from the Minnesota Vikings before the 1967 season and quickly showed improvement. They finished 7–7 in both the 1967 and 1968 seasons.^[4] Notably, in 1968, one of Tarkenton's favorite targets, wide receiver Homer Jones made the Pro Bowl. Through the 2006 season, no other Giants receiver has been selected for the Pro Bowl—a drought of 38 seasons.

During the 1969 preseason, the Giants lost their first meeting with the Jets, 37–14, in front of 70,874 fans at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut.^[35] Following the game, Wellington Mara fired coach Allie Sherman,^[36] and replaced him with former Giants fullback Alex Webster. The firing was welcomed by Giants fans, as a writer from The New York Times reported at the time, "[t]he Giants last winning season was 1963 and since then the fans's sing-song chant "Good-by Allie!" has mounted to a crescendo."^[36] On opening day of the 1969 regular season, Tarkenton led the Giants to a 24–23 victory over his former team, the Vikings, by throwing two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.^[37] The Giants finished 6–8 in the 1969 season.^[4]

In 1970, Tarkenton's fourth with the Giants, the Giants showed marked improvement, fielding their most competitive team since the 1963 NFL finalist. After an 0–3^[38] start the Giants won 9 out of their next 10,^[38] and went into their season finale against the Los Angeles Rams with a chance to win the NFC East Division. Though the Giants took an early 3–0 lead the Rams would score the next 31 points, dashing the Giants hopes and leaving them out of the playoffs. Tarkenton had his best season as a Giant in 1970 and made the Pro Bowl. Much of the team's success was credited to him. Teammate Fred Dryer later commented, "[w]ithout Tarkenton, I don't think we would have won any games."^[39] Running back Ron Johnson also made the Pro Bowl and ran for 1,027 yards,^[38] becoming the first Giant ever to gain 1,000 yards rushing in a season. Meanwhile, the Jets, much as the Giants had in 1964, fell apart suddenly, dropping to a 4–10 record after several consecutive seasons of success, with Namath breaking his wrist in a Super Bowl III rematch with the Baltimore Colts and missing the final eight games.

The Giants were unable to build on their 1970 success. In 1971, Johnson missed most of the season with a knee injury, and the Giants dropped to 4–10,^[4] resulting in Tarkenton being traded back to the Vikings. Initially the trade produced positive results, as the Giants rallied to finish 8–6 in 1972.^[4] The 1972 team was led by veteran journeyman quarterback Norm Snead (acquired in the trade for Tarkenton), who led the league in passing and had the best season of his career.^[40] After the 1972 season however, the Giants suffered one of the worst prolonged stretches in their history. Meanwhile, during the same period, Tarkenton would lead the Vikings to three Super Bowls and establish a Hall of Fame resume.

[edit] Leaving New York: 1973–1978

Desiring their own home stadium, in the early 1970s the Giants reached an agreement with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to play their home games at a brand-new, state-of-the-art, dedicated football stadium.^[6] The stadium, which would be known as Giants Stadium, was to be built at a brand new sports complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey.^[6]

As the complex was being built, and their current home at Yankee Stadium was being renovated, they would be without a home for three years.^[6] Their final full season at Yankee Stadium was 1972. After playing their first two games there in 1973,^[6] the Giants played the rest of their home games in 1973, as well as all of their home games in 1974, at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut.^[6] This was done primarily out of a desire to have their own home field, as opposed to having to share Shea Stadium with the Jets. However, between access problems, neighborhood issues, the fact that the Yale Bowl was not ideally suited for pro football (the stadium did not have lights, nor does it have lights today), the age of the stadium (it was built in 1914) and the lack of modern amenities, the Giants reconsidered their decision and ultimately agreed to share Shea Stadium with the Jets for the 1975 season.^[6] The Giants left Yale Bowl after losing all seven home games played at Yale in the 1974 season and compiling a home record of 1–11 over that two year stretch.

One of the bright spots in this era was the play of tight end Bob Tucker who, from 1970 through part of the 1977 season was one of the top tight ends in the NFL. Tucker amassed 327 receptions, 4322 yards and 22 touchdowns during his years as a Giant.^[41] 1977 also featured the unusual choice of three rookies quarterbacks on the roster.^[42]

Despite their new home and heightened fan interest, the Giants still played subpar in 1976 and 1977. In 1978, the Giants started the year 5–6^[43] and played the Eagles at home with a chance to solidify their playoff prospects. However, the season imploded on November 19, 1978, in one of the most improbable finishes in NFL history. Playing their arch rival the Philadelphia Eagles the Giants were leading 17–12 and had possession of the ball with only 30 seconds left.^[44] They had only to kneel the ball to end the game, as the Eagles had no time outs.^[44]

However, instead of kneeling the ball, offensive coordinator Bob Gibson ordered Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik to run play "pro 65 up",^[44] which was designed to hand the ball off to fullback Larry Csonka.^[44] Pisarcik never gained control of the ball after the snap however,^[44] and gave a wobbly handoff to Csonka.^[44] The ball rolled off Csonka's hip and bounced free.^[44] Eagles safety Herman Edwards picked up the loose ball and ran, untouched, for a score, giving the Eagles an improbable 19–17 victory.^[44] After the game Giants coach John McVay stated "that's the most horrifying ending to a ball game I've ever seen."^[44] Interestingly, this play is referred to as "The Miracle in the Meadowlands" among Eagles fans, and "The Fumble" among Giants fans.

In the aftermath of the defeat, Gibson was fired, and the Giants lost three out of their last four games^[43] to finish out of the playoffs for the 15th straight season, leading them to let McVay go as well. However, following the 1978 season came the steps that would, in time, lead the Giants back to the pinnacle of the NFL.

[edit] References

[edit] External link

• giants.com/history