1971 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project Class.

Here we are!  Again!!

If you have been following our Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project, you know we have asked the rhetorical question: What if the PFHOF began in January 1946?

After soliciting and obtaining a passionate group of football fans and historians, we sent out a ballot for a Preliminary Vote, in which we asked each voter to give us 25 names as their semi-finalists and 5 in the Senior Pool. We then asked the group to vote for their 15 Finalists in the Modern Era and 3 in the Senior Category. The final stage was to vote for their five Modern Era inductee and one Senior inductee.

This is the result of the 26th official class;

Below are the final results of this project based on 31 votes.

Remember that the group took a vote in “1970”, and we have reverted to the top five candidates entering the Hall, PROVIDING THEY MAKE 50% of the vote.  This will be put to a vote again in “1973”.

This is for the “Modern Era”

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1971:

This is for the “Senior Era”,

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1971.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”,

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1971.

About the 1971 Inductees:

Jim Brown FB, CLE 1957-65: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1971 on his 1^st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

Jim Brown is a football god. 

We could end it here, but out of deference to the man we think is not only the greatest rusher in the history of game but the best offensive player ever, we will go through all the reasons why Brown is the best player period.

An absolute beast at Syracuse, Cleveland was fortunate that Brown was still available with their Sixth Overall Pick in the 1957 Draft.  Brown was an instant star in the National Football League, winning the Rushing Title as a rookie, the Offensive Rookie of the Year and MVP.  Brown had a signature moment, rushing for a then record 237 Yards, which stood tall for 14 years. 

As Brown’s second year approached, expectations were high, and the Fullback not only met them, he shattered them.  Brown rushed for 1,527 Yards, destroying the record, and remember, and this was done in a 12-gae season.  He also had a career-high 17 Touchdowns. 

Brown played until 1965, and every single year was his gridiron world; everyone else was just living in it.  Playing nine seasons (all with Cleveland), Brown was a Pro Bowl in all of them and an eight-time First Team All-Pro and eight-time Rushing Title winner.  Even in the season he did not win the Rushing Title (1962), he had career bests in Receiving Yards (517) and Receiving Touchdowns (5).  It is not a miscalculation to say that Brown’s ability and playing style changed the game of football forever.

In addition to his MVP as a rookie, Brown won two more (1958 & 1965), and arguably could have won more.  While the Browns only one NFL Championship when he was there (1964), Cleveland went to two more Title Games (1957 & 1965), and his mere presence made the Browns an annual contender.

Perhaps the most impressive stat is that Brown had a career Approximate Value of 121 in 118 Games.  Only an elite player can average more than one AV/Game, but remember that Approximate Value was not calculable until 1960, meaning that his 121 AV is only through 82 of his Games!

Brown easily could have continued his career, as he was not yet 30 and was coming off another MVP, but he retired after the ’65 campaign, and sought a career in Hollywood.  He had 12,313 career Rushing Yards, which at the time, was easily the most ever.  Several players have surpassed Brown since them, but all of them needed many more games to do it.

Dick “Night Train” Lane, DB, RAM 1952-53, CRD 1954-59 & DET 1960-65.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1971 on his 1^st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

The college experience of Dick “Night Train” Lane was only a year in small Scottsbluff Junior College, a small school in Nebraska.  Lane joined the army afterward, and four years later, he asked the Los Angeles Rams for a tryout.  Despite the unlikeliness of a man making the team after not playing any competitive game in four years making the NFL, Lane did just that, and would become one of the best Defensive Backs that the gridiron ever saw.

As a rookie, Lane led the NFL in Interceptions (14), a number that still stands today.  Lane was inexplicably quick, a devastating tackler, and an absolute phenom who had his story happened in the age of social media, would have become a household name.

The Rams traded Lane to the Chicago Cardinals in his third year, and Lane again led the NFL in picks (12).  Lane remained one of the most revered ballhawks, staying with the Cards until he joined Detroit in 1960.  Lane retired with 68 Interceptions, and will likely stay in the top ten in that statistic for decades to come.

Joe Schmidt, LB, DET 1953-65: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1971 on his first Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

Easily the best defensive player the Detroit Lions have ever had, Joe Schmidt was a dominating Middle Linebacker who would become the defensive captain of the team in 1956 and continue in that role for nine years.

Never leaving Detroit as a player, Schmidt was regarded for his unequalled toughness and was a major part of the last two NFL titles that the Lions won.  The 1973 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee was an eight-time First Team All-Pro and was named the league MVP by United Press.

Hugh McElhenny, HB, SFO 1952-60, MIN 1961-62, NYG 1963 & DET 1964.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1971 on his 2nd Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970.

A First Round Pick from Washington, Hugh McElhenny traveled down the Interstate-5 to begin his professional football career.

McElhenny was the Ninth Overall Draft Pick in 1952, and he was the starting Right Halfback as a rookie.  That season, and the one after, were First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl worthy, and as he was also used as a returner, he led the NFL in All-Purpose Yards (1,731) as a rookie.

While McElhenny's rookie season was not duplicated, he had two other 1,400 APY years with San Francisco, and was a Pro Bowler on three different occasions, giving him five in total as a 49er.  McElhenny's run with San Francisco ended after the 1960 season when the Minnesota Vikings chose him in the Expansion Draft.  He had 9,100 All-Purpose Yards with 51 Touchdowns with the Niners.

Rosey Brown T, NYG 1953-65.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1971 on his 1^st Ballot.   Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

Rosey Brown played at Morgan State, a historically black college in Baltimore. The NFL was in the infancy of scouting HBCUs, and the New York Giants landed him in the 27^thRound. This selection resulted in the greatest value pick in franchise history.

Early in his career, Brown was one of two African-American players on the Giants, and he helped break racial barriers in the NFL. Brown played his entirety at Left Tackle, and he was among the best in the business.  He went to the Pro Bowl for the first time in 1955, beginning a six-year streak of selections.  Brown earned First Team All-Pro honors four years in a row, and he was a vital component in New York’s 1956 NFL Championship Team.

Brown continued to be a force in the 1960s, earning three more Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros.  He retired in 1965 and was considered one of the greatest Lineman in the history of the game.

Bert Bell: Commissioner.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1971 on his 2nd Coach/Contributors Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

Bert Bell was the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles (1933-40), and later the co-owner of the Philadelphia Eagles (1941-46), but his induction was based on his role as the NFL Commissioner.

Bell took on that role in 1946, and oversaw his league in their rivalry against the AAFC.  He would broker the merger of the two leagues at the end of the 1949 Season (adding the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Colts) and he was vehemently against gambling, ensuring repercussions to anyone who might tarnish the game by keeping the game’s integrity.  Bell’s biggest contribution was his foresight in regards to the new medium of television.

To ensure fans would go to the games, he initiated televised blackouts, and pioneered television “timeouts.”  He recognized the NFL Player’s Union, against the will of the owners, realizing that it was for the betterment of the game.  He remained the NFL Commissioner until he died in 1959.

Under Bell, the game grew astronomically.  Following his passing, the Maxwell Football Club (which was founded by Bell) awards their version of the MVP, which is named after Bell.

1950 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project Class.

Here we are!  Again!!

If you have been following our Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project, you know that we have asked the rhetorical question…what if the PFHOF began in January of 1946?

After soliciting and obtaining a passionate group of football fans and historians, we sent out a ballot for a Preliminary Vote, which we asked each voter to give us 25 names as their semi-finalists, and 5 in the Senior Pool. Following that, we asked the group to vote for their 15 Finalists in the Modern Era, and 3 in the Senior Category. The final stage was to vote for their five Modern Era inductee, one Senior inductee and one Coaches/Contributor inductee.

This is the result of the fifth official class;

Below, are the final results of this project based on 31 votes:

This is for the “Modern Era”

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1950:

This is for the “Senior Era”

As none of the Senior Candidates obtained 50 percent of the vote, no Senior Candidate was chosen.  This is the first year where this rule was instituted.  Please note that voters could also opt out of this vote, as per the request of members of the voting body.

This is for the Coaches/Contributors

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1950:

About the 1950 Inductees:

Clark Hinkle FB-LB-HB-DB, GNB 1932-41: Inducted in 1950 on his 4^th Ballot.  Was inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964.

Clark Hinkle played all ten of his NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers where his hard-nosed running style made him an indispensable part of the Packers offense.  Often dueling with Chicago’s Bronko Nagurski, their battles were what Football in the upper mid-west was made of.  Hinkle rushed for 3,860 Yards and 35 Touchdowns and was a First Team All-Pro four times.  He also played at Linebacker, and was also Green Bay’s Punter and Kicker. 

Verne Lewellen B, GNB 1924-27 & 1928-32, NYY 1927: Inducted in 1950 on his 5^th Ballot (technically his 13^th year of eligibility). Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

One of the early stars of the Green Bay Packers, Verne Lewellen, was an all-purpose Back who did it all for Green Bay.  The product of Nebraska (the state and the University) would be named to four straight First Team All-Pro squads (1926 to 1929) and was a large part of their three consecutive NFL Championships (1929 to 1931).   While there is no video of Lewellen's lay to draw from, legendary figures like Art Rooney and George Halas extolled his virtues, and while stats were not well kept, it is believed he would have done well in box scores.  We do know that he scored 37 Touchdowns, an incredible number for his day.

Mike Michalske G-T-LB-BB, NYY 1927-28, GNB 1929-35 & 1937: Inducted in 1950 on his 5^th Ballot (technically his 8^th year of eligibility).  Was inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964.

Mike Michalske began his career with the New York Yankees, where the Penn State alumni was a First Team All-Pro in both of his seasons there.  Michalske joined the Green Bay Packers where he revolutionized the Guard position by suggesting the Packers Coach, Curly Lambeau, that Fullbacks could be used in that role.  An excellent blocker and hole producer, Michalske earned three more First Team All-Pros in Green Bay, and he won three straight NFL Championships (1929-31).

Cliff Battles TB-FB-WB-DB, BOS-WAS 1932-37: Inducted in 1950 on his 5^th Ballot (technically his 8^th year of eligibility). Was inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

Cliff Battles was an original member of the Washington Commanders (then-named Boston Braves), joining the team in their first year of existence, 1932, after the Akron native joined following college at West Virginia Wesleyan.  Battles led the NFL in Rushing with 578 Yards as a rookie and was second in his sophomore year with 737.  A First Team All-Pro in 1933 and 1934, Battles saved his best year for last. That was 1937, the first of the teams' relocation to Washington, and Battles won his second Rushing Title (874 Yards) and had the most Rushing Touchdowns with five.  A substantial weapon in Sammy Baugh's offense, Battles helped lead Washington to the NFL Championship, and he was a First Team All-Pro for the third time.

Joe Guyon WB-TB-BB-FB, CAN 1920, CLE 1921, WAS 1921, OOR 1922-23, RII 1924, KAN 1925, NYG 1927: Inducted in 1950 on his 5^th Ballot (technically his 18^th year of eligibility). Was inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.

A teammate of Jim Thorpe at Carlisle, Joe Guyon would be named to the 1920’s All-Decade Team after an eight-year career that saw him play for seven different NFL Teams.  The Back helped the New York Giants win the NFL Championship in 1927.

Bert Bell: Inducted in 1950 on the 1^st Coaches/Contributor Ballot. Was inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.

Bert Bell was the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles (1933-40), and later the co-owner of the Philadelphia Eagles (1941-46), but his induction was based on his role as the NFL Commissioner. Bell took on that role in 1946, and oversaw his league in their rivalry against the AAFC.  He would broker the merger of the two leagues at the end of the 1949 Season (adding the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Colts) and he was vehemently against gambling, ensuring repercussions to anyone who might tarnish the game by keeping the game’s integrity.  Bell’s biggest contribution was his foresight in regards to the new medium of television. To ensure fans would go to the games, he initiated televised blackouts, and pioneered television “timeouts.”  He recognized the NFL Player’s Union, against the will of the owners, realizing that it was for the betterment of the game.  He remained the NFL Commissioner until he died in 1959. Under Bell, the game grew astronomically.  Following his passing, the Maxwell Football Club (which was founded by Bell) awards their version of the MVP, which is named after Bell.

1950 PRELIMINARY RESULTS:

Thank you for all of you who have participated in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project, and if you are unaware of what that is, simply, we acted as if the PFHOF had their first class in January of 1946?

We have completed the first two years, where a Preliminary, Semi-Final and Final vote for the 1946 Class, which inducted two full classes

For “1950” a Preliminary Vote with 130 players whose playing career ended by 1943. We are also following the structure in that players have 20 years of eligibility, and if they do not make it into the Hall, they are relegated to the Senior Pool.

Each voter was asked to select 25 names from the preliminary list, with the top 25 vote getters named as Semi-Finalists.

A week later, the voters will be asked to pick 15 names from the 25 Semi-Finalists, and next after, they will pick five from the remaining 15. We will continue this process weekly until we catch up to the current year.

30 Votes took place

This is for the “Modern Era”

Bold indicates they advanced to the Semi-Finals:

This is for the “Senior Era”

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

This is for the Coaches/Contributors

*Bold indicates they advanced to the Finals:

Next Saturday, we will be posting the results of the 1949 Finalists of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project.

Thank you to all who contributed, and if you want to be a part of this project, please let us know!