The Best Game Ever

by Mark Bowden

  Sam Huff had been . . . cut the next day. Huff, Huff & Shapiro, Maraniss. Huff has been telling these stories for many years, and there tend to be slight variations, but I went with my interview.

  Just as he had . . . even his name seemed perfect. Huff, Landry & Lewis, “Tex Maule “Giants’ Killer,” Sports Illustrated, 11/24/58. Time “A Man’s Game” 11/30/59. The sleeping Grier anecdote is from Dave Anderson, “For Mara, Memories Are Framed Forever,” NY Times, 1/7/01.

  Chapter Five

  Getting There

  When the Giants . . . paid less than $10,000 a year. Perian Conerly, “Backseat Quarterback,” Huff, UPI “Gifford, Star Halfback of Giants, Signs Seven-Year Film Contract,” NY Times 2/18/58, Gay Talese, “Gifford, Ace Halfback of Giants, Is Ready to become Actor,” NY Times, 6/26/58. Gifford on dining with Hemingway in Paul Schwartz, Tales from the New York Sidelines, pp. 24–25. The extra money . . . another sterling season in 1957. Huff, Huff & Shapiro. Many of the Giants . . . playing cards and talking. Perian Conerly, Klein p. 212. Arthur Daley, “The Old Pro,” NY Times 11/4/58. This life was a far cry . . . made playing in the city a pleasure. Mutscheller, Marchetti, Donovan, Sandusky, Berry, Winner, Gildea (the Ogden Nash poem is from p. 11), Steadman, Tex Maule, “Love Affair in Baltimore,” Sports Illustrated, 12/1/58, Bagli & Macht, Callahan.

  That pleasure . . . “Big Daddy” Lipscomb. Davis, Marchetti, Winner, Grier, Moore’s “All Things Being Equal,” Klein, Bagli & Macht (particularly Parker’s comments pp. 17–30). Lipscomb, a giant . . . to disappear in his grasp. Winner. The “North College” anecdote is from Bob Wolff, “There Are No Great Teams Anymore . . .” NY Times, 12/25/88, and from Curt Smith Of Mikes and Men, quoting Wolff, p. 59. He was a pro wrestler . . . dangerous scowl. Donovan, Marchetti, Winner. Moore p. 73 (on how fighting led to Lipscomb’s release from the Rams). At one training camp . . . I change seats.” Winner. On the practice field . . . in the shade!” Winner. Blacks were considered . . . as his white teammates. Davis, Moore. Moore, who was a jazz . . . we never mingled.” Moore p. 75. White teammates . . . kill his business. Moore writes movingly about this experience. He described attending a banquet honoring a prize fighter in Baltimore that attracted many of the city’s pro athletes, including many of his teammates. They had just won the ’58 championship game, and Moore found he was the only black person to show up for the event at a white country club. He was admitted only after a long and embarrassing delay, and felt shunned. “I saw my teammates, Art Donovan and Jim Mutscheller; but they didn’t seem too eager to speak to me.” He ended up leaving the banquet feeling disappointed and insulted. (pp. 93–94). Davis described being refused admittance to the movie theater, and Ameche’s response, and was shocked when I told him later about Parker’s experience at Ameche’s restaurant in Reisterstown, which was related to me by Marchetti. There was a kinship . . . “Big Daddy.” Davis. Rosenbloom may have . . . several Colts ones. Parker in Bagli & Macht. Weeb wanted to convert . . . I’d just applaud.” Donovan. Parker learned . . . several times a week. Parker in Bagli & Macht pp. 20–21.

  The owner didn’t just . . . their homes. Marchetti, Berry. The highest-paid player . . . $11,250. Marchetti. Buzz Nutter . . . $6,500. Nutter. Davis made . . . previous season. Davis. Moore was earning . . . $12,000. Moore, “All Things Being Equal,” p. 81. Moore started the 1957 season earning $11,500, and annual raises tended to be in the $500 to $1,000 range. Raymond was . . . at that point. Berry. John Unitas . . . by 1958. Callahan p. 172. Even the lowest of these . . . $20,000. Income figure is from the U.S. Census, “Current Population Reports, Consumer Income,” 2/28/63. Car prices from www.thepeoplehistory.com/50scars.html. My parents bought our house in Timonium, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb six years later for $25,000. Despite their contract battles . . . quite lucrative. Steadman p. 78, Nutter, Berry, Donovan, Sandusky, Marchetti, Davis. Just weeks before . . . hamburger chain called Gino’s. Marchetti. There were chances . . . double their salary. Steadman p. 77. The winnings were widely reported in the days after the game.

  Frank Gifford . . . wouldn’t blame him.” UPI “Gifford, Star Halfback of Giants, Signs Seven-Year Film Contract,” NY Times 2/18/58, Gay Talese, “Gifford, Ace Halfback of Giants, Is Ready to become Actor,” NY Times, 6/26/58. Gifford may just . . . pilot episode. AP, “Gifford Joins Football Giants,” NY Times 8/7/58. http://www.filmreference.com/film/41/Frank-Gifford.html. The team dropped . . . two more. Barry, Louis Effrat, “Football Giants Open League Season by Overpowering Cardinals . . .,” NY Times, 9/29/58. They lost . . . Unitas-less Colts. The Football Encyclopedia. In that Colts victory . . . pelting them with stones. Louis Effrat, “Summerall’s Kick Wins 24-21 Game,” NY Times, 10/10/58. Arthur Daley, “The Tightrope Walkers,” NY Times, 11/16/58. It was during halftime . . . trade for him.” Nutter. The win tied . . . championship game. The Football Encyclopedia. New York played . . . Giants won 13-10. Summerall, Huff, Tex Maule, “49 Yards and One Foot,” Sports Illustrated, 12/22/58. The victory set up . . . play the Colts. Huff. The Football Encyclopedia.

  Chapter Six

  Fumble-it is

  The Colts flew . . . free sandwiches and beer. Donovan, Berry, Steadman pp. 24–25. The team offered . . . at eleven. Donovan. Just before curfew . . . one shouted. Marchetti. Weeb liked . . . you could find. Donovan, Nutter, Winner. Any edge . . . his team, too. Winner, Steadman pp. 20–21. Mornings in the hotel . . . who they were playing. Steadman pp. 26–28. They took a bus . . . the locker room. Donovan, Berry, Steadman pp. 28–29.

  To Raymond . . . the big game. Berry. With them were . . . up to the Bronx. Albert Sehlstedt, Jr. “Looking Back, It’s still ‘The Greatest,’” The Baltimore Sun, 12/18/83. Steve O’Neill, “Strain of Battle Tired Fans, Too,” Baltimore News-Post, 12/29/58.

  Both teams . . . fill the seats. Coaches’ game film, NFL Films. Teenage photographer . . . left field wall. Leifer. In the radio broadcast booth . . . share of enthusiasm. NBC radio game broadcast. In the press box . . . contradicted the label.” Red Smith, “Colts Had Horses for Stretch Run,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/30/58. Down on the field . . . before they do.” Donovan. Back in the locker room . . . mattered that season. Winner, Donovan, Berry, Marchetti, Davis, Sandusky, Steadman pp. 30–31, Sahadi, pp. 6–7. In a ghostwritten . . .all week. Cameron Snyder, “Charley’s Words Put on Wall,” The Baltimore Sun, 12/27/58. Shinnick “Always a Winner,” p. 88. Linebacker Don . . . with the world. Steadman, Shinnick, p. 89.

  In 1958 . . . in the grandstand. John P. Shanley, “Football on Camera,” NY Times, 10/26/58. New York won . . . on its own twenty. Game film and the radio broadcast. Early in the season . . . run the offense. Klein pp. 220–221, Maraniss, p. 171. His first attempted pass . . . could not move it. Game film and radio broadcast. Al Barry . . . evil grin. Barry. Lombardi’s offense . . . Lindon Crow. Game film and radio broadcast. Crow was from . . . sprinted downfield. Crow. Crow recovered . . . field goal. Game film and radio broadcast. It was on . . . Dick Syzmanski. Mutscheller, Donovan, Winner, Bagli & Macht pp. 43–44. His uniform . . . could score. Game film, radio broadcast, Donovan. Lombardi chose . . . would be. Game film and radio broadcast.

  The Giants opened . . . on his back. Game film and radio broadcast. The running back . . . told Moore. Moore, p. 91, and in NFL Films’ The Greatest Game, 1998. The touchdown had come . . . of accomplishment. Game film, Berry. In fact, Grier . . . long blue cape. Grier, game film. Sloppy play . . . the goal line. Game film, radio broadcast. When the Colts . . . softly thrown pass. Berry, game film. The Baltimore Colts . . . Alex Webster fumbled. Game film, radio broadcast.

  Chapter Seven

  Three Plays

  In their locker room . . . “We’ll win.” Huff. Up in the NBC . . . stay alive. Radio broadcast. At one end . . . waved him back. Leifer. Emotions on both sides . . . were following him.” Game film, radio broadcast, Huff, Donovan, Marchetti, Winner. Gordon S. White, Jr. “Baltimore Coach Nettled by Huff,” NY Times, 12/29/58. In a 12/28/59 NY Times article, “Football in
His Eyes,” Weeb acknowledged attacking Huff. “I’m not proud of what I did,” he said. Watching from his own . . . strong wind. Klein. His teammates . . . Landry’s defense. Game film, radio broadcast. Huff would goad . . . in the first half. Huff, Klein, pp. 222–223 (Conerly on the rivalry), p. 32 (Huff on Gifford). But the magic . . . smell another championship. Game film, radio broadcast, (on Schnelker) Huff, Crow, Mishak, Barry, Football Encyclopedia), Davis. Up in the press box . . . new Corvette. Steadman p. 37, Perian Conerly p. 229. Baltimore was not about . . . said Marchetti. Donovan in NFL Films’ The Greatest Game.

  Time was running out . . . hopes fading. Game film, radio broadcast. New York coach . . . half century later. Game film, radio broadcast, Donovan, Marchetti, Klein (Stroud on pp. 116–117), Steadman pp. 38–39. In Michael Eisen’s Stadium Stories: The New York Giants, published in 2005, Gifford says, “There’s no question in my mind, even this far removed from it,” that he made the first down. Gifford and most of the principles discuss the play on camera in the NFL Films’ The Greatest Game. In that documentary, it is interesting to note that the New York writers claim that Gifford made it, while the Baltimore writers all insist that is was clear that he did not. The angle of the game film is inconclusive, the camera is at such a distance and the pile of bodies too thick, but I find it significant that the NBC announcers calling the game on radio never wavered in their view that Gifford failed to make the first down. I found a curious account of this play that stands as a testament to the fallibility of human memory: In Bagli & Macht, p. 83, Ordell Braase insists that Marchetti was not playing on this down; that he had already been injured and “was sixty yards downfield lying on a stretcher.” Braase goes on to describe his part in the play in great detail, placing himself in on the tackle with Donovan. “This was one of the biggest plays of my career . . . but the play-by-play accounts have Marchetti making that tackle on Gifford, and he was in the locker room on a stretcher.” The game film shows that Marchetti was on neither the sideline nor in the locker room; he made the tackle, saved the first down, and broke his ankle on that play. But the ruling . . . loneliness at the top. Kemp, Huff, Maraniss p. 187, Red Smith, “Colts Had Horses,” The Philadelphia Inquirer 12/30/58, Steadman p. 48 and p. 75. Louis Effrat, “Football Game in His Bedroom Keeps Giant Coach From Sleep,” NY Times12/30/58. And we see . . . had decided the other way. Radio broadcast, Huff.

  Exuding the calm . . . get to work.” Berry, Mutscheller, Nutter. He led off . . . three men’s heads. Game film, radio broadcast. Marchetti was watching . . . study in intensity. Marchetti and the famous photo, which can be viewed at the Web site for the Pro Football Hall of Fame: www.profootballhof.com. John’s deliberate . . . just three yards deep. Berry, Huff, game film, radio broadcast. I am indebted for help in analyzing these critical plays to Berry and to Andy Reid, and also to a terrific and very detailed illustrated account of the game’s crucial plays, later published as a pamphlet, by Sports Illustrated’s Tex Maule and Robert Riger, “Here’s Why It Was the Best Football Game Ever.” Here’s Berry . . . five-yard gain. Berry, Callahan pp. 163–164. Huff was so . . . inside their heads. Huff. Upstairs in the . . . play again. Radio broadcast. The Colts could not . . . another gain of fifteen. Game film, radio broadcast. With less than a minute . . . first two targets. Game film Berry. Before the game . . . from behind. Berry, game film, radio broadcast. Three plays . . . sprinted on. Huff, game film. Back in Baltimore . . . on the top step. The Baltimore Sun, 12/29/58/. George Shaw . . . crossbar. Edwin H. Brandt, “Myhra thought his kick would be good for tie,” The Baltimore Sun, 12/29/58. In Baltimore . . . ceiling fixture. Gildea p. 239.

  Chapter Eight

  Living to See Sudden Death

  Sam Huff . . . a little happy. Huff. With seven seconds left . . . talking about?” Game film, radio broadcast, Huff. Few of his teammates . . . asked Barry. Barry. “What happens now? . . . the receiver. Summerall, NFL Films’ The Greatest Game. “Shit, man . . . said Huff. Huff. Gifford was . . . I just can’t.” Klein p. 22. Colts safety . . . wanted to win. Nelson. Raymond had . . . of the field. Berry. Bert Bell had fought . . . proved his point. MacCambridge x-xi, xvi, Hirschberg, NY Times11/23/58. At midfield . . . hands on his hips. Game film, radio broadcast, Steadman p. 41. At Henry Mack’s . . . another beer. Ed Chaney, Jr, letter to The Baltimore Sun, 12/28/83. A most historic moment . . . set for the kickoff. Radio broadcast.

  It was now . . . was heading. Radio broadcast. MacCambridge p. xi. At ground zero . . . to ice. Berry. Weeb stood . . . for Gino.” Steadman p. 41. Colts kickoff man . . . to a score.” Game film, radio broadcast, Steadman p. 42. Indeed, Howell once again . . . dramatic performance ever. Game film, radio broadcast, Effrat, “Football Game in His Bedroom,” NY Times 12/30/58. The first play . . . knocked the football away. Game film, radio broadcast, Crow. Sensing triumph . . . thousands sitting overhead. Game film, radio broadcast, Leifer, Marchetti. On second and ten . . . hauled in the pass. Berry, game film, radio broadcast. “Unitas to Berry . . . that way again. Huff, Berry, game film, radio broadcast. Crouched behind center . . . he’s been had. Sahadi (Unitas interview) p. 271, Huff, Berry, game film. And the trap . . . forty-four-yard line. Huff, Klien (Unitas interview) p. 202, game film, radio broadcast. This is the play that haunts Huff, the play-calling trump that he recalls as the game’s turning point. It was the knockout punch . . . one minute earlier. Huff. But Weeb . . . unless he had to. Bagli & Macht (Weeb interview) p. 44.

  It wouldn’t come . . . NBC had lost its connection. Game film, radio broadcast, Berry, Huff. Nowhere was this taken harder . . . the screen. Ed Chaney, Jr, letter to The Baltimore Sun, 12/28/83. Joey Radomski . . . absolutely appalling.” Gildea, pp. 240–241. Someone in the crowd . . . remarkably, prepared. Smith, Of Mikes and Men (interviews with Chris Schenkel, Chuck Thompson, and Lindsey Nelson) pp. 62–64. In years to come . . . eight-yard line. Shanley, “Football on Camera” NY Times, 10/26/58, radio broadcast, NFL Films’ The Greatest Game, Smith pp. 62–64, Klein, p. 203. On a play called . . . two-yard line. Mutscheller, Steadman pp. 65–66, Callahan p. 169, game film, radio broadcast, Paul Zimmerman, Sports Illustrated, 9/23/02. Zimmerman wrote, “Almost forty years later it still bothered John Unitas, the idea that people accused him of gambling at the end of the overtime drive . . . “It wasn’t a gamble,” said Unitas. “They didn’t see what I saw . . . It was not a gamble, it was an educated move.” So it was third down . . . New York Giants seventeen. Sahadi (Unitas interview) p. 272, Callahan p. 170, NFL Films’ The Greatest Game, game film, radio broadcast. Neil Leifer . . . famous photo of the game. Leifer. Up in the owner’s box . . . I have ever seen.” Louis Effrat, “Colts Beat Giants, Win in Overtime,” NY Times, 12/29/58, Steadman, p. 45. Ameche was . . . locker room. Nutter. Their quarterback wasn’t watching . . . from work. Game film, Gildea noticed the same thing about Unitas’s demeanor on that final play, pp. 8-9.

  Chapter Nine

  Epilogue

  Alone in the locker room . . . quick flight home. Marchetti, Donovan, Steadman p. 47. Once Raymond saw . . . it shook him. Berry. “WHO OUGUTTED WHO . . . happy din. Steadman p. 45. Raymond retreated . . . how he felt. Berry, Tex Maule, “The Best Football Game Ever Played,” Sports Illustrated, 1/5/59. Out on the field . . . can you do?” Steadman pp. 44–45, 47–65. Schwartz p. 158. The gloom in their locker room . . . are the greatest.” NFL Films’ The Greatest Game. “We are the best . . . in the world!” Steadman p. 47. It went on . . . disappointed Giants fans. Donovan. Raymond also . . . game film. Berry. Ameche also stayed . . . made the big time. Steadman p. 67, the clip of Ameche’s Ed Sullivan Show appearance is in the NFL Films’ The Greatest Game. John had turned down . . . family-sized vehicle. Steadman p. 67, Callahan pp. 174–75. He went right back . . . it was Unitas.” Sahadi p. 56. The team rode the bus . . . world champions escaped. “30,000 Fans Greet Colts in Rowdy Airport Party,” The Baltimore Sun, 12/29/58.

  Carroll Rosenbloom . . . for $3,111. “Colts Team to Divide $50,000 Gift Purse,” NY Times,
12/31/58, Steadman pp. 77–78. The day after the game . . . fourth-quarter play. Joe Trimble, New York Daily News, 12/30.58. In the New York Times . . . is a football.” Arthur Daley, “One for the Books,” NY Times, 12/29/58. “The Best Game Ever . . . well into the billions. NFL News, 12/12/06. Franchises grew . . . to the championship. Bringing the Heat, p. 57, p. 477. Forbes figures reported by AP, 7/31/06. Namath’s contract from MacCambridge p. 407. The Colts and Giants . . . with the game. Robert McG. Thomas Jr., “Jim Lee Howell, Ex-Giants Coach, Dies at 80,” NY Times, 1/6/1995. MacCambridge p. 126. Vince Lombardi . . . first two Super Bowls, Maraniss. Tom Landry left New York . . . and winning two. Landry & Lewis. The great Giants teams . . . traded to Washington. The Football Encyclopedia. Frank Gifford remained . . . Monday Night Football broadcast. NFL Hall of Fame bio. His teammate . . . kicker in football. Summerall. The great Baltimore Colts . . . mixed feelings. Memories of a former Baltimorean. William N. Wallace, “Carroll Rosenbloom, 72, Drowns in Miami . . .” NY Times, 4/3/79.