OFFICIAL PACKERS LEGENDS THREAD

[HowardRoark]

Johnny “Blood” McNally:


He played on four Packer championship teams in seven seasons.

He took the name “Blood” from the movie marquee of a popular Rudolf Valentino picture of the era, “Blood and Sand.”

In 1929, “Blood” signed on with the Green Bay Packers. In addition to scoring 224 points as a Packer, he also became known for his antics:

• Jumped across a narrow ledge six stories from the ground to gain access to a Los Angeles hotel room.

• Fled a towel fight with Lavvie Dilweg by climbing on top of a fast-moving train and crawling across car tops until he reached the engine.

• Played almost an entire game with a collapsed kidney.

• Pushed rookie Don Hutson to the limit in a 100-yard dash at age 33.

• Was rescued by teammates while he was hanging on a ship’s stern flagpole on a Packer trip to Hawaii.

• Blew the top off a testing machine in a test for lung capacity.

• Danced, cart-wheeled and delighted a New York night club audience for over an hour.

• Once ran 50 yards for a touchdown on a lateral and when QB Red Dunn called the same play later in the game, “Blood” simply smiled and lateraled the ball back to Dunn.

[swede]

Nice.

I didn't know.

Is there a good book on the characters that made up the early teams?

[HowardRoark]

Clarke Hinkle:



Everything I have read about this guy seems to indicate he was a badass; both on offense and defense.

Member to two NFL Championship teams (1936, '39), Clarke Hinkle was one of the most versatile players in league history.
After a college career at Bucknell University -- where he was known as the Bucknell Battering Ram -- Hinkle arrived in Green Bay in 1932.
As dominant a tackler as he was a ball carrier, Hinkle led the Packers in rushing seven times (tied with Bob Monnett in 1933) over his career. He was also a punter for three seasons and place-kicker throughout his tenure.
In 1938, Hinkle led the league in scoring with 58 points (7 TDs, 3 FGs, 7 PATs).
In 1940 and '41, Hinkle led the NFL in field goals made, hitting 9-of-14 and 6-of-14, respectively.
The NFL doesn't have defensive statistics for that period, but Hinkle was a fierce linebacker, gaining a reputation as one of the few players powerful enough to bring down Chicago Bears great Bronko Nagurski.
In fact, Hinkle so won his rival's respect that Nagurski delivered his induction speech at Canton in 1964.
A two-time consensus All-Pro, Hinkle was among the Packers' inaugural Pro Bowl class in 1938, before being named to the all-star game again in 1939 and 1940..
Hinkle was named to the NFL's All-Time Two-Way Team in 1994.

[HowardRoark]

Nice.

I didn't know.

Is there a good book on the characters that made up the early teams?

I pulled an old book off of my dad’s shelf last year that was written in either 61 or 62. It followed, game by game, that year as well as a fascinating history of the franchise from day one up until that season.

I will post it later when I get home.

There is a whole other world out there for Packer fans other than the Lomardi years until now.

[Fritz]

Clarke Hinkle:



Everything I have read about this guy seems to indicate he was a badass; both on offense and defense.

Member to two NFL Championship teams (1936, '39), Clarke Hinkle was one of the most versatile players in league history.
After a college career at Bucknell University -- where he was known as the Bucknell Battering Ram -- Hinkle arrived in Green Bay in 1932.
As dominant a tackler as he was a ball carrier, Hinkle led the Packers in rushing seven times (tied with Bob Monnett in 1933) over his career. He was also a punter for three seasons and place-kicker throughout his tenure.
In 1938, Hinkle led the league in scoring with 58 points (7 TDs, 3 FGs, 7 PATs).
In 1940 and '41, Hinkle led the NFL in field goals made, hitting 9-of-14 and 6-of-14, respectively.
The NFL doesn't have defensive statistics for that period, but Hinkle was a fierce linebacker, gaining a reputation as one of the few players powerful enough to bring down Chicago Bears great Bronko Nagurski.
In fact, Hinkle so won his rival's respect that Nagurski delivered his induction speech at Canton in 1964.
A two-time consensus All-Pro, Hinkle was among the Packers' inaugural Pro Bowl class in 1938, before being named to the all-star game again in 1939 and 1940..
Hinkle was named to the NFL's All-Time Two-Way Team in 1994.

I had no idea the NFL was so supportive of bi-sexuality.

[Pugger]

Can you imagin what these guys would be like if they played today in their prime?

[Joemailman]

A Packer legend like no other: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2207197006

[vince]

There is a whole other world out there for Packer fans other than the Lomardi years until now.

Bravo! I find the formative years more interesting than the later years personally. I've saved a bunch of video, images and information on these teams and the players from the Lambeau era - and before. I'll share what I can to add to your posts. Keep 'em coming!

[mraynrand]

Can you imagin what these guys would be like if they played today in their prime?

Bone powder?

[vince]

Re: OFFICIAL PACKERS LEGENDS THREAD

Johnny “Blood” McNally:

Hello, Mr. Remmel. Your recollections and analysis are wonderful. There have been a lot of stories written about Johnny Blood McNally. I was wondering if you ever met him, what your impressions were, and how he ranked as a player. Thank you. - Dave (Des Moines, IA)

I did have the privilege, as a sportswriter/columnist for the Green Bay Press-Gazette (1944-74), of meeting and interviewing the fabled Johnny "Blood" McNally, who probably was the most daring and colorful player (on and off the field) in Packers history. For example, at one point during Johnny's playing career, Coach Curly Lambeau - concerned because McNally was inclined to break curfew and sneak out on the town, allegedly locked him in his hotel room the night before a game against the Bears in Chicago. Johnny, however, being a highly resourceful citizen, reportedly tied some bed sheets together, lowered himself out of his hotel window to the ground and proceeded to get out "among them."

Contrary to popular perception, I never saw him play. But, from all reports of his former teammates, such as fellow Hall of Famer Mike Michalske, he was a great athlete, a description which is supported by the fact that he was a charter selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when it opened in 1963. He reportedly was a gifted runner and receiver.

Johnny also, apparently, was highly intelligent. Some years after retiring from professional football, he became a member of the faculty at his alma mater, St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., and also authored a book dealing with philosophy.

[vince]

Re: OFFICIAL PACKERS LEGENDS THREAD

Johnny “Blood” McNally:

ONE OF THE most colorful players in the history of the Packers was an Irishman named John McNally, better known as Johnny Blood.

He was born in New Richmond, Wisconsin, across the state line from Minneapolis and St. Paul. After high school, where he was athlete, poet and scholar, McNally matriculated to the University of Notre Dame. There he played freshman football and was considered one of the finest prospects of all time at the school.

His stay at Notre Dame, however, proved brief. Celebrating St. Patrick's day the next spring, he and a friend rode a motorcycle out of South Bend, Indiana, and never returned.

McNally then enrolled at St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota, and played football there on Saturdays. He also wanted to play football for the Minneapolis Liberties, a professional team, on Sandays and he needed an alias.

One Saturday night, early in the fall, McNally and a friend of his, who was also looking for a second name, were walking along Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. McNally glanced up as they approached a movie theater.

"Blood and Sand” the marquee read. "Starring Rudolph Valentino.”

“That’s it," McNally said, pounding his friend on the back. "We've got our names. I'll be ‘Blood’ and you be ‘Sand.’"

Sand sifted away into oblivion, but Johnny Blood became the Vagabond Halfback, one of the zaniest and also one of the best athletes of the National Football League.

Starting with the old Milwaukee Badgers in 1925, Blood played fifteen years in the league, second only to Sammy Baugh, who played sixteen. Blood played with the Duluth Eskimos in 1926 and 1927 and with Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1928. Curly Lambeau talked him out of Pottsville in 1929 and he stayed with the Packers through the 1936 season. He finished his league career with Pittsburgh, not only continuing to play from 1937 through !939 but coaching the team as well.

Johnny Blood had speed and elusiveness, spirit and courage. On offense he was runner, passer, catcher and kicker. On defense, he was a ball hawk.

He played best when the situation was most difficult. When the Packers led, he often coasted and clowned. He frequently dropped easy passes, then caught impossible ones.

He broke training rules and curfews; missed trains, buses and bed checks; eluded teammates assigned to watch or guard him. Despite his disdain for regular habits and hours, he played well

He signed his love letters in blood - his own. He ignored injuries that hospitalized lesser individuals. He lived up to the name "Johnny Blood" with dashing, daring, reckless abandon. With the Packers, he scored thirty-seven touchdowns and twice was named to the official all-league team.

[vince]

Cub Buck

A University of Wisconsin star in the teens, Cub Buck was an experienced pro by the time he became a Packer in 1921.

He played two seasons for the Canton Bulldogs where he blocked for the great Jim Thorpe.

At 6’3”, 250-pounds, Buck was one of the largest linemen of his day.

Buck’s field goal in the rain was the only score against the Columbus, Ohio, Panhandlers in a 1922 3-0 Packer win.

While playing for the Packers, Buck was an executive with the Boy Scouts, coached at Lawrence University and purchased an Appleton, Wis., auto dealership.

In 1926, Buck retired to become head coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes.

[hoosier]

Re: OFFICIAL PACKERS LEGENDS THREAD

Johnny “Blood” McNally:


He played on four Packer championship teams in seven seasons.

He took the name “Blood” from the movie marquee of a popular Rudolf Valentino picture of the era, “Blood and Sand.”

In 1929, “Blood” signed on with the Green Bay Packers. In addition to scoring 224 points as a Packer, he also became known for his antics:

• Jumped across a narrow ledge six stories from the ground to gain access to a Los Angeles hotel room.

• Fled a towel fight with Lavvie Dilweg by climbing on top of a fast-moving train and crawling across car tops until he reached the engine.

Any relation to Anthony Dilweg, the forgettable Packer QB from the 80s?

• Played almost an entire game with a collapsed kidney.

Yikes. I didn't know kidneys could do that!

• Pushed rookie Don Hutson to the limit in a 100-yard dash at age 33.

Was he penalized for illegal pushing?

• Was rescued by teammates while he was hanging on a ship’s stern flagpole on a Packer trip to Hawaii.

• Blew the top off a testing machine in a test for lung capacity.

Good thing it wasn't testing for kidney capacity!

• Danced, cart-wheeled and delighted a New York night club audience for over an hour.

And they assured him they were laughing with him, not at him, right?

• Once ran 50 yards for a touchdown on a lateral and when QB Red Dunn called the same play later in the game, “Blood” simply smiled and lateraled the ball back to Dunn.

The epitome of unselfishness in a bygone era. Today's player would have taken off running again without giving it another thought.

[HowardRoark]

Re: OFFICIAL PACKERS LEGENDS THREAD

Johnny “Blood” McNally:

ONE OF THE most colorful players in the history of the Packers was an Irishman named John McNally, better known as Johnny Blood.

He was born in New Richmond, Wisconsin, across the state line from Minneapolis and St. Paul. After high school, where he was athlete, poet and scholar, McNally matriculated to the University of Notre Dame. There he played freshman football and was considered one of the finest prospects of all time at the school.

His stay at Notre Dame, however, proved brief. Celebrating St. Patrick's day the next spring, he and a friend rode a motorcycle out of South Bend, Indiana, and never returned.

McNally then enrolled at St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota, and played football there on Saturdays. He also wanted to play football for the Minneapolis Liberties, a professional team, on Sandays and he needed an alias.

One Saturday night, early in the fall, McNally and a friend of his, who was also looking for a second name, were walking along Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. McNally glanced up as they approached a movie theater.

"Blood and Sand” the marquee read. "Starring Rudolph Valentino.”

“That’s it," McNally said, pounding his friend on the back. "We've got our names. I'll be ‘Blood’ and you be ‘Sand.’"

Sand sifted away into oblivion, but Johnny Blood became the Vagabond Halfback, one of the zaniest and also one of the best athletes of the National Football League.

Starting with the old Milwaukee Badgers in 1925, Blood played fifteen years in the league, second only to Sammy Baugh, who played sixteen. Blood played with the Duluth Eskimos in 1926 and 1927 and with Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1928. Curly Lambeau talked him out of Pottsville in 1929 and he stayed with the Packers through the 1936 season. He finished his league career with Pittsburgh, not only continuing to play from 1937 through !939 but coaching the team as well.

Johnny Blood had speed and elusiveness, spirit and courage. On offense he was runner, passer, catcher and kicker. On defense, he was a ball hawk.

He played best when the situation was most difficult. When the Packers led, he often coasted and clowned. He frequently dropped easy passes, then caught impossible ones.

He broke training rules and curfews; missed trains, buses and bed checks; eluded teammates assigned to watch or guard him. Despite his disdain for regular habits and hours, he played well

He signed his love letters in blood - his own. He ignored injuries that hospitalized lesser individuals. He lived up to the name "Johnny Blood" with dashing, daring, reckless abandon. With the Packers, he scored thirty-seven touchdowns and twice was named to the official all-league team.

That's the book. Great stories about the start of the team as well as that particualr season.

http://www.amazon.com/Green-Bay-Packers-footballs-pioneer/dp/B0007EMKOI

[vince]

That book is available online in pdf format for free. I'll find it and post a link.

EDIT: They took the pdf version offline and it's available in some non-printable format called Daisy.

http://www.archive.org/details/greenbaypackersp010233mbp

If anyone wants this book in pdf format, let me know and I can make it available to you.