RugbyMuffin
ASFN IDOL
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- Apr 30, 2003
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Can anyone give some of us a little history lesson on some of these guys ?
I know all about Night Train Lane, he is one of the reasons I am such a fan of the team....NASTY tackler.
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Ring Of Honor
During pre-game festivities of this afternoon’s inaugural game at Cardinals Stadium, the team honored the eight charter members of its Ring of Honor, seven of whom are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Later this season, the team will place in the Ring of Honor the following—Hall of Famer Larry Wilson (Sept. 10 vs. San Francisco), Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf (Oct. 16 vs. Chicago), and Pat Tillman (Nov. 12). A short bio on each of the eight charter members of the Ring of Honor follows:
Charles W. Bidwill, Sr., Hall of Fame Class of 1967
Owner, Administrator from Loyola-Chicago
1933-1947 Chicago Cardinals
Charles W. Bidwill, Sr. … Purchased Cardinals’ franchise, 1933 … Staunch faith in professional football stood as guiding light during dark depression years … Dealt rival All-America Football Conference most stunning blow with $100,000 signing of two-time Georgia all-America halfback Charley Trippi, 1947 … Built the famous “Dream Backfield” but died before it could bring him a Cardinals’ championship … Financial help saved Bears’ ownership for George Halas, 1932 … Born September 16, 1895 in Chicago, Illinois … Died April 19, 1947 at age of 51.
Jimmy Conzelman, Hall of Fame Class of 1964
Quarterback, Coach-Owner from Washington University-St. Louis
6-0, 175
1920 Decatur Staleys, 1921-1922 Rock Island Independents, 1922-1924 Milwaukee Badgers, 1925-26 Detroit Panthers, 1927-30 Providence Steam Roller, 1940-1942, 1946-48 Chicago Cardinals
James Gleason Conzelman … Multi-talented athlete, executive, songwriter, editor, and orator … Began NFL career with Staleys, 1920 … Player-coach of four NFL teams in the 1920s, including 1928 champion Providence … Player-coach-owner of Detroit, 1925-26 … Knee injury ended 10-year playing career, 1929 … Coached Cardinals to 1947 NFL Championship, 1948 Western Division crown … Born March 5, 1898 in St. Louis, Missouri … Died July 31, 1970 at age of 72.
John (Paddy) Driscoll, Hall of Fame Class of 1965
Quarterback from Northwestern
5-11, 160
1919 Hammond Pros (pre-NFL), 1920-25 Chicago Cardinals, 1926-29 Chicago Bears
John Leon Driscoll … Triple-threat on attach, flawless on defense … Led Cardinals to 1925 NFL Championship … Dropkicked record four field goals in one game, 1925 … Dropkicked 50-yard field goal, 1924 … Scored 27 points in one game, 1923 … 23 precision punts stymied Red Grange’s NFL debut, 1925 … Traded by Cardinals to Bears in 1926 to thwart signing with rival AFL … Sparked Bears for four years … All-NFL six times … Born January 11, 1896 in Evanston, Illinois … Died June 29, 1968 at age 72.
Marshall Goldberg
Halfback, Defensive Back from Pittsburgh
5-11, 190
1939-1948 Chicago Cardinals
Two-time all-America at Pittsburgh … all-around performer starred as ball carrier, defensive back, and return specialist … played with Cardinals 1939-43, 1946-48 … Earned second-team all-Pro notice in 1941 when, at midseason, led the league in rushing, punt and kickoff returns, and interceptions … Key member of Cards’ 1947 NFL Championship team … Original member of Cards’ “Dream Backfield” of Paul Chrisman, Pat Harder, Charley Trippi, and Elmer Angsman, and Goldberg … Born October 25, 1917 in Elkins, West Virginia.
Dick (Night Train) Lane, Hall of Fame Class of 1974
Cornerback from Scottsbluff-NE Junior College
601, 194
1952-1953 Los Angeles Rams, 1954-1959 Chicago Cardinals, 1960-65 Detroit Lions
Richard Lane … Joined Rams as free agent after four years in Army … Set the NFL interception record (14) as a rookie … All-NFL four six years … Named to seven Pro Bowls … Selected all-time NFL cornerback, 1969 … Career interception record: 68 for 1,207 yards, five touchdowns … Averaged over 20 yards on 30 interception returns for Cardinals … Gambler on field, spectacular playmaker … Deadly open-field tackler … Very fast, agile, aggressive … Born April 16, 1928 in Austin, Texas … Died January 29, 2002 at age of 73.
Ollie Matson, Hall of Fame Class of 1972
Halfback from San Francisco
6-2, 220
1952, 1954-1958 Chicago Cardinals, 1959-1962 Los Angeles Rams, 1963 Detroit Lions, 1964-1966 Philadelphia Eagles
Ollie Genoa Matson … San Francisco all-America … U.S. Olympic medalist in track, 1952 … No. 1 draft pick, 1952 … All-NFL 1954-57 … In six seasons with Cards, did not miss a game … Rushed for 3,331 yards and 24 touchdowns, caught 130 passes for 2,150 yards and 24 touchdowns … Added nine touchdowns on kick returns … Traded to Rams for nine players, 1959 … Career ledger: 12,844 combined yards, 5,173 yards rushing, 222 receptions, and 438 points … Elected to six Pro Bowls … MVP in 1956 Pro Bowl … Born May 1, 1930 in Trinity, Texas.
Ernie Nevers, Hall of Fame Class of 1963
Fullback from Stanford
6-0, 204
1926-27 Duluth Eskimos, 1929-1931 Chicago Cardinals
Ernest Alonzo Nevers … Stanford all-America, 1925 Rose Bowl hero … Lured form pro baseball career by Eskimos … Truly a do-everything iron man, playing 1,714 of 1,740 minutes in 29-game 1926 season … Missed 1928 wit injuries, returned with Cardinals in 1929 … Scored record 40 points (six touchdowns, four conversions) in one game against Bears on Thanskgiving Day, 1929 … All-league all five NFL seasons … Player-coach one year in Duluth, two in Chicago … Born June 11, 1903 in Willow River, Minnesota … Died May 3, 1976 at age of 72.
Charley Trippi, Hall of Fame Class of 1968
Halfback/Quarterback from Georgia
6-0, 186
1947-1955 Chicago Cardinals
Charles Louis Trippi … Cards’ No. 1 future draft pick, 1945 … Georgia all-America, 1946 … Played in four Chicago All-Star games as collegian … $100,000 signed during AAFC-NFL war, 1947 … Final link in Cards’ games “Dream Backfield” … Scored two touchdowns in 1947 NFL Championship Game as Cardinals defeated Philadelphia 28-21 … All-NFL, 1948 … Extremely versatile—played halfback five years, quarterback two years, defense two years … Gained nearly 10,000 yards and accounted for 53 touchdowns during Cardinal career … Born December 14, 1922 in Pittston, Pennsylvania.
I know all about Night Train Lane, he is one of the reasons I am such a fan of the team....NASTY tackler.
________________________________________________________________
Ring Of Honor
During pre-game festivities of this afternoon’s inaugural game at Cardinals Stadium, the team honored the eight charter members of its Ring of Honor, seven of whom are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Later this season, the team will place in the Ring of Honor the following—Hall of Famer Larry Wilson (Sept. 10 vs. San Francisco), Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf (Oct. 16 vs. Chicago), and Pat Tillman (Nov. 12). A short bio on each of the eight charter members of the Ring of Honor follows:
Charles W. Bidwill, Sr., Hall of Fame Class of 1967
Owner, Administrator from Loyola-Chicago
1933-1947 Chicago Cardinals
Charles W. Bidwill, Sr. … Purchased Cardinals’ franchise, 1933 … Staunch faith in professional football stood as guiding light during dark depression years … Dealt rival All-America Football Conference most stunning blow with $100,000 signing of two-time Georgia all-America halfback Charley Trippi, 1947 … Built the famous “Dream Backfield” but died before it could bring him a Cardinals’ championship … Financial help saved Bears’ ownership for George Halas, 1932 … Born September 16, 1895 in Chicago, Illinois … Died April 19, 1947 at age of 51.
Jimmy Conzelman, Hall of Fame Class of 1964
Quarterback, Coach-Owner from Washington University-St. Louis
6-0, 175
1920 Decatur Staleys, 1921-1922 Rock Island Independents, 1922-1924 Milwaukee Badgers, 1925-26 Detroit Panthers, 1927-30 Providence Steam Roller, 1940-1942, 1946-48 Chicago Cardinals
James Gleason Conzelman … Multi-talented athlete, executive, songwriter, editor, and orator … Began NFL career with Staleys, 1920 … Player-coach of four NFL teams in the 1920s, including 1928 champion Providence … Player-coach-owner of Detroit, 1925-26 … Knee injury ended 10-year playing career, 1929 … Coached Cardinals to 1947 NFL Championship, 1948 Western Division crown … Born March 5, 1898 in St. Louis, Missouri … Died July 31, 1970 at age of 72.
John (Paddy) Driscoll, Hall of Fame Class of 1965
Quarterback from Northwestern
5-11, 160
1919 Hammond Pros (pre-NFL), 1920-25 Chicago Cardinals, 1926-29 Chicago Bears
John Leon Driscoll … Triple-threat on attach, flawless on defense … Led Cardinals to 1925 NFL Championship … Dropkicked record four field goals in one game, 1925 … Dropkicked 50-yard field goal, 1924 … Scored 27 points in one game, 1923 … 23 precision punts stymied Red Grange’s NFL debut, 1925 … Traded by Cardinals to Bears in 1926 to thwart signing with rival AFL … Sparked Bears for four years … All-NFL six times … Born January 11, 1896 in Evanston, Illinois … Died June 29, 1968 at age 72.
Marshall Goldberg
Halfback, Defensive Back from Pittsburgh
5-11, 190
1939-1948 Chicago Cardinals
Two-time all-America at Pittsburgh … all-around performer starred as ball carrier, defensive back, and return specialist … played with Cardinals 1939-43, 1946-48 … Earned second-team all-Pro notice in 1941 when, at midseason, led the league in rushing, punt and kickoff returns, and interceptions … Key member of Cards’ 1947 NFL Championship team … Original member of Cards’ “Dream Backfield” of Paul Chrisman, Pat Harder, Charley Trippi, and Elmer Angsman, and Goldberg … Born October 25, 1917 in Elkins, West Virginia.
Dick (Night Train) Lane, Hall of Fame Class of 1974
Cornerback from Scottsbluff-NE Junior College
601, 194
1952-1953 Los Angeles Rams, 1954-1959 Chicago Cardinals, 1960-65 Detroit Lions
Richard Lane … Joined Rams as free agent after four years in Army … Set the NFL interception record (14) as a rookie … All-NFL four six years … Named to seven Pro Bowls … Selected all-time NFL cornerback, 1969 … Career interception record: 68 for 1,207 yards, five touchdowns … Averaged over 20 yards on 30 interception returns for Cardinals … Gambler on field, spectacular playmaker … Deadly open-field tackler … Very fast, agile, aggressive … Born April 16, 1928 in Austin, Texas … Died January 29, 2002 at age of 73.
Ollie Matson, Hall of Fame Class of 1972
Halfback from San Francisco
6-2, 220
1952, 1954-1958 Chicago Cardinals, 1959-1962 Los Angeles Rams, 1963 Detroit Lions, 1964-1966 Philadelphia Eagles
Ollie Genoa Matson … San Francisco all-America … U.S. Olympic medalist in track, 1952 … No. 1 draft pick, 1952 … All-NFL 1954-57 … In six seasons with Cards, did not miss a game … Rushed for 3,331 yards and 24 touchdowns, caught 130 passes for 2,150 yards and 24 touchdowns … Added nine touchdowns on kick returns … Traded to Rams for nine players, 1959 … Career ledger: 12,844 combined yards, 5,173 yards rushing, 222 receptions, and 438 points … Elected to six Pro Bowls … MVP in 1956 Pro Bowl … Born May 1, 1930 in Trinity, Texas.
Ernie Nevers, Hall of Fame Class of 1963
Fullback from Stanford
6-0, 204
1926-27 Duluth Eskimos, 1929-1931 Chicago Cardinals
Ernest Alonzo Nevers … Stanford all-America, 1925 Rose Bowl hero … Lured form pro baseball career by Eskimos … Truly a do-everything iron man, playing 1,714 of 1,740 minutes in 29-game 1926 season … Missed 1928 wit injuries, returned with Cardinals in 1929 … Scored record 40 points (six touchdowns, four conversions) in one game against Bears on Thanskgiving Day, 1929 … All-league all five NFL seasons … Player-coach one year in Duluth, two in Chicago … Born June 11, 1903 in Willow River, Minnesota … Died May 3, 1976 at age of 72.
Charley Trippi, Hall of Fame Class of 1968
Halfback/Quarterback from Georgia
6-0, 186
1947-1955 Chicago Cardinals
Charles Louis Trippi … Cards’ No. 1 future draft pick, 1945 … Georgia all-America, 1946 … Played in four Chicago All-Star games as collegian … $100,000 signed during AAFC-NFL war, 1947 … Final link in Cards’ games “Dream Backfield” … Scored two touchdowns in 1947 NFL Championship Game as Cardinals defeated Philadelphia 28-21 … All-NFL, 1948 … Extremely versatile—played halfback five years, quarterback two years, defense two years … Gained nearly 10,000 yards and accounted for 53 touchdowns during Cardinal career … Born December 14, 1922 in Pittston, Pennsylvania.
