Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 65

6H DETROIT FREE PRESSSUNDAY, SEPT. 4 1983 Lion records (1034-1S82) Significant dates in Lions history 4 V. Career SERVICE Most Seasons: 15, Wayne Walker, 1958-72 Most Games: 200, Wayne Walker, 1958-72 RUSHING Most Attempts: 1,165, Altle Taylor, 1969-76 Most Yards Gained: 4,765, Dexter Bussey, 1974- PASSING Most Attempts: 2,193, Bobby Layne, 1950-58 Most Completions: 1,074, Bobby Layne, 1950-58 Most Yards Gained: 15,710, Bobby Layne, 1950-58 1 7 'WX It A I June 30, 1934 G.A. Richards purchases Portsmouth, Ohio, franchise and moves team to Detroit. Sept.

23, 1 934 Lions play first NFL game, beating New York Giants, 9-0, at University of Detroit Stadium before 12,000. Nov. 25, 1934 Lions suffer first defeat, 3-0, to Green Bay, after winning 10 straight, including seven consecutive shutouts, i Dec. 9, 1935 Lions defeat Giants, 26-7, for first championship. Sept.

9, 1 938 Lions play first home game at Briggs Stadium. Feb. 10, 1943 Gus Dorais named coach after long and successful career at U-D. Jan. 15, 1948 Syndicate headed by Edwin J.

Anderson purchases franchise for $165,000 and names "Bo" McMillan general manager and coach. Dec. 2, 1949 Anderson elected president of Lions. Dec. 20, 1950 Buddy Parker succeeds McMillan as head coach.

Dec. 21, 1952 Lions defeat Los Angeles, 31-21, for National Conference title. Dec. 28, 1952 Lions win first championship since 1935 with 17-7 victory over the Browns in Cleveland. Dec.

27, 1953 Detroit wins second straight championship, 17-16, over Cleveland in Detroit before 54,577. Aug. 12, 1957 Parker resigns as coach and assistant George Wilson succeeds him the next day. Dec. 22, 1957 Detroit defeats San Francisco, 31-27, in playoff after trailing, 27-7, in the third quarter.

Dec. 28, 1957 Detroit claims fourth title, 59-14, over Cleveland, in Detroit. Jan. 23, 1961 William Clay Ford elected president of Lions. Jan.

10, 1964 Ford takes over as sole owner, after purchasing franchise for $6 million. Jan. 7, 1965 Harry Gilmer named head coach, replacing Wilson. March 10, 1966 After 13 seasons, Joe Schmidt retires to become linebacker coach. Jan.

11, 1967 Schmidt named coach, succeeding Gilmer. Dec. 26, 1970 Lions lose to Dallas, 5-0, in first playoff game since 1957. Oct. 24, 1971 Chuck Hughes, wide receiver, dies on field during game against the Bears.

Jan. 12, 1973 Schmidt resigns as coach. Jan. 26, 1973 Don McCafferty named July 28, 1974 McCafferty dies of heart attack. Aug.

3, 1974 Rick Forzano named coach. Aug. 23, 1975 Lions play first game in Silverdome. Oct. 4, 1976 Forzano resigns as coach.

Oct. 5, 1976 Tommy Hudspeth named interim coach. Feb. 9, 1977 Hudspeth' signs three-year contract as coach. Jan 11, 1978 Monte Clark named coach and director ol football operations.

April 29, 1980 Lions choose Billy Sims first in the draft. Jan. 8, 1983 Detroit loses to Washington, 31-7, in playoff game in Washington. Most Touchdown Passes: 118, Bobby Layne, 1950-58 Most Passes Intercepted: 142, Bobby Layne, 1950-58 RECEIVING Most Passes Received: 336, Charlie Sanders, 1968-77 Most Yards Gained: 5,220, Gail Cogdill, 1960-68 INTERCEPTIONS Most Passes Intercepted: 62, Dick LeBeau, 1959-72 Most Yards Gained: 1,051, Lem Barney, 1967-77 SCORING Most Points: 636, Errol Mann, 1969-76 a Most Touchdowns (Total): 38, Terry Barr, 1957-65 Most Touchdowns (Rushing): 30, Billy Sims, 1980- Most Touchdowns (Receiving): 35, Terry Barr, 1957-65 Most Touchdowns (Returning): 11, Jack Christiansen, Doak Walker, the great halfback out of Southern Methodist, came to the Lions from the New York' Bulldogs in a deal that included quarterback Bobby Layne. ions imest nour is in oas 1951-58 Most Extra Points: 213, Errol Mann, 1969-76 Most Field Goals: 141 Errol Mann, 1969-76 PUNTING Most Punts: 503, Yale Lary, 1952-53, 1956-64 Best Average: 44.3, Yale Laty, 1952-53, 1956-64 PUNT RETURNS Most Returns: 143, Lem Barney, 1967-77 Most Yards Returned: 1,312, Lem Barney, 1967-77 KICKOFF RETURNS Most Returns: 91, Tom Watkins, 1962-67 Most Yards Returned: 2,262, Tom Watklns, 1962-67 By GEORGE PUSCAS Free Press Sports Writer he game had ended, and now, riding on the shoulders of an adoring mob, the helmeted figure could be seen from a distance clutch Season RUSHING Most Attempts: 313, Billy Sims, 1980 Most Yards Gained: 1,437, Billy Sims, 1981 PASSING Most Attempts: 417, Gary Danielson, 1980 Most Completions: 244, Gary Danielson, 1980 iteeiA.liiiirlMiilii)liiliiiiml ing the football desperately to his chest, as if he was fearful of fumbling and losing it.

Clark Parker Schmidt Layne indeed, he was. I he ball was a treasure, a memento to cherish for a lifetime, and that Most Yards Gained: 3,223, Gary Danielson, 1980 Most Touchdown Passes: 26, Bobby Layne, 1951 moment in the life of Joe Schmidt, the peerless middle linebacker, remains the Most Passes Intercepted: 23, Jeff Komlo, 1979; 23, Bobby grandest of all in the long history of the Lions, who Sunday begin their 50th year in Layne, 1951 Fewest Passes Intercepted: 3, Dwight Sloan, 1939, (102 att) Detroit. always regarded the 1934 team as better than the one that followed. He might have been right, because the Lions tailed off quickly. Another 17 seasons would pass before they would win another championship.

They had great players during the long drought, such as. Byron (Whizzer) White, Frankie Sinkwich and Bullet Bill Dudley. But they were also a team in constant turmoil, much of it created by Richards, the owner. They had thrashed the Cleveland Browns, 59-1 4, in the championship game of the 1957 season. Schmidt had not scored a point, nor had he played any more spectacu 1957 season opened, even Parker, long tolerant of his players' ofMield antics, tired of it, and startled everybody by resigning.

George Wilson, an assistant coach, was named to replace Parker. Wilson never was regarded as a shrewd tactician, but he could motivate players. His first season as coach was marked by a handful of memorable games, won in "miracle" finishes. Trailing the Baltimore Colts (probably the best team in the NFL that year), 27-7, entering the final period, the Lions rallied behind Layne's passing and won, 31-27. They walked a tightrope throughout the season, forced into a division title playoff with San Francisco, and produced another miracle second-half comeback to win again, 31-27, and reach the championship final for the fourth time in six years.

Rote led the Lions against the Browns, and it was no contest, the tall Texan passing for four touchdowns in a near-record 59-14 rout that enraptured a sellout throng at Briggs Stadium. When the game ended, thousands swarmed onto the field, capturing Joe Schmidt as he tried vainly to make his way to the dugout and the safety of the locker room. Schmidt, the prototype of middle linebackers, was the heart of a great Lion defense. His talent was recognized throughout the NFL, and especially in Detroit. As he was carried atop the shoulders of his admirers, however, he suspected something else.

"They weren't after me," he said. "They wanted that ball." It turned out to be the last championship for the Lions, who soon disintegrated. The following summer, Layne sulked through training camp. Two games into the season, he was traded. But neither Rote, nor Schmidt, nor any of the Lions had any more miracles.

The champions won only four of 12 games. They also had suffered the igno RECEIVING Most Passes Received: 67, Pat Studstill, 1966 Most Yards Gained: 1,266, Pat Studstill, 1966 INTERCEPTIONS Most Passes Intercepted: 12, Jack Christiansen, 1953; 12, Don Doll, 1950 Most Yards Gained: 301, Don Doll, 1949 SCORING Most Points: 128, Doak Walker, 1950 Most Touchdowns (Total): 16, Billy Sims, 1980 Most Touchdowns (Rushing): 13, Billy Sims, 1981; 13, Billy larly than usual on that damp, overcast December day at Briggs Stadium. But he was the leader and symbol of the Lions in one of the most incredible years ever experienced by a team in professional football. those years, owners took a more direct hand in the daily operation of their teams. Many, like Richards.

They had won championships before, but none had been the equal of this one. Nor has there been a championship since. It was said Sims, 1980 Most Touchdowns (Receiving): 15, Cloyce Box, 1952 Most Touchdowns (Returning): 4, Jack Christiansen, 1951 Most Extra Points: 46, Ed Murray, 1981 Most Field Goals: 27, Ed Murray, 1980 PUNTING Most Punts: 93, Wilbur Summers, 1977 Best Average: 48.9, Yale Lary, 1963 at the time that the Lions had used up 10 years worth of luck winning the title in 1957, but the estimate was low. They had much luck or much to brag about since. The 1983 season is the 50th of the Lions in the NFL A golden anniversary is a time for reflection, for a recounting.

But it is unfortunately true of the Lions that their finest moments are in the distant past, so distant, in fact, that the majority of their fans today probably never witnessed any of them. The Lions were not the first professional football team to play in Detroit. They had been preceded in the 1920s by the Heralds, the Panthers and then the Wolverines, all succumbing both on the field and ledgers. When the Lions arrived in 1934, they set a pace the team never matched in years that They won their first seven games by shutout and won their first 10 games, although they failed to win the "McMillan forged the team that won all those championships," says Nick Kerbawy, who became the Lions' general manager when McMillan departed, "There are a lot of strange, little-known stories connected with how he. did it.

For instance, many people don't know how we acquired Bobby Layne, and then Doak Walker, who became great stars with us. "The Lions' board of directors didn't want Layne here. He'd played for the New York Bulldogs, who had won only one game and lost 11. Ted Collins (owner of the Bulldogs) said we could have Layne if we paid off the $25,000 he still owed the Bears, who had sold Layne to the Bulldogs. "The owners jumped all over Bo.

But he reached into his pocket, pulled out his contract and laid it on the table. He never said another word, but the owners knew what he meant. They gave in. That's how we got Bobby Layne, and that's why we were able to win the championships in 1952 and 1953, Doak Walker already had been drafted by the Bulldogs and the great Southern Methodist halfback was included in the Layne deal. Buddy Parker, who had been an assistant under McMillan, became the head coach in 1950..

Parker was a Texan, as were Layne and a handful of other Lions. Rumor had it that Layne led a player campaign that convinced the owners to dump McMillan and give Parker his job. However it happened, Parker, a quiet, shrewd tactician, used the talent assembled by his predecesor and made the Lions champions again. The Lions won three NFL championship games and lost one in the 1950s. Oddly, their opponent each time was the Cleveland Browns.

Years later it was disclosed that through that whole period, they maintained a "spy" on the Cleveland staff, an insider so well-connected that they were aware of the Browns' game plans. Injuries ruined the Lions in 1955 and '56. Layne went down in the decisive final game of the 1 956 season against Chicago, victim of a vicious clobbering by the Bears' Ed Meadows. The Lions lost. They subsequently determined that they needed another quarterback as insurance, and the next summer, they brought in Tobin Rote from Green Bay.

It was both a wise and unfortunate move. Entering the 1957 season, Layne did not relish sharing his quarterback job with Rote, a fellow Texan. But the acquisition of Rote proved to be a life-saver for the Lions that year, because late in the season Layne went down again, with a broken ankle. miny ot losing to the College All-Stars. PUNT RETURNS Most Returns: 52, Robbie Martin, 1981 Most Yards Returned: 457, Pat Studstill, 1962 KICKOFF RETURNS Most Returns: 38, Jimmie Jones, 1974 Most Yards Returned: 927, Jimmie Jones, 1974 Game RUSHING Most Attempts: 32, Horace King, Oct.

10, 1976, vs. New England Most Yards Gained: 198, Bob Hoernschemeyer, Nov. 23, 1950, vs. New York Yanks PASSING were successful elsewhere, but with others, like George Halas and the Chicago was their only interest. Richards had little knowledge of football, but he regularly imposed his will on his coaches.

Potsy Clark, who coached the Lions in their first two seasons, quit after a dispute with Richards. Dutch Clark endured only through 1938. In 1939, two incidents involving Richards led the NFL to order him to sell the team. He was accused, in the first instance, of paying Clyde (Bulldog) Turner, a little-known center from Hardin-Simmons, to tell any scouts who approached him that he wasn't interested in playing pro ball. When the Lions' turn in the draft came, they would draft Turner.

Believing Turner was "locked in" anyway, Lion coach Gus Henderson decided not to pick him in the first round. The Chicago Bears did, and Turner became an all-time great for them. At the first opportunity, Richards fired Henderson." Already known around the league as a heavy gambler on football games, Richards then was told he could not remain in the NFL. He sold the club to Fred Mandel, owner of a Chicago department store. The 1940s under the gentle Mandel were the Lions' bleakest years.

In 1942, they failed to win a single game; in 1946, they won one of 11. But strangely, there were lasting benefits derived from those shabby years. Finishing lower in the standings, the team gained better position in the draft, and the Lions drafted wisely. Mandel, however, tired of the heavy losses on the field, sold the Lions in 1 948 to a group of Detroit businessmen headed by Edwin J. Anderson, then the president of Goebel Brewing Co.

ot until 1960 did they begin to N' revive, and then they finished second in the West for three Most Attempts: 49, Harry Gilmer, Dec. 11, 1955, vs. New York Most Completions: 29, Gary Danielson, Dec. 14, 1980, vs. Tampa Bay Most Yards Gained; 374, Bobby Layne, Nov.

5, 1950, vs. Chicago Bears Most Touchdown Passes: 5, Gary Danielson, Dec. 9, 1978, vs. Minnesota Most Passes Had Intercepted: 7, Frank Sinkwich, Oct. 24, 1943, vs.

Green Bay They had been a ready-made team called the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans. They were searching for a new home in the fledgling NFL. George A. Richards, then the owner of radio station WJR, purchased the franchise, moved it to Detroit and renamed it the Lions. For $15,000, Richards obtained title to some of pro football's finest players of that Dutch Clark, still considered by some as the greatest pro player ever, was one.

George Christensen, Ace Gutowsky, Ernie Caddell, Glenn Presnell were some of the others. From their first moment in Detroit, the new Lions, with Clark calling the plays, running, returning kicks, drop-kicking field goals and playing superbly as a defensive safety, established themselves as an instant force in the league. In 1935, their second year in Detroit, they won the championship, joining a binge that brought the city world titles in baseball, hockey and basketball. straight years behind the Vince Lombardi Packers. In the midst of all that, however, a bitter war developed among the teams' stockholders, now 144 strong.

A dissident group headed by D. Lyle Fife sought to unseat Anderson. Anderson's supporters retained control of the Lions, but when the dispute was renewed again two years later, Anderson convinced William Clay Ford to buy the team. The auto multi-millionaire in effect paid $4 million for a property now worth an estimated $60 million. Though the Lions' value on paper soared, their fortunes on the field tumbled.

In 1963, All-Pro tackle Alex Karras was suspended for betting on games. Wilson and his staff departed following the 1964 season. Harry Gilmer suffered through two losing seasons, then Schmidt, with only one year's experience as an assistant coach, was entrusted with rebuilding the team. Schmidt took them to the playoffs in 1970, but two years later, tiring of criticism, he quit. Ever since, the Lions have struggled fruitlessly to regain the stature they brought with them to Detroit in their very first year.

RECEIVING Most Passes Received: 12, Cloyce Box, Dec. 3, 1950, at Baltimore Most Yards Gained: 302, Cloyce Box, Dec. 3, 1950, at Baltimore INTERCEPTIONS Most Passes Intercepted: 4, Don Doll, Oct. 23. 1949.

at he hew owners hired Bo McMillan, long successful as coach at Indiana University, to coach the Li 1 Chicago Cardinals Longest Return: 102, Bob Smith, Nov. 24, 1949, vs. Chicago Bears SCORING Most Points: 24, Cloyce Box, Dec. 3, 1950, at Baltimore Most Touchdowns (Total): 4, Cloyce Box, Dec. 3, 1950, at Baltimore Most Touchdowns (Rushing): 3, Billy Sims, Sept.

7, 1980, at ons. McMillan lasted only three years, but even though they had fired him, the new owners later credited him for bringing in the ayne's Lions of the 1950s always had been known as a hell-raising gang off the field, and the quarter Clark, a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died in 1982. He talent that made the Lions the rage of the 1950s. back was their leader. But 10 days before the los Angeles; oreg Landry, Oct.

1, 1972, at Chicago; Jim Nlnowskl, Oct. 30, 1960, at Los Angeles; Ernie Caddel, Sept. 20, 1935, vs. Philadelphia; Ernie Caddel, Nov. 4, 1934.

vs. Pitts The Lions' longest RUSHING PLAY 96 yards Bob Hoernschemeyer, Nov. 23, 1950, vs. New burgh; Dutch Clark, Oct. 22, 1934, vs.

Brooklyn Most Touchdowns (Receiving): 4, Cloyce Box, Dec. 3, 1950, at Baltimore Most Touchdowns (Returning): 2, Jack Christiansen (twice), Oct. 14, 1951, vs. Los Angeles and Nov. 22, 1951, vs.

ureen bay Most Extra Points: 8, Jim Martin, Dec. 29, 1957, vs. Puscas picks best of the Lions OFFENSE Quarterback Bobby Layne. Running backs Dutch Clark, Bill Dudley, Bob Hoernschmeyer. Ends Cloyce Box, Charlie Sanders.

Tackles Lou Creekmur, George Christensen. Guards Dick Stanfel, John Gordy. Center Alex Woclechowicz. DEFENSE Ends Darrls McCord, Jim Doran. Tackles Alex Karras, Roger Brown.

Linebackers Joe Schmidt, Wayne Walker, Charlie Weaver. Defensive backs Lem Barney, Dick (Nlaht Train) Lane. ueveiana (tine game) Most Field Goals: 6, Garo Yepremian, Nov. 13, 1966, at Minnesota PUNTING Lion head coaches Name Years Gms. Record Potsy Clark 48 30-15-3 Dutch Clark- 1937-38 22 14-8-0 Gus Henderson 1939 11 6-5-0 Bill Edwards 1941-42 14 4-9-1 John Karcls '1942 8 0-8-0 Gus Dorais 1943-47 53 20-31-2 Bo McMillan 1948-50 36 12-24-0 BuddyParker 1951-56 72 47-23-2 George Wilson 1957-64 104 53-45-6 Harry Gilmer 1965-66 28 10-16-2 Joe Schmidt 1967-72 84 43-34-7 Don McCafferty 1973 14 6-7-1 Rick Forzano 1974-76 32 15-17-0 Tommy Hudspeth 1976-77 24 11-13-0 Monte llark 1978- 73 30-43-0 Most Punts: 12, William Summers.

Oct. 23, 1977, at San York Yanks (TD) PASSING PLAY 99 yards Karl Sweetan to Pat Studstlll, Oct. 16, 1966, at Baltimore (TD) KICKOFF RETURN 104 yards Terry Barr (92 yards) and Gene Gedman (12), Oct. 26, 1958, at Los Angeles (TD) PUNT RETURN 90 yards Tommy Watklns, Oct. 6, 1963, vs.

San Francisco (TD) INTERCEPTION RETURN 102 yards Bob Smith, Nov. 24, 1949, vs. Chicago Bears (TD) PUNT 81 yards Bill De Correvont, Oct. 6, 1946, at Washington FIELD GOAL 54 yards Glenn Presnell, Oct. 7, 1934, at Green Bay Francisco PUNT RETURNS Most Returns: 8, Ray Williams, Dec.

14, 1980, vs. Tampa Bay; Eddie Payton, Nov. 20, 1977, vs. Tampa Bay Most Yards Returned: 184, Tom Watkins, Oct. 6.

1963. vs. San Francisco KICKOFF RETURNS I Most Returns: 7, John Arnold, Oct. 5, 1980, at Atlanta; Joe Jack Christiansen, Yale Lary. Watt, Nov.

7, 1948, at Chicago Cardinals I Punter Yale Lary. I Most Yards Returned: 294, Wally Triplett, Oct. 29, 1950, at League record I Placeklcker Errol Mann. 1 los Angeies i 3 rT.