September 27: Cleveland Browns (1-0) 27, Green Bay Packers (0-1) 0
(MILWAUKEE) - The Cleveland Browns had the only uncrossed goal line in the NFL after openers that saw three of the six Eastern Conference teams bow to Western Conference foes. On sharp passing by quarterback Otto Graham, the Browns scored an easy 27-0 victory over the Packers. Graham completed 18 of 24 passes for 292 yards as the Browns easily won in the first Packer game ever at County Stadium. The veteran quarterback sat out the fourth quarter after passing the Packers dizzy for three periods and scoring two touchdowns himself on short plunges to wind up long drives. Ken Carpenter tallied once on the end of a Graham pitchout and Lou Groza booted a pair of field goals in addition to three conversions.
CLEVELAND - 7 10 10 0 - 27
GREEN BAY - 0 0 0 0 - 0
1st - CLE - Otto Graham, 1-yard run (Lou Groza kick) CLEVELAND 7-0
2nd - CLE - Groza, 15-yard field goal CLEVELAND 10-0
3rd - CLE - Groza, 29-yard field goal CLEVELAND 20-0
3rd - CLE - Ken Carpenter, 5-yard run (Groza kick) CLEVELAND 27-0
October 4: Chicago Bears (1-1) 17, Green Bay Packers (0-2) 13
(GREEN BAY) - George Blanda hit Jim Dooley with a 16-yard touchdown pass with 3:35 remaining, after the Packers made it to the Bear 2 before fumbling. The Bears had to come from behind to record their victory. Blanda also sent the Bears away winging in the first period with a field goal. But they couldn't hold the lead and the Packers scored two touchdowns before Chicago could dent the end zone.
CHICAGO BEARS - 3 7 0 7 - 17
GREEN BAY - 6 7 0 0 - 13
1st - CHI - George Blanda, 40-yard field goal CHICAGO 3-0
1st - GB - Mann, 19-yard pass from Rote (Kick failed) GREEN BAY 6-3
2nd - GB - Dawson, 60-yard punt return (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 13-3
2nd - CHI - John Dottley, 2-yard run (Blanda kick) GREEN BAY 13-10
4th - CHI - Jim Dooley, 16-yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) CHICAGO 17-13
October 11: Los Angeles Rams (2-1) 38, Green Bay Packers (0-3) 20
(MILWAUKEE) - Norm Van Brocklin passed for 250 yards and a TD as the Rams handed Green Bay their third straight loss. The Rams' devastating passing game, with Norm Van Brocklin and rookie Rudy Bukich on the throwing end, ripped the Packer defense to shreds although Los Angeles scored only once through the air. Van Brocklin passed 23 times against Green Bay and made good on 12 for 250 yards, He set up all the Rams TDs except the last one. Buckich got in the game in the last quarter and made the final TD. FB Fred Cone scored all but six of the Packers' points, booting two field goals and two extra points and scoring one TD.
LOS ANGELES - 7 14 10 7 - 38
GREEN BAY - 3 7 3 7 - 20
1st - GB - Cone, 38-yard field goal GREEN BAY 3-0
1st - LA - Brad Myers, 13-yard run (Ben Agajanian kick) LOS ANGELES 7-3
2nd - LA - Myers, 3-yard run (Agajanian kick) LOS ANGELES 14-3
2nd - GB - Cone, 3-yard run (Cone kick) LOS ANGELES 14-10
2nd - LA - Skeets Quinlan, 59-yard pass from Van Brocklin (Agajanian kick) LA 21-10
3rd - GB - Cone, 33-yard field goal LOS ANGELES 21-13
3rd - LA - Agajanian, 47-yard field goal LOS ANGELES 24-13
3rd - LA - Tank Younger, 2-yard run (Agajanian kick) LOS ANGELES 31-13
4th - GB - Papit, 7-yard run (Cone kick) LOS ANGELES 31-20
4th - LA - Rudy Bukich, 1-yard run (Agajanian kick) LOS ANGELES 38-20
October 18: Green Bay Packers (1-3) 37, Baltimore Colts (2-2) 24
(GREEN BAY) - The surprising Baltimore Colts came to City Stadium and were stampeded by the Packers. Led by Howie Ferguson's 126 yards, Green Bay ran for 303 yards and forced seven Baltimore turnovers in capturing their first win of 1953. Pulling in five interceptions, the Packers never were headed after Babe Parilli scored from the Baltimore one and fullback Fred Cone from the 11 within a minute in the second quarter.
BALTIMORE - 0 0 7 7 - 14
GREEN BAY - 0 13 14 10 - 37
2nd - GB - Parilli, 1-yard run (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - GB - Cone, 11-yard run (Kick failed) GREEN BAY 13-0
3rd - GB - Reid, 7-yard run (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 20-0
3rd - GB - Carmichael, 41-yard run (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 27-0
3rd - BALT - John Huzvar, 30-yd pass from Fred Enke (Buck McPhail kick) GB 27-7
4th - GB - Cone, 19-yard field goal GREEN BAY 30-7
4th - GB - Walker, 54-yard interception return (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 37-7
October 24: Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) 31, Green Bay Packers (1-4) 14
(PITTSBURGH) - In a nationally-televised Saturday night game, Billy Howton returned after missing the first four games of the season with cracked ribs. He caught eight passes, but the Packer offense could only manage 125 yards and fell behind 31-0 before reaching the end zone. Spearheaded by Jim (Popcorn) Brandt, making his first start of the season, and Fran Rogel, who reeled off 168 yards rushing, the Steelers scored in all but the last period while holding Green Bay scoreless in the first half. Rogel tied an all-time Steeler single-game rushing record established by Jerry Nuzum against Green Bay at Milwaukee in 1949.
GREEN BAY - 0 0 7 7 - 14
PITTSBURGH - 7 10 14 0 - 31
1st - PITT - Jim Finks, 4-yard run (Nick Bolkovac kick) PITTSBURGH 7-0
2nd - PITT - Bolkovac, 40-yard field goal PITTSBURGH 10-0
October 31: Green Bay Packers (2-4) 35, Baltimore Colts (3-3) 24
(BALTIMORE) - On a Saturday night, Green Bay won for the last time in 1953, and continued Baltimore's spiral. It was the second time in two weeks the Packers defeated Baltimore - the only club Green Bay has beaten in the current season. The passing of Babe Parilli and Tobin Rote, the catching of Howton, and the running of Breezy Reid highlighted the Packer offense. Parilli and Rote each passed for two touchdowns, with Howton receiving two of the aerials. Reid, who made 120 yards on nine rushes, scored the last touchdown on a 38 yard run in the final quarter. Rote passed to Howton for a 41-yard scoring play to start the conquest. The Colts returned with a spectacular 49-yard aerial striek from quarterback Fred Enke to Buddy Young. Parilli quarterbacked the Packers to the goal line twice in the second period, throwing 13 yards to Howton for one touchdown and passing and running the ball to Baltimore's three, from where Fred Cone scored the other.
GREEN BAY - 7 14 7 7 - 35
BALTIMORE - 7 7 3 7 - 24
1st - GB - Howton, 40-yard pass from Rote (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - GB - Cone, 3-yard run (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 21-14
3rd - BALT - Bert Rechichar, 42-yard field goal GREEN BAY 21-17
3rd - GB - Boone, 9-yard pass from Rote (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 28-17
4th - GB - Reid, 38-yard run (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 35-17
4th - BALT - Carl Taseff, 71-yard punt return (McPhail kick) GREEN BAY 35-24
November 8: Green Bay Packers (2-4-1) 21, Chicago Bears (1-5-1) 21 (Tie)
(CHICAGO) - Babe Parilli tied the game with less than two minutes remaining when he tossed a scoring pass to Billy Howton. Fighting the clock, Parilli guided the Packers on an 80-yard march, mostly on aerials, until he connected with Howton in the end zone. Fred Cone kicked his third placement to knot the score and give the Packers the tie. The score was a summary of the statistics which gave neither team much of an advantage in any department. With each team completing 19 passes, the Packers advanced 237 yards and the Bears 234. Green Bay outdistanced the Bears on the ground, 90 yards to 55. Emphasis on the aerial game was borne out by the fact that five of the six touchdowns came on passes. Two touchdowns resulted from interceptions. Green Bay's Bobby Dillon started the scoring when he stole George Blanda's pass from the arms of Bill McColl and swept 49 yards for a touchdown. The Packers took a 14-0 lead when Fred Cone, making the only long scoring run from scrimmage, rambled 41 yards.
GREEN BAY - 14 0 0 7 - 21
CHICAGO BEARS - 7 7 0 7 - 21
1st - GB - Dillon, 49-yard interception return (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - GB - Reid, 41-yard run (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 14-0
1st - CHI - Don Kindt, 67-yard interception return (George Blanda kick) GB 14-7
2nd - CHI - Jim Dooley, 33-yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) TIED 14-14
4th - CHI - John Hoffman, 14-yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) CHICAGO 21-14
GAME 8 - November 15: Detroit Lions (6-2) 14, Green Bay Packers (2-5-1) 7
(GREEN BAY) - Green Bay managed to reach the Lion side of the field ten times, but could only score once.
The Lions combined two touchdown passes by Layne—one an 83-yard play involving Doak Walker and the second a 22-yarder to Leon Hart—with Yale Lary's three pass interceptions in the final period to defeat the Packers. The loss left Green Bay tied for last place with the Chicago Bears.
DETROIT - 0 7 0 7 - 14
GREEN BAY - 0 0 0 7 - 7
2nd - DET - Doak Walker, 83-yard pass from Bobby Layne (Walker kick) DET 7-0
4th - DET - Leon Hart, 22-yard pass from Layne (Walker kick) DETROIT 14-0
4th - GB - Reid, 1-yard run (Cone kick) DETROIT 14-7
November 22: San Francisco 49ers (6-3) 37, Green Bay Packers (2-6-1) 7
(MILWAUKEE) - Green Bay turned the ball over six times in Gene Ronzani's last home game as Packer head coach. San Francisco capitalized on alertness to down the Packers 37-7 and keep the Packers tied with the Chicago Bears for cellar honors in the West. The 49ers brushed off a clinging snowfall at County Stadium as they turned three interceptions and two Packers fumbles into five touchdowns. Y. A. Tittle scored two Frisco
touchdowns on short plunges and passed to Bill Wilson for a third tally. Hugh McElhenny and Joe Perry also scored. Babe Parilli ran eight yards on a quarterback sneak to score Green Bay's lone touchdown. Misfortune
struck the Packers twice in the first period. Lowell Wagner intercepted Tobin Rote's pass and returned to Green Bay's 43. Me Elhenny cracked left tackle from the five, but Gordon Soltau's kick was wide. Breezy Reid
fumbled on the first play after the kickoff and Leo Nomellini recovered on the Green Bay 28. After a couple of penalties, Tittle hit Wilson with a 30-yard pass for the touchdown. Al Carmichael fumbled the kickoff as the second quarter opened. Harry Babcock recovered on the 23. Perry ran 17 yards for the 49ers third marker.
SAN FRANCISCO - 13 7 10 7 - 37
GREEN BAY - 0 7 0 0 - 7
1st - SF - Hugh McElhenny, 5-yard run (Kick failed) SAN FRANCISCO 6-0
1st - SF - Billy Wilson, 30-yard pass from Y.A.Tittle (Gordie Soltau kick) SF 13-0
2nd - SF - Joe Perry, 17-yard run (Soltau kick) SAN FRANCISCO 20-0
2nd - GB - Parilli, 8-yard run (Cone kick) SAN FRANCISCO 20-7
3rd - SF - Tittle, 1-yard run (Soltau kick) SAN FRANCISCO 27-7
3rd - SF - Soltau, 30-yard field goal SAN FRANCISCO 30-7
4th - SF - Tittle, 1-yard run (Soltau kick) SAN FRANCISCO 37-7
November 26: Detroit Lions (8-2) 34, Green Bay Packers (2-7-1) 15
(DETROIT) - In their annual Thanksgiving Day matchup, the Packers saw a 15-7 lead disappear as the Lions scored 27 unanswered points. Quarterback Bobby Layne, who hadn't thrown a pass in practice this week because of a painful arm ailment, connected with end Cloyce Box for a 97-yard touchdown in the third period to start the Lions on a comeback that produced a 34-15 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Packers. Box had grabbed only one touchdown pass in nine previous games. Layne's ailment had been a closely-guarded secret and was disclosed by coach Buddy Parker after the game. He said that physical therapy would be needed to correct the sore arm. Green Bay, leading 15-7, had marched to the shadow of the Detroit goal. But halfback Al Carmichael fumbled and defensive end Jim Cain pounced on the ball for the Lions. Layne stepped back and unloosed a towering pass. Box outdistanced Ace Loomis, hauled in the ball near midfield, and raced untouched to the end zone. It was the third longest touchdown pass in N.F.L. history.The loss was the final straw for the Packer brass, as they fired Gene Ronzani two days later. Hugh Devore and Scooter McLean were tabbed to coach the team in their final two games on the West Coast.
GREEN BAY - 15 0 0 0 - 15
DETROIT - 7 0 14 13 - 34
1st - DET - Bob Hoernschemeyer, 3-yard run (Jim Martin kick) DETROIT 7-0
1st - GB - Cone, 44-yard field goal DETROIT 7-3
1st - GB - Mann, 16-yard pass from Parilli (Kick failed) GREEN BAY 9-7
1st - GB - Parilli, 2-yard run (Kick failed) GREEN BAY 15-7
3rd - DET - Cloyce Box, 97-yard pass from Bobby Layne (Martin kick) GB 15-14
3rd - DET - Hoernschemeyer, 41-yard run (Martin kick) DETROIT 21-15
4th - DET - Gene Gedman, 4-yard run (Martin kick) DETROIT 28-15
4th - DET - Martin, 22-yard field goal DETROIT 31-15
4th - DET - Martin, 25-yard field goal DETROIT 34-15
RONZANI DISMISSED AS HEAD COACH
(November 27) - The Green Bay Packers left for the West Coast today for their final two games of the season, but former head coach Gene Ronzani stayed behind after resigning under pressure. Ronzani turned in his resignation yesterday at a special meeting of the Packer executive committee and his three assistants were placed in charge of the team for the final two games against San Francisco and Los Angeles. Hugh Devore, Chuck Drulis and Ray McLean will share responsibility for the last place Packers' fortunes for the rest of the campaign. Devore was one of those mentioned as most likely to succeed Ronzani next year. This is Devore's first season in professional football after 19 years as a college coach at Notre Dame, St. Bonaventure and New York University. Other possibilities for the head coaching job in 1954 are Eddie Kotal. George Sauer, Mike Michalski, George Trafton and Clark Hinkle. The 44-year-old Ronzani, a former Marquette University and Chicago Bears' star, finally gave in to pressure from the fans and quit. His resignation came only 24 hours after the Packers lost to Detroit, 34-15. Ronzani would make no comment after his resignation and was not answering the telephone.
December 6: San Francisco 49ers (8-3) 48, Green Bay Packers (2-8-1) 14
(SAN FRANCISCO) - The Packers were licked, 48-14, by San Francisco, who gave the Packers their worst trimming of the 1953 season. The 49ers stayed alive in the Western Conference race thanks to a 21-0 lead before Green Bay cracked the end zone. The rampaging 49ers built their margin to 38-7 before the Packers scored again in the final period. The 49ers kicked off to open the game, held the Packers to three yards and then put the ball into play on the Green Bay 49. Left halfback Joe Arenas plunged over center for the last two yards of the scoring drive. The second 49er score was set up when Lowell Wagner intercepted Babe Parilli's pass and returned it 32 yards to Green Bay's 19. Y. A. Tittle, the San Francisco quarterback, was clipped for a 10-yard loss and then passed to Hugh McElhenny for the score. A steady rain turned the field to mud in the second period. In that period the 49ers took posession of the ball on the 50-yard line and clipped downfield. Joe Perry punched through the middle for the final 19 yards. The Packers started a drive on the 49ers' 48. Fred Cone scored from the one yard line and also converted to make the score 21-7 at the half. Two touchdowns and a field goal swamped the Packers in the third period. For the initial score of the period the 49ers went 39 yards on two plays, Arenas covering the last 12 to score. The other touchdown came when Rex Berry intercepted a Parilli aerial and zipped 30 yards. Soltau booted a 14-yard field goal. A 74-yard march gave the Packers their second touchdown early in the fourth period. Parilli threw 37 yards to Don Barton who ran the last five yards for the score. To mock the Packers, the 49ers duplicated the 74-yard distance in five plays for their sixth touchdown, Tittle passing to end Billy Wilson in the end zone for the final two yards. Late in the game, the 49ers stole another Green Bay pass on the Packers' 39 and Soltau kicked a field goal from 28 yards out. In all, the Niners intercepted five Packers passes, three by Parilli and two by Rote. The game was the first of the season the Packers played without Gene Ronzani, who stepped down as coach the day after the Packers' 34-15 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The loss left the Packers at the bottom of the Western Division.
GREEN BAY - 0 7 0 7 - 14
SAN FRANCISCO - 14 7 17 10 - 48
1st - SF - Joe Arenas, 2-yard run (Gordie Soltau kick) SAN FRANCISCO 7-0
1st - SF - Hugh McElhenny, 19-yard pass from Y.A.Tittle (Soltau kick) SF 14-0
2nd - SF - Joe Perry, 19-yard run (Soltau kick) SAN FRANCISCO 21-0
2nd - GB - Cone, 1-yard run (Cone kick) SAN FRANCISCO 21-7
3rd - SF - Arenas, 12-yard run (Soltau kick) SAN FRANCISCO 28-7
3rd - SF - Rex Berry, 30-yard interception return (Soltau kick) SF 35-7
3rd - SF - Soltau, 14-yard field goal SAN FRANCISCO 38-7
4th - GB - Barton, 42-yard pass from Parilli (Cone kick) SAN FRANCISCO 38-14
4th - SF - Wilson, 2-yard pass from Tittle (Soltau kick) SAN FRANCISCO 45-14
4th - SF - Soltau, 29-yard field goal SAN FRANCISCO 48-14
December 13: Los Angeles Rams (8-3-1) 33, Green Bay Packers (2-9-1) 17
(LOS ANGELES) - The Rams scored 26 points in the first quarter and sent Green Bay to its second worst season ever. The Packers was bewildered by the spectacular Rams' aerial game as they blasted to a 33-17 victory. Norm Van Brocklin threw three straight scoring passes as the Rams piled up a 19-0 lead in the first period before the Packers could strike back with a touchdown on a fumble return. The Packers' five interceptions and three recoveries of Rams' fumbles prevented an even-worse drubbing. Los Angeles intercepted four passes but picked up no Packer fumbles. Playing before a crowd of 23,069 in 90 degree heat, the Rams took the opening kickoff and sped 62 yards in seven plays. Brad Myers scored on a 31-yard pitchout from Van Brocklin. A 50-yard pass from Van Brocklin to Elroy Hirsch set up the next touchdown, scored by end Tom Fears on a four-yard pass from Van Brocklin. Van Brocklin seemingly was trapped when he escaped his pursuers and fired to Skeet Quinlan for 46 yards and the Rams' third touchdown. The Packers finally when Carlton Elliott broke into the Rams backfield, snatched the ball out of an elaborate pitchout-lateral play and ran 17 yards across the goal. The Rams butted back to make the score 26-7. Dan Towler ripped 40 yards and Tank Younger ran the last four yards. The stifled Packer offense exploded for 80 yards and a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. Billy Howton caught a pass from Tobin Rote, raced behind the Ram defense and was never touched. Dick Lane blocked a Packer third period field goal attempt, scooped up the ball on its perfect backward bounce and sped 30 yards for the Rams' fifth touchdown. Another pass interception started the final Green Bay scoring march in the fourth period. The Packers moved to the 25. Cone kicked a field goal from the 40.
GREEN BAY - 7 7 0 3 - 17
LOS ANGELES - 26 0 7 0 - 33
1st - LA - Brad Myers, 31-yard run (Kick failed) LOS ANGELES 6-0
1st - LA - Tom Fears, 4-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Kick blocked) LA 12-0
1st - LA - Skeets Quinlan, 46-yard pass from Van Brocklin (Tom Fears kick) LA 19-0
1st - GB - Elliott, 17-yard fumble return (Cone kick) LOS ANGELES 19-7
1st - LA - Tank Younger, 4-yard run (Elroy Hirsch kick) LOS ANGELES 26-7
2nd - GB - Howton, 80-yard pass from Rote (Cone kick) LOS ANGELES 26-14
3rd - LA - Night Train Lane, 30-yard blocked field goal return (Fears kick) LA 33-14
4th - GB - Cone, 40-yard field goal LOS ANGELES 33-17
NAMENOPOSHGTWGTCOLLEGEYRPRAGGHOW ACQUIRED
Dick Afflis 72 G 6- 0 250 Nevada 3 3 24 12 1951 Draft - 16th round
Ben Aldridge 40 DB 6- 1 195 Oklahoma State 1 4 26 8 1953 Trade - S. Fran
Byron Bailey 20 HB 5-11 198 Washington State 1 2 22 9 1953 FA - Det (1952)
Don Barton 43 HB 5-11 175 Texas 1 1 23 5 1953 FA
J.R. Boone 22 HB 5- 9 167 Tulsa 1 6 28 8 1953 FA - SF (1952)
Buddy Brown 62 G 6- 1 220 Arkansas 1 3 26 11 1953 FA - Wash (1952)
Val Joe Walker 47 DB 6- 1 179 SMU 1 1 23 12 1953 Trade - New York
Dick Wildung 70 T 6- 0 230 Minnesota 7 7 32 12 1943 Draft - 1st round
Roger Zatkoff 74 T 6- 2 215 Michigan 1 1 22 12 1953 Draft - 5th round
NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age at Start of Season G - Games Played FA - Free Agent
1953 IN REVIEW: The Packers fell back into last place, and the Executive Committee openly second-guessed head coach Gene Ronzani at every opportunity. Certain members of the committee even asked players what they thought the coach was doing wrong. The players backed up their coach, but the turmoil did not help a team that was weak to start with. Finally, with two games left in a dismal campaign, the committee fired Ronzani, issuing a statement that he had resigned. Assistants Chuck Drulis, Hugh Devore and Ray (Scooter) McLean were appointed to take over, but after three days the committee dropped Drulis from the equation. Regardless, the Packers dropped both games under their new co-coaches to end their worst season since 1949 (2-10).
18 G-BALTIMORE COLTS (2-1) W 37-14 1-3-0 18,713
24 at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) L 14-31 1-4-0 22,918
31 at Baltimore Colts (3-2) W 35-24 2-4-0 33,797
NOVEMBER (0-3-1)
8 at Chicago Bears (1-5) T 21-21 2-4-1 39,889
15 G-DETROIT LIONS (5-2) L 7-14 2-5-1 20,834
22 M-SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-3) L 7-37 2-6-1 16,378
26 at Detroit Lions Loss (7-2) L 15-34 2-7-1 52,607
DECEMBER (0-2)
6 at San Francisco 49ers (7-3) L 14-48 2-8-1 31,337
12 at Los Angeles Rams Loss (7-3-1) L 17-33 2-9-1 23,069
1953 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (1-4) - AUGUST
22 New York Giants at Minneapolis W 31- 7 1-0-0 20,560
29 Chicago Cardinals at Spokane, WA L 7-13 1-1-0 17,000
SEPTEMBER
5 G-WASHINGTON REDSKINS L 6-13 1-2-0 16,425
12 M-PITTSBURGH STEELERS L 23-26 1-3-0 16,859
19 at Cleveland Browns L 13-21 1-4-0 22,336
1953 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS (2-9-1) - SEPTEMBER (0-1)
27 M-CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-0) L 0-27 1-0-0 22,604
OCTOBER (2-3)
4 G-CHICAGO BEARS (0-1) L 13-17 0-2-0 24,835
11 M-LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-1) L 20-38 0-3-0 23,353
August 22: Green Bay Packers (1-0) 31, New York Giants 7
(MINNEAPOLIS) - The Packers pooled a procession of intercepted passes and long gaining punt runbacks to rock the Giants Saturday night. Bob Forte grabbed Charlie Conerly's pass and rambled 32 yards to score first for the Packers. Gib Dawson gave the Packers a 10-0 lead with an 11-yard FG after Don Barton raced a punt back 36 yards. Al Carmichael slammed over from the four in the 2nd quarter to make it 17-0 after Clayton Tonnemaker hauled in another Conerly pass.
NEW YORK - 0 0 0 7 - 7
GREEN BAY - 7 10 7 7 - 31
GB – Forte, 32-yard interception return (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
GB – Dawson, 11-yard field goal GREEN BAY 10-0
GB – Carmichael, 4-yard run (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 17-0
GB – Howton, 35-yard pass from Parilli (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 24-0
GB – Sandifer, 71-yard punt return (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 31-0
NY – Frank Gifford, 25-yard run (Gifford kick) GREEN BAY 31-7
August 29: Chicago Cardinals 13, Green Bay (1-1) Packers 7
(SPOKANE, WA) – A last quarter touchdown enabled the Cardinals to beat an uninspired Packer team Saturday night. Charlie Trippi went over from the three-yard line after a 23-yard pass play from Dale Samuels to Ray Ramsey. The Packers, who looked great in walloping the Giants in their exhibition opener a week earlier, spotted the Cardinals a 25-yard field goal by Joe Geri in the first period, then took the lead. The Packers got rolling late in the quarter and marched 55 yards for their touchdown. Babe Parilli ate up yardage by passing in the drive and went over on an end around from the seven. Fred Cone converted. The Packers were weak on passing in particular. Parilli and Tobin Rote hit on only nine of 25.
CHI CARDS - 3 3 0 7 - 13
GREEN BAY - 0 7 0 0 - 7
CHI – Joe Geri, 25-yard field goal CHICAGO 3-0
GB – Parilli, 7-yard run (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 7-3
CHI – Geri, 37-yard field goal GREEN BAY 7-6
CHI – Charley Trippi, 3-yard run (Geri kick) CHICAGO 13-7
September 5: Washington Redskins 13, Green Bay Packers 6
(GREEN BAY) - The Redskins defeated the Packers Saturday night before 16,425. Harry Gilmer scored the first Washington touchdown when he returned Bill Harris' punt 68 yards in the second minute of the second quarter. The Packers drove 68 yards for their first touchdown late in the second quarter with Babe Parilli hitting Bobby Mann with a 10-yard pass in the end zone. Jack Scarbath set up the Redskins' second touchdown in the third quarter with a 36-yard run to the four-yard line. He carried it over from the three two plays later.
WASHINGTON - 0 6 7 0 - 13
GREEN BAY - 0 0 7 0 - 6
WASH – Harry Gilmer, 68-yard punt return (Kick failed) WASHINGTON 6-0
WASH – Jack Scarbath, 3-yard run (Bob Dean kick) WASHINGTON 13-6
September 12: Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Green Bay (1-3) Packers 23
(MILWAUKEE) – Rookie QB Ted Marchibroda sparked the Steelers Saturday night over the Packers at Marquette Stadium before a crowd of 16,859. The Steelers were on Green Bay's four-yard line, threatening to score again when the final gun sounded. The Packers led 23-17 at halftime on the strength of veteran QB Tobin Rote's passing, but the Green Bay aerial attack bogged down in the second half. Each team scored a safety. The Steelers broke into the scoring column early in the game when Ed Fullerton intercepted one of Babe Parilli's passes and ran 37 yards for a touchdown.
GB – Howton, 64-yard pass from Rote (Dawson kick) GREEN BAY 23-17
PIT – George Sulma, 24-yard pass from Ted Marchibroda (Bolkovac kick) PIT 24-23
PIT – Team Safety, blocked punt recovered in end zone PITTSBURGH 26-23
September 19: Cleveland Browns 21, Green Bay (1-4) Packers 13
(CLEVELAND) – Otto Graham's bulls-eye passing in the second half brought the Browns from behind Saturday night over the Packers on a rain-soaked gridiron at Municipal Stadium. Entering the contest at the half with Green Bay leading, 13-0, he pitched nine straight completions before he had a miss, getting away two touchdown aerials to Dante Lavelli, one in the third period and one in the fourth, at 15 yards and 11 yards. He heaved a 35-yard scoring pass to Horace Gillom for the final score. The Packers' Marvin Johnson set up Green Bay's first touchdown with an interception, and galloped 76 yards in the second with another interception of George Ratterman.
GREEN BAY - 7 6 0 0 - 13
CLEVELAND - 0 0 7 14 - 21
GB – Ferguson, 3-yard pass from Rote (Cone kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
GB – Marvin Johnson, 76-yard interception return (Kick failed) GREEN BAY 13-0
CLE – Dante Lavelli, 15-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) GB 13-7
CLE – Lavelli, 11-yard pass from Graham (Groza kick) CLEVELAND 14-13
CLE – Horace Gillom, 35-yard pass from Graham (Groza kick) CLEVELAND 21-13
1953 PACKERS DRAFT (January 22, 1953)
RND-PICKNAMEPOSCOLLEGE
1 - 7 Al Carmichael HB USC
2 - 19 Gil Reich HB Kansas
3 - 31 Bill Forester DT SMU
4 - 43 Gib Dawson HB Texas
5 - 55 Roger Zatkoff T Michigan
6 - 67 Bob Kennedy G Wisconsin
7 - 79 Jim Ringo C Syracuse
8 - 91 Lauren Hargrove HB Georgia
9 - 103 Floyd Harrawood T Tulsa
10 - 115 Victor Rimkus G Holy Cross
11 - 127 *-Joe Johnson HB Boston College
12 - 139 *-Dick Curran HB Arizona State
13 - 151 *-Bob Orders C West Virginia
14 - 163 *-Charles Wrenn T Texas Christian
15 - 175 Gene Helwig HB Tulsa
16 - 187 John Hlay FB Ohio State
17 - 199 Bill Georges E Texas
18 - 211 Jim Philbee HB Bradley
19 - 223 *-Bill Lucky T Baylor
20 - 235 John Harville HB Texas Christian
21 - 247 Bob Conway HB Alabama
22 - 259 Bill Turnbeaugh T Auburn
23 - 271 Bill Murray E Am. Interna.
24 - 283 Jim Haslam T Tennessee
25 - 295 Ike Jones E UCLA
26 - 307 *-George Bozanic HB USC
27 - 319 James McConaughey E Houston
28 - 331 Zack Jordan HB Colorado
29 - 343 Henry O'Brien G Boston College
30 - 355 Al Barry G USC
* - Juniors
Bold- Played for the Green Bay Packers
Steelers at Packers Program - 12 September
Redskins at Packers Program - 5 September
Browns at Packers Program - 27 September
Bears at Packers Program - 4 October
Colts at Packers Program - 18 October
Lions at Packers Program - 15 November
1953 PACKER TRADES
AUG 12 - Traded 1954 15th round pick to SAN FRANCISCO for DB Benny Aldridge
SEPT 22 - Traded 1954 6th round to DETROIT for OT Gus Cifelli. Traded 1954 4th round to WASHINGTON for RB Johnny Papit
OCT 9 - Traded rights to QB Arnie Galiffa to NEW YORK for 1954 1st round pick and DB Val Joe Walker
