In a photo finish, Chuck Bednarik beats out Otto Graham, as the best athlete to wear the number 60. The last great two-way player in the NFL, Chuck Bednarik's number 60 has been retired by the Philadelphia Eagles (one of only seven retired numbers by that franchise,) where he played his entire NFL career from 1949 through 1962. He played both offensively as a center and defensively as a linebacker for the Eagles. The 1949 first round draft pick, originally from Bethlehem, PA, was selected to eight Pro Bowls. Bednarik was as tough as they come, playing sixty minutes a game and missing only three games in fourteen years. In 1999, The Sporting News named Chuck number 54 on it's list of the Top 100 Greatest Football Players. Chuck was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1967.
Did you know.......Chuck sold concrete for the Warner Company in the off-season, and was nicknamed "Concrete Charlie?"
I love these throw back picks. Modern day athletes are whiney little bitches....
ReplyDeleteI was so glad that I saw his name up there, i was afraid you were going to leave out chuck. You should post a picture of how his fingers look now because of how tough he played then. Or this one: http://www.autographedtoyou.com/celebpics/charles_bednarik1.jpg
ReplyDeleteI've seen alot of stories on him. I think this guy ate metal and drank dirt. He was tough ask Frank Gifford, he knocked him out for a year and a half.
ReplyDeletemy grandson is playing his first year of pop warner and has become enamored of his position--offensive center. i grew up in philly and we had season tix to the eagles and i remember very well no. 60, the great chuck bednarik. when i was a student teacher at abbington jr high, i remember mr. bednarik coming to his daughter's parent-teacher confence--a big guy wearing these little granny glasses peepers. i ordered THE LAST OF THE 60-MINUTE MEN for my grandson (he's almost 10)--the only affordable copy at $9.99 on amazon--and i'm now looking for a jersey.
ReplyDeleteA REAL HERO AND TOUGH GUY, FLEW 26+ MISSIONS AS A GUNNER ON A B24 I THINK IN WW2
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