Thursday, November 24, 2011

Packers at Lions, Thanksgiving Day 1961

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Fifty years ago, the Packers journeyed to Detroit to meet the Lions in what was then a traditional meeting of the two teams every Thanksgiving.

Press-Gazette archives
Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr (15) throws the ball against the Detroit Lions with protection from tackle Bob Skoronski (76) and guard Forrest Gregg (75) at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 1961. Gregg and a teammate are blocking Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras (71). Packers halfback Paul Hornung (5) is at lower left.
I love those early-60s numbers:

Press-Gazette archives
Detroit Lions kick returner Howard Cassady (40) tries to evade Green Bay Packers cover man Elijah Pitts (22) at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 1961. Also in on the play are, from left, the Packers' Ken Iman (53), Ray Nitschke (66), Henry Jordan (74) and Lew Carpenter (33) and the Lions' Dick Mils (67).
There's Vince on the sidelines, looking slightly damp. Also note the blue sideline capes.

Press-Gazette archives
Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi, second from left, shouts instructions to fullback Jim Taylor (31) on the sideline during the game against the Detroit Lions at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 1961.
The Packers won that game 17-9. Let's hope for a similarly favorable outcome today!

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