The NFL’s 60-Minute Men
All-Time Greats of the Two-Way Player Era, 1920–1945
$39.95
In stock
About the Book
In 2019 the NFL celebrated its 100th season. During that historic year the league selected an All-Time Team of 100 former star players. Among them were seven from before football’s free substitution rule (1920–1945), two-way players who were skilled at both offense and defense. They were: Sammy Baugh (Quarterback), Dutch Clark (Running Back), Dan Fortmann (Guard), Mel Hein (Center), Cal Hubbard (Tackle), Don Hutson (Wide Receiver) and Bill Hewitt (Defensive End).
There were more than just seven great players from those years, when men in leather helmets played multiple positions on dirt fields for modest salaries. This book ranks the NFL’s top two-way players, with detailed biographies and analysis by their contemporaries.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Chris Willis
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 312
Bibliographic Info: 51 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9132-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5064-7
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Preface 1
Introduction 17
No. 1. Dutch Clark 34
No. 2. Don Hutson 44
No. 3. Sammy Baugh 52
No. 4. Mel Hein 60
No. 5. Guy Chamberlin 68
No. 6. Bronko Nagurski 73
No. 7. Verne Lewellen 79
No. 8. Sid Luckman 85
No. 9. Cal Hubbard 92
No. 10. Paddy Driscoll 98
No. 11. Pete “Fats” Henry 103
No. 12. Dan Fortmann 110
No. 13. Clarke Hinkle 115
No. 14. Roy “Link” Lyman 120
No. 15. Bill Hewitt 125
No. 16. Mike Michalske 131
No. 17. Benny Friedman 135
No. 18. Ernie Nevers 139
No. 19. Cliff Battles 147
No. 20. Ken Strong 152
No. 21. Johnny “Blood” McNally 158
No. 22. Red Grange 163
No. 23. Fritz Pollard 168
No. 24. Albert “Turk” Edwards 175
No. 25. Ox Emerson 179
No. 26. Arnie Herber 184
No. 27. George Trafton 188
No. 28. Ray Flaherty 192
No. 29. Clyde “Bulldog” Turner 198
No. 30. Tuffy Leemans 204
No. 31. Duke Slater 208
No. 32. Ward Cuff 213
No. 33. George Musso 218
No. 34. Joe Stydahar 223
No. 35. George Christensen 226
No. 36. LaVern “Lavvie” Dilweg 230
No. 37. Joe Kopcha 233
No. 38. Cecil Isbell 238
No. 39. Jack McBride 243
No. 40. Red Dunn 247
No. 41. Ed Danowski 251
No. 42. Ace Parker 256
No. 43. Charley Brock 261
No. 44. Glenn Presnell 266
No. 45. Roy “Father” Lumpkin 272
The Best of the Rest 278
Final Analysis 281
Appendix I: The Author’s All-Time Two-Way Teams 283
Appendix II: Historical Sources of NFL All-Pro and All-Time Teams, 1920–1945 285
Chapter Notes 291
Bibliography 301
Index 303
Book Reviews & Awards
• “Willis does an excellent job putting together his list of the best players in The NFL’s 60-Minute Men. It is thoroughly researched and he lays out his case for each player. This is a good book for those interested in learning more about the players from the first few decades of the NFL.”—Ken Crippen, founder, lead instructor, and podcaster at the Football Learning Academy
• “[Willis is] a pro football encyclopedia … To describe [this work] as comprehensive would be an understatement. … impeccable research … Best of all, the book is entertaining, with most of the chapters having photos to accompany the text. It’s an educational experience where you’re guided through an era too often forgotten, but it doesn’t read like a textbook. … recommended … if you care about NFL history, you should read [Willis’s] latest work”—Talk of Fame TWO
