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--- 1960_news [2025/05/30 14:33] – [In Print] ehaight
+++ 1960_news [2025/08/17 18:26] (current) – [In Print] ehaight
@@ Line 272: / Line 272: @@
 They had no coaches, no players, and no idea where they might play their games, but they had a team. The AFL said the signing rights to college players drafted by the Minneapolis/St Paul team would be transferred to Oakland, but other AFL teams had already signed some of them in the interim and it was anyone's guess how that mess might be cleaned up.
+=====Transactions=====
+{{page>transactions#january 30, 1960&noheader}}
 ----
@@ Line 279: / Line 283: @@
 ======January 31, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
+=====In Print=====
-Oakland folks were over the moon about finally becoming a big league city. Their neighbors across the bay, including the 49ers, were a little less enthusiastic.
+====Oakland Tribune====
-=====In Print=====
+**"Man in Street Surprised, Enthusiastic," Herb Michelson, p1**
-**Oakland Tribune**
+Local folks have thoughts about what the team should do next.
-"Man in Street Surprised, Enthusiastic," Herb Michelson, p1\\
+**"Oakland Wins Pro Football Franchise," Scotty Stirling, p1**
-"Oakland Wins Pro Football Franchise," Scotty Stirling, p1\\
-"Kapp Interested in QB Job Here," Ed Schoenfeld, p57\\
-"Owners Expect Costly Fight," Jack Gallagher, p57\\
-"Knowland Hails Grid Team Here," p57\\
-"Owners Enthused by AFL Franchise," p57\\
-"Other Clubs Help Stock Local Team," p57\\
-"Voters May Get Bid for Playing Site," p57\\
-"Quality of Play Determines Gate," Wally Willis, p63\\
-"Dramatic Victory for Local Men," Alan Ward, 63\\
-"Eastbay Citizens Urged to Support Stadium Committee," Alan Ward, p63
-**San Francisco Chronicle**
+Stirling highlighted Barron Hilton's role in getting Oakland a franchise and outlined Joe Foss's rationale for putting a team there. [[Robert Osborne]] touted the value of the franchise to the city and added that a football team needed "football men" to run it.
+**"Kapp Interested in QB Job Here," Ed Schoenfeld, p57**
+Joe Kapp, beloved Cal quarterback and darling of the Canadian Football League said he'd listen to offers, while [[Chet Soda]] said he'd be interested in talking, but not before they hired a GM.
+**"Owners Expect Costly Fight," Jack Gallagher, p57**
+[[Ed McGah]] said owners wouldn't be afraid to spend money and hoped the team could get a stadium in a central county location, perhaps on land he already owne. [[Chet Soda]] said they were already successful businessmen and didn't pursue a team to get rich. [[Harvey Binns]] praised [[Robert Osborne]]'s efforts and said it was a great day for Oakland. [[Wayne Valley]] said it was too early to know anything about anything.
+**"Knowland Hails Grid Team Here," p57**
+Trib owner William Knowland was happy.
+**"Owners Enthused by AFL Franchise," p57**
+Formal public statement by the new owners full of happy and hope.
+**"Other Clubs Help Stock Local Team," p57**
+The other seven teams would each give up a few players well down their respective depth charts to jump start the Oakland effort.
+**"Voters May Get Bid for Playing Site," p57**
+Locals were mostly resigned to the idea that the team would have to play in either Kezar or Candlestick (both, as it turned out) in the early days, but were enthusiastic about building their very own multi-sport stadium in Oakland. Six long years later and with threats of relocation in the meantime, they would finally get there. Nothing lasts forever.
+**"Quality of Play Determines Gate," Wally Willis, p63**
+ers owner Victor Morabito was philosophical about the news.
+**"Dramatic Victory for Local Men," Alan Ward, 63**
+Columnist told the story of the gathering of the owners as a Soda-led effort.
+**"Eastbay Citizens Urged to Support Stadium Committee," p63**
+State legislator Don Mulford led the exhortation. The hope that Cal would let the team use their stadium for a while would be breathlessly bruited about over the next couple of weeks, but Mulford said it wasn't going to happen.
+====San Francisco Chronicle====
 "Who's Got Time to Yawn?," Art Rosenbaum, p29\\
@@ Line 307: / Line 339: @@
 "Oakland Backed by $30 Million", p30
-**San Francisco Examiner**
+====San Francisco Examiner====
 "Oakland Lands AFL Team," Don Selby, p41\\
@@ Line 319: / Line 351: @@
 ======February 1, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-Right from the beginning, everyone's favorite for the head coaching job was local man, Eddie Erdelatz. He had been in the running for the open job at Cal, but when that went to Marv Levy, there was only one place to go and one man for the job.
 =====In Print=====
+New owners start planning. Haywood has thoughts on everything from coach to team song.
 **Oakland Tribune**
-"Erdelatz Tabbed for Oakland Job," Ray Haywood, p37
+"Oakland Pro Team Sets First Meeting," Scotty Stirling, 37\\
+"Erdelatz Tabbed for Oakland Job," Ray Haywood, 37\\
+"Making Plans," photo, 39
 **San Francisco Chronicle**
@@ Line 345: / Line 380: @@
 ======February 2, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-It was still early days yet, though [[Chet Soda]] was starting to assert dominance over the group. Meanwhile, the San Francisco snark machine was in full cry.
 =====In Print=====
+Pols happy. Owners want "big names" for GM and coach. Local architect says "Candlestick is ideal for football." Contra Costa County says, "play here!"
 **Concord Transcript**
@@ Line 358: / Line 393: @@
 "Solons Voice Joy at Pro Grid Future," 4\\
-"Experts to Aid Local Grid Club," 33"
+"Experts to Aid Local Grid Club," 33"\\
+"Statistics Show Bank Top Fielder," 38\\
+"Contra Costa Bidding for Stadium," 41
 **San Francisco Chronicle**
@@ Line 381: / Line 418: @@
 ======February 3, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-Sure they didn't have players or coaches, but those guys grow on trees. A stadium to play in is a little harder to come by. Kezar and Candlestick in San Francisco were on offer, but that idea stuck hard in the craw of the Oakland gang, and there was a perfectly fine venue on the University of California campus in Berkeley, just north of town. Problem was, Cal wanted nothing to do with professional sports on campus. That didn't stop everyone from pleading with them, though, including the members of the state legislature.
+=====In Print=====
-=====In Print=====
+Everybody in the state but Cal wants the team to play in Berkeley. Haywood says the whole town is excited, including his barber.
 **Oakland Tribune**
@@ Line 413: / Line 449: @@
 ======February 4, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-The Tribune reported, excitedly, that the team had hired former University of San Francisco athletic director Jimmy Needles to lead the effort to find a general manager and coach. [[Chet Soda]] later refuted the story, but it did highlight the lack of sports executive experience among the ownership. Not that they were completely in the dark. [[Don Blessing]] had been an Olympic gold medalist and [[Wayne Valley]] had played college football for Oregon State in the 1930s. [[Charles Harney]] had even been the de facto AD at USF himself for a while in the '40s, but none of them had any link to college or pro ball in its current form. Quite possibly the person with the most knowledge of the current state of pro football was [[Harvey Binns]], who was a stalwart 49ers booster, hosting many of the team's parties at his restaurant, The House of Harvey, and he was chummy with their quarterback, YA Tittle, to boot.
 =====In Print=====
+City of Oakland pursues stadium plan. Stirling says team has hired former USF AD to help with personnel search, though Soda later denies report. Haywood accuses Cal of being mean.
 **Oakland Tribune**
@@ Line 424: / Line 460: @@
 "State Senate Also Urges Use of UC Stadium by Oakland Team," 22\\
 "Cal Needs Good Neighbor Policy," Ray Haywood, 49\\
-"Pro Grid Club Picks First Official," Scotty Stirling, 49
+"Pro Grid Club Picks First Official," Scotty Stirling, 49\\
+"Resolution on UC Stadium Use Held Up," 49
 **San Francisco Chronicle**
@@ Line 442: / Line 479: @@
 ======February 5, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-Everyone was sure Eddie Erdelatz was going to be the coach, but the team was playing it cool.
 =====In Print=====
+Erdelatz front-runner for coach. Heywood continues to complain about Cal decision makers. San Leandro wants Cal to allow use of stadium. Ward suggests Calistoga as training site.
 **Oakland Tribune**
@@ Line 452: / Line 489: @@
 "Two Sites Studied for Sports Bowl," 1\\
 "San Leandro C of C Backs Use of Bowl," 43\\
+"Cal Acts Fast--On Wrong Things, Ray Heywood, 43\\
+"Cal Coach Hunt May Be Ending, 43\\
 "Calistoga Seeks Locals for Drills," Alan Ward, 44
@@ Line 476: / Line 515: @@
 ======February 6, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-The Oakland folks were going to at least get a chance to plead their case for the use of the stadium to the Cal regents, futile though the effort may be.
 =====In Print=====
+Cal stadium hearing set for Feb 19.
 **Oakland Tribune**
@@ Line 501: / Line 540: @@
 =====In Print=====
+Stirling says report that Erdelatz had signed with team false. First mention of team attorney William Hayes. Candlestick architect plugs use of stadium for football.
 **Oakland Tribune**
 "Oakland Pros, Erdelatz Huddle," Scotty Stirling, 54\\
-"Cal Coach Must Weather Jibes," Alan Ward, 54
+"Cal Coach Must Weather Jibes," Alan Ward, 54\\
+"Shocked 'Old Blues' Decide to Go with Coach Marv Levy," 60
 **San Francisco Chronicle**
@@ Line 518: / Line 560: @@
 ======February 8, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
+=====News=====
 The team named [[Chet Soda]] general manager and put him at the head of a three-man hiring committee that also included [[Robert Osborne]] and [[Wayne Valley]]. Soda's position was possibly on an interim basis, but it further enhanced his role as the leading figure of the eight-man ownership group.
@@ Line 524: / Line 566: @@
 =====In Print=====
-**Berkeley Gazette**
+Soda appointments.
-"So We Hear," Kacy Ward, 11
 **Oakland Tribune**
 "Soda GM of Oakland Pros," Scotty Stirling, 37
+**Berkeley Gazette**
+"So We Hear," Kacy Ward, 11
 **San Francisco Examiner**
@@ Line 542: / Line 586: @@
 ======February 9, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
+=====News=====
-To the surprise of no one, the team hired Eddie Erdelatz to be their first head coach. Erdelatz had plenty of local ties having been born and raised in the Bay Area. He attended college at St Mary's, where he starred at end on the team before a couple of freak knee injuries curtailed his career. He had been a defensive assistant with the 49ers under Buck Shaw in the old All-America Conference and was noted for his pioneering use of line stunts. His chief claim to fame came when he became the head coach at Navy in 1950. For the next nine season, he led the Middies from being a sad sack also-ran to becoming a national collegiate power, earning wins in the Sugar and Cotton Bowls. A falling-out with Academy brass led him to resign after the 1958 season. He had been a top candidate for the Cal job earlier in the year, but was passed over for Marv Levy, freeing him up to go pro.
+To the surprise of no one, the team hired [[Eddie Erdelatz]] to be their first head coach. Erdelatz had plenty of local ties having been born and raised in the Bay Area. He attended college at St Mary's, where he starred at end on the team before a couple of freak knee injuries curtailed his career. He had been a defensive assistant with the 49ers under Buck Shaw in the old All-America Conference and was noted for his pioneering use of line stunts. His chief claim to fame came when he became the head coach at Navy in 1950. For the next nine season, he led the Middies from being a sad sack also-ran to becoming a national collegiate power, earning wins in the Sugar and Cotton Bowls. A falling-out with Academy brass led him to resign after the 1958 season. He had been a top candidate for the Cal job earlier in the year, but was passed over for Marv Levy, freeing him up to go pro.
 =====In Print=====
-**Alameda Times-Star**
+Erdelatz hired.
-"Eddie Erdelatz Named Oakland Pro Football Coach," 7
 **Oakland Tribune**
@@ Line 556: / Line 598: @@
 "Ed Erdelatz Head Coach of Oakland Pros," 1\\
 "Pros Name Erdelatz Coach," Scotty Stirling, 37\\
-"Erdelatz One of Top US Coaches," Ed Schoenfeld, 37
+"Erdelatz One of Top US Coaches," Ed Schoenfeld, 37\\
+"New Oakland Coach," photo, 37\\
+"New General Manager," photo, 37
 **San Francisco Chronicle**
@@ Line 565: / Line 609: @@
 "Soda Gets Bay Grid Position," 43
+**Alameda Times-Star**
+"Eddie Erdelatz Named Oakland Pro Football Coach," 7
 **San Mateo Times**
@@ Line 581: / Line 629: @@
 =====In Print=====
-**Contra Costa Times**
+Jorge hired. Ward impressed by owners' acumen.
-"Is Obtaining 'Oaks' Worth 60,000 People?," Steve Ames, 15
 **Oakland Tribune**
@@ Line 590: / Line 636: @@
 "UC Regents Face Only Specific Issue in Use of Football Stadium", 18\\
 "Jorge Joins Erdelatz Here," Jack Gallagher, 45\\
+"Looking Forward," photo, 45\\
+"Happy with New Job," photo, 45\\
 "Oakland Owners Pros at Meeting," Alan Ward, 47
+**Contra Costa Times**
+"Is Obtaining 'Oaks' Worth 60,000 People?," Steve Ames, 15
 **Palo Alto Times**
@@ Line 630: / Line 682: @@
 ======February 11, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-The team was now looking for an assistant general manager. [[Chet Soda]] said they were hoping to find someone with football experience, though they didn't have anyone specific in mind.
 =====In Print=====
-**Alameda Times Star**
+Soda wants "football man" for assistant GM.
-"Erdelatz Happy Man in New Coaching Job," Jack Hanley, 8
 **Oakland Tribune**
 "Grid Pros Continuing Search for Assistant GM," Jack Gallagher, 53
+**Alameda Times Star**
+"Erdelatz Happy Man in New Coaching Job," Jack Hanley, 8
 **Redwood City Tribune**
@@ Line 667: / Line 719: @@
 ======February 12, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-[[Eddie Erdelatz]] said it would be at least a week before he would hire any additional assistant coaches.
+=====In Print=====
-=====In Print=====
+Erdelatz wants four-man staff.
 **Oakland Tribune**
 "Erdelatz Task Ahead," 18\\
-"Erdelatz May Hire Second Navy Coach, 41
+"Erdelatz May Hire Second Navy Coach, 41\\
+"Football Talk," photo, 41
 **San Francisco Chronicle**
@@ Line 690: / Line 742: @@
 ======February 14, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-The team now had actual offices to work out of at the First Western Bank Building on Broadway in Oakland.
 =====In Print=====
@@ Line 717: / Line 766: @@
 ======February 15, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-Lamar Hunt said he doubted the Oakland team would get approval to use Cal's stadium and that they would probably play in Candlestick Park.
 =====In Print=====
@@ Line 734: / Line 781: @@
 ======February 16, 1960======
-=====The Big Stories=====
+=====News=====
-The team announced that ticket prices for the 1960 season would be $4.50 for single-game tickets and $31.50 for a season ticket package. The other big news was the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners voting to make a pair of sites available for the construction of a sports stadium, contingent upon voter approval of a bond measure to pay for the facility.
+The team announced that ticket prices for the 1960 season would be $4.50 for single-game tickets and $31.50 for a season ticket package.
 =====In Print=====
@@ Line 781: / Line 828: @@
 ======February 18, 1960======
-=====The Big News=====
-The team's desire to use Cal's stadium met with rejection from nearly everyone north of the Oakland city line, including the Berkeley City Council and Chamber of Commerce, but the Oakland folks were still plugging away. Next up was a presentation tomorrow to the Cal Board of Regents, with everyone from the team's owners to the top executives of the city of Oakland and Alameda County to various Oakland business leaders making their plea.
 =====In Print=====
@@ Line 798: / Line 843: @@
 ======February 19, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
+=====News=====
 Oakland politicians and business leaders put together a "13-point plan" intended to persuade the Cal Board of Regents to let the team make Memorial Stadium their temporary home. They argued that other schools have let pro ball on campus without triggering the end of the world and that Cal was being hidebound and, well, un-neighborly. The board members weren't moved and rejected the proposal by a 21-3 vote.
@@ Line 823: / Line 868: @@
 ======February 20, 1960======
-=====The Big Story=====
-Now that the only reasonable East Bay playing site had been ruled out, the team had no choice but to look to San Francisco for help. That meant either Kezar Stadium, the home of the 49ers, or Candlestick Park, newly-built home of the Giants. Robert Osborne's stated preference was for Candlestick, though no football had ever been played there.
 =====In Print=====
@@ Line 842: / Line 884: @@
 ======February 21, 1960======
+=====In Print=====
+**Oakland Tribune**
+"Regent Ruling No Shock to Owners," Alan Ward, 45
 ======February 22, 1960======
 ======February 23, 1960======
-=====News=====
+=====The Big News=====
-The team announced that co-owner [[Art Beckett]] was relinquishing his share of the team. Beckett’s share was taken up by [[Roger Lapham]], Jr., an insurance executive whose father had been San Francisco’s mayor in the 1940s.
+[[Art Beckett]] was out. He'd been named among the eight men to whom the franchise had been awarded, but he'd never made any public appearances or statements in regard to the team. There was no hint of why he was selling out. Was it money? Disinterest? Incompatibility? Who knows? His association with the team was never mentioned again in the press, even at the time of his death. Taking over his share of the team was [[Roger Lapham]], Jr., an insurance executive whose father had been San Francisco's mayor in the 1940s.
 ----
@@ Line 856: / Line 903: @@
 ======February 24, 1960======
-=====News=====
+=====The Big Story=====
-The Hayward City Council approved a measure that would put a stadium bond measure on the ballot in April. The measure would allow the city to issue $7 million in bonds with the express goal of building a place for Oakland’s team to play.
+The AFL owners announced were coming to town for a league meeting March 3-4. A substantial portion of their agenda would be coming up with a plan to stock the Oakland franchise with players. The team had signing rights to the Minneapolis/St Paul draft picks, but several of those players had been signed by other AFL teams in the meantime and things were bound to get a bit messy.
 ----
@@ Line 872: / Line 919: @@
 ======February 28, 1960======
-=====News=====
+=====The Big Story=====
-The Tribune reported that former Stanford star receiver and Oakland High School graduate Chris Burford said he would be interested in playing for Oakland. Burford, a member of the Dallas Texans, said Oakland’s hiring of [[Eddie Erdelatz]] was the big draw.
+Stanford receiver and Oakland High School graduate went on record saying he was interested in playing for Oakland, despite being under contract to the Dallas Texans. Texans owner Lamar Hunt said Burford told him he didn't want to play in Oakland and asked him not to be traded to them. Burford acknowledged saying that, but added that Oakland's hiring of [[Eddie Erdelatz]] caused a change of heart.
 ----
@@ Line 882: / Line 929: @@
 ======February 29, 1960======
+=====The Big Story=====
+The Oakland Chamber of Commerce was looking forward to wining and dining AFL commissioner Joe Foss at a dinner in his honor on March 3, the first evening of the league's meetings in Oakland.
 ======March 1, 1960======

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