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1961_news

Table of Contents

January 1, 1961

News

• Halfback Pervis Atkins, whose AFL signing rights had been awarded to the Raiders after the short-lived Minneapolis/St. Paul franchise had drafted him as a redshirt out of New Mexico State, signed with the Rams

Transactions

• The team signed a pair of draft choices, their first from the most recent draft: 25th-round pick, end Paul Yanke of Northwestern, and 27th-pick, end Clar Appledoorn of San Jose State


January 2, 1961

News

• In a long-anticipated move, Chet Soda stepped down as general manager, but said he had no “immediate plans” to sell his share of the team

• Head coach Eddie Erdelatz quickly disavowed any interest in the post, saying he wasn't ready to quit coaching and didn't think a person could do both jobs well at the same time

• Assistant general manager Bud Hastings was thought to have the inside track to be Soda's replacement


January 3, 1961

News

• A day after resigning from the general manger's post, Chet Soda said he thought his successor should be “a real sharp businessman” who would institute a “one hundred percent austerity program for the next two years” to ensure the survival of the team

• The team's first-round draft pick, tackle Joe Rutgens of Illinois, signed with the Redskins


January 4, 1961

News

• According to a report from Scotty Stirling in the Tribune, the team had begun a major reorganization at the top following the resignation of general manager and co-owner Chet Soda

• Per the report, Ed McGah, Robert Osborne, and Wayne Valley had taken more dominant roles, with McGah being installed as interim president and Bud Hastings named as the interim general manager

• The team's 3rd round draft pick, linebacker Myron Pottios out of Notre Dame, signed with the Steelers


January 5, 1961

News

• The team's sixth-round draft pick, end Bobby Crespino of Mississippi, signed with the Browns

• The Browns also signed another Mississippi end, Johnny Brewer, whose signing rights had been transferred to the Raiders after he'd been a redshirt pick of the short-lived Minneapolis/St. Paul franchise

• The Raiders' 22nd-round pick, Idaho State guard Blayne Jones, signed with the Montreal Alouettes


January 6, 1961

News

• One of the team's two eighth-round draft picks, fullback Tom Watkins of Iowa State, turned down the team's contract offer and stated his desire to sign with the Browns, who had picked him in the 15th round of the NFL draft


January 7, 1961

January 8, 1961

News

• The team’s eighth-round draft pick, Mississippi guard Richard Price, signed with the Cowboys.


January 9, 1961

News

  • The team's 28th-round draft pick, Oregon quarterback Dave Grosz, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders

January 10, 1961

January 11, 1961

News

• Two of the team's draft picks signed with the Cowboys: Clemson quarterback Lowndes Shingler (9th), and Stanford halfback Skip Face (30th).


January 12, 1961

News

• Responding to reports that the team hadn't had much success signing draft picks, player personnel director Wes Fry hastened to point out that the team had “signed about seven players” and that things were “looking up”


January 13, 1961

January 14, 1961

News

• A report appeared in Chicago newspapers that White Sox owner Bill Veeck had bought the Raiders for $175,000 and planned to relocate them to Chicago

• Veeck and several Raider officials, including Wayne Valley and Chet Soda, quickly said the story was nonsense

Roger Lapham didn't confirm the story, but did say the team was “for sale at the right price”

• Newly-installed team president Ed McGah added that the team had no intention of moving from Oakland, but did admit that some of the owners wanted to sell out

• He also said that the team's articles of incorporation required that any sale of stock be approved by the entire board of directors, consisting of the team's owners along with attorney William Hayes


January 15, 1961

News

• After a contentious seven-hour meeting, and with the in-person mediation of AFL commissioner Joe Foss and two lawyers for the league, the team announced that five of the eight owners had sold their share of the team to the other three

Don Blessing, Charles Harney, Chet Soda, Roger Lapham, and Wallace Marsh were getting out, leaving Ed McGah, Robert Osborne, and Wayne Valley in control

• Foss said afterward that if the owners couldn't come to an agreement, he was authorized by the league to remove the franchise from their control

• Per the agreement, McGah would remain as president, with Valley to become vice-president, and Osborne assuming the role of treasurer


January 16, 1961

News

• More details emerged from yesterday's major team reorganization

• The major sticking point between the two sides was the AFL's anti-trust suit against the NFL which, if the AFL were to win, could get the league's owners upward of $10 million in a settlement

• The remaining owners—Ed McGah, Robert Osborne, and Wayne Valley—objected to the departing owners partaking of a settlement if they were no longer contributing to the legal costs of the action

• AFL commissioner Joe Foss said there were four groups, representing three different cities, that were interested in taking over the Raiders franchise if the current owners had been unable to come to an agreement

Transactions

• The team signed their 15th-round draft pick, receiver Bob Coolbaugh from Richmond


January 17, 1961

News

• The team's 18th-round draft pick, Illinois halfback Joe Krakoski, signed with the Redskins

Transactions

• The team signed their 13th-round draft choice, receiver Jerry Burch from Georgia Tech

• And, finally, they signed free agent halfback Oneal Cuttery from Castlemont High in Oakland and San Jose State


January 18, 1961

January 19, 1961

News

  • The team's 29th-round draft pick, Indiana tackle Ed Morris, signed with the Browns on or before this date

January 20, 1961

January 21, 1961

News

  • The team's 20th-round draft pick, Grambling fullback Preston Powell, signed with the Browns

January 22, 1961

January 23, 1961

Transactions

• Defensive backfield coach Ed Cody resigned to take a similar position under Jim Sutherland at Washington State University


January 24, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed their 21st-round draft pick, quarterback Mike Jones from San Jose State

• They also signed their 23rd-round pick, guard Roger Fisher from Utah State

• Lastly, they signed free agent guard Arnold Metcalf from Oregon Tech


January 25, 1961

News

  • The team's 24th-round pick, Miami (FL) guard Jack Novak, signed with the Packers

January 26, 1961

January 27, 1961

News

• Baseball's American League identified Oakland as a likely site for expansion by 1964, giving more impetus to the city's effort to build a multi-purpose stadium and give the Raiders a place to play in their nominal home

Transactions

• In their biggest signing of the off-season so far, the team inked their 2nd-round draft pick, halfback George Fleming out of Washington


January 28, 1961

January 29, 1961

January 30, 1961

News

• Offensive backfield coach Tommy Kalmanir revealed that he had been recruited by an NFL team, but decided to stay with the Raiders after they offered him an increase in pay


January 30, 1961

February 1, 1961

News

• Offensive line coach Ernie Jorge announced that he was stepping down from the post, citing his dislike of the “length of the pro season, the number of games, and the traveling”

• He hadn't been actively coaching the team since suffering a heart attack in late September


February 2, 1961

February 3, 1961

News

• There was a rumor circulating that the team was interested in signing former 49ers halfback Hugh McElhenny for the 1962 season

• The team was quick to disavow such rumors, saying it would constitute tampering, which was forbidden by AFL rules


February 4, 1961

News

• In an echo of yesterday's story that the team was interested in halfback Hugh McElhenny, today's rumor was that the team was looking to sign former Cal quarterback Joe Kapp

• Kapp had been the subject of similar rumors last season, but he was under contract to Calgary in the CFL and the AFL's rule against tampering applied to the CFL as well as the NFL


February 5, 1961

February 6, 1961

February 7, 1961

News

• Interim general manager Bud Hastings was working on putting together a preseason schedule and said the team was still committed to playing at Candlestick Park for the 1961 season


February 8, 1961

News

• Former general manager and team co-owner Chet Soda said that previous reports saying that the team had lost about $400,000, or about $50,000 per owner, last season were overstating the figure

• By his calculations, including what he called typical business practices, he had only lost about $15,000 and thought that his fellow owners had lost about the same amount

• The Raiders and the 49ers announced they would compete against each other in a basketball game game scheduled for February 21 on a court in Pleasanton


February 9, 1961

February 10, 1961

News

• The team's 16th round draft choice, halfback Charley Fuller of San Francisco State, was signed by the 49ers


February 11, 1961

News

• Guard Tony Polychronis out of Utah, who had been drafted by Minneapolis/St. Paul last year as a redshirt, and whose signing rights had been awarded to the Raiders, signed with Toronto of the CFL


February 12, 1961

February 13, 1961

February 14, 1961

February 15, 1961

News

• The team promoted Bud Hastings to general manager, removing the interim tag that had been in place since Chet Soda stepped down on January 5.

• The team hired former Cardinals assistant Bob Maddock to coach the offensive line, replacing Ernie Jorge, who resigned on February 1.


February 16, 1961

February 17, 1961

February 18, 1961

February 19, 1961

February 20, 1961

News

• ABC Television announced that, because of improving television ratings of AFL games over the course of the 1960 season, they were increasing each team's 1961 take from $185,000 to $215,000


February 21, 1961

News

• In the first-ever contest of any kind between the Raiders and the 49ers, the 49ers beat the Raiders in charity basketball contest, 65-48, in Pleasanton.

George Fields led the Raiders in scoring with 14 points.

Transactions

• The team signed three free agents: halfback Clive Bullian from San Jose State, center Harrison Rece from Trinity College in Texas, and tackle Bob Voight from Los Angeles State.


February 22, 1961

February 23, 1961

February 24, 1961

February 25, 1961

February 26, 1961

February 27, 1961

February 28, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed a trio of free agents: California halfback Grover Garvin, Cal Poly end John Hardy, and UC Santa Barbara tackle Ray Schaack.

• Hardy was the younger brother of Raiders receiver Charlie Hardy.


March 1, 1961

News

• Scotty Stirling of the Tribune reported that several players—including Wayne Crow, Charlie Hardy, Jack Larscheid, Tom Louderback, and Tony Teresa—were unhappy about their 1961 salaries, citing tiny raises or even pay cuts

• Stirling said that quarterback Tom Flores, on the other hand, had received a sizable increase over his 1960 pay was happy with his situation


March 2, 1961

March 3, 1961

March 4, 1961

News

• General manager Bud Hastings announced the team would open the 1961 preseason by playing the Oilers in Honolulu on an as yet unspecified date

• Halfback Wayne Crow, one of the players mentioned by the Tribune's Scotty Stirling as being at odds with the team over his 1961 salary, said he and the team had worked out their differences and he was now happy with the situation


March 5, 1961

March 6, 1961

March 7, 1961

March 8, 1961

March 9, 1961

News

• The Raiders and the 49ers announced they would play a basketball game on March 15 in the Oakland Auditorium for charity


March 10, 1961

March 11, 1961

March 12, 1961

News

• The AFL began to release official stats from the 1960, starting with the rushing numbers

• The Raiders finished second in the league as a team with a total of 1,786 net yards, or 127.5 yards per game

Tony Teresa finished fifth in the league on an individual basis with 608 yards on 139 carries


March 13, 1961

March 14, 1961

March 15, 1961

News

• In a basketball game played for charity, the 49ers beat the Raiders, 66-44, in the Oakland Auditorium

Charlie Hardy and Jetstream Smith shared top scoring honors for the Raiders with eight points each

• The team hired former Cal ticket department employee Al Salisbury to replace Everett Nevin as ticket manager


March 16, 1961

News

• The AFL released their official punt return statistics which showed the Raiders dead last in the league with 5.8 yards per return

Jack Larscheid finished third in the individual rankings at 8.8 yards per return

• Two of the team's draft picks signed with the Vikings: 10th-round pick, tackle Ken Petersen out of Utah, and 11th-round pick Doug Mayberry out of Utah State

Transactions

• The team signed four free agents: defensive back Bo Bankston out of the University of New Mexico, tackle John Freim from Adams State in Colorado, end Fred Tunnicliffe out of UC-Santa Barbara, and tight end Charles Moore from Northeastern State in Oklahoma

• Moore had been in camp with the team last year before being waived in early August


March 17, 1961

March 18, 1961

March 19, 1961

News

• The AFL released their official pass receiving statistics with the Raiders' Billy Lott and his 49 catches good for a tie for sixth place


March 20, 1961

News

• The team began their spring season ticket blitz today

• The team hoped to sell as many as 15,000 tickets for the 1961 season, pricing them at $28.00 each with no obligation to purchase preseason tickets


March 21, 1961

News

• The AFL released their official kickoff return statistics with the Raiders’ Jack Larscheid finishing third with a 28.4 yards per return average


March 22, 1961

March 23, 1961

March 24, 1961

March 25, 1961

March 26, 1961

March 27, 1961

March 28, 1961

March 29, 1961

March 30, 1961

March 31, 1961

April 1, 1961

April 2, 1961

April 3, 1961

April 4, 1961

Transactions

• The team traded fullback Billy Lott and quarterback Babe Parilli to the Patriots for halfback Dick Christy, fullback Alan Miller, and defensive tackle Hal Smith


April 5, 1961

April 6, 1961

April 7, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed five free agents: halfback Bob Cabanyog out of Pacific, defensive back Ted Cano from Washington State, guard Tom Cousineau from Indiana, halfback Herm Urenda from Pacific, and defensive lineman Dave Williams from Sacramento City College

• Cousineau had been with the team in training camp last year, but left partway through to take care of a prior commitment


April 8, 1961

April 9, 1961

News

• The team hired former Pacific assistant George Dickson to be their defensive backfield coach


April 10, 1961

April 11, 1961

April 12, 1961

April 13, 1961

April 14, 1961

April 15, 1961

April 16, 1961

April 17, 1961

April 18, 1961

April 19, 1961

April 20, 1961

April 21, 1961

April 22, 1961

April 23, 1961

April 24, 1961

April 25, 1961

April 26, 1961

April 27, 1961

April 28, 1961

News

• The AFL announced their schedule for the 1961 season

• The Raiders would open on September 9 on the road against the Oilers and close the season on either December 16 or 17, at home against the Oilers

• The Raiders beat the 49ers, 37-36, in roller derby

Tom Flores led all scorers with 13 points


April 29, 1961

April 30, 1961

May 1, 1961

May 2, 1961

May 3, 1961

May 4, 1961

May 5, 1961

May 6, 1961

May 7, 1961

News

  • The team's 12th-round draft pick, guard Bob Schmitz out of Montana state, signed with the Steelers

May 8, 1961

May 9, 1961

May 10, 1961

May 11, 1961

May 12, 1961

News

  • The team's 7th-round draft pick, halfback Ray Purdin out of Northwestern, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders

May 13, 1961

News

• In a rematch, the 49ers beat the Raiders, 21-15, in roller derby

Wayne Crow led all Raiders in scoring with four points


May 14, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed free agent University of New Mexico guard Glen Hakes on or before this date.

May 15, 1961

May 16, 1961

News

• The team announced they would play the Chargers in a preseason game on August 27, in San Diego, their first appearance in that city


May 17, 1961

May 18, 1961

Injury Updates

• The team’s 25th-round draft choice, defensive end Paul Yanke of Northwestern, injured his knee in an alumni game and would be out for the season

• Recently-signed free agent guard Glen Hakes also injured his knee in an alumni game though his prognosis was yet to be determined


May 19, 1961

May 20, 1961

Transactions

• Defensive end Paul Yanke, the team’s 25th-round draft pick announced he would no longer pursue a pro football career after injuring his knee two days ago in an alumni game.


May 21, 1961

News

• At a press conference, general manager Bud Hastings said the team was in a “sound financial state” and would only improve after a stadium was built in Oakland


May 22, 1961

May 23, 1961

May 24, 1961

May 25, 1961

May 26, 1961

News

• General manager Bud Hastings said the team was planning to negotiate with Calgary of the Canadian Football League to acquire former University of California quarterback Joe Kapp

• Kapp had announced his intent to leave Calgary after the 1961 season


May 27, 1961

News

• Following reports that the Raiders were interested in Calgary quarterback Joe Kapp, Calgary general manager Jim Finks said his team had exercised Kapp’s contract option and would not be negotiating with the Raiders


May 28, 1961

May 29, 1961

News

• AFL president Milt Woodard revealed that the CFL’s Calgary team had filed tampering charges with the league over the Raiders’ interest in their quarterback Joe Kapp

• Woodard’s announcement included the news that the league had exonerated the Raiders of the charges

Transactions

• The team signed a pair of free agents: end Earl Randolph out of Arizona State-Flagstaff and tackle Julius Varnado of San Francisco State


May 30, 1961

May 31, 1961

June 1, 1961

News

• The team announced they had finalized their four-game exhibition schedule: Aug 11 vs Oilers in Honolulu, Aug 19 vs Broncos in Spokane, Aug 27 at Chargers, and Sep 4 vs Broncos in Kezar Stadium

• They also announced training camp would open on July 22 in Santa Cruz


June 2, 1961

June 3, 1961

June 4, 1961

June 5, 1961

June 6, 1961

June 7, 1961

News

• Scotty Stirling of the Tribune reported that Steelers cornerback Fred Williamson was playing out his option with Pittsburgh and said he’d like to play for the Raiders

• Williamson had also played with the 49ers and resided in Berkeley

• General manager Bud Hastings said the team would negotiate with Williamson as soon as they were permitted to do so


June 8, 1961

June 9, 1961

News

• The AFL awarded the team a pair of 12th-round picks in the 1962 draft as compensation for players who had been drafted by Minneapolis/St. Paul but whose signing rights had not been awarded to the team in March 1960

• Those players were halfback CJ Alexander, who had gone to the Patriots, and defensive end Jim O’Brien, who had gone to the Bills


June 10, 1961

News

• In their third and final rink meeting of the offseason, the Raiders beat the 49ers in roller derby, 11-9


June 11, 1961

June 12, 1961

June 13, 1961

June 14, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed a pair of ex-Cal Bears free agents: linebacker Dick Carlsen and guard Jim Green


June 15, 1961

June 16, 1961

June 17, 1961

News

• The Raiders and 49ers took each other on in bowling at Rheem Bowl in Moraga, with the 49ers coming out on top, 2 games to 1


June 18, 1961

June 19, 1961

News

• Team bandleader Del Courtney announced the formation of a partnership with the Oakland Ballet Company to form a cheerleader/dance troupe to be called the Raiderettes.

Raoul Pause would be the cheorographer, Don Ransom would design the costumes, and award-winning cheerleader, 15-year-old Diane Shelton, would be the on-field leader of the group.

• Two of the team's draft picks signed with the Browns: Iowa State halfback Tom Watkins (8th round) and Indiana tackle Ed Morris (29th round).


June 20, 1961

June 21, 1961

June 22, 1961

June 23, 1961

June 24, 1961

June 25, 1961

June 26, 1961

June 27, 1961

News

• Ticket manager Al Salisbury left the team’s employ sometime before this date.


June 28, 1961

Transactions

• The team’s fourth-round draft pick, Northwestern defensive back Elbert Kimbrough, signed with the Rams


June 29, 1961

June 30, 1961

July 1, 1961

July 2, 1961

July 3, 1961

July 4, 1961

July 5, 1961

July 6, 1961

July 7, 1961

July 8, 1961

July 9, 1961

Transactions

Don Manoukian informed the team he was retiring from pro football to pursue a full-time career in pro wrestling


July 10, 1961

July 11, 1961

July 12, 1961

News

• The team agreed to contract terms with guard John Dittrich, quarterback Tom Flores, defensive end Charley Powell, and halfback Tony Teresa


July 13, 1961

July 14, 1961

Transactions

• The team acquired linebacker Al Bansavage from the Chargers for an unspecified future draft choice


July 15, 1961

July 16, 1961

July 17, 1961

July 18, 1961

July 19, 1961

July 20, 1961

July 21, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed a pair of free agents: Fresno State quarterback Nick Papac and New Mexico State halfback Ed Whittle

• Tackle Ray Schaack told the team he would not report to training camp, preferring to focus on his education


July 22, 1961

News

• Training camp opened in Santa Cruz with the players lining up for physical exams

Transactions

• The team waived tackle Dalton Truax and defensive tackle Don Deskins

• Two players informed the team they were not reporting to training camp: defensive tackle Ron Warzeka and end Fred Tunnicliffe


July 23, 1961

July 24, 1961

News

• The team conducted its first workout of camp with the coaching staff putting the players through a series of drills

• The coaches shifted halfback Nyle McFarlane to the defensive secondary

• Bob Brachman of the Examiner reported that the team’s owners—Ed McGah, Robert Osborne, and Wayne Valley—had spent the recent offseason trying to recruit up to 35 investors who would buy a share of the team as limited, non-voting, partners

Injury Updates

• Tackle Paul Oglesby reported a serious back problem with the training staff saying he could miss the entire season as a consequence

• Rookie wide receiver Jerry Burch received a cortisone shot for a hip pointer that was expected to keep him out of practice for an unspecified time


July 25, 1961

July 26, 1961

News

• Center Jim Otto told the team he planned to play out his option in 1961 and jump to the NFL next year.

• Otto cited a salary dispute as the cause with a difference of “several thousand dollars” between each side’s offer.

Transactions

• The team cut five players: running back Bo Bankston, defensive back Clive Bullian, linebacker Dick Carlsen, defensive back Grover Garvin, and defensive back Ed Whittle.

• Defensive tackle Ramon Armstrong informed the team he was retiring from pro football to help out on his father’s ranch in Texas.

Injury Updates

• The team’s medical staff confirmed that tackle Paul Oglesby had a slipped disc in his back and would be out for the season.

• Guard Wayne Hawkins suffered a slight muscle pull and defensive end Charley Powell strained a leg muscle, but neither was expected to miss much time.


July 27, 1961

News

• The coaching staff ran the team through a surprise scrimmage, their first of camp

• Head coach Eddie Erdelatz termed it “not too bad a scrimmage for the first time”

• The coaches promoted John Harris to first-string cornerback

• The Tribune reported that up to 18 players were liable to be called up for military service, including five potential starters: tight end Doug Asad, guard Wayne Hawkins, linebacker Tom Louderback, fullback Alan Miller, and tight end Gene Prebola

Transactions

• The team waived center Roger Fisher, halfback Ted Cano, and receiver Charles Moore

Injury Updates

• Scotty Stirling of the Tribune reported that halfback Tony Teresa had spent a week and a half in the hospital back in June for back pain

• When asked, Teresa said his back was fine in practice, but acted up at night

• Guard Jim Green broke his nose in practice, but the equipment staff put a different facemask on his helmet, and he wasn’t expected to miss any time


July 28, 1961

July 29, 1961

News

• The staff put the players through their second scrimmage of training camp with head coach Eddie Erdelatz calling his team’s performance “not bad”

Injury Updates

• Guard Wayne Hawkins suffered a mild knee injury

• Guard Jim Green suffered a shoulder dislocation, but this was apparently a chronic problem and he was only expected to miss a couple of days


July 30, 1961

News

• It was team photo and timed sprints day so the players were spared practice


July 31, 1961

Transactions

• The team released wide receiver Earl Randolph

• Two players left camp voluntarily: linebacker Tom Cousineau, because of stomach ulcers, and guard Jim Green, who said he didn’t think he could make the team

Injury Updates

• Linebacker Tom Louderback injured his wrist in practice with a prognosis pending until the medical staff could look at x-rays

• Wide receiver Jerry Burch was still out with a hip pointer

• Tackle John Freim injured his ankle, but no estimated time of his return to practice was given

• Quarterback Mike Jones was dealing with a knee injury that the medical staff thought could be career-ending

• Jones tried practicing with a knee brace but it didn’t go well

• Wide receiver Clar Appledoorn pulled cartilage in his rib cage and his potential return would be evaluated in three to four days


August 1, 1961

News

• Head coach Eddie Erdelatz sent a request to the other AFL teams for offensive line help after injuries and retirements left the team with just two guards in camp, John Dittrich and Wayne Hawkins

• AFL commissioner Joe Foss visited the team and said “we feel Oakland has a real potential” going forward, citing area growth and the city’s progress toward building a stadium

Injury Updates

• Linebacker Tom Louderback, dealing with a wrist injury suffered yesterday, was able to practice

• Center Harrison Rece suffered an ankle injury with x-rays showing there was no break


August 2, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed former Michigan halfback Jim Pace

• Pace had been the 49ers first-round pick in 1958, but he was dealing with chronic knee problems

• They signed two additional free agents: defensive end Jim Toon, out of North Carolina A&T, and guard Roger Meitz, from USC and San Leandro High School

• The team waived quarterback Mike Jones and defensive end John Freim


August 3, 1961

News

• The team agreed to contract terms with center Jim Otto, ending his threat to play out his option and join the NFL next year

• They also agreed to terms with linebacker Tom Louderback and halfback Wayne Crow

Transactions

• The team invited former UCLA guard Dick DeBov to camp for a tryout

Injury Updates

• Halfback Jim Pace, signed yesterday, was held out of practice for treatment of a chronic knee problem

• Wide receiver Jerry Burch returned to practice after missing several days with a hip pointer


August 4, 1961

August 5, 1961

Injury Updates

• Halfback Tony Teresa was admitted to the hospital for treatment of his back problem and was expected to stay overnight

• After returning to practice yesterday, wide receiver Jerry Burch missed practice again because of his hip injury

• Halfback Jim Pace continued to be out with a knee problem


August 6, 1961

News

• The players enjoyed a day off while the coaching staff traveled to San Diego to scout both the Chargers and Oilers in an exhibition game.


August 7, 1961

News

• Defensive tackle Bob Voight left the team temporarily to join his US Army reserve unit for two weeks of training

• Second-round draft choice, halfback George Fleming, reported to the team after having been away for the College All-Star game against the NFL champion Eagles

• The coaching staff said they planned to try Fleming out at flanker initially

Injury Updates

• After receiving cortisone and novocaine injections in his back during an overnight stay in the hospital, halfback Tony Teresa returned to practice


August 8, 1961

Transactions

• The team waived defensive back Nyle McFarlane and dismissed guard Dick DeBov from training camp following an unsuccessful tryout.


August 9, 1961

News

• Rookie wide receiver Bob Coolbaugh was tabbed to start in the team’s opening exhibition game against the Oilers in Honolulu

Doug Asad was named first-string tight end ahead of Gene Prebola

Transactions

• Halfback Jim Pace left the team voluntarily after his injured knee didn’t respond adequately to treatment


August 10, 1961

News

• The team was en route to Honolulu to take on the Oilers in tomorrow’s exhibition opener

• The coaching staff shifted linebacker and placekicker Larry Barnes to offensive guard

Transactions

• The team traded tight end Gene Prebola to the Broncos in exchange for guard Willie Smith

• They also added former Broncos cornerback Frank Bernardi as a free agent signing


August 11, 1961

News

• In their preseason opener, the Raiders fell to the Oilers, 35-17, in Honolulu

• Oilers halfback Billy Cannon rushed for 149 yards in the win

• Raiders quarterback Tom Flores suffered a concussion in the first half and was replaced by Nick Papac

Injury Updates

• Linebacker Tom Louderback suffered a thigh bruise

• Defensive tackle Hal Smith suffered a slight shoulder injury


August 12, 1961

News

• AFL commissioner Joe Foss called the Raiders the “potentially hottest franchise in the league” and said the team would stay in Oakland even if the ownership changed


August 13, 1961

News

• The team was en route from Honolulu to Santa Cruz

• Bill Leiser of the Chronicle reported that Raiders co-owner Robert Osborne said he didn’t have “any doubt in the world about having a(n Oakland) stadium for the Raiders in 1964“ and added it was his “personal belief it will be ready for 1963”


August 14, 1961

News

• Head coach Eddie Erdelatz said the team might start George Fleming at flanker against the Broncos on the 19th in Spokane

• He also said they planned to move Carmen Cavalli from the defensive line to offensive tackle and try new guard Willie Smith at defensive end

• Lastly, the team promoted Alan Miller to starting fullback over Jetstream Smith

Injury Updates

• Defensive back John Harris suffered a head laceration that required five stitches to repair, but he wasn’t expected to miss any time as a result


August 15, 1961

News

• Halfback Luther Carr, who was with the team for a cup of coffee last year in training camp, filed suit against the team, claiming medical malpractice related to a back injury he suffered in an exhibition game on August 24 against the Bills

• In the suit, filed with the Alameda County Superior Court, Carr alleged that the team medical staff misdiagnosed the injury that ended his football career and was seeking a total of $258,100, with the $8,100 covering lost salary and the remainder for medical costs and damages

• The suit named the team, Providence Hospital, and team doctor Kendall Small as defendants

• Small responded by saying there were inconsistencies in the suit’s allegations

• General manager Bud Hastings said that the team hadn’t heard from Carr following his injury until now, that the medical costs were covered by the team’s insurance, and that these complaints were usually handled by the commissioner’s office

Transactions

• The team traded halfback Dick Christy to the Titans in exchange for tight end Dave Ross

Injury Updates

• Guard and placekicker Larry Barnes injured a knee but was able to continue practice


August 16, 1961

Injury Updates

• Halfback Wayne Crow missed practice with an infected foot, but was expected to be back on the field tomorrow


August 17, 1961

News

• The coaching staff returned Willie Smith to guard after trying him out on the defensive line for a few days

• New defensive end Jim Toon was expected to start on the 19th against Denver

Injury Updates

• Wide receiver Jerry Burch had finally recovered from his hip pointer and was also expected to play against the Broncos

• After injuring his knee a few days ago, guard and placekicker Larry Barnes was slated to have surgery, which would put him out of commission for anywhere between a month and the entire season

• Halfback George Fleming would take over his kicking duties


August 18, 1961

News

• The team was en route to Spokane where they would play the Broncos tomorrow night


August 19, 1961

News

• On a 90-degree night in Spokane, the Broncos scored 28 second-half points and thumped the Raiders, 48-21

Tom Flores started at quarterback and completed 12 of 23 passes for 163 yards

• His likely backup, Nick Papac, completed 8 of 11 for 99 yards


August 20, 1961

August 21, 1961

News

• Tight end Dave Ross reported to the team following his trade from the Titans on the 15th

Injury Updates

• Halfback Tony Teresa was back in the hospital again for further back treatments


August 22, 1961

News

• After a test run at flanker George Fleming was moved back to halfback behind Jack Larscheid on the depth chart

Herm Urenda was tabbed to take the flanker spot

• Former halfback Luther Carr’s suit against the team for medical malpractice was dismissed without prejudice by the Alameda County Superior Court

• Defensive tackle Bob Voight rejoined the team after a two-week stint with his army reserve unit

Transactions

• The team purchased the contract of defensive tackle Volney Peters from the Chargers for an undisclosed sum

• Tackle Francis Morelli reported to the team as a “player to be named later’’ in the Dick Christy-for-Dave Ross swap with the Titans on the 15th

• The team waived cornerback Bob Cabanyog, guard Roger Meitz, and tackle Dave Williams


August 23, 1961

News

• Defensive tackle Volney Peters, acquired yesterday from his hometown San Diego Chargers, said he wouldn’t report to the Raiders and would retire instead if necessary

• Wide receiver Herm Urenda was drafted by the US military and ordered to report for duty on September 7

• Tight end Doug Asad was also thought likely to be drafted for service with more details expected to be available within a couple of weeks

George Fields moved from defensive tackle to left defensive end ahead of Jim Toon

Bob Voight moved in at left defensive tackle, with Hal Smith taking over the right side

• Newcomer Frank Bernardi was installed as first-string cornerback ahead of Eddie Macon

Transactions

• The team signed cornerback Fred Williamson and placed him on the depth chart behind Bernardi

• Williamson had played out his option with the Steelers and had then been released by that team

• The team signed former University of Washington fullback Jim Jones

• They also waived Charlie Hardy’s brother, cornerback John Hardy

Injury Updates

• Tests confirmed halfback Tony Teresa had a ruptured disc in his back and was probably out for the year


August 24, 1961

News

• Former Raiders halfback Luther Carr refiled suit against the team for $9,700 in damages and medical expenses over a back injury suffered in training camp in 1960

• This came two days after Carr’s previous lawsuit seeking $258,100 was dismissed by the Alameda County Superior Court


August 25, 1961

Injury Updates

• Guard/placekicker Larry Barnes underwent knee surgery and was expected to be out for at least a month


August 26, 1961

News

• The team was en route to San Diego for tomorrow’s exhibition game against the Chargers


August 27, 1961

News

• The team lost, 35-7, to the Chargers in an exhibition game in San Diego

• The Chargers dominated the first half on both sides of the ball, getting out to a 26-0 lead and holding the Raiders offensive to zero net yards

• The big plays came from Paul Lowe, who scored on a 73-yard punt return, and rookie halfback Keith Lincoln, who scored on a 63-yard screen pass from Jack Kemp

• The only Raiders score came in the third quarter, a 15-yard Tom Flores to Doug Asad pass, after assistant coach Tommy Kalmanir had taken over playcalling from the press box

Injury Updates

• The game was extremely physical with several Raiders needing medical assistance

• Center Jim Otto and defensive back John Harris each suffered pinched nerves in the neck

• Linebacker Al Bansavage suffered a hand injury that was suspected to be a fracture

• Backup center Harrison Rece injured his knee

• And in the most egregious event, Chargers defensive lineman Ernie Ladd removed guard John Dittrich’s helmet and smacked him with it, cutting open Dittrich’s forehead

• It took six stitches to close the wound, but Ladd remained in the game and was only assessed a defensive holding penalty

Transactions

• The team signed their 19th-round draft pick, halfback Charley Fuller, after his release from the 49ers a week ago

• The team waived defensive end Jim Toon and fullback Oneal Cuttery


August 28, 1961

August 29, 1961

News

• After several days of protesting that he would retire rather than report to the Raiders after being traded by the Chargers, defensive tackle Volney Peters did, in fact, report to the team

Transactions

• The team acquired former Oregon State guard John Cadwell from the Texans in exchange for the Raiders’ 11th-round draft pick in 1962

• Wide receiver Herm Urenda was placed on the inactive list in advance of his departure for military service on September 7

Injury Updates

• An examination revealed that linebacker Al Bansavage had broken his hand against the Chargers on the 27th and would miss an expected four weeks


August 30, 1961

Transactions

• The team waived six players: fullback Jetstream Smith, wide receiver Alan Goldstein, tackle Francis Morelli, wide receiver Clar Appledoorn, guard Arnold Metcalf, and cornerback Frank Bernardi.

• Public relations director Jack Gallagher resigned, for “personal reasons.”

Injury Updates

• Center Harrison Rece, who had suffered a knee injury in the Chargers game, was placed on injured reserve.


August 31, 1961

News

• The team moved Carmen Cavalli again, this time from offensive tackle to tight end

Transactions

• The team acquired a pair of free agents: former North Carolina Central offensive lineman Jim Brewington and ex-University of Minnesota and New York Giants defensive end Jon Jelacic


September 1, 1961

News

• The coaches moved safety Wayne Crow to the offensive backfield


September 2, 1961

September 3, 1961

September 4, 1961

News

• The team won their first game of the preseason beating the Broncos, 49-12, at Candlestick Park

• There was no local radio broadcast of the game, as KFRC Radio couldn’t get a sponsor

• New halfback Charley Fuller caught three passes for 61 yards and a pair of touchdowns

• The Raiders offensive netted 468 total yards and earned a whopping 34 first downs


September 5, 1961

News

• The team broke training camp, four days earlier than planned, at least in part because a lack of water at their training facility made the playing surface too hard to practice on

Transactions

• The team cut five players: tight end Carmen Cavalli, cornerback Eddie Macon, guard John Cadwell, tight end Dave Ross, and tackle Julius Varnado


September 6, 1961

September 7, 1961

Transactions

• The team waived guard John Dittrich

• They also signed free agent guard Herb Roedel, out of Marquette, who had recently been cut by the Cowboys

Injury Updates

• Halfback Jack Larscheid was listed as doubtful for the season opener against the Oilers on the 9th because of a leg injury

• Defensive end Jon Jelacic pulled a hamstring in practice, making his status uncertain for the opener

George Fields was slated to get the start if Jelacic couldn’t go

• Linebacker Al Bansavage had the cast removed from his injured wrist, making him available for the Oilers game, if only in spot duty


September 8, 1961

News

• The team was en route to Houston for tomorrow’s season opener against the Oilers

Charley Fuller was named starting halfback ahead of Wayne Crow


September 9, 1961

News

• The Oilers demolished the Raiders, 55-0, in the regular season opener in Houston

• The Oilers’ 55 points were a new AFL record

• Houston outgained the Raiders in total yards, 482-130

• The game was picketed by the local chapter of the NAACP because of the segregation policy in place at Jeppesen Stadium, the site of the game

• The group reached out to the Black players on the team—who, at the time, included Jim Brewington, George Fields, George Fleming, Charley Fuller, Charlie Hardy, John Harris, Riley Morris and Charley Powell—urging them not to cross the picket line and play

• General manager Bud Hastings said the team “was not interested in any outside conflict” and that no telegrams had been sent to the players

• Hastings later said that the Black players had “discussed the situation and decided they had come here to play football”

• None of the players were quoted directly in the Bay Area press

• Each of the players did appear in the game

• The game was played under threat of inundation by Hurricane Carla, a category-three storm that meterologists thought could land on the Texas coast around game time

• However, aside from higher than usual wind speeds (20-25 mph), the storm had no impact on the contest

Wayne Crow started at halfback ahead of Fuller

• Quarterback Tom Flores completed just 7 of 21 passes for 59 yards

Injury Updates

• Center Jim Otto suffered a concussion in the second quarter and missed the rest of the game

• Halfback Jack Larscheid, thought likely to miss the game because of a leg injury, played after all

• Defensive end Jon Jelacic was still recovering from a pulled hamstring and did not play


September 10, 1961

September 11, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed ex-Chargers and USC defensive end Gary Finneran

• They also waived fullback Jim Jones

• The team hired former College of the Pacific public relations representative Bill Tunnell to replace Jack Gallagher in the same role

Injury Updates

• Center Jim Otto was improving after suffering a concussion in the Oilers game and was expected to play against the Chargers on the 17th


September 12, 1961

September 13, 1961

News

• Robert Nahas of Stadium, Inc., reported that an Oakland multi-purpose stadium could be completed as soon as early 1964

• As currently envisioned, there would be an open-air stadium with a capacity of 55,000 and an indoor arena with a capacity of 13,000

Transactions

• The team signed former Chargers cornerback Bob Garner as a backup for Alex Bravo


September 14, 1961

News

• The team shifted Wayne Crow from halfback to fullback

Charley Fuller was slated to be the new starting halfback

• Newcomer Gary Finneran was thought likely to start at right defensive end

Willie Smith was promoted to start at guard in John Dittrich’s old spot

Transactions

• The team waived defensive lineman George Fields

Injury Updates

• Defensive end Jon Jelacic was still dealing with a pulled hamstring and was expected to see only limited duty, if that, against the Chargers on the 17th


September 15, 1961

News

• The team promoted Bob Coolbaugh to start at flanker ahead of George Fleming


September 16, 1961

September 17, 1961

News

• For the second week in a row, the Raiders were demolished by an opponent, 44-0, at the hands of the Chargers in San Diego

• The Chargers had five rushing touchdowns and ran up a 30-0 halftime score

• Linebacker Riley Morris was ejected from the game and fined $100 by the league for fighting Chargers defensive lineman Ron Nery

Injury Updates

• Also for the second straight week, center Jim Otto had to leave the game early because of a concussion and he was doubtful for the Texans game on the 24th


September 18, 1961

News

• The owners fired head coach Eddie Erdelatz and promoted defensive line coach Marty Feldman to take over in his stead

• Defensive end Jon Jelacic, currently dealing with a hamstring injury, was called up by his US Army reserve unit and was ordered to report by October 1

• Guard/placekicker Larry Barnes, who was recovering from knee surgery, was arrested by Oakland police and charged with child molestation

• After this story appeared, Barnes essentially disappeared from the newspapers

• No mention was ever made regarding the resolution of his criminal charges or his removal from the Raiders organization

Transactions

• The team signed former Michigan State, Eagles, and Cowboys fullback Walt Kowalczyk


September 19, 1961

Transactions

September 20, 1961

Transactions

• The team invited ex-Texans defensive back Johnny Bookman for a tryout.


September 21, 1961

News

• Tight end Doug Asad, thought likely to be drafted by the military soon, said his call-up was unlikely because he was suffering from stomach ulcers

• The team shifted Wayne Crow to flanker and planned to try George Fleming in the secondary, just to see how he would do

Injury Updates

• Halfback Tony Teresa underwent back surgery at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz

• Head coach Marty Feldman said center Jim Otto, recovering from concussions in successive weeks, would be able to play against the Texans on the 24th


September 22, 1961

News

• As reported by Scotty Stirling in the Tribune, team co-owner Wayne Valley said the Raiders would likely have to relocate if the attendance at Candlestick Park didn’t improve

• Valley said that four different cities, most notably Memphis, had made “solid offers” to entice the team

• The Raiders had sold 4,400 season tickets in 1960, the fifth most among the eight teams in the AFL, but in 1961 they were dead last, with just 3,200 season tickets sold

• Portland, Spokane, and Seattle were also among the cities suggested to have made offers for the team


September 23, 1961

September 24, 1961

News

• In Marty Feldman’s head coaching debut, the Raiders’ offense finally did some scoring, but the team still lost to the Texans, 42-35, at Candlestick Park

• After moving both players around in practice during the week, Wayne Crow played at halfback, with George Fleming returning to his flanker spot

• Late in the game there was an on-field brawl following a late hit on Tom Flores by Texans linebacker EJ Holub, with Holub getting tossed

• Following Wayne Valley’s assertion that the team had an offer to move to Memphis, AFL commissioner Joe Foss said the league had no plans to move any of the teams and that he knew nothing about “Memphis having any inside track on a possible franchise”

• Foss did say that about ten different groups had shown interest in either acquiring an existing franchise or getting an expansion team, including at least one group from Oakland

• He then added that any team relocation would require the approval of the entire league membership

Injury Updates

• Fullback Alan Miller suffered a bruised knee during the game, but it wasn’t thought to be serious enough to keep him out of the Broncos game on October 1


September 25, 1961

September 26, 1961

News

• Halfback Ray Norton, who had just been waived by the 49ers, said he was interested in playing for the Raiders if another NFL team didn’t pick him up

• The Raiders ticket offense implemented a new plan whereby an adult buying a $2.50 full-price ticket in certain areas of Candlestick Park could bring up to four kids to the game for free

• This plan was set to run for the rest of the season


September 27, 1961

News

• According to the official league statistics, released today, the Raiders were last in both team offense (170.7 yards per game) and team defense (443.3 yards per game)

• Head coach Marty Feldman said the team wasn’t interested in 49ers castoff halfback Ray Norton, saying that while Norton was a “great athlete” with “excellent speed” he wasn’t a good enough blocker or receiver to fit the Raiders’ needs

• The team revised the news regarding defensive end Jon Jelacic’s military service

• Initial reports said Jelacic was required to join his army reserve unit on October 1, but the date was now pushed back to the 15th


September 28, 1961

September 29, 1961

September 30, 1961

October 1, 1961

News

• The team won their first game of the season, beating the Broncos, 31-19, at Candlestick Park

George Fleming kicked a 54-yard field goal to set a new AFL mark for distance

• The boot was two yards shy of Bert Rechichar’s NFL record

Wayne Crow rushed for 107 yards on 16 carries

• The paid attendance mark of 8,361 set a new team record


October 2, 1961

News

• General manager Bud Hastings resigned to take a job with a Southern California manufacturing firm

• No successor was immediately named


October 3, 1961

News

• The week’s official AFL stats were released, showing the Raiders still in last place in both team offense and defense (191.3 yds/game on offense, 376.3 yds/game on defense)

• Defensive end Jon Jelacic left the team to join his military unit

Transactions

• The team signed free agent halfback Clem Daniels and tackle Cliff Roberts sometime between September 6 and this date.


October 4, 1961

October 5, 1961

October 6, 1961

October 7, 1961

October 8, 1961

October 9, 1961

News

• After days of speculation, Wes Fry was named acting general manager following the resignation of Bud Hastings

Ed Walls, a team accountant, was named the new business manager

• Fry would continue to head up the player personnel department

• Co-owner Robert Osborne said recent rumors that the team would move to Portland were “completely unfounded”

• The coaching staff moved tackle Jim Brewington to the defensive line

Transactions

• The team activated tackle Cliff Roberts of Illinois off the taxi squad, taking Jon Jelacic’s place on the roster


October 10, 1961

October 11, 1961

October 12, 1961

News

• Co-owner Robert Osborne suffered a mild heart attack


October 13, 1961

News

• The team was en route to Denver for the Broncos game on the 15th


October 14, 1961

October 15, 1961

News

• The Broncos came back from a 10-point deficit to beat the Raiders, 27-24, in Denver

• Jack Hill kicked a 27-yard field goal with eight seconds left to win it

• The Raiders committed five turnovers (two interceptions, three lost fumbles)

Charley Fuller fumbled twice in the fourth quarter on kick returns, leading to two Denver field goals, including the game-winner

Injury Updates

• Defensive tackle Volney Peters pulled his right calf muscle and was likely to miss next week’s game against the Chargers

• Guard Wayne Hawkins experienced significant jaw pain during the game, with an abscessed tooth as the suspected culprit


October 16, 1961

October 17, 1961

News

• The team named Bob Garner as the primary kick returner, replacing Charley Fuller who had two critical fumbles on returns in the loss to Denver


October 18, 1961

October 19, 1961

Injury Updates

• Guard Wayne Hawkins, who experienced jaw pain in the Broncos game thought to be caused by an abscessed tooth, was discovered to have a fractured jaw and would miss the Chargers game on the 22nd as a result

Herb Roedel would get the start in his absence

• Defensive tackle Volney Peters who pulled a calf muscle in the same game was also declared out for the Chargers contest


October 20, 1961

October 21, 1961

October 22, 1961

News

• The Chargers thumped the Raiders, 41-10, at Candlestick Park

• The Chargers led 34-7 at the half

• The Raiders committed seven turnovers (3 lost fumbles, 4 interceptions) and had a punt blocked

• They also had just 58 total net yards on offense and just 2 rushing yards

• The attendance figure of 12,014 was a new Raiders home record

• Co-owner Robert Osborne, who had suffered a mild heart attack on the 12th, left the game during the second quarter saying he felt “slightly sick”

Injury Updates

• Center Jim Otto left the game with a bruised back

Cliff Roberts and Tom Louderback each took a turn at replacing him, but neither performed well

• Louderback suffered a concussion during the game, but kept playing despite feeling groggy for about a quarter

• Tackle Willie Smith left the game with a knee injury

• Halfback Wayne Crow injured both his hip and knee, but stayed in the game, as did defensive tackle Hal Smith, who injured his foot


October 23, 1961

Injury Updates

• Five players were listed as doubtful for the Titans game on the 29th: guard Wayne Hawkins (jaw), defensive tackle Volney Peters (calf), center Jim Otto (back), tackle Willie Smith (knee), and defensive tackle Hal Smith (broken bone in foot)


October 24, 1961

News

• This week’s official AFL stats showed the Raiders in last place in both team offense and defense (202.3 yds/game on offense, 371.5 yds/game on defense)


October 25, 1961

News

• Co-owner Robert Osborne, who had recently suffered a mild heart attack, then left the Chargers game on the 22nd early because he wasn’t feeling well, checked into Providence Hospital for tests, with an expected stay of up to two weeks


October 26, 1961

News

• The Tribune revealed that co-owner Robert Osborne, who had checked into a local hospital yesterday for tests, had had a second heart attack during the Chargers game on the 22nd and would spend three weeks in the hospital followed by three months of recovery at home

Transactions

• The team activated fullback Clem Daniels from the taxi squad

• They also waived fullback Walt Kowalczyk

Injury Updates

• Guard Wayne Hawkins, who had suffered a broken jaw in the Broncos game on the 15th, had been fitted with a new facemask for his helmet and returned to practice

• Center Jim Otto, who had suffered a bruised back in the Chargers game was back at practice, but his availability for the Titans game on the 29th was still in question

• Defensive tackle Volney Peters, recovering from a calf injury, was expected to play, though to a limited extent

• Defensive tackle Hal Smith, with a broken bone in his foot, was placed on injured reserve and would definitely miss the game


October 27, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed recent Patriots castoff, defensive tackle Harry Jagielski


October 28, 1961

Injury Updates

• Guard Wayne Hawkins, still trying to return from a broken jaw, was ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Titans

• Center Jim Otto (back) and tackle Willie Smith (knee) were listed as questionable


October 29, 1961

News

• On a windy day at Candlestick Park, the Titans beat the Raiders 14-6

• The winds were steady at 25 mph with gusts reportedly as high at 60 mph

• Quarterback Tom Flores completed just 8 of 26 passes for 67 yards, with 2 interceptions

Injury Updates

• Guard Wayne Hawkins (jaw) and tackle Willie Smith (knee) both sat the game out

• Center Jim Otto (back) had recovered enough to play


October 30, 1961

October 31, 1961

Injury Updates

• Guard Wayne Hawkins, healing from a broken jaw, was expected to be able to play against the Bills on November 5

• Tackle Willie Smith (knee) was still listed as questionable


November 1, 1961

News

• Co-owner Ed McGah said the team couldn’t continue to operate at current attendance levels, but said the owners would sell rather than move the team themselves

• He added that the team had lost $327,000 in 1960, were on track to lose more than $400,000 in 1961, and could only continue to wait for a new stadium if losses were no more than half that amount

• Fellow owner Wayne Valley said 1961 losses would be closer to $450,000 and that the team had to have an Oakland stadium for the 1962, but that the team wouldn’t pay to have one built

• AFL executive Milt Woodard said the league believed in Oakland if they could play there, but that several other cities—Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, San Antonio—had shown interest in getting a team


November 2, 1961

News

• Co-owner Robert Osborne, still in the hospital recovering from a pair of heart attacks, said he was “flabbergasted” by his fellow owners Ed McGah and Wayne Valley when they said the team couldn’t continue to operate in San Francisco at current attendance rates and without an Oakland stadium

• Osborne said his holdings in the team were larger than those of the other two and that he was willing to stay in San Francisco while waiting for an Oakland stadium to be ready in 1963

• Following Osborne’s statement, McGah met with him and when Osborne admitted he couldn’t go it alone, agreed that McGah’s and Valley’s statements were essentially correct

• Later that day, team representatives met “informally” with Oakland city leaders and said that the team had to have a plan in place by November 23 for the team to be able to play in Oakland in 1962 or the owners would have to look for buyers


November 3, 1961

News

• The team was en route to Buffalo for the Bills game on the 5th

Injury Updates

• Tackle Willie Smith and his injured knee were cleared for play against the Bills


November 4, 1961

November 5, 1961

News

• The Raiders beat the Bills, 31-22, in Buffalo for their second win of the season

• Oakland’s first offensive play of the game was an 85-yard touchdown pass from Tom Flores to Charley Fuller

• The Raiders trailed at the half, but scored 17 second-half points to get the win

• Flores completed 14 of 24 passes for 271 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions

• The game was not broadcast by radio back in the Bay Area as KFRC Radio couldn’t get a sponsor

Injury Updates

• Linebacker Tom Louderback left the game for a time with an unspecified head injury, but returned late in the contest

• Wide receiver Charlie Hardy left the game in the fourth quarter after a hard hit from behind


November 6, 1961

News

• Co-owner Robert Osborne returned home after a two-week hospital stay during which he underwent tests and treatment following a pair of heart attacks


November 7, 1961

November 8, 1961

News

• A 28-member citizens’ committee formed by Oakland mayor John Houlihan presented a plan to move and improve Exposition Field, near 8th and Fallon, giving the Raiders a place to play in 1962

• The presentation included a plan, already in the works, to move the stadium across the street at a cost of $89,000, and to increase the seating to 20,000 at a cost of an additional $194,000

• The Raiders would pay $45,000 in rent during their two seasons of occupancy

• The committee was scheduled to meet again on the 15th to take up the matter further


November 9, 1961

November 10, 1961

November 11, 1961

News

• The Titans beat the Raiders, 23-12, in New York

• Bill Mathis led the way for the Titans with 127 yards rushing on 20 carries and two touchdowns

• Each team committed six turnovers

• Quarterback Tom Flores was spelled late by Nick Papac after throwing three interceptions

Injury Updates

• Defensive tackle Volney Peters re-injured his left calf in the second quarter and the injury was expected to keep him out of the lineup an additional two weeks


November 12, 1961

November 13, 1961

November 14, 1961

News

• San Jose city manager Dutch Hamann said he was “quietly, unofficially” looking to bring the Raiders to his city

• He said he had not talked directly with the team’s owners, but suggested that either San Jose State’s Spartan Stadium or the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds would be suitable playing sites


November 15, 1961

November 16, 1961

News

• The Oakland city council approved a plan to relocate and expand Exposition Field at an estimated cost of $340,000

• The expansion would increase the stadium’s attendance to 23,100 and was projected to be complete by August 1962, in time for the Raiders to play there next season

• The Raiders would be on the hook to sign a two-year lease, paying $2,500 per game or 10% of the gross ticket sales, and would pay for the construction of a press box


November 17, 1961

News

• The Patriots beat the Raiders, 20-17, on a Friday night in Boston, aided by a freak play

• The Raiders led 17-13 in the fourth quarter, when Wayne Crow’s punt from the Oakland end zone struck the goal post and bounced back into the end zone where Boston’s Leroy Moore recovered it for a touchdown

• Center Jim Otto came down with the flu but played the game anyway

Injury Updates

• Quarterback Tom Flores suffered a hip injury early on, but stayed in the game


November 18, 1961

November 19, 1961

November 20, 1961

November 21, 1961

News

• In a revelation that generated an immediate scandalized reaction by the NFL and by college coaches, AFL commissioner Joe Foss said he had learned that the league’s owners had conducted a secret “poll” of college players in the past week, two weeks in advance of the official December 2 draft date

• Foss said he had no prior knowledge of the affair and added that he would approve no contracts dated prior to the draft date

• Raiders co-owner Robert Osborne denied wrongdoing, saying the team was doing “everything legally possible” to get players

• General manager Wes Fry claimed to have no knowledge of the illicit draft


November 22, 1961

News

• AFL commissioner Joe Foss announced he had officially voided all transactions associated with the owners’ sneak draft of the previous week

• The Tribune reported that the Raiders had selected six players, headed by North Carolina State quarterback Roman Gabriel

• Co-owner Robert Osborne said the team had begun to negotiate with some of the players on the list and reasserted that the team had done nothing wrong


November 23, 1961

News

• The Oakland city council recommended that the new, improved Exposition Field be named Frank Youell Field in recognition of the retiring council member who worked to bring the project to fruition


November 24, 1961

Injury Updates

• Wide receiver Charlie Hardy injured his knee in practice and the team designated him “extremely doubtful” for the Texans game on the 26th

Jerry Burch would get his first start in Hardy’s place


November 25, 1961

November 26, 1961

News

• The Texans beat the Raiders, 43-11, in Dallas

• Quarterback Tom Flores came down sick the night before the game, but played in the first half until the game was considered out of reach

Nick Papac came in to relieve Flores and threw three interceptions

Injury Update

• Receiver Charley Fuller injured his leg sometime during the previous week and missed the game

• Receiver Charlie Hardy also missed the game with a knee injury

• Defensive back Bob Garner suffered a muscle pull, but stayed in the game


November 27, 1961

November 28, 1961

November 29, 1961

Injury Updates

• Receivers Charley Fuller (muscle pull in leg) and Charlie Hardy (knee) were both deemed doubtful for the Bills game on December 3

• Defensive tackle Volney Peters was expected to be able to go after reinjuring his calf muscle against the Titans on the 11th


November 30, 1961

News

• The Examiner published a sensational story that head coach Marty Feldman and his staff issued an ultimatum to the team that they would quit en masse unless the team allocated $100,000 by 6 pm on December 2 toward the acquisition of new players

• Both Feldman and general manager Wes Fry denounced the story as a fabrication

• Fry added that Feldman “has been doing a fine job” and the team expected to re-sign him for 1962

Injury Updates

• Halfback Wayne Crow injured his knee and George Fleming would take his place in the Bills game on December 3


December 1, 1961

December 2, 1961

News

• The AFL conducted the authorized version of its college draft today

• The Raiders, with the worst record in the league at 2-9, had the first overall pick and chose North Carolina State quarterback Roman Gabriel

• Gabriel said he had no preference between the NFL and the AFL and would pick the team that gave him the best deal

• With their second round pick, the Raiders chose Arkansas halfback Lance Alworth who had been selected by the Chargers in the clandestine draft in mid-November


December 3, 1961

News

• The Bills beat the Raiders, 26-21, at Candlestick Park

• The Raiders kept it close throughout and had a chance to take the lead late, but a promising drive was snuffed by sacks of quarterback Tom Flores by Buffalo defensive end LaVerne Torczon on consecutive plays

• Flores left the game briefly during the second quarter after he lost one of his contact lenses

Injury Updates

• Halfback Wayne Crow sat out the game with a knee injury

George Fleming started in his place

• Receivers Charley Fuller (leg muscle) and Charlie Hardy (knee) both missed the game

• Defensive tackle Volney Peters re-aggravated his pulled calf muscle and left the game in the first half


December 4, 1961

December 5, 1961

December 6, 1961

December 7, 1961

News

• The Chronicle reported that a “Raider source” said the team had offered their 1st-round draft pick, quarterback Roman Gabriel “about $18,500” to sign with the team

• Per the story, the Rams, the NFL team who drafted him, had offered $5,000 less than the Raiders

Transactions

• The team signed a pair of their draft picks, both from the University of Houston: 6th-round pick, linebacker Dan Birdwell (also chosen by the Lions in the 5th round), and 7th-round pick, tackle Jim Norris (chosen by the Rams in the 10th round)


December 8, 1961

News

• The coaching staff said Clem Daniels could expect to see increased playing time, at both halfback and fullback, in tomorrow’s game against the Patriots

Injury Updates

Wayne Crow (knee) was expected to sit the game out

• Defensive tackle Hal Smith was slated to return to the lineup after having missed the last six games with a broken bone in his foot

• Defensive tackle Volney Peters was officially designated out for the rest of the season with a chronic calf muscle problem

• Receiver Charley Fuller had reportedly been making good progress in his return from a pulled thigh muscle, but he was now thought to be out for tomorrow’s game


December 9, 1961

News

• The Patriots beat the Raiders, 35-21, at Candlestick Park

• Former Raider quarterback Babe Parilli threw three touchdown passes against his old team

• The Patriots outgained the Raiders in net yards rushing, 207 to 27, and earned 29 first downs to the Raiders’ 14

• Line coach Bob Maddock was not with the team during the game as he was on a tour scouting college players

• 49ers receiver RC “Alley Oop” Owens, who was playing out his option and was rumored to be interested in joining the Raiders, attended the game as a guest of former owner Harvey Binns

Injury Updates

• Receivers Charlie Hardy and Charley Fuller, whose status for the game was in doubt because of injury, each played in the game

• Halfback Wayne Crow, dealing with a knee injury, entered the game only to punt


December 10, 1961

December 11, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed their 8th-round draft pick, defensive end Ferrell Yarbrough out of Northwestern State

• Yarborough had also been selected by the Steelers in the 18th round of the NFL draft


December 12, 1961

News

• The team’s 3rd-round draft pick, center/linebacker Ed Pine out of Utah, signed with the 49ers, who had drafted him in the 2nd round of the NFL draft

• According to the league’s official stats released today, the Raiders were still last in both team offense (233.0 yds/game) and team defense (356.5 yards/game)

• The team's eighth-round draft pick, Oklahoma State halfback Jim Dillard, signed with the Calgary Stampeders.


December 13, 1961

News

• The team’s first-round pick, North Carolina State quarterback Roman Gabriel, signed with the Rams

Injury Updates

• Wide receiver Charlie Hardy had recovered from his recent knee injury and was cleared for full duty in the season finale against the Oilers on the 17th

• Receiver Charley Fuller (leg) and halfback Wayne Crow (knee) were also healthy enough to play in the game


December 14, 1961

News

• Scotty Stirling of the Tribune reported that quarterback Roman Gabriel had turned down a contract offer from the Raiders for three years and $95,000 to play with the Rams

• Stirling also reported that the Raiders had offered him in trade to the Texans, who offered him a four-year deal good for $170,000, and Gabriel turned that down as well

• He also reported that the winning deal from the Rams had included $50,000 in salary and benefits

Transactions

• The team signed their 3rd-round redshirt pick from the 1961 draft, defensive lineman Joe Novsek out of the University of Tulsa

• The Colts had also selected him as a redshirt pick last year, in the 4th round

• The team signed free agent guard/linebacker Joel Walenta, also from Tulsa

Injury Updates

• Cornerback Bob Garner pulled a muscle in practice and would miss the Oilers game on the 17th

• Receiver Charley Fuller, who also pulled a muscle on the same play, was questionable for the game


December 15, 1961

News

• The Tribune’s George Ross reported that quarterback Roman Gabriel had refuted yesterday’s report from Scotty Stirling in the same paper wherein Stirling said the Raiders had offered Gabriel $95,000 over three years

• Gabriel said “it was nothing like $95,000” and the Raleigh News and Observer said the offer was actually only $50,000 over three years

• The team’s 14th-round choice of the 1961 draft, Utah State tackle Clark Miller, a redshirt pick, was signed by the 49ers


December 16, 1961

News

• The Tribune reported that team offered wide receiver RC Owens “far in excess” of $15,000 to play for them in 1962

• General manager Wes Fry would not confirm the report


December 17, 1961

News

• The Raiders fell to the Oilers, 47-16, in the season finale at Candlestick Park.

• The reported attendance was 4,821 in the team’s last game there before moving to Frank Youell Field next year.

• The Oilers gained 522 net yards on offense and quarterback George Blanda threw for four touchdowns.

• Houston scored 26 points in the second quarter to take a 26-9 halftime lead.

• Three Raiders were selected by the league’s coaches to appear in the AFL All-Star Game next month: center Jim Otto, fullback Alan Miller, and cornerback Fred Williamson.

• The team's 12th-round draft pick, University of Washington guard Jim Skaggs, signed with the Eagles.

Injury Updates

• Cornerback Bob Garner, battling a muscle pull suffered in practice, saw only brief action in the game.

• Wide receiver Charlie Hardy left the game in the second quarter because of injury.

• Receiver Charley Fuller missed the second half because of injury.


December 18, 1961

December 19, 1961

News

• United Press International announced their All-AFL team and it included a pair of Raiders: center Jim Otto on the first team and cornerback Fred Williamson on the second team

• Per the league’s official year-end statistics, quarterback Tom Flores finished second in passing

• Halfback Luther Carr, who had initiated a pair of lawsuits against the team, alleging malpractice and breach of contract in regard to a back injury he suffered in a preseason game last year against the Bills, settled for $4,050 in back wages

Transactions

• The team signed their 23rd-round draft pick, guard Elvin Basham out of Kansas

• The team hired former Oakland Spring Garden and Home Show manager, Jack Hennessy as their community relations director


December 20, 1961

News

• The coaches’ All-AFL team was announced with center Jim Otto getting the first-team honors and cornerback Fred Williamson getting named to the second team

Transactions

• The team signed Florida A&M halfback Gene White, one of the their picks in the spring redshirt draft.

• The team’s 18th-round pick, running back Jim Vollenweider out of the University of Miami, Florida, signed with the 49ers


December 21, 1961

December 22, 1961

News

• The Associated Press named center Jim Otto first team All-AFL, the only Raider player chosen.

• General manager Wes Fry confirmed that the team had made an offer to wide receiver RC Owens, but didn’t specify the figure.

• Fry also gave details on what the team included in each year of its three-year contract offer to quarterback Roman Gabriel: $20,000 salary, $5,000 personal services, and $5,000 salary from an off-season job, with a $5,000 signing bonus.

• The team's fourth-round draft pick, University of Washington tackle John Meyers, signed with the Rams.


December 23, 1961

Transactions

• The team signed their 24th-round draft pick, cornerback Mickey Bruce from the University of Oregon

• They also signed free agent wide receiver Joe Borich out of Utah


December 24, 1961

December 25, 1961

December 26, 1961

December 27, 1961

December 28, 1961

December 29, 1961

News

• The team’s 19th round draft pick, Whitworth quarterback Dennis Spurlock, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.


December 30, 1961

December 31, 1961

1961_news.txt · Last modified: 2024/08/21 17:05 by ehaight