1963 Boston Patriots

According to Uni Watch article Jan. 16 2007, the 1963 Patriots had a game (or at least one player in that game) where Pat the Patriot wasn't on the helmet (or at least one side of the helmet)



Do we want to depict that? Does it matter if we don't know if it was everybody or just that one guy? (Like with the Jets thing with the stolen jerseys, can or should we say, at least one player had this helmet?)

If its one guy, no. That's akin to December games in Chicago when the 'wishbone-C' comes off one side due to contact in frigid weather. Do we then show a variation with only 1 C on a helmet?

If we can confirm that the whole team went 'sans Pat' in the game, then I say yes.

Okay I'll mention it on the blog tomorrow and see if we can get some feed back as to whether it was it was the whole team or just #56. (And also whether it was both sides or just one as in the Steelers) Or maybe it was a preseason. I saw some others we have with blank helmets 63 Jets, 70 Dolphins, so this isn't unprecedented...

According to profootballarchives.com, the only site I know that has preseason/exhibition games for ALL pro football teams, the Pats played at Balboa Stadium three times in 1963. The AFL Championship Game we know about. The other two were a Saturday night (preseason) August 10th where the Past were thumped 50-17, and the other was also a Saturday night (regular season), September 14th, losing a close one, 17-13.

It is quite possible, especially the August game, that the Patriots went decalless. I'd just like to know which game this was.

Oh, shoot, I forgot to mention it today -- I'd do it Tuesday.

Pure conjecture:

In 1963, the Patriots first two exhibition games were on the West Coast (Oakland and San Diego); the SD game, as noted before, was played on 8/10. Just four days after that game with the Chargers, the Pats hosted the Oilers in nearby Lowell, MA. A game account of the SD contest also said that Pats head coach Mike Holovak "makes heavy use of rookies." Could the quick turnaround time between games two and three have played a factor in the helmet decision, or did they only give the rookies the blank helmets. Admittedly, these are weak theories, but I suppose every little bit of info helps.

timmyb wrote:I'd just like to know which game this was.

Following the link provided by Paul Lukas in his article I visited the site devoted to the history of San Diego.
You can find the photo in this page

http://www.sandiegohistory.org/collections/sports/football.htm

Chargers' Lance Allworth #19, runs vs. Boston patriots August 10th, 1963

So, at least we know it was preseason (if we trust the site...)