Football Hall of Fame Rookie Cards Collection

[TanksAndSpartans]

Thanks Dave - nice catch. A while back, on the CU board - set registry discussion - someone was pretty adamant that Halas did't belong in the HOF player registry set (52 Bowman card, I think). And I replied, well... "he's on the All-Decade Team, didn't seem like a stretch to me....". Since then though, I did read where someone (blog? - don't have the source now) went through some of the all-decade team selections and pointed out some flaws - the argument was that the early teams especially were made long after the fact by people who weren't necessarily experts on the era. It was a good argument in my opinion. Finally, in one of the interview books I've read (they start to blend together I think I read 4 - Chris Willis wrote one, Myron Cope, Richard Wittingham, and Bob Curran) an interviewee mentioned Halas was just an average player.... Of course that means nothing by itself - from time to time I've picked up on an undertone of dislike, backhanded complements, etc. in these books. People are human and are going to have opinions and biases, etc. I tend to look for corroboration and I don't recall reading much about Halas as a player.

[davemri]

Yeah, that would make sense. I am guessing that the HOF doesn't differentiate the category in which they get elected. I would assume they just look at the entire body of work and go from there. Just because someone played in the NFL doesn't mean that's why they were elected. Jim Finks played in the NFL but his NFL playing career isn't even listed in his BIO..

I don't know.. LOL

[revmoran]

For Flaherty they just list coach, even though he was a great end for the Giants

RAY FLAHERTY
Boston/Washington Redskins New York Giants
RAY FLAHERTY
Class of 1976
Coach
(Gonzaga)
1936-1942 Boston/Washington Redskins, 1946-1948 New York Yankees (AAFC), 1928-1929, 1931-1935 New York Giants

Raymond Paul Flaherty. . .Compiled 80-37-5 coaching record. . .Won four Eastern division, two NFL titles with Redskins, two AAFC divisional crowns with Yankees. . . Introduced behind-the-line screen pass in 1937 NFL title game. . .Two-platoon system with one rushing, one passing unit also a Flaherty first. . .Played end with Los Angeles Wildcats (first AFL), New York Yankees, New York Giants. . . All-NFL, 1928, 1932. . .Born September 1, 1903 in Spokane, Washington. . . Died July 19, 1994, at age of 90.

- See more at: http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/me....c9p1c8W8.dpuf

[jefferyepayne]

Great discussion! I've never perceived George Halas as a HOF quality player. Pioneering owner and coach but not a great player.

In my opinion, he should not have been on the 1920s all-decade team either.

jeff