1950 Baltimore Colts season

1950 Baltimore Colts season
Head coach	Clem Crowe
Home stadium	Baltimore Municipal Stadium
Results
Record	1–11
Division place	13th NFL [1]
Playoffs	Did not qualify
←  1949 Colts seasons

The 1950 Baltimore Colts season was their 5th & final season as a professional football franchise, their 4th & final season in Baltimore and their only season in the National Football League.

As the "odd" 13th team in the league, the 1950 Baltimore Colts did not play home-and-away games with all their conference rivals, as did the rest of the league, but rather played one game each against the entire league — with the exception they did not play the Chicago Bears, in favor of home-and-away contests against the Washington Redskins, their geographically closest rival. This change allowed the two Chicago teams to continue to develop their own local rivalry with similar home-and-away games. ^[2]

After falling to defeat seven consecutive times in the preseason, the 1950 Colts matched their previous season's record of 1–11, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year. ^[3]

The 1950 Colts hold the dubious distinction of being the only team in NFL history to allow more than 50 points in four different games in a single season. ^[4] The 462 points (38.5 points-per-game) the Colts surrendered is the most of any NFL team in the decade of the 1950s. ^[5] In their Week 6 loss to the Rams, the Colts became one of only three teams in NFL history to surrender 70 or more points in a regular season contest. ^[6]

Preseason games

Game	Date	Opponent	Result	Venue	Attendance	Source
0	August 8	Intersquad game		Baltimore Memorial Stadium
1	August 13	Pittsburgh Steelers	L 27–30	Baltimore Memorial Stadium	26,000	[7]
2	August 19	at Cleveland Browns	L 7–34	Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati)	21,500	[8] [9]
3	August 24	Chicago Bears	L 17–21	Baltimore Memorial Stadium	17,000	[10]
4	August 30	San Francisco 49ers	L 14–27	Baltimore Memorial Stadium	6,000	[11]
5	September 2	at Los Angeles Rams	L 21–70	Alamo Stadium (San Antonio)	16,380	[12]
6	September 4	at New York Yanks	L 17–42	Fairgrounds Stadium (Shreveport, LA)	22,500	[13]
7	September 10	at Green Bay Packers	L 14–16	Wisconsin State Fair Park (Milwaukee)	17,191	[14]

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap	Sources
1	September 17	Washington Redskins	L 14–38	0–1	Baltimore Memorial Stadium	26,267	Recap	[15] [16]
2	September 24	Cleveland Browns	L 0–31	0–2	Baltimore Memorial Stadium	15,201	Recap	[17]
3	October 2	at Chicago Cardinals	L 13–55	0–3	Comiskey Park	14,439	Recap	[18] [19]
4	Bye
5	October 15	Philadelphia Eagles	L 14–24	0–4	Baltimore Memorial Stadium	14,413	Recap	[20] [21] [22]
6	October 22	at Los Angeles Rams	L 27–70	0–5	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	16,025	Recap	[23] [24]
7	October 29	at San Francisco 49ers	L 14–17	0–6	Kezar Stadium	14,800	Recap	[25] [26]
8	November 5	Green Bay Packers	W 41–21	1–6	Baltimore Memorial Stadium	12,981	Recap	[27] [28]
9	November 12	at Pittsburgh Steelers	L 7–17	1–7	Forbes Field	24,141	Recap	[29] [30]
10	November 19	New York Giants	L 20–55	1–8	Baltimore Memorial Stadium	14,573	Recap	[31] [32] [33]
11	November 26	at Washington Redskins	L 28–38	1–9	Griffith Stadium	21,275	Recap	[34] [35]
12	December 3	Detroit Lions	L 21–45	1–10	Baltimore Memorial Stadium	12,058	Recap
13	December 10	at New York Yanks	L 14–51	1–11	Yankee Stadium	6,836	Recap
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Program for the October 15 game against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.

NFL National Conference
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Los Angeles Rams	9	3	0	.750	9–2	466	309	W1
Chicago Bears	9	3	0	.750	8–2	279	207	W1
New York Yanks	7	5	0	.583	7–4	366	367	W1
Detroit Lions	6	6	0	.500	5–6	321	285	L1
San Francisco 49ers	3	9	0	.250	3–8	213	300	W1
Green Bay Packers	3	9	0	.250	2–9	244	406	L2
Baltimore Colts	1	11	0	.083	1–4	213	462	L5

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

NFL American Conference
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Cleveland Browns	10	2	0	.833	8–2	310	144	W6
New York Giants	10	2	0	.833	8–2	268	150	W6
Pittsburgh Steelers	6	6	0	.500	5–5	180	195	W1
Philadelphia Eagles	6	6	0	.500	4–6	254	141	L4
Chicago Cardinals	5	7	0	.417	3–6	233	287	L1
Washington Redskins	3	9	0	.250	1–8	232	326	L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Clem Crowe
• Backfield coach: Joel Hunt
• End coach: Wayne Millner
• Line coach: Rocco Pirro

Roster

Baltimores's in-season roster included the following players. ^[36]

Centers 22 Joel Williams † Guards 30 Earl Murray † 32 Sisto Averno 33 Ken Cooper † 34 Ed King 37 John "Bull" Schweder

Tackles 35 Barry French † 41 Ernie Blandin † 45 Don Colo 49 Art Donovan Ends 52 Bob Nowaskey 54 Bob Jensen 55 Johnny North † 56 Hal Crisler 57 Bob Oristaglio 59 Jim Owens †

Quarterbacks 63 Y. A. Tittle 68 Adrian Burk † Fullbacks 72 Veto Kissell 74 Rex Grossman Sr. 76 Jim Spavital † 77 George Buksar 78 Leon Campbell

Halfbacks 81 Chet Mutryn † 82 Billy Stone 83 Geno Mazzanti † 86 Bob Livingstone 87 Herb Rich 88 Albin Collins 89 Ernie Zalejski

† - Denotes starter

Baltimore Memorial Stadium with its faintly chalked lines over a dirt baseball infield — a far cry from a modern NFL stadium. Opening day, 1950. The crowd of 26,267 would be the largest of the year for the money-losing first Colts franchise.

References

1. While nominally in the National Conference, the Colts were in fact a "swing team" whose scheduling was different from all other NFL teams.
2. Walter Collier (ed.), "Browns, Colts, 49ers Join NFL," in Redskins 1950: Official Press, Radio, and Television Guide. Washington, DC: Pro Football Inc., 1950, p. 5.
3. 1950 Baltimore Colts
4. Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the NFL, in the regular season, requiring Points Allowed >= 50, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.
5. Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1950 to 1959, in the Regular Season, sorted by descending Points Allowed.
6. In a single game, from 1940 to 2012, in the Regular Season, requiring Points Allowed >= 60, sorted by descending Points Allowed. The 1966 Giants surrendered 72 against Washington.
7. "Steelers Top Colts, 30–27: Geri's Goal Wins, Bobby Gage Stars," Cumberland News, Aug. 14, 1950, p. 7.
8. "Browns Rout Colts, 34–7; Graham and Groza Star," Dayton Daily News, Aug. 20, 1950, sec. 4, p. 2.
9. Dick Forbes, "Browns Whip Baltimore by Score of 34–7: 21,500 Fans at Pro Tussle," Cincinnati Enquirer, Aug. 20, 1950, p. 49.
10. Cameron C. Snyder, "Lujack Leads Chicago Bears to 21–17 Victory Over Colts: Passes to Kavanaugh for Winning Score in Games Fading Minutes," Baltimore Sun, Aug. 25, 1950, p. 15.
11. Cameron C. Snyder, "Forty-Niners Rally to Beat Colts, 27–14, at Stadium: Victors Tally Two Touchdowns in Last Half," Baltimore Sun, Aug. 31, 1950, pp. 19–20.
12. Frank Finch, "Rams Murder Colts, 70–21: Locals, Castigated Before Game, Roar to Ten Teedees," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 3, 1950, pp. 18, 20.
13. "Yankees Trim Colts, 42 to 17, in Football Exhibition: Toth Tallies 3 Touchdowns for New York," Baltimore Sun, Sept. 5, 1950, pp. 15–16.
14. "Packers Edge Spirited Colts, 16–14; Detroit Next: Ted's FG Difference; Rote Passes Bring TDs," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Sept. 11, 1950, p. 17.
15. Cameron C. Snyder, "Washington Eleven Wins Over Colts, 38–14, in Opener: Taylor's Pass Catching Paces Redskin Attack," Baltimore Sun, Sept. 18, 1950, pp. 15, 18.
16. Lewis F. Atchison, "Victory Raises Hope Redskins Will Take Giant-Killer Role," Washington Evening Star, Sept. 18, 1950, p. 21.
17. Cameron C. Snyder, "Graham Leads Cleveland to 31–0 Victory Over Colts: Sends Visitors Ahead Early As Passes Click Seven Times Straight," Baltimore Sun, Sept. 25, 1950, p. 13.
18. Cameron C. Snyder, "Chicago Cards Defeat Colts Eleven by 55–13," Baltimore Sun, Oct. 3, 1950, pp. 17, 21.
19. Harry Warren, "Cards, Hardy's Passes Rout Colts, 55–13: Jim Pitches for 6 Scores, Five to Shaw," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 3, 1950, pt. 3, pp. 1, 4.
20. Cameron C. Snyder, "Philadelphia Eleven Defeats Colts by 24-to-14 Score: Eagles Prevent Upset by Scoring Ten Points in Final-Quarter Rally," Baltimore Sun, Oct. 16, 1950, pp. 13, 15.
21. Frank O'Gara, "Eagles Defeat Colts in Last 6 Minutes, 24–14: Ledbetter Gets TD, Patton Field Goal; Parmer, Ziegler, and Craft Injured," Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 16, 1950, pp. 27–28.
22. Allen C. Hoffman, "Eagles Soar by Colts, 24–14, After Early-Period Scare: Champs Held to Tie for Three Quarters," Scranton Tribune, Oct. 16, 1950, p. 16.
23. Frank Finch, "Rams 'Coast' to 70–27 Win: Stydahar Uses Every Possible Combination," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 23, 1950, pt. 4, p. 1, 4.
24. James Ellis, "Los Angeles Rams Triumph Over Colts by 70 to 27: High-Scoring Contest Sets Two Records," Baltimore Sun, Oct. 23, 1950, pp. 13–14.
25. Harry Borba, "49ers Nudge Colts in Stretch, 17–14: SF Reels at Finish: Gun Stops Losers After Locals Rally," San Francisco Examiner, Oct. 30, 1950, pp. 32, 34.
26. James Ellis, "San Francisco Forty-Niners Beat Colts by 17–14 Score: Tittle's Work Enables Baltimore Eleven to Threaten Until Finish," Baltimore Sun, Oct. 30, 1950, pp. 13-14.
27. Cameron C. Snyder, "Colts Defeat Green Bay, 41 to 21, For First Victory: Winners Get 27 Points in Closing Quarter as Spavital Paces Attack," Baltimore Sun, Nov. 6, 1950, pp. 15-16.
28. Art Daley, "Colts Splurge in Fourth Frame to Stop Packers, 41–21: Three Pass Interceptions Overcome Bays' 21–20 Edge," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Nov. 6, 1950, pp. 17–18.
29. Jim Holton, "Steeler Gridders Corral Colts, 17–7: Pittsburgh, Behind Geri, Scores All 17 Points in First Half," Oil City Derrick, Nov. 13, 1950, p. 10.
30. Cameron C. Snyder, "Pittsburgh Eleven Scores 17–7 Triumph Over Colts: Steelers Gain 17-to-0 Lead in Opening Half," Baltimore Sun, Nov. 13, 1950, pp. 13–14.
31. Cameron C. Snyder, "Giants Rally in Last Half to Down Colts by 55 to 20: New York Team Scores 48 Points in Final Two Periods of Game," Baltimore Sun, Nov. 20, 1950, pp. 15–16.
32. Gene Ward, "Giants Spot Colts 20 Points Then Pyramid T to 55," New York Daily News, Nov. 20, 1950, p. 64.
33. Harold C. Burr, "Giants Open Attack Again: Roll Up Second Highest Score in History at Colts' Expense," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Nov. 20, 1950, p. 22.
34. Cameron C. Snyder, "Washington Defeats Colts, 38–28, on Baugh's Passing: Veteran Back's Work Helps Redskins Take Lead in Second Period," Baltimore Sun, Nov. 27, 1950, pp. 13, 15.
35. Arthur Edson, "Baugh Leads 'Skins Over Colts, 38–28," Elmira Advertiser, Nov. 27, 1950, p. 6.
36. Baltimore Colts vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, October 15th, Memorial Stadium. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Colts Football Club, Inc., 1950; pp. 10–12.