1950 Baltimore Colts season

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Program for the October 15 game against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. Colts-program-501015.jpg
Program for the October 15 game against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.
1950 Baltimore Colts season
Head coach Clem Crowe
Home field Baltimore Municipal Stadium
Results
Record1–11
Division place13th NFL [1]
Playoff finishDid not qualify

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.

Contents

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.

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. [2]

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. [3] The 462 points (38.5 points-per-game) the Colts surrendered is the most of any NFL team in the decade of the 1950s. [4] 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. [5]

Preseason games

GameDateOpponentResultVenueAttendanceSource
0August 8Intersquad game Baltimore Memorial Stadium
1August 13 Pittsburgh Steelers L 27–30Baltimore Memorial Stadium26,000 [6]
2August 19at Cleveland Browns L 7–34 Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati)21,500 [7] [8]
3August 24 Chicago Bears L 17–21Baltimore Memorial Stadium17,000 [9]
4August 30 San Francisco 49ers L 14–27Baltimore Memorial Stadium6,000 [10]
5September 2at Los Angeles Rams L 21–70 Alamo Stadium (San Antonio)16,380 [11]
6September 4at New York Yanks L 17–42 Fairgrounds Stadium (Shreveport, LA)22,500 [12]
7September 10at Green Bay Packers L 14–16 Wisconsin State Fair Park (Milwaukee)17,191 [13]

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceGame
recap		Sources
1September 17 Washington Redskins L 14–380–1 Baltimore Memorial Stadium 26,267 PFR [14]
2September 24 Cleveland Browns L 0–310–2Baltimore Memorial Stadium15,201 PFR [15]
3October 2at Chicago Cardinals L 13–550–3 Comiskey Park 14,439 PFR [16] [17]
4Bye
5October 15 Philadelphia Eagles L 14–240–4Baltimore Memorial Stadium14,413 PFR [18] [19] [20]
6October 22at Los Angeles Rams L 27–700–5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 16,025 PFR [21] [22]
7October 29at San Francisco 49ers L 14–170–6 Kezar Stadium 14,800 PFR [23] [24]
8November 5 Green Bay Packers W 41–211–6Baltimore Memorial Stadium12,981 PFR [25] [26]
9November 12at Pittsburgh Steelers L 7–171–7 Forbes Field 24,141 PFR [27] [28]
10November 19 New York Giants L 20–551–8Baltimore Memorial Stadium14,573 PFR [29] [30] [31]
11November 26at Washington Redskins L 28–381–9 Griffith Stadium 21,275 PFR [32] [33]
12December 3 Detroit Lions L 21–451–10Baltimore Memorial Stadium12,058 PFR
13December 10at New York Yanks L 14–511–11 Yankee Stadium 6,836 PFR
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFL National Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
Los Angeles Rams 930.7509–2466309W1
Chicago Bears 930.7508–2279207W1
New York Yanks 750.5837–4366367W1
Detroit Lions 660.5005–6321285L1
San Francisco 49ers 390.2503–8213300W1
Green Bay Packers 390.2502–9244406L2
Baltimore Colts 1110.0831–4213462L5
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.


NFL American Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
Cleveland Browns 1020.8338–2310144W6
New York Giants 1020.8338–2268150W6
Pittsburgh Steelers 660.5005–5180195W1
Philadelphia Eagles 660.5004–6254141L4
Chicago Cardinals 570.4173–6233287L1
Washington Redskins 390.2501–8232326L1
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Coaching staff

Roster

Baltimores's in-season roster included the following players. [34]

† - 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. 500917-Baltimore-Memorial-Stadium.jpg
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.

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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. ↑ 1950 Baltimore Colts
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1950 to 1959, in the Regular Season, sorted by descending Points Allowed.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "Steelers Top Colts, 30–27: Geri's Goal Wins, Bobby Gage Stars," Cumberland News, Aug. 14, 1950, p. 7.
  7. ↑ "Browns Rout Colts, 34–7; Graham and Groza Star," Dayton Daily News, Aug. 20, 1950, sec. 4, p. 2.
  8. ↑ Dick Forbes, "Browns Whip Baltimore by Score of 34–7: 21,500 Fans at Pro Tussle," Cincinnati Enquirer, Aug. 20, 1950, p. 49.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Frank Finch, "Rams Murder Colts, 70–21: Locals, Castigated Before Game, Roar to Ten Teedees," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 3, 1950, pp. 18, 20.
  12. ↑ "Yankees Trim Colts, 42 to 17, in Football Exhibition: Toth Tallies 3 Touchdowns for New York," Baltimore Sun, Sept. 5, 1950, pp. 15–16.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ Cameron C. Snyder, "Chicago Cards Defeat Colts Eleven by 55–13," Baltimore Sun, Oct. 3, 1950, pp. 17, 21.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ Frank Finch, "Rams 'Coast' to 70–27 Win: Stydahar Uses Every Possible Combination," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 23, 1950, pt. 4, p. 1, 4.
  22. ↑ 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.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. ↑ 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.
  25. ↑ 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.
  26. ↑ 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.
  27. ↑ 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.
  28. ↑ 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.
  29. ↑ 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.
  30. ↑ Gene Ward, "Giants Spot Colts 20 Points Then Pyramid T to 55," New York Daily News, Nov. 20, 1950, p. 64.
  31. ↑ 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.
  32. ↑ 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.
  33. ↑ Arthur Edson, "Baugh Leads 'Skins Over Colts, 38–28," Elmira Advertiser, Nov. 27, 1950, p. 6.
  34. ↑ Baltimore Colts vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, October 15th, Memorial Stadium. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Colts Football Club, Inc., 1950; pp. 10–12.
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