A Brief History
On December 28, 1958, the Baltimore Colts played the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium in New York City for the National Football League Championship game, the first game in NFL history to played to “Sudden Death” overtime. The Colts scored the game winning touchdown in overtime, and ever since NFL fans have referred to the contest as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”
Digging Deeper
Of course, other sports may have their own versions of “the greatest game,” but this game is the one most often referred to in that sense. Multiplying the effect of the game on the public, was the fact that NBC broadcast the game on television across the country, a first. Announcers Chris Schenkel and Chuck Thompson provided the play by play.
The Giants advanced to the title game by playing the Cleveland Browns in a Conference playoff game mandated by the 2 teams finishing the season with identical 9-3 records, even though the Giants had beaten the Browns in both games they played against each other that year! The Giants beat the Browns in the playoff game 10-0 to get the chance to meet the Colts. The Colts were led by Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas to a 9-3 record, only the second winning record in Colts history.
The game ended in regulation time with a 17-17 tie, the Colts touchdowns coming on an Alan Ameche run and a Raymond Berry pass reception. The Giants touchdowns came vie a Mel Triplett run and a Frank Gifford pass reception.
In overtime, the Giants got the opening kick-off, but failed to score, punting the ball to the Colts 20 yard line. Unitas then led the game winning drive for 80 yards down the field in 13 plays, culminating in a 1 yard touchdown run by Alan “The Horse” Ameche. (Real name Lino Dante Ameche.) Instrumental in the drive were 2 catches by Raymond Berry for a total of 33 yards. Berry caught a then NFL Championship record 12 passes in the game, a marvelous performance record that stood for 55 years. (He is in the Hall of Fame.)
No NFL Championship Game had ever gone into overtime before, and it would not be until Super Bowl LI in 2017 until another Championship game would again be forced into overtime, this time the New England Patriots edging the Atlanta Falcons 34-28.
Question for students (and subscribers) to ponder: Do you think this game was the greatest game ever played? If not, which game do you think should own this title? (Any sport is eligible.)
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
“No Kick, No Classic.” ESPN. http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/index?page=greatestgame (accessed 27 December 2017).
