1953 - Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns agree to 15-player trade
The Baltimore Colts and Cleveland Browns come to terms on what remains the second-largest trade in NFL history, as the two sides swap a total of 15 players, with the Colts receiving ten of them.
What the massive deal had in size, it lacked in substance. Many of the players involved were reserves or newly-drafted rookies at the time.
To Baltimore:
- QB Harry Agganis
- T Dick Batten
- WR Gern Nagler
- DB Bert Rechichar
- LB Ed Sharkey
- T Stu Sheets
- DB Don Shula
- G Art Spinney
- DB Carl Taseff
- G Elmer Willhoite
To Cleveland:
- LB Tom Catlin
- DT Don Colo
- G Herschell Forester
- T Mike McCormack
- DB John Pititbon
Agganis, known as 'The Golden Greek,' never played a single snap for the Browns after being drafted in 1952, deciding instead to pursue a professional baseball career. This, despite the best efforts of head coach Paul Brown, who offered the former Boston University star a signing bonus of $25,000.
Agganis decided instead to take his talents to the diamond, as he was signed by Boston Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey for $35,000. Colts coach Keith Molesworth attempted, to no avail, to change his mind following the trade.
Baltimore would have much better luck with the trio of Rechichar, Shula and Taseff, as all three men solidified starting roles, with the former being named to three Pro Bowls during his time with the team. In the opening game of the 1953 campaign, he would also kick a then league-record 56-yard field goal.
Shula, meanwhile, would go on to win a couple of games as a head coach later in his football career. Just a couple.
As for the Browns, it was McCormack who would have the greatest impact. Arriving with the team one year after the initial trade due to his service in the United States Army at the time, McCormack would go on to play eight seasons with the club, garnering six Pro Bowl appearances along the way.
He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984.
Birthdays
1934 - Gino Cappelletti
1960 - Marcus Allen
