Robert L. Smith’s first job with the Bills was to shoot the team’s press photos in 1960. Since that time he has shot some of the game’s greatest names, from Kemp and Gilchrist to Kelly and Reed, and hundreds in-between. Among his most popular works are “The Hit Heard Round the World,” a perfectly-timed shot of Mike Stratton’s legendary hit on Keith Lincoln in the 1964 AFL Championship Game, and “Football Ballet,” in which Paul Costa makes an overhead catch of a Kemp pass that fell just beyond the hands of an outstretched Patriots defender.
I have been collecting Mr. Smith’s AFL photography, and have accumulated many fantastic images of the 1960s Buffalo Bills.
If you are interested in purchasing some of Mr. Smith’s Bills photography, you can view his EBAY STORE. If you decide to make a purchase, tell him that you learned about his photos on Tales from the American Football League, and he will send along a special gift!
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- Jack Kemp
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- Tom Sestak
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- 1965 Buffalo Bills
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- Tommy O’Connell, Richie Lucas and Don Chelf. 1960
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- Cookie Gilchrist shows off one of his many talents.
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- Mike Stratton (58), Carl Charon (43) and Marv Matuszak (55) chase Len Dawson.
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- George Blanda gets a pass off against the Bills defense.
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- Cookie Gilchrist finds a hole against the Oilers.
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- Cookie Gilchrist and Dick Hudson
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- Ed Rutkowski works through the Boston secondary.
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- Cookie Gilchrist runs behind Billy Shaw.
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- Cookie Gilchrist looks for space against the Patriots.
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- The Bills prior to a game against the Houston Oilers.
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- Jack Kemp and Lou Saban
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- Jack Kemp evades the rush of Jim “Earthquake” Hunt.
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- Cookie Gilchrist
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- Cookie Gilchrist takes a handoff against the Patriots.
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- The Bills are heading to the AFL championship game!
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- The Hit Heard ‘Round the World
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- Tobin Rote confers with Sid Gillman in the 1964 championship game.
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- Jack Kemp hands off to Cookie Gilchrist.
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- George Gross (79) and Ron Carpenter (89) bring down Cookie Gilchrist.
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- The Bills’ defensive line takes a break – Jim Dunaway, Tom Sestak and Ron McDole
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- Tom Sestak puts a hit on the Raiders’ Tom Flores.
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- The Bills’ defense swarms their former teammate, Cookie Gilchrist.
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- Paul Costa makes a catch over the Patriots’ Ron Hall.
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- Tom Sestak leaps to knock down a Babe Parilli pass.
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- Mike Stratton chases down Len Dawson.
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- Len Dawson gets a pass off before the rush of Tom Sestak.
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- Tom Flores gets off a pass for the Raiders.
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- Jack Kemp in the 1966 preseason.
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- Bobby Burnett runs behind the Bills Joe O’Donnell (67) and Billy Shaw (66).
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- Tom Sestak rushes the Oilers’ George Blanda
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- Jack Kemp avoids Oilers’ tacklers.
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- Tom Sestak swallows up the Broncos’ Scotty Glacken.
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- Kansas City Chiefs huddle in the 1966 AFL championship game against the Bills.
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- Joe Namath passes over the Bills’ defense.
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- The Bills get ready to take the field in Houston.
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- Ron McDole closes in on Bob Griese.
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- Dan Darragh (10) runs with the ball as Bob Kalsu (61) looks on.
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- Joe Namath in-between plays.
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- Haven Moses makes a catch over Jets’ defenders.
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- Jim Dunaway (79) leaps to try and deflect a Joe Namath pass.
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- Joe Namath gets the pass off just before Ron McDole closes in.
ROBERT L. SMITH EBAY STORE
