I have posted a couple of times about purchasing a collection of original color slides from the November 22, 1967, game at Municipal Stadium, between the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. The slides arrived early last week, and I picked up the prints on Thursday afternoon. While taken from the stands and a bit blurry, the images give a great idea of what one of the greatest rivals in AFL history looked like to fans attending the games, which is a real blessing to the “younger” guys like myself. Lots of great line of scrimmage action that can be scanned over for hours. The only real question that I had comes from the fifth photo. Just what is that thing? The game was played on Wednesday, November 22, the day before Thanksgiving. Could that be some sort of mascot turkey?
Photo #1
Photo #2
Photo #3
Photo #4
Photo #5
Photo #6
Photo #7
Photo #8
Photo #9
Photo #10
Photo #11
Photo #12
Photo #13
Photo #14
Photo #15
Photo #16
Great photos from a great old creaky stadium (I saw KC A’s play there while visiting relatives). Feel like we are right on top of the action. May want to check date. Nov 22 for many of us old guys is associated with the day JFK was shot, this day in 1967 being only 4 years after that dreadful day. Thanks again.
The Kansas City A’s ! ! ! So you saw them in action ! ! ! They’ve always struck me as a team from The Twilight Zone.
I say that because I know a few things about the Philadelphia A’s, and I think the Oakland A’s have a fascinating history, especially from 1968 to 1995.
But I know NOTHING about the Kansas City A’s. I think they played in KC from 1955 to 1967, and Reggie Jackson might have been a rookie on the ’67 team.
I know I can find out more about them on a site like “Seamheads”–I’ll definitely check there–but I’d welcome any comments from you or our fellow blog reader “1967.” (If “1967” likes baseball, then I’m guessing he rooted for the KC A’s.)
The KC A’s were oft disparaged as a triple A club in the Yankees organization, as the Yankess and the A’s had multiple player dealings in the late 50’s early 60’s. Roger Maris being the most notable. Hank Bauer, Don Larsen, Norm Siebern, Dick Howser, Bob Cerv to name a few were also moved between teams mostly to serve the Yanks. Howser and Bauer would eventually become managers.
Reggie Jackson went to Arizona State on a football scholarship and roomed with Ron Pritchard, In 1969 Ron was the Oilers first round draft pick and if memory serves me right Reggie was Ron’s best man in his wedding.
At ASU Reggie gave up Kush for Winkles and the rest is history. Kush like Reggie were Pennsylvanians and loved players from the Quaker state and South LA, coincidentally one of Kush’s former great running backs is also in two of Todds slides, hes Larry Todd# 22 on the Raiders.
Larry attended Compton Centennial HS several years after Paul Lowe and several before Lenny Randle attended Centennial. Lenny also went to ASU and gave up Kush for Winkles and had a long time MLB career.
Reggie was a rookie that 67 season the last the A’s would spend in KC with Joe Rudi, Sal Bando, Catfish Hunter, Blue Moon Odom, Dave Duncan, Rick Monday etc. Later with Bert Capaneris and others they became the world champion fighting A’s in Oakland managed by Pasadena, ca native Dick Williams.
What more can be said about the A’s?
I’d like to say that, from their multiple Championships won in the 1960’s to the staid green & gold uniform’s accompanied by white shoes to their self-effacing and uber-conservative owner Charles Finley, the Athletics were the epitome of success; I’d like to say that, but I’m not Mister Geppetto.
Suffice to say, the 1962 New York Mets (an expansion team that lost 120 games) improved by more games in ’63 than did the A’s.
But that was ok, because in 1961 (a year before the Mets birth) Harvey was spawned: the first, last and only mechanical rabbit in MLB history.
‘Harvey’ rose out of the ground long enough dispatch new supply of baseballs to the home plate umpire. As with Puxatoney Phil & his shadow, Harv saw the dark cloud perpetually followed the on-field fortunes & buried himself again like the A’s, ad nauseam.
‘Buy me some peanuts (if not pennants) & cracker jack’, KC fans cared not if the A’s ‘ever got back’ (they never did). They had Harvey and too ‘Charlie O’ the mule, a Finley-inspired namesake who resided for a time just beyond the outfield fence in right. Post ’67 they left for Oakland and went on to win 3 consecutive ‘World Series.’
Moral of the story?
Is none.
Unlike Mr. Spock’s ‘live long & prosper’, A’s prospered but not long. Meanwhile back in KC the Royals replaced the A’s & losing baseball was once again in vogue the heartland.
~ The End ~
And the KC A’s did have one of the Hal Smith’s, there were two in the majors at the same time, both catchers, one in the AL A’s and the other in the NL Cardinals. I always laugh when on my sport collectible hunts I find a Hal Smith endorsed bat or catchers glove, left wondering if it was the A’s Hal Smith or the Cardinals as if even they could tell the difference.
We saw the A’s play the Twins in July, 1967. Bert Campaneris and Rick Monday vs Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and a very young Rod Carew. The A’s actually won.
To billd, Tom, and 1967: Thanks for the excellent comments ! ! ! I’m definitely interested in doing more research on them.
The Oakland A’s of the late ’70’s were awful. After the three straight World Championships–1972 to ’74–the A’s had a very good ’75 season and a pretty good ’76 season.
Then, like “The Six Million Dollar Man,” which was an excellent show from early ’74 to late ’75, they fell into the abyss.
I googled November 1967 calendar and found the 22nd landed on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Thursday. So, I suppose it was possible the AFL put on a mid-week special game for the holiday that year. I would have to research more. Great photos….especially early Chief-Raiders.
The game was actually played on Nov 23, 1967….Thanksgiving Day. We were there, the Raiders ran back 2 INT’s for touchdowns…I really started hating the Raiders that day….would have spoiled Thanksgiving except for Mom’s delicious meal waiting for us !
Yes, that is a turkey mascot in #5 hoping to gobble up the Raiders.
Very cool to see the old photos!
Well, obviously picture #5 is the turkey that was my defending AFL Champion Chiefs ’67 season – from Champions to 3rd place finishers Western Division.
🙁
~
Every time I see old Municipal Stadium’s field/end zones, am reminded of just how great an artist was George Toma. Today, some 46 years later, Kansas City has yet to replicate the majestic gold painted end zones with dashes of blue, orange, red & white nor the ‘Running Chief’ logo located at the 50 yard line; no artificial turf is also noted.
Too, give me old school uniforms any day (black shoes w/white tape for effect, no sleeve stripes upon 3/4 length sleeves, larger arrowhead & KC helmet logos, vintage face masks, Spalding AFL footballs and of course orange-hatted as well orange/white officials threads.
Long live the AFL.
Amen! Ditto! Bring back the larger arrowheads, grey face masks, and “Chiefs” parkas and jackets as these beautiful photos show. Bring back the beautiful field emblems too!!
God bless the AFL!
Like Mr. Matteson said the game was played on Thanksgiving Day, 1967. Watched the NBC telecast of that game from my home in Rancho Cordova, California. I was an Oakland Raider season ticket holder in 1966 and 1967 before moving to San Diego.
How many HOFers can you see ?
Not as many as there should be.
AMEN to that Todd.
Two eventual Hall of Famers here as rookies,,,Stenerud #3 and Lanier #63. Also see Bell, Dawson, Buchanan, Thomas, Otto, Upshaw (rookie).
Is that E.J. Holub at center or was he still at LB in these photos?
I’m curious as to why the photos make everything appear “thinner”. Perhaps some sort of transfer of the originals? Great stuff anyhow. Thanks for sharing it all with us Todd. It is always appreciated.
The Raiders were not physically large. Keating and Birdwell were smallish quick tackles and Davidson was 6″8 and lean. The Chiefs had tall players that we see in the photos (who were not fat) such as Bell, Buchanon, Hurston, Ladd, Carolan, Lothamer, Mays and Tyer. In 1967 220lbs to 230lbs was probably the average linebacker weight and lineman were 250lbs plus or minus.
I was a water boy for the Chiefs at their practice field from 63 to 69. I was on the sideline for this game. I love the AFL and took a lot of shit about it from my grandfather, he was a NFL man
Water boy for the Chiefs during their glory years…that’s really cool.
I’m wondering what team your grandfather liked. Just curious.
Great site! I remember watching this game at the age of 14. It was on Thanksgiving Day, Nov 23rd, as the late game on NBC. Once the merger had been completed, CBS ran a Thanksgiving Day doubleheader with then-NFL teams and NBC ran an AFL doubleheader.
In picture number 2, Is that “The Hammer” on the far left of the picture?
Yes, that is ‘the mouth that roared’, Williamson; I have to side with some former Chiefs (who will go unmentioned here): not the biggest fan of # 24. By 1967/age 30, his skills had slipped & his loquaciousness/gums could not rescue/save him from his on-field predicament: mediocre talent.
Fred Biletnikoff abused ‘The Hammer’ unmercilessly in this 1967 game, which probably helped hasten the KC CB’s release at seasons end (he played in the CFL in 1968.) Fred got his arm broke in a 1967 exhibition game vs the Jets, while trying to ‘clothesline’ (hammer) Don Maynard, so, the writing was on the wall for KC Fred, so to speak.
~
I can pretty much recognize most all the old Chiefs players merely by their stance/body even without seeing jersey numerals clearly.
Thus, that is Jim Lynch likely (could be Bud Abell, but doubt it) & Willie Lanier backing up the defensive line for KC (Sherrill Headrick was already being phased out, then went to CIN in the expansion draft.) Bell is at the top end of the picture with Mays below him and E. Thomas at the lower end, Chuck Hurston just above him (EJ Holub missed most of 1967 due to a thigh injury suffered vs SD, so was not in this game, EJ’s move to offense/C in 1968/thereaft already in the planning stages due this injury & cumulative knee injuries over the years.)
Unseen, but likely Ed Lothamer & Buck Buchanan inside at DT, respectively. Not in the picture the likely safeties, Robinson & Bobby Hunt (Jim Kearney became a starter next to Robinson in KC’s very next game, vs Buffalo.) The latter happened due the Chiefs having been officially eliminated from post season possibilities by the Raiders (**** them to ****)
🙂
Yeah, That’s what caught my eye, The CB at the top of the screen is lined up 7 or 8 yards off the receiver (Biletnikoff I think), whereas Thomas is tight to the line of scrimmage. Is that Warren Wells?
No, it’s Bill Miller vs Thomas at the bottom.
One thing that strikes me here is the beautiful condition of the playing field in late November…but George Toma and his grounds crew were magicians! In fact, Kansas City Municipal Stadium was a very clean, well-appointed baseball-conversion ballpark that most AFL players liked. Lamar Hunt saw to it that visiting AFL teams had decent locker room facilities.
Compare this to Buffalo’s War Memorial Stadium-“The Rockpile”-that did look like a war was fought there! I remember the flimsy snow fences that were in the end zones in Buffalo, and the players that constantly ran into them, ripping them to shreds. Weeb Ewbank ordered his Jets players to put their helmets on when entering or leaving Buffalo’s field-because it was a habit of Bills fans to heave full cans of beer or soda at opposition players!
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