ESPN Article on Y.A Tittle

Hate to see the sun begin to set...life has been richer for him than many of those who were just entering the league when he was retiring...so many of the stars of the 60's have passed on, we still have Y.A. a bridge to the 1940's onward...prayers for his family to find the strength to keep him safe and for him to enjoy the time that remains...

I think the super bowl Era really faded just how great players like Tittle really were

I've lost my senses, but it typically doesn't work that way. Awful to see your loved ones lose their identity and memories; I sure don't want my kinds to have to go through that with me.

In comment 11768888 Defenderdawg said:

Quote:

Hate to see the sun begin to set...life has been richer for him than many of those who were just entering the league when he was retiring...so many of the stars of the 60's have passed on, we still have Y.A. a bridge to the 1940's onward...prayers for his family to find the strength to keep him safe and for him to enjoy the time that remains...

yup, agreed. Time has a way of marching on. Doesn't mean it's easy.

were my hero's growing up.....

Would stencil number 7 on my t-shirt in the summer, and 14 on another T-shirt when fall/winter came....

Yelberton Abraham, you are not forgotten....

A hero. Nuff said.

but a sad story

that was special albeit sad

Hence my handle. I remember my Dad being so upset after he threw that interception, and I couldn't understand why. Now I know. We've shared many games since, still do. My Dad is 90 years old. Somehow Tittle brought me and my Dad closer. He will always be a hero to me. Very sad story.

while the Giants were playing the '49ers. YA was puzzled why he never got hit during the game until he found out after the game he had been traded. I was fortunate to become a Giant fan during the YA Tittle era. He was special to me always

Can be extremely difficult on the family, sounds like YA has a good one though..

for such a thoughtful profile. There's no hero like a childhood hero.

a great guy who also had a nice post football career.

that cemented my love for sports and the teams that I still root for are Y.A., the Mick, and Bill Russell. I was 7 years old and the seasons were 1961-1962. These three men were special for me. Tittle was one tough dude. Sad story for a great hero.

Great QB,Great Giant era,Great man,Great daughter - I would not have expected to have read anything less - I was deeply touched. Thank you TommytheElephant.

proudly hangs in my den. Sad to see him, or anyone, suffer the ravages of dementia. I've been through it with several relatives including my mom. Tough to read the article but it is very well done.

same Birth Date October,24 with YA.

Many tears were shed when the Giants played the bears in Chicago (think that was the '63 championship game at Wrigley).Wish I had the chance to meet him.

Here are the QB's who were in the NFL and AAFC at that time...it was the first season for Tittle, Conerly, and Layne...who all would still be playing in 1961 when Tittle became a Giant. Tittle was originally a first round selection of the Lions and Conerly was originally drafted by the Redskins.

Code:

1948 QB's in the NFL and AAFC BOS Roy Zimmerman, Gene Malinowski CHI Sid Luckman, Johnny Lujack, Bobby Layne CHI Ray Mallouf, Paul Christman DET Fred Enke, Clyde LeForce GBY Jack Jacobs LAR Jim Hardy NYG Charlie Conerly, Paul Governali PHI Tommy Thompson, Bill Mackrides PIT Ray Evans, John Clement, Joe Gasparella Was Sammy Baugh, Harry Gilmer BAL Y.A. Tittle BRK Bob Chappuis BUF George Ratterman CHI Jesse Freitas CLE Otto Graham LAD Glenn Dobbs NYY Spec Sanders, Pete Layden SFO Frankie Albert 1961 QB's in the NFL and AFL BAL Johnny Unitas, Lamar McHan CHI Billy Wade, Ed Brown CLE Milt Plum, Len Dawson DAL Eddie LeBaron, Don Meredith DET Jim Ninowski, Earl Morrall GBY Bart Starr, John Roach LAR Zeke Bratkowski, Frank Ryan MIN Fran Tarkenton, George Shaw NYG Y.A. Tittle, Charlie Conerly, Lee Grosscup PHI Sonny Jurgensen, King Hill PIT Rudy Bukich, Bobby Layne STL Sam Etcheverry, Ralph Guglielmi SFO John Brodie, Bill Kilmer, Bob Waters WAS Norm Snead, George Izo BOS Butch Songin, Babe Parilli, Tom Yewcic BUF M.C. Reynolds, John Green, Warren Rabb, Richie Lucas DAL Cotton Davidson, Randy Duncan DEN Frank Tripucka, George Herring HOU George Blanda, Jacky Lee NYT Al Dorow, Bob Scrabis OAK Tom Flores, Nick Papac, Wayne Crow SDG Jack Kemp, Hunter Enis

to end any life, never mind a football hero to so many people.
Hope I never get dementia, nor forget 'Tittle to Shofner...Touchdown, New York'.

Thanks Tommy.

I love the photo of YAT at home, and all the art on the wall represents him in Giants blue.

Tittle was one of my father's favorite players. I used to love hearing the stories from Old Yankee Stadium when we tailgated outside Giants Stadium.

is the reason I'm a Giants fan. I was born in Marshall. My grandparents are buried in that cemetery mentioned in the article. I've eaten at Neely's several times and watched my nephews play football on the Marshall Maverick's field.


My grandparents lived a block or so away from the Tittles and my Mother actually babysat YA when he was a child and she was 14. Up until her death last fall, she would occasionally reminisce about those days and when asked what YA was like as a child her answer was always, "he was a little devil until he turned 14".

We left Marshall for the northeast when I was a child, but returned every year for a visit until my grandparents passed away. It was a nice town back then but has deteriorated badly. Maybe it's improved since my last visit (which was 14 years ago) but to my eyes the city's infrastructure had started to crumble and erode. YA, like his hometown has seen better days, but he will be long remembered.

"He was my idol. No, really..I looked up to him..He was a model..Not like many of today's selfish athletes..This is a special read, albeit sad for me. I've met YA Tittle several times as he lived part time in Sedona. Any idea what it's like to have your idol ask you to join he and his wife at the dinner table? To talk football? Seriously? The proverbial kid in a candy store.."

Jackie Robinson stealing home against the Pirates, and Y.A. Tittle, head down and alone on the bench in his last game as a Giant. Another piece of my childhood is fading away.

at the age I am now...59. He went downhill fast, was institutionalized within 3 years. I remember how confused he was at my wedding in December, 1981 and the next time I saw him he was in a hospital and did not know me.

This just to say I have seen a lot of greats, including my Dad, in my lifetime. As a Giants' fan, I have gone from Y.A. to Fran to Phil and now to Eli. That is the way it goes and you hope to remember, as long as you can, the joy those people brought to you and the game.

Still, Y.A. has lived a long life and a good one...the love of his daughter is special and heart warming. I remember the warrior, the great QB and leader and the man he was. Legendary...

Loss to the Bears still hurts the most, even after 51 years !