1951 NFL Season
1951 ushered in coast to coast telecast capabilities.
With attendance numbers reduced in the past couple of years and league official pointing to the increasing popularity of local TV telecasts, the NFL decided to implement de facto blackout rules. Any television station within 75 miles of the home stadium would be blacked out of televising the local game, period.
Please note that much of this may be incomplete.
Yanks refers to the New York Yanks, who would then become the Dallas Texans in 1952.
Week 1, 1951:
9/28:
Yanks-Rams, 11:30, Not televised
9/30:
Redskins-Lions, 1:00, Amoco Network. Harry Wismer, Jim Gibbons
Bears-Packers, 2:30, Not televised
Eagles-Cardinals, 2:30, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel
Browns-49ers, 5:30, Not televised
10/1:
Giants-Steelers, 9:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam
Note: Atlantic Network refers to the Atlantic Refining Company, the sponsor of these telecasts. Atlantic gasoline had numerous gas stations in the Northeastern US during this era.
Week 2, 1951:
10/6:
49ers-Eagles, 8:30, Not televised
10/7:
Giants-Redskins, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam
Bears-Cardinals, 2:30, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel
Steelers-Packers (Milwaukee), 2:30, Not televised
Browns-Rams, 5:00, Not televised
10/8:
Yanks-Lions, 8:30, Not televised
Week 3, 1951:
10/14:
Cardinals-Giants, 2:00, Not televised
Rams-Lions, 2:00, Not televised
49ers-Steelers, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam
Redskins-Browns, 2:00. Amoco Network: Harry Wismer, Jim Gibbons (WSH). DuMont: Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban (CLE).
Yanks-Bears, 2:30, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel
Eagles-Packers, 2:30, Not televised
Note: Yes, that IS Lou Saban on the Browns telecasts. He was moonlighting here as he was head football coach for Case Institute (now Case Western Reserve) in 1951.
Week 4, 1951:
10/21:
Cardinals-Redskins, 2:00, Not televised
Yanks-Lions, 2:00, Not televised
Eagles-Giants, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam
Steelers-Browns, 2:00. Atlantic Network: Bob Neal (PGH). DuMont: Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban (CLE).
Rams-Packers (Milwaukee), 2:30, Not televised
49ers-Bears, 2:30, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel
Week 5, 1951:
10/28:
Bears-Lions, 2:00, Not televised
Packers-Yanks, 2:00, Not televised
Giants-Browns, 2:00. Atlantic Network: Byrum Saam (NY). DuMont: Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban (CLE).
Redskins-Eagles, 2:00, Amoco Network. Harry Wismer, Jim Gibbons
Steelers-Cardinals, 2:30. Atlantic Network: Joe Tucker, Bob Prince (PGH). Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel (CHI).
Rams-49ers, 5:30, KTSL-Los Angeles. Bob Kelley, Tom Hanlon
Week 6, 1951:
11/4:
Bears-Redskins, 2:00, Not televised
Yanks-Giants, 2:00, Not televised
Eagles-Steelers, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam
Browns-Cardinals, 2:30. DuMont: Hal Newell, Gail Egan (CLE). Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel (CHI).
Lions-Packers, 2:30, Not televised
49ers-Rams, 5:00, KRON-San Francisco. Bud Foster
Week 7, 1951:
11/11:
Packers-Steelers, 2:00, Not televised
Eagles-Browns, 2:00. Atlantic Network: Byrum Saam (PHI). DuMont: Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban (CLE).
Redskins-Giants, 2:00. Amoco Network: Harry Wismer, Jim Gibbons
Lions-Bears, 2:30, WJBK-Detroit, Don Wattrick. Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel
Cardinals-Rams, 5:00, Not televised
Yanks-49ers, 5:30, Not televised
Week 8, 1951:
11/18:
Browns-Giants, 2:00, DuMont. Hal Newell, Gail Egan
Lions-Eagles, 2:00, WJBK-Detroit, WJIM-Lansing. Don Wattrick
Redskins-Steelers, 2:00, Amoco Network. Harry Wismer, Jim Gibbons
Packers-Bears, 2:30, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel
Yanks-Rams, 5:00, Not televised
Cardinals-49ers, 5:30, Not televised
Week 9, 1951:
11/22:
Packers-Lions, Noon, DuMont. Harry Wismer, Dick Noel
11/25:
Bears-Browns, 2:00, DuMont. Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban
Rams-Redskins, 2:00, Not televised
Giants-Cardinals, 2:00, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel
Steelers-Eagles, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Joe Tucker, Bob Prince
49ers-Yanks, 2:00, Not televised
Week 10, 1951:
12/2:
Cardinals-Browns, 2:00, DuMont. Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban
Rams-Bears, 2:00, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel
Yanks-Packers, 2:00, Not televised
Eagles-Redskins, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam
Steelers-Giants, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Joe Tucker, Bob Prince
49ers-Lions, 2:00, Not televised
Week 11, 1951:
12/9:
Bears-Yanks, 2:00, Not televised
Browns-Steelers, 2:00, DuMont. Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban
Giants-Eagles, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam
Redskins-Cardinals, 2:00, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel
Lions-Rams, 5:00, WJBK-Detroit, Don Wattrick
Packers-49ers, 5:30, Not televised
Week 12, 1951:
12/16:
Cardinals-Bears, 2:00, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel
Browns-Eagles, 2:00, DuMont. Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban
Giants-Yanks, 2:00, Not televised
Steelers-Redskins, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Joe Tucker, Bob Prince
Packers-Rams, 5:00, Not televised
Lions-49ers, 5:00, WJBK-Detroit, WSPD-Toledo. Don Wattrick
Postseason
NFL Championship:
12/23: Browns-Rams, 4:00, DuMont. Harry Wismer, Earl Gillespie (shared pxp)
Pro Bowl in Los Angeles:
1/12: American-National, 5:00, NBC. Harry Wismer, Bill Stern (shared pxp)
Note: The NFL Championship Game and the Pro Bowl were the first two pro football games ever to be televised coast to coast
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