1959 NFL Season

As originally written by Tim Brulia:

National Television Commentators

There were 12 teams playing 12 games in 1959. CBS had all teams under contract. The Browns while on CBS, also returned to their own network, the syndicated SNI, whose flagship was WJW, a CBS channel. In essence, the Browns had TWO TV networks this season.

WEEK 1, 1959:

Saturday 9/26:

Browns-Steelers, 8:00. ABC (Tape delayed to 10:00): Chuck Thompson, Howard Cosell. SNI (live): Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley.

Giants-Rams, 11:15, CBS. Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack

Sunday 9/27:

Lions-Colts, 2:00, CBS. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET). Byrum Saam, Jack Whitaker (PHI-NY). Bob Wolff, Fred Morrison (CLE).

Redskins-Cardinals, 2:00, CBS. Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher (WSH). Joe Boland, Paul Christman (CHI).

Bears-Packers, 3:00, CBS. Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo

Eagles-49ers, 5:30, CBS. Bob Fouts, Gordie Soltau

Notes:

NY-LA was a national CBS telecast carried live. CBS would dare not pre-empt the ratings powerhouse that was "Gunsmoke".

The huge Chicago network carried only home games of the Cardinals and Bears. Thus the Bears-Packers game was seen only on the Packers network (subject to blackout) and the Redskins-Cardinals game was seen on the CBS Chicago network, which may have reached 40% of the country.

The Eagles crew of Saam-Whitaker worked the DET-BAL game for the NY and Philly CBS networks, as did the Browns CBS crew of Wolff-Morrison.

PHI-SF was seen only on the CBS Pacific network, thus only the Niners commentators.

WEEK 2, 1959:

Saturday 10/3:

Bears-Colts, 8:30 (Tape delayed to 10:30), ABC. Chuck Thompson, Howard Cosell

Sunday 10/4:

Giants-Eagles, 1:30, CBS. Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack

Browns-Cardinals, 2:00. SNI: Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley. CBS: Bob Wolff, Fred Morrison (CLE). Joe Boland, Paul Christman (CHI).

Redskins-Steelers, 2:00, CBS. Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher

Lions-Packers, 3:00, CBS. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET). Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo (GB).

Rams-49ers, 5:30, CBS. Bob Kelley, Elroy Hirsch (LA). Bob Fouts, Gordie Soltau (SF).

Note: Baltimore viewers were also treated to the Redskins-Steelers game.

WEEK 3, 1959:

Sunday 10/11:

Steelers-Eagles, 1:30, CBS. Joe Tucker

Cardinals-Redskins, 2:00, CBS. Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher

Rams-Bears, 2:00, CBS. Bob Kelley, Elroy Hirsch (LA). Red Grange, George Connor (CHI).

Giants-Browns, 2:00. CBS: Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack (NY), Bob Wolff, Fred Morrison (CLE). SNI: Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley.

Colts-Lions, 2:30, CBS. Chuck Thompson, Bailey Goss (BAL). Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET).

49ers-Packers, 3:00, CBS. Bob Fouts, Gordie Soltau (SF). Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo (GB).

Note: NFL Commissioner Bert Bell, in attendance at the PGH-PHI game, suffered a fatal heart attack in the stands.

WEEK 4, 1959:

Sunday 10/18:

Colts-Bears, 2:00, CBS. Chuck Thompson, Bailey Goss (BAL). Red Grange, George Connor (CHI).

Cardinals-Browns, 2:00, CBS: Bob Wolff, Fred Morrison. SNI: Ken Coleman, Jummy Dudley.

Eagles-Giants, 2:00, CBS. Jack Whitaker, Bosh Pritchard (PHI). Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack (NY).

Steelers-Redskins, 2:00, CBS. Joe Tucker (PGH). Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher (WSH).

49ers-Lions, 2:30, CBS. Bob Fouts, Gordie Soltau (SF). Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET).

Rams-Packers (Milwaukee), 3:00, CBS. Bob Kelley, Elroy Hirsch (LA). Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo (GB).

WEEK 5, 1959:

Sunday 10/25:

Packers-Colts, 2:00, CBS. Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo

Giants-Steelers, 2:00, CBS. Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack

Eagles-Cardinals (Minneapolis), 2:00, CBS. Jack Whitaker, Bosh Pritchard (PHI). Joe Boland, Paul Christman (CHI).

Redskins-Browns, 2:00. CBS. Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher (WSH). Bob Wolff, Fred Morrison (CLE). SNI: Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley (CLE).

Bears-49ers, 4:30, CBS. Bob Fouts, Gordie Soltau

Lions-Rams, 4:30, CBS. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET). Bob Kelley, Elroy Hirsch (LA).

WEEK 6, 1959:

Sunday 11/1:

Redskins-Eagles, 1:30, CBS. Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher

Browns-Colts, 2:00, CBS: Bob Wolff, Curley Morrison. SNI: Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley.

Packers-Giants, 2:00, CBS. Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo (GB). Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack (NY).

Steelers-Cardinals, 2:00, CBS. Joe Tucker (PGH). Joe Boland, Paul Christman (CHI).

Bears-Rams, 4:30, CBS. Bob Kelley, Elroy Hirsch

Lions-49ers, 4:30, CBS. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds

Note: The full CBS Pacific network was tuned into the CB-LA game.

WEEK 7, 1959:

Sunday 11/8:

Colts-Redskins, 2:00, CBS. Chuck Thompson, Bailey Goss (BAL). Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher (WSH).

Cardinals-Giants, 2:00, CBS. Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack

Lions-Steelers, 2:00, CBS. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds

Packers-Bears, 2:00, CBS. Ray Scott, Tony Caandeo (GB). Red Grange, George Connor (CHI).

Eagles-Browns, 2:00. CBS: Jack Whitaker, Bosh Pritchard (PHI). Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley (CLE). SNI: Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley.

49ers-Rams, 4:30, CBS. Bob Fouts, Gordie Soltau (SF). Bob Kelley, Elroy Hirsch (LA).

WEEK 8, 1959:

Sunday 11/15:

Cardinals-Eagles, 1:30, Not televised

Rams-Lions, 1:30, CBS. Bob Kelley, Elroy Hirsch (LA). Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET).

Colts-Packers (Milwaukee), 2:00, CBS. Chuck Thompson, Bailey Goss (BAL). Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo (GB).

Browns-Redskins, 2:00. CBS: Bob Wolff, Fred Morrison (CLE). Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher (WSH). SNI: Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley.

Steelers-Giants, 2:00, CBS. Joe Tucker (PGH). Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack (NY).

49ers-Bears, 2:00, CBS. Bob Fouts, Gordie Soltau (SF). Red Grange, George Connor (CHI).

Note: Due to the quirk that the Eagles did not televise home games and the Cardinals did not televise away games on their respective networks in 1959, the PHI-CC was not televised...by design.

WEEK 9, 1959:

Sunday 11/22:

Rams-Eagles, 1:30, CBS. Bob Kelley, Elroy Hirsch

Bears-Lions, 1:30, CBS. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds

Giants-Cardinals (Minneapolis), 2:00, CBS. Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack (NY). Joe Boland, Paul Christman (CHI).

Steelers-Browns, 2:00. CBS: Joe Tucker. SNI: Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley.

49ers-Colts, 2:00, CBS. Bob Fouts, Gordie Soltau

Redskins-Packers, 2:00, CBS. Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher (WSH). Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo (GB).

WEEK 10, 1959:

Thursday 11/26:

Packers-Lions, Noon, CBS. Joe Boland, Paul Christman (National). Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo (GB). Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET).

Sunday 11/29:

Bears-Cardinals, 2:00, CBS. Red Grange, George Connor

Rams-Colts, 2:00, CBS. Bob Kelley, Elroy Hirsch

Eagles-Steelers, 2:00, CBS. Jack Whitaker, Bosh Pritchard

49ers-Browns, 2:00. CBS: Bob Fouts, Gordie Soltau (SF). Bob Wolff, Fred Morrison (CLE). SNI: Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley

Redskins-Giants, 2:00, CBS. Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher (WSH). Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack (NY).

Notes:

Three separate audio feeds for the Turkey Day game; Boland-Christman, the Cardinals crew, working the coast to coast feed, Scott-Canadeo on the CBS Packer network, Patrick-Reynolds for the Lions CBS network (subject to blackout).

Detroit network also plugged into SF-CLE game.

WEEK 11, 1959:

Saturday 12/5:

Colts-49ers, 4:30, CBS. Chuck Thompson, Bob Fouts

Sunday 12/6:

Cardinals-Lions, 1:30, CBS. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds

Browns-Giants, 2:00. CBS: Bob Wolff, Fred Morrison (CLE). Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack (NY). SNI: Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley

Eagles-Redskins, 2:00, CBS. Jack Whitaker, Bosh Pritchard (PHI). Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher (WSH).

Steelers-Bears, 2:00, CBS. Joe Tucker. (PGH). Red Grange, George Connor (CHI). Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo (GB).

Packers-Rams, 4:30, CBS. Bob Kelley, Elroy Hirsch (Pacific Network).

Notes:

Packers CBS network plugged into PGH-CB game.

Colts CBS network plugged into CLE-NY game.

WEEK 12, 1959:

Saturday 12/12:

Colts-Rams, 4:30, CBS. Chuck Thompson, Bob Kelley

Sunday 12/13:

Browns-Eagles, 1:30. CBS. Bob Wolff, Fred Morrison. SNI. Ken Coleman, Jimmy Dudley

Cardinals-Steelers, 2:00. Not televised

Lions-Bears, 2:00. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET). Red Grange, George Connor (CHI). Ray Scott, Tony Canadeo (GB).

Giants-Redskins, 2:00, Chris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack (NY). Jim Gibbons, Eddie Gallaher (WSH).

Packers-49ers, 4:30, CBS. Bob Fouts, Gordie Soltau (Pacific Network)

Notes:

Packers CBS network plugging into DET-CB matchup.

Colts CBS network plugging into NY-WSH game.

Post Season:

1959 NFL Championship:

Sunday 12/27: Giants-Colts, 2:00, NBC. Chuck Thompson, Chris Schenkel

Pro Bowl from Los Angeles:

Sunday 1/17: East-West, 4:00, NBC. Bob Kelley, Ray Scott (C)

CBS Affiliates Lineup

Per the Pro Football Handbook, edited by Don Schiffer, This was the affiliate line-up for each team in 1959:

Baltimore Colts (away games only):

WMAR - Baltimore

WHP - Harrisburg, Pa.

WBOC - Salisbury, Md.

Chicago Bears and Chicago Cardinals (home games only):

WBBM - Chicago (though almost always blacked out)

KGGM - Albequerque, NM

KFOA - Amarillo, TX

KTBC - Austin, TX

WAFB - Baton Rouge, LA

KFOM - Beaumont, TX

KOOK - Billings, MT

KBOI - Boise, ID

KBTX - Bryan, TX

KFvS - Cape Girardeau, MO

KSPR - Casper, WY

WMT - Cedar Rapids, IA

WCIA - Champaign, IL

KFBC - Cheyenne, WY

KKTV - Colorado Springs, CO

KZTV - Corpus Christi, TX

KRLD - Dallas, TX

KLZ - Denver, CO

KRNT - Des Moines, IA

KROD - El Paso, TX

WEHT - Evansville, IN

KNAC - Fort Smith, AR

WANE - Fort Wayne, IN

KBLR - Goodland, IN

KREX - Grand Junction, CO

KFBB - Great Falls, MT

KGBT - Harlingen, TX

KGWL - Houston, TX

KID - Idaho Falls, ID

WISH - Indianapolis, IN

WDXI - Jackson, TN

KRCG - Jefferson City, MO

KODE - Joplin, MO

KCMO - Kansas City, MO

KHOL - Kearney, NE

WFAM - Lafayette, IN

KLFY - Lafayette, LA

KTAG - Lake Charles, LA

KGNS - Laredo, TX

KSWO - Lawton, OK

WKYT - Lexington, KY

KOLN - Lincoln, NE

KTHV - Little Rock, AR

WHAS - Louisville, KY

KDUB - Lubbock, TX

KGLO - Mason City, IA

WREC - Memphis, TN

KNOE - Monroe, LA

WWL - New Orleans, LA

KOSA - Odessa, TX

KWTV - Oklahome City, OK

WOW - Omaha, NE

KTVO - Ottumwa, IA

WMBD - Peoria, IL

KOOL - Phoenix, AZ

KHQA - Quincy, IL

KOTA - Rapid City, SD

KWRB - Riverton, IL

WHBF - Rock Island, IL

WREX - Rockford, IL

KSL - Salt Lake City, UT

KCTV - San Angelo, TX

KENS - San Antonio, TX

KSLA - Shreveport, LA

KVTV - Sioux City, IA

KELO - Sioux Falls, SD

WSBT - South Bend, IN

KTTS - Springfield, MO

KFEQ - St Joseph, MO

KMOX - St Louis, MO

KPAR - Sweetwater, TX

WTHI - Terre Haute, IN

KCMC - Texarkana, TX

WIBW - Topeka, KS

KOLD - Tucson, AZ

KOTV - Tulsa, OK

KLIX - Twin Falls, ID

KWTX - Waco, TX

KTVH - Wichita, KS

KYSD - Wichita Falls, TX

Cleveland Browns:

WJW - Cleveland (no home gams)

WBEN - Buffalo, NY

WKRC - Cincinnati, OH

WBNS - Columbus, OH

WHIO - Dayton, OH

WSEE - Erie, PA

WHTN - Huntington, WV

WTAP - Parkersburg, WV

WVET - Rochester, NY

Detroit Lions:

WJBK - Detroit (no home games)

WWTV - Cadillac, MI

WKZO - Kalamazoo, MI

WJIM - Lansing, MI

WKNX - Saginaw, MI

WTOL - Toldeo, OH (no home games)

Green Bay Packers:

WBAY - Green Bay (no home games)

KBMB - Bismarck, ND

KDIX - Dickinson, ND

KDAL - Duluth, MN

WKBT - LaCrosse, WI

WISC - Madison, WI

WDMJ - Marquette, MI

WITI - Milwaukee, WI (no Milwaukee games)

WCCO - Minneapolis, MN

KCJB - Minot, ND

KXJB - Valley City, ND

WSAU - Wausau, WI

Los Angeles Rams - San Francisco 49ers (A/k/a CBS Pacific Coast Network):

KNXT - Los Angeles (no Rams home games)

KPIX - San Francisco (no 49ers home games)

KBAK - Bakersfield, CA

KVOS - Bellingham, WA

KHSL - Chico, CA

KBAS - Ephrata, WA

KIEM - Eureka, CA

KFRE - Fresno, CA

KULR - Kalispell, MT

KLAS - Las Vegas, NV (no Rams home games)

KLEW - Lewiston, ID

KBES - Medford, OR

KMSO - Missoula, MT

KEPR - Pasco, WA

KOIN - Portland, OR

KOLO - Reno, NV

KBET - Sacramento, CA (no 49ers home games)

KSBW - Salinas, CA (no 49ers home games)

KFMB - San Diego, CA (no Rams home games)

KIRO - Seattle, WA

KXLY - Spokane, WA

KIMA - Yakima, WA

KIVA - Yuma, AZ (no Rams home games)

New York Giants:

WCBS - New York (no home games)

WTEN - Albany, NY

WLBZ - Bangor, ME

WNBF - Binghamton, NY

WNAC - Boston, MA

WCAX - Burlington, VT

WCNY - Carthage, NY

WTIC - Hartford, CT

WGAN - Portland, ME

WAGM - Presque Isle, ME

WPRO - Providence, RI

WDAU - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA (when Eagles play at home)

WHYN - Springfield, MA

WHEN - Syracuse, NY

Philadelphia Eagles (away games only):

WCAU - Philadelphia

WGAL - Lancaster, PA

WDAU - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA

Pittsburgh Steelers (away games only):

KDKA - Pittsburgh

WFBG - Altoona, PA

WBOY - Clarksburg, WV

WARD - Johnstown, PA

WSTV - Steubenville, OH

WKBN - Youngstown, OH

Washington Redskins:

WTOP: Washington (no home games)

WAIM - Anderson, SC

WAGA - Atlanta, GA

WROW - Augusta, GA

WBRC - Birmingham, AL

WCSC - Charleston, SC

WBTV - Charlotte, NC

WDEF - Chattanooga, TN

WNOK - Columbia, SC

WRBL - Columbus, GA

WCBI - Columbus, MS

WMSL - Decatur, AL

WTVY - Dothan, AL

WTVD - Durham, NC

WOWL - Florence, AL

WBTW - Florence, SC

WINK - Fort Myers, FL

WFMY - Greensboro, NC

WNCT - Greenville, SC

WSVA - Harrisonburg, VA

WJTV - Jackson, MS

WJXT - Jacksonville, FL

WJHL - Johnson City, TN

WBIR - Knoxville, TN

WMAZ - Macon, GA

WTOK - Meridian, GA

WTVJ - Miami, FL

WKRG - Mobile, AL

WCOV - Montgomery, AL

WLAC - Nashville, TN

WTAR - Norfolk, VA

WDBO - Orlando, FL

WRVA - Richmond, VA

WDBJ - Roanoke, VA

WTOC - Savannah, GA

WSPA - Spartanburg, SC

WTVT - Tampa, FL

A few notes:

Many of the stations listed here had multiple network affiliation. WGAL in Lancaster, PA is a good example. WGAL mostly carried NBC programming in 1959, but did offer CBS programming at other times, such as Eagles games.

In 1960, the Cardinals moved to St. Louis and the Dallas Cowboys played their first season. So the 1959 Chicago network, easily the biggest in 1959, would be reduced dramatically.

In 1961, the Minnesota Vikings would enter the NFL and would slice into the Packers network.

It appears that for 1959 only, the Browns dropped - or perhaps supplemented - their Carling/Sports Network (SNI) arrangement by signing up with CBS. The Browns SNI arrangement (1956-1958) was national in scope. For 1960 and 1961, the Browns-SNI network was reduced to a Midwest regional network.

In 1960, NBC signed contracts to carry the Colts and Steelers. They would carry the Colts and Steelers in 1960 and 1961. More information will follow when I get to the 1960 and 1961 commentator threads.

In 1966, the Atlanta Falcons would cut heavily into the Redskins network.

In 1967, the Saints would likely cut into the Cowboys network and perhaps some of the Falcons network.

I hope this helps and is of some interest.