The 1960 Philadelphia Eagles: The Team That They Said Had Nothing but a Championship

There are some reasonably interesting interviews with members of the team and a where-are-they-now epilogue which seems a fitting conclusion. But for those who are less interested in the Eagles and more interested in what football was like back then, there are other, better-written efforts ("Cotton Bowl Days" and "When the Colts Belonged to Baltimore" leap to mind).

Still, Gordon is nevertheless to be applauded for capturing a piece of NFL history with such obvious enthusiasm. Books on 1960s football are always welcome here.


From '61 on...   February 14, 2002
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I was a ten year old boy celebrating Christmas at my Grandmother's house in Philly, Dec. 26, when my father pointed my attention to the TV screen and a crazy, happy celebration in the Eagle dressing room after their 1960 championship victory over the Packers. From that moment on, I have been an Eagle fan through and through. In point of fact, I cut my teeth on the '61 Eagles, but it was the set-up from the '60 team that delivered the magic. This book filled-in all the little blanks, all the smallest details of what I wasn't really aware of as the '61 season unfolded - and the heartache that followed as we lost the '61 championship to the Giants by 1/2 a game. To be an Eagle fan is to have known many a season of heartache; even the loss to the Rams last month continues that trend. But what this wonderful book shows is that for one year - one awesome year - the boys in green figured out how to get the job done; it hasn't happened since. Read this great book and learn for yourself why - and how - this '60 squad was a very unique, very special team. If you're an Eagle fan or just a sports fan who enjoys a fine read, this is the one you have to have!


Even a New York Giant Fan enjoyed this book!!   January 6, 2002
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

As a kid I grew hope watching the NY Giants. YA Tittle, Frank Gifford, Del Shofner, Sam Huff, etc. were my heros. The Eagles and in particular Chuck ,Concrete Charlie, Bednarik, were not my favorite team or players. I moved down to Philadelphia about 20 years ago and quickly became a Philadelphia sports fan, you could not help it, the fans are great and they live and die with their sports teams, especially, the Eagles. I quickly wanted to know more about the team and their history. I always listen the the radio sports show but they don't really talk about or really understand the history and uniquiness about the Eagles. I read this book and could not put it down. It was not your typical sports book talking about a particular team but a book that told stories about the old time football players. It was great reading about these players! Even though these players were not the players I idolized as a kid, this book helped me idolize them as an adult! If there were more books like this one, no one would be listening to the radio!


Not Just Another Sports Book   December 23, 2001
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

At the risk of sounding "Sally Field-ish," I really liked this book! Initially purchasing it for a longtime Eagle fan-friend, I started reading out of curiosity. Being (a) female, and (b) a basketball fan more than football, this was a stretch. Having just finished it, it was a stretch worth taking.
Mr. Gordon's style is not only easy to read, but his literary references range from pop culture to Shakespeare...and in a sports book! But this is not just another sports book. While it is essentially the story of a Cinderella season in the life of one of footballs' oldest teams, it is, at its heart, a story of human spirit and character-a celebration of the very best of a group of people. The players, evenly profiled in sidebars, are introduced one by one as the cast in a play whose storyline is, although familiar, freshly told and savored. There is ample background and history provided allowing anyone, football fan or not, enough context to understand and appreciate the atmosphere and circumstances leading up to and surrounding this championship season. The statistics-necessary to qualify a point-never get too tedious.
In the end, this book is a character-by-character, play-by-play story of how a bunch of "ragtag" football players who, without the benefit of public respect or individual record, overcome all odds to triumph. It's a wonderful story of how a group effort to believe, can result in miracles. At times fascinating, humorous and touching, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it whether you're an Eagles fan or not.