Sneak preview of Johnny U
Johnny Unitas
A 15-year-old kid from Hershey, Pa., named Ernie Accorsi pays $2.50 for a ticket to watch an NFL preseason game 69 years ago today at Hershey Stadium.
Turns out Accorsi is among the Saturday crowd of 17,575 fans who watch the debut that day of a rookie quarterback from Baltimore.
Some rookie named Johnny Unitas, who completes eight of 12 passes, including one for a 35-yard touchdown, to lead the Colts over the Philadelphia Eagles 24-13.
Unitas goes on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Ernie Accorsi does just fine, too, eventually becoming one of the premier executives in the NFL for several teams and, as it turns out, close friends with the incomparable Johnny U.
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Ernie Accorsi as the New York Giants’ general manager (New York Times photo)