AFL Football Season 1961

AFL Electric Football 1961 SOLO

Quiet day in the art room so let's break out the ole' football board and toss the pig skin.

The next game in my series of electric football solo games is to play the Oakland Raiders @ the Houston Oilers game from September 9, 1961.  Beautiful day for football in Jeppeson field and the Houston fans have turned out in mass causing a crowd noise deficit to the Raiders.

I create a "game day program" for each of these events and use period artwork found on Ebay auctions.

We got to play on a Miggle 6072 model with our 1961 scoreboard art for a backdrop.

Houston's George Blanda under pressure!  Gets off a short pass to number 20, Billy Cannon!

Oakland's Jerry Burch gets a hand in-between Cannon and the ball!

It's broken up and Burch comes down with an INT!

Burch pivots and gets upfield for about four yards... let's see where they mark the ball. 

Blue die is the passing die from Blanda for a pass on target.  Because I threw into a covered man the defense is allowed to break up the pass by matching the die roll which is the black die for Jerry Burch.  Then the follow on die needs a natural 6 for an interception which is what came up.

The score at half time was 7 - 0.

Houston gets a complete pass for a TD but miss the extra point.

Fourth quarter action we have a complete pass for a TD.  I may add some "effects" in paint.  What do you think yes or no?

Touchdown.

Late fourth quarter we see a completed pass for Oakland but it was too little too late and they used up their T.O.'s early on.

1961 Oakland Raiders

1961 Houston Oilers.

Tudor Games 1961 Score board and a facsimile game program.

The Foolish Club 1961 in the AFL

Titans of New York vs. The Boston Patriots.

2:00 kick off .

Card counted plays with penalties and die rolled skill tests for kick, pass, point after etc.

I plan on playing every game from this year of early football.

I was born in 1961 so this is a dwelling on an origin story.

Thanks for looking in.

Electric Football Play Count Rules

The Lion's Den was all a buzz last PM with the sound of electric football.  Many first were accomplished in this evening of play.

I have a new rules set that I have never played before.  They have been in existence since the begining of the hobby but I have never actually played an opponent in a game using counted plays as the game clock for the game.  We started our playtest at 32 plays is the game limit and each coach had two time outs that could extend a quarter, half, or game.

The image above shows the Titans of New York '61 versus the Los Angeles Chargers.  The Chargers team has seen field time at an Arrowhead stadium tailgate but the Titans were making a debut.  

Here the "firsts" are numerous.  First time players for electric football.  First time visit from Caroline, Timmy's fiance. First time the two teams have been played.

The Denver Uglies (Broncos) 1961, versus the Oakland Rainders 1961.  Both of these teams saw their debut game in a learning experiment end in a 0-0 tie.

Another first over in the AFL Eastern division was the field being used for the first time was a thrift store find on 23rd street.  Think I just coined a name for the field.  "23rd Street Stadium."

The play count idea for a game clock is as old as electric football itself.  The twist I put on the count was using playing cards.  The face cards were used to call a penalty on the team who's suit was drawn. Red was visitors and black cards denote home team.  Jack was a 5 yarder, Queen was for 10. and the King card was a 15 yard penalty.  This system produces a pretty equitable spread of chance for each team and when we are only using 32 cards from the deck you could have a penalty sparse game.

The time required to play by play count was higher than I expected and we ended this game at the end of the third quarter with a 14 - 14 tie.

Jon Mark, the veteran general had kind remarks for the play style.  There was time to analyze plays and comment on the play between snaps.  There was not the hustle and shuffle of pieces to get to the next play.  The rules need some clarification and I am working on that today.

Looking for the end zone...

Thanks for looking in and if you leave a comment or question we always try and answer.

Kansas City Electric Football League Season Three Begins

Opening night for the Kansas City Electric Football Club has begun in the Lee's Summit and Shawnee locations.  

My Minnesota Vikings kick off team set up in a game against Lynn Schmidt's KC Chiefs.  We would go on to win this one 24 to 21.  Lynn missed a FG that would have tied the game.

More action from the Chiefs Vikings game.  The field was built for Jesse by our commissioner Kelley Newton.  I played Jesse in our first game of the night but did not get any photographs.  Jesse is currently fielding a Sumner Sabers team but is working on a concept uniform Chiefs team.

Lynn's Chiefs.

Ready for some football.

Jesse and Billy in a second game of the night.

Willis and Kelley on the field.

Lynn and the new Chiefs field.

Great times and a lot of laughs for those interested look up MFCA or Miniature Football Coaches Association online and see what this hobby has to offer.