1952 Philadelphia Eagles season

The 1952 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 20th in the league. The team improved on their previous output of 4–8, winning seven games.[1] The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

1952 Philadelphia Eagles season
Head coachJim Trimble
OwnerHappy Hundred
Home fieldShibe Park
Results
Record7–5
Division place2nd NFL American
Playoff finishdid not qualify

Off Season

Head coach Wayne Millner took over, for ailing head coach Bo McMillin in 1951, would resign 0n September 8, 3 weeks before the 1952 season started, siting health as the reason for stepping down.

NFL Draft

The 1952 NFL Draft was held on January 17, 1952. Picks made by New York Yanks were assigned to the new Dallas Texans franchise. There were 12 teams picking for 32 rounds.

The Eagles made the 4th pick in each round and made 31 picks in the 32 rounds they had picks in. The New York Yanks had the Eagles pick in the 5th round.

The Los Angeles Rams received this year's Lottery bonus pick. The Rams used it to pick Bill Wadea Quarterback out of Vanderbilt University. The Eagle used there number 4 pick in the 1st round to take Johnny Brighta Back of Drake University. Johnny Bright, was chosen before fellow backs and future NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame members Frank Gifford from University of Southern California and Hugh McElhenny out of University of Washington, passed up playing for the Eagles. Bright later commented:

I would have been their (the Eagles') first Negro player. There was a tremendous influx of Southern players into the NFL at that time, and I didn't know what kind of treatment I could expect.[2]

Player Selections

The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick. It is possible the Eagles' pick ended up with this team via another team that the Eagles made a trade with. Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away.

= Pro Bowler [3] = Hall of Famer =Canadian Football Hall of Famer
Rd Pick Player Position School Rd Pick Player Position School
15Johnny BrightBackDrake 217Jim WeatherallTackleOklahoma
329Lum SnyderTackleGeorgia Tech 441Chuck UlrichTackleIllinois
553Pick Taken ByNew YorkYanks 665Dick LemmonBackCalifornia
777John ThomasEndOregon State 889Wayne RobinsonCenterMinnesota
9101Maury NippGuardLoyola (CA) 10113Gerry McGinleyGuardPennsylvania
11125Ralph GoldstonBackYoungstown State 12137Jack BlountTackleMississippi State
13149Ed HamiltonBackKentucky 14161Bob StringerBackTulsa
15173Malcolm SchmidtEndIowa State 16185Jim BrewerGuardNorth Texas State
17197John WeigleEndOklahoma State 18209Ed RomanowskiBackScranton
19221Talbott TrammellEndWashington & Lee 20233Bobby BlaikBackArmy/Colorado College
21245Les WheelerGuardAbilene Christian 22257Johnny TurcoBackHoly Cross
23269Maury SchnellBackIowa State 24281Joe TyrrellGuardTemple
25293Bob KelleyCenterWest Texas State 26305Bob AlbertBackBucknell
27317Chuck HillBackNew Mexico 28329Johnny BrewerBackLouisville
29341Tony "Zippy" MoroccoBackGeorgia 30353Don StevensBackIllinois

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result
1 September 28, 1952 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 31–25
2 October 4, 1952 New York Giants L 31–7
3 October 12, 1952 Pittsburgh Steelers W 26–21
4 October 19, 1952 Cleveland Browns L 49–7
5 October 26, 1952 at New York Giants W 14–10
6 November 2, 1952 at Green Bay Packers L 12–10
7 November 9, 1952 Washington Redskins W 38–20
8 November 16, 1952 Chicago Cardinals W 10–7
9 November 23, 1952 at Cleveland Browns W 28–20
10 November 30, 1952 at Chicago Cardinals L 28–22
11 December 7, 1952 Dallas Texans W 38–21
12 December 14, 1952 at Washington Redskins L 27–21

Game Recaps

Week 1: @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles 31 (1–0–0)  at  Pittsburgh Steelers 25 (0–1–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 14 3 7731
Pittsburgh Steelers 0 12 01325

at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 28, 1952
  • Game time: EST
  • Game attendance: 22,501
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
1st
  • Eagles Bud Grant 84-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7 – Pitt 0
  • Eagles Frank Ziegler 4-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 14 – Pitt 0
2nd
  • Steelers Jim Finks 20-yard rush (kick failed) Phila 14 – Pitt 6
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 32-yard field goal Phila 17 – Pitt 6
  • Steelers Ed Modzelewski 1-yard rush (kick failed) Phila 17 – Pitt 12
3rd
  • Eagles Frank Ziegler 3-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 24 – Pitt 12
4th
  • Steelers Jim Finks 1-yard rush (Gary Kerkorian kick) Phila 24 – Pitt 19
  • Eagles Pete Pihos 25-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 31 – Pitt 19
  • Steelers Ray Mathews 27-yard pass from Jim Finks (kick failed) Phila 31 – Pitt 25

Week 2: vs New York Giants
Week 2: New York Giants 31 (2–0–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 7 (1–1–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
New York Giants 7 14 7331
Philadelphia Eagles 7 0 007

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information
1st
  • Giants Bob McChesney 18-yard pass from Frank Gifford (Ray Poole kick) Phila 7 – NY 0
  • Eagles John Brewer 71-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7 – NY 7
2nd
  • Giants Joe Scott 30-yard rush (Ray Poole kick) Phila 14 – NY 7
  • Giants Bill Stribling 20-yard pass from Charlie Conerly (Ray Poole kick) Phila 21 – NY 7
3rd
  • Giants Joe Scott 10-yard rush (Ray Poole kick) Phila 28 – NY 7
4th
  • Giants Ray Poole 16-yard field goal Phila 31 – NY 7

Week 3: vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2:Philadelphia Eagles 26 (2–1–0)  vs  Pittsburgh Steelers 21 (0–3–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Pittsburgh Steelers 7 7 7021
Philadelphia Eagles 3 10 01326

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 12, 1952
  • Game time: ? pm EST
  • Game attendance: 18,648
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
1st
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 25-yard field goal Pitt 0 – Phila 3
2nd
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 20-yard field goal Pitt 0 – Phila 6
  • Steelers Lynn Chandnois 93-yard kickoff return (Gary Kerkorian kick) Pitt 7 – Phila 6
  • Eagles John Brewer 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Pitt 7 – Phila 13
3rd
  • Steelers Ray Mathews 25-yard pass from Jim Finks (Gary Kerkorian kick) Pitt 14 – Phila 13
4th
  • Steelers Elbie Nickel 54-yard pass from Jim Finks (Gary Kerkorian kick) Pitt 21 – Phila 13
  • Eagles Bud Grant 17-yard pass from Fred Enke (Bobby Walston kick) Pitt 21 7 – 20
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 24-yard field goal Pitt 21 – Phila 23
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 19-yard field goal Pitt 21 – Phila 26

Week 4 vs Cleveland Browns
Week 4:Cleveland Browns 49 (3–1–0)  at  Philadelphia Eagles 7 (2–2–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cleveland Browns 14 7 21749
Philadelphia Eagles 7 0 0714

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 19, 1952
  • Game time: ? pm EST
  • Game attendance: 27,874
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
1st
  • Browns Len Ford unknown-yard fumble return (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 7 – Phila 0
  • Browns Pete Brewster 47-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 14 – Phila 0
2nd
  • Browns Sherman Howard 35-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 21 – Phila 0
3rd
  • Browns Dub Jones 63-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 28 – Phila 0
  • Browns Mac Speedie 8-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 35 – Phila 0
  • Browns Dub Jones 16-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 42 – Phila 0
4th
  • Browns Horace Gillom 11-yard pass from George Ratterman (Lou Groza kick) Cleve 49 – Phila 0
  • Eagles Ralph Goldston 4-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Cleve 49 – Phila 7

Week 5 @ New York Giants
Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles 37 (1–0–0)  at  New York Giants 25 (0–1–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 0 14 0014
New York Giants 3 0 7010

at Polo Grounds, Upper Manhattan, New York City, New York

  • Date: September 28, 1952
  • Game time: ? PM EST
  • Game attendance: 21,458
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
1st
  • Giants Ray Poole 30-yard field goal Phila 0 – NY 3
2nd
  • Eagles Bibbles Bawel 52-yard punt return (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7 – NY 3
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 19-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 14 – NY 3
3rd
  • Giants Bud Sherrod unknown-yard fumble return (Ray Poole kick) Phila 14 – NY 10

Week 6 @ Green Bay Packers
Week 1: Green Bay 12 (3–3–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 10 (3–3–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 3 0 0710
Green Bay Packers 6 0 0612

at City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: November 2, 1952
  • Game time: ? PM EST
  • Game attendance: 10,149
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
1st
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 23-yard field goal Phila 3 – Green Bay 0
  • Packers Breezy Reid 21-yard pass from Babe Parilli (kick failed) Phila 3 – Green Bay 6
4th
  • Eagles Russ Craft 32-yard interception return (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 10 – Green Bay 6
  • Packers John Martinkovic 5-yard blocked punt return (kick failed) Phila 10 – Green Bay 12

Week 7 vs Washington Redskins
Week 7:Philadelphia Eagles 38 (4–3–0)  vs  Washington Redskins 20 (4–3–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Washington Redskins 0 7 6720
Philadelphia Eagles 14 14 7338

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA

  • Date: November 9, 1952
  • Game time: ? PM EST
  • Game attendance: 16,932
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
1st
  • Eagles Don Stevens 56-yard punt return (Bobby Walston kick) 0 7
  • Eagles Bud Grant 7-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick) 0 14
2nd
  • Redskins Johnny Williams 74-yard punt return (George Buksar kick) 7 14
  • Eagles John Huzvar 1-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) 7 21
  • Eagles Mike Jarmoluk 16-yard fumble return (Bobby Walston kick) 7 28
3rd
  • Eagles Bud Grant 4-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick) 7 35
  • Redskins Chuck Drazenovich 1-yard rush (kick failed) 13 35
4th
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 26-yard field goal 13 38
  • Redskins Hugh Taylor 55-yard pass from Harry Gilmer (George Buksar kick) 20 38

Week 8 vs Chicago Cardinals
Week 8: Philadelphia Eagles 10 (5–3–0)  vs  Chicago Cardinals 7 (3–5–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chicago Cardinals 0 7 007
Philadelphia Eagles 0 10 0010

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA

  • Date: November 16, 1952
  • Game time: ? PM EST
  • Game attendance: 18,406
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
2nd
  • Eagles Pete Pihos 12-yard fumble return (Bobby Walston kick) Chi 0 – Phila 7
  • Cardinals Cliff Anderson 14-yard pass from Charlie Trippi (Joe Geri kick) Chi 7 – Phila 7
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 20-yard field goal Chi 7 – Phila 19

Week 9 @ Cleveland Browns
Week 9: Philadelphia Eagles 28 (4–3–0)  at  Cleveland Browns 20 (4–3–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 14 0 01428
Cleveland Browns 7 3 10020

at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: November 23, 1952
  • Game time: ? PM EST
  • Game attendance: 28,948
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
1st
  • Eagles Frank Ziegler 3-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 7   –   Cleve 0
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 3-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)Phila 14   –   Cleve 0
  • Browns Mac Speedie 28-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Phila 14   –   Cleve 7

2nd

  • Browns Lou Groza 18-yard field goal Phila 14   –   Cleve 10
  • 3rd
  • Browns Mac Speedie 48-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) Phila 14   –   Cleve 17
  • Browns Lou Groza 19-yard field goal Phila 14   –   Cleve 20

4th

  • Eagles Ralph Goldston 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 21   –   Cleve 20
  • Eagles Ralph Goldston 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick) Phila 28   –   Cleve 20

Week 10 @ Chicago Cardinals
Week 10:Chicago Cardinals 28 (4–6–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 22 (6–4–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 0 3 12722
Chicago Cardinals 0 14 14028

at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: November 30, 1952
  • Game time: ? PM CST
  • Game attendance: 13,577
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
2nd
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 35-yard field goal       PHIL 3 – 0
  • Cardinals – Johnny Karras 4-yard pass from Charlie Trippi (Joe Geri kick)      Tied 3 – 7
  • Cardinals -Volney Peters 10-yard fumble return (Joe Geri kick)       CHI C 3 – 14
3rd
  • Eagles – Safety, Matson tackled in end zone by E. Van Buren       CHI C 5 – 14
  • Cardinals – Ollie Matson 13-yard rush (Joe Geri kick)       CHI C 5 – 21
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 19-yard field goal       CHI C 8 – 21
  • Cardinals – Ollie Matson 79-yard kickoff return (Joe Geri kick)       CHI C 8 – 28
  • Eagles – Bobby Walston 8-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Bobby Walston kick)       CHI C 15 – 28
4th
  • Eagles – Bud Grant 30-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)       CHI C 22 – 28

Week 11 vs Dallas Texans
Week 11: Philadelphia Eagles 38 (7–4–0)  vs  Dallas Texans 21 (0–10–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Dallas Texans 0 7 01421
Philadelphia Eagles 17 7 14038

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA

  • Date: December 7, 1952
  • Game time: ? PM EST
  • Game attendance: 18,376
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
1st
  • Eagles John Huzvar 5-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)        Dallas 0  –   Phila   7
  • Eagles Bud Grant 41-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)    Dallas 0   –   Phila   14
  • Eagles Bobby Walston 29-yard field goal    Dallas 0  –   Phila   17
2nd
  • Eagles Ebert Van Buren unknown-yard fumble return (Bobby Walston kick)    Dallas 0  –   Phila   24
  • Texans Buddy Young 1-yard rush (Pat Cannamela kick)    Dallas 7  –   Phila   24
3rd
  • Eagles Bud Grant 23-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)     Dallas 7  –   Phila   31
  • Eagles Vic Sears 9-yard interception return (Bobby Walston kick) ,    Dallas 7  –   Phila   38
4th
  • Texans Stan Williams 24-yard fumble return (Pat Cannamela kick) ,    Dallas 14  –   Phila   38
  • Texans Dick Wilkins 42-yard pass from Frank Tripucka (Pat Cannamela kick) ,    Dallas 21  –   Phila   38

Week 12 @ Washington Redskins
Week 12: Washington Redskins 27 (4–8–0)  vs  Philadelphia Eagles 21 (7–5–0)  – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Philadelphia Eagles 7 7 0721
Washington Redskins 7 7 01327

at Griffith Stadium Washington, D.C.

  • Date: December 14, 1952
  • Game time: ? PM EST
  • Game attendance: 22,468
  • Recap and Stats
Game information
1st
  • Eagles – Frank Ziegler 19-yard pass from Bobby Thomason (Bobby Walston kick)
  • Redskins – Gene Brito 23-yard pass from Eddie LeBaron (George Buksar kick)
2nd
  • Eagles – Al Pollard 2-yard rush (Bobby Walston kick)
  • Redskins – Johnny Williams 38-yard interception return (George Buksar kick)
4th
  • Eagles – Mike Jarmoluk 45-yard interception return (Bobby Walston kick)
  • Redskins – Hugh Taylor 16-yard pass from Eddie LeBaron (George Buksar kick)
  • Redskins – Eddie LeBaron 1-yard rush (kick failed)

Standings
NFL American Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Cleveland Browns 8 4 0 .667 7–3 310 213 L1
Philadelphia Eagles 7 5 0 .583 6–4 252 271 L1
New York Giants 7 5 0 .583 5–4 234 231 W1
Pittsburgh Steelers 5 7 0 .417 4–5 300 273 L1
Chicago Cardinals 4 8 0 .333 3–7 172 221 L2
Washington Redskins 4 8 0 .333 4–6 237 287 W2

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Playoffs

With a record of 7 – 5 the Eagles fall 1 game back of Cleveland and fail to make the playoffs. Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams would tie for National Division have to play a Division Championship game before meeting Cleveland in the 1952 NFL Championship Game

1952 Roster

(All time List of Philadelphia Eagles players in franchise history)

= 1952 Pro Bowl [4] = Hall of Famer
NO. Player AGE POS GP GS WT HT YRS College
Jim Trimble35COACH1952
record
7–5–0		NFL-Eagles
Lifetime
7–5–0		1stIndiana University
81Bibbles Bawel22DB1201856–1RookieEvansville
60Chuck Bednarik+27LB-C1202336–33Pennsylvania
36John Brewer24FB1202306–4RookieLouisville
10Adrian Burk25QB1231906–22Baylor
33Russ Craft*33DB-HB1201785–96Alabama
17Fred Enke28QB902086–14Arizona
53Ken Farragut24C-LB1202406–41Mississippi
27Neil Ferris25DB-HB801815–111Loyola Marymount
22Ralph Goldston23HB-DB901955–11RookieYoungstown State
86Bud Grant25E-DE1201996–31Minnesota
62Bill Horrell22G402225–11RookieMichigan State
38John Huzvar23FB1202476–4RookieNorth Carolina State, and
Pittsburgh
78Mike Jarmoluk30DT-T-MG1202326–56Temple
76Bucko Kilroy31G-MG-T-DT1202436–29Temple
67John Magee29G1202205–104La-Lafayette, and
Rice
68Maury Nipp22G1002196–0RookieLoyola Marymount
89Bob Oristaglio28DE-E402146–2Pennsylvania
43Jim Parmer26FB-HB601936–04Oklahoma State
35Pete Pihos+29E-DE1202106–15Indiana
21Al Pollard24HB-FB1201966–01Army
62Knox Ramsey26G302166–14William & Mary
82Joe Restic25E301806–2RookieVillavova
52Wayne Robinson22LB-C1202256–2RookieMinnesota
65Dan Rogas26G-DT-T1002306–11Tulane
27Clyde Scott28HB-DB201746–03 Arkansas, and
Navy
79Vic Sears34T-DT1202236–311Oregon State
73Lum Snyder22T1102286–5RookieGeorgia Tech
20Don Stevens24HB1101765–9RookieIllinois
44Bob Stringer23LB-FB1201976–1RookieTulsa
45Joe Sutton28DB-HB1001805–113Temple
11Bobby Thomason24QB1291966–13VMI
69Joe Tyrrell23G202155–11RookieTemple
31Ebert Van Buren28DB-LB-FB-HB1202106–21LSU
83Bobby Walston24E-HB-K1201906–01Georgia
63Norm Willey25DE-G-E1202246–22Marshall
75Frank Wydo28T-DT12122256–45Cornell
41Frank Ziegler29HB-DB1101755–113Georgia Tech
88Jack Zilly31DE-E1202126–25Notre Dame
38 Players
Team Average		26.112208.26–1.22.4

Post Season

At the end of the season, Bud Grant was offered a pay raise in his contract. He chose to play football in the CFL(Canadian Football League) instead. He had a career worthy of being named to the CFL's Hall of Fame as a player. Later on he made the Pro Football Hall of Fame as coach of the Minnesota Vikings.

Awards and honors

Pro Bowl Players

  • Chuck Bednarik and Pete Pihos both make the Pro Bowl 1st team.
  • Russ Craft and Bucko Kilroy selected to the Pro-Bowl team as back-ups.

League Leaders

  • Bud Grant finishes 2nd in Receptions with 56.
  • Bud Grant finishes 2nd in Receiving Yards with 997 yds.
  • Adrian Burk leads league in number of Punts with 83 and 40.2 yds avg
  • Bobby Walston finishes 2nd with 11 Field Goals made.

References
  1. 1952 Philadelphia Eagles
  2. Soutar, Ted. "CFL Legend: Johnny Bright". CFL.ca. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
  3. Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career.
  4. Players are identified as a 1952 All-Star.
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