Richard Peterson - The Turnpike Rivalry: The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns

The Turnpike Rivalry

The
Turnpike
Rivalry

The Pittsburgh Steelers and
the Cleveland Browns

RICHARD PETERSON AND STEPHEN PETERSON

Black Squirrel Books
an imprint of The Kent State University Press
Kent, Ohio 44242 www.KentStateUniversityPress.com

2020 by The Kent State University Press, Kent, Ohio 44242

All rights reserved

ISBN 978-1-60635-413-1

Manufactured in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced, in any manner whatsoever, without written permission from the Publisher, except in the case of short quotations in critical reviews or articles.

BLACK SQUIRREL BOOKS

Frisky, industrious black squirrels are a familiar sight on the Kent State University campus and the inspiration for Black Squirrel Books, a trade imprint of The Kent State University Press. www.KentStateUniversityPress.com

Cataloging information for this title is available at the Library of Congress.

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To all the sons who watched their first Steelers-Browns
game with their fathers.

CONTENTS

Since the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns began playing each other in 1950, many voices have contributed to the narrative of what has become one of the greatest rivalries in American sports. We are grateful to those on each side of the rivalry who contributed to our narrative, ranging from fans, sportswriters, and broadcasters to players, coaches, and team officials. We are particularly grateful for the sons who told the story of going to their first Steelers-Browns game with their fathers.

We are also grateful to the organizations that were helpful in providing material for our book, but wed like to single out the Heinz History Center, for its generous support. Especially helpful were Anne Madaraz, Director of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Matthew Strauss, Chief Curator, and Craig Britcher, Project Coordinator and Assistant Curator.

We like to express our gratitude and debt to the editors of Kent State University who provided so much help and support until our book crossed the goal line. Will Underwood, former Acquiring Editor, was there from the beginning with his encouragement; Susan Wadsworth-Booth, Director, moved the project forward; and Mary Young, Managing Editor, skillfully turned a work-in-progress into a publishable manuscript.

Finally, wed like to acknowledge that our book was a family affair. It began when a son suggested to his father that they collaborate on a book about the Steelers-Browns rivalry. Along the way, our wives, Anita and Anna, were there for us with their patience and help with our research. And we couldnt have put together the artwork for the book without Dean Marshall, who married into the family and, despite being surrounded by the Steelers, remains faithful to the Chicago Bears.

While we admittedly are die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fans, we know that the passion that we have for our Steelers is equaled by the passion that Cleveland Browns fans have for their Browns. We hope that out book reflects that passion on both sides of a rivalry that began 70 years ago and remains as strong as ever.

THE VIEW FROM CLEVEL AND

A six-pack drive along the Turnpike [for Steelers and Browns fans].

Hal Lebovitz, Cleveland Plain Dealer sports editor

Pittsburgh and Cleveland are almost clones. From an ethnic, from a historical, and from a traditional stand pointwith the tremendous diversity and the people who follow those teams for years. Theyre very, very much alike.

Sam Rutigliano, Browns head coach (19781984)

When I came to Cleveland, I heard the Pittsburgh game was a matter of life or death. But I soon found out it was more than that.

Bill Belichick, Browns head coach (19911995)

The toughest part of the game [in Pittsburgh] was getting there and living.

Art Modell, Browns owner (19611995)

The Browns-Steelers rivalry has always been considered one of the greatest rivalries despite the fact that RARELY have the two teams been good at the same time. Usually one team has been good and the other bad going all the way back to the 1950s.

Roger Gordon, author of Cleveland Browns: AZ

I remember as a player with Cleveland we used to make fun of Pittsburgh. Theyd wear different colored helmets sometimes.

Chuck Noll, Browns offensive lineman and linebacker (19531959)

I was as big as the linemen I ran against, so I didnt worry about them. And once I ran over a back twice, I didnt have to run over him a third time.

Marion Motley, Browns running back (19461953)

And when Pittsburgh came to town, Marion had a big day. After the game Motley joked that he played well because It was easier to run downhill.

Mike Brown, Cincinnati Bengals owner (1991)

Paul Brown is a football coach who highly prizes that elusive quality known as desire and he found it in quantity at Forbes Field. However, the major portion belonged to the seething squad of Pittsburgh Steelers who proceeded to hand the once almost unbeatable Browns a 5527 trouncing to the delight of 33,262 unbelieving partisans. The first Pittsburgh victory over Cleveland in nine games.

Chuck Heaton, Cleveland Plain Dealer sportswriter

There are too many people in this league who would like to see Johnson carried off on a stretcher. This uncharitable attitude stems from hard-blocking John Henrys tendency to break things. Like jaws and cheek bones. Noses and teeth.

Jim Brown, Browns running back (19571965)

One of my biggest thrills was to go into Pittsburgh one time and see a big bed sheet on the wall that said, Thanks Bill Austin for Bill Nelsen.

Bill Nelsen, Steelers quarterback (19631967) and Browns quarterback (19681972)

I remember people telling me, We dont care if you dont win another game all year. That was the mentality. They hated the Steelers.

Cody Risien, Browns offensive tackle (19791983, 19851989)

You were indoctrinated as a young player to hate Pittsburgh.

Dick Ambrose, Browns linebacker (19751983)

I had a lot of friends that played on the Pittsburgh team. But for some reason. Man, we hated Pittsburgh. For those four hours I hated my friends.

Greg Pruitt, Browns running back (19761984)

Jack Lambert would have kicked my grandmothers cane out. Joe Greene got fined like $500 (for kicking Bob McKay in the groin). Deleone got fined like $100 (for punching Greene). And Bob McKay got fined for getting kicked in the groin.

Doug Dieken. Browns offensive tackle (19711984)

To me, Jack Lambert was the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have lost a lot of great players but what hurt them the most was losing Jack Lambert. In all my years in professional football, I never played against a guy, in any position, who was more of a dominating force.

Sam Rutigliano, Browns coach (19781984)

I was at the 1816 victory in 1976 during which Joe Turkey Jones threw Bradshaw on his head and invented the in-the-grasp rule. That was the first game where I noticed the edge of violence in the stands. There werent a lot of fightsin fact, I saw more fighting at other gamesbut the fans exuded a hair-trigger fierceness.

Scott Huler, author of On Being Brown: What It Means to Be a Cleveland Browns Fan

When you have people who share similar passions such as drinking beer and being crazy, and you put that in a football stadium, its combustible. I always said that I was so glad I was playing because I wouldnt want to be in the stands. That was the worst place to be in that game.