Rams Trivia - Share What You Know

[OldRamsfan]

Rams Famous Firsts

The long history of the Rams is rich with firsts. Among them are:

* The first professional football team to move West of the Mississippi
* The first NFL team in the post-WWII era to employ black players
* The first to use an insignia or logo on the helmet
* The first to play before one million spectators in a season
* Participated in the first game to use sudden-death in overtime
* The first to employ a full-time scouting staff
* The first to employ a full-time special teams coach (Dick Vermeil - 1969)
* The first to regularly televise away games
* First team to have a player selected to 14 consecutive Pro-Bowl appearances (Merlin Olsen)
* The first team to win seven consecutive division titles (1973-79)
* The first team with more than six defeats to play in the Super Bowl (1979 record: 9-7)
* The first NFL team to move back East
* The first NFL team to loose all 8 divisional games one year, then win all 8 divisional games the next
* The first franchise to win a NFL championship in 3 different cities (Cleveland 1945; Los Angeles 1951; St. Louis 1999)
* The first NFL team to score at least 500 points in 3 consecutive seasons

[AlphaRam]

Here is a Rams first in the NFL fact that you may not have known. The Rams were the first NFL team to equip and have a weight room. This happened when George Alen first became the head coach.

[Goldenfleece]

Brandon Chillar is the first (Asian) Indian American to play in the NFL. His father's name is Ram Chillar.

[AlphaRam]

That is a cool fact - I certainly had no idea.

Deacon Jones has two biographies written about him: Life in The Pit by Bill Bibby
Headslap by John Klawitter and Deacon Jones

There is another book called:
The Book of Deacon: The Wit and Wisdom of Deacon Jones

I collect and read books about the Rams and Rams players. I just bought the last book a few moments ago on eBay for 99 cents + shipping. I am currently reading Headslap.

[AlphaRam]

The Fearsome Foursome made a record called "Fly In The Buttermilk".

[RealRam]

Alpha, speaking of books, several years ago I found (by chance) in a public library the book 'Outstanding Pro', a biographical work about Roman Gabriel; written by Earl Gustkey, published in 1974. Now out of print.

I remember greatly enjoying that book, even though it is written for youth. :-)

Gabriel was one of the Rams I came to admire and follow with the team when I was a teen.

[AlphaRam]

George Allen was fired by Dan Reeves after the 1968 season. Many players from the Rams threatened to retire or quit if Allen was not brought back. After several weeks, the Rams relented and brought Allen back as the coach.

[RAM-BO]

RB Dickerson wore some Rad goggles.

[AlphaRam]

In the Rams initial year in the NFL (1937), the team only scored 75 points over the season.

[RealRam]

The FIRST Rams game played in their new L.A. Coliseum home was on September 29, 1946 Vs. the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately, we lost 25-14. :-(

The LAST Rams game played at the L.A. Coliseum was on December 16, 1979 Vs. the N.O. Saints. Alas, we lost that one too, 29-14. :-(

But that was the memorable year when we defeated Dallas and Tampa Bay in the playoffs to go to our first Super Bowl! SB XIV.

[AlphaRam]

The Rams hosting the **** in 1957 drew a crowd of 102,368 people for the game. That was the NFL record for a single game until the Futbol Americano match-up in Mexico City this past season between the **** and the Cardinals.

[OldRamsfan]

Drafted: Elroy Hirsch was drafted fifth overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1945. Years Played: 1946-1957 Position Played: Halfback End Played For: 1946-1948 Chicago Rockets (AAFC), 1949-1957 Los Angeles Rams College: Wisconsin, Michigan

Inducted into the Hall of Fame: 1968 Enshrinement Class: Cliff Battles, Art Donovan, Wayner Millner, Marion Motley, Charley Trippi, and Alex Wojciechowicz D1A FootballCollege football news & information Features, stats, facts, & mored1afootball.com Uniform Number: Hirsch wore No. 40 in college and No. 80 in the pros.

Best Season: His best season came in 1951 when he set an NFL record with 1,495 yards and 17 touchdowns on 66 receptions, helping the Rams to an NFL Championship ...

College Highlights:

• Won All-America Honors (1942, 1943)

• Lettered in four sports in one year at Michigan (1943-44)

• Led College All-Stars upset of Rams (1946)

NFL Career Totals:

Hirsch caught a total of 387 passes for 7,029 yards, an 18.2 average, and 60 touchdowns. He also rushed for 3 touchdowns, scored 1 on a punt return, and 1 on an interception return. As a defensive player, he recorded five interceptions. NFL Highlights:

• Helped revolutionize football as one of the first big-play receivers.

• Won an NFL Championship with the Rams (1951)

• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1968)

• Named to the NFL's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1969) Notables:

After retiring from football, Hirsch had a brief career in the movies. In 1953, he played himself in "Crazylegs, All American." He also went on to star in the movies "Unchained" in 1955 and "Zero Hour" in 1957. Hirsch also served as athletic director at the University of Wisconsin form 1969 to 1987

[OldRamsfan]

The Rams franchise has a long and impressive history of playoff appearances. Through the 2001 season, only the Dallas Cowboys (26), and the New York Giants (25) have participated in more playoff seasons than the Rams (24). Only the Dallas Cowboys (9) have more consecutive seasons with playoff appearances than the Rams (8). The Rams overall post-season record is 18-22 (.450).


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The Rams history of playoff appearances:
The Rams organization begain in Ohio in 1936 as the Cleveland Rams in the second version of the American Football League. In 1937, they were awarded an NFL franchise. In 1946, the team moved to Los Angeles, California. In the early years, up through 1965, the NFL consisted of just 2 divisions, Eastern and Western (called American and National Conferences in 1950-1952). The playoffs were simple: the winners of each conference would play each other for the NFL title. There were occasional conference playoffs due to tied records. During this period, the Rams won their conference 5 times, and won 2 of their 5 NFL Championship Game appearances, once while still in Cleveland, and once in Los Angeles.

Cleveland:
1936 - AFL Championship - Cleveland Rams vs. Boston Shamrocks - Cancelled
1945 - NFL Championship - Cleveland Rams 15 - Washington Redskins 14

Los Angeles:
1949 - NFL Championship - Philadelphia Eagles 14 - Los Angeles Rams 0
1950 - National Conference Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 24 - Chicago Bears 20
1950 - NFL Championship - Cleveland Browns 30 - Los AngelesRams 28
1951 - NFL Championship - Los AngelesRams 24 - Cleveland Browns 17
1952 - Western Division Playoff - Detroit Lions 31 - Los Angeles Rams 21
1955 - NFL Championship - Cleveland Browns 38 - Los Angeles Rams 14


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Beginning in 1967, some changes began to appear which would have an impact on post-season playoffs. From 1967 through 1969, the NFL and the upstart AFL would remain separate leagues. However, the two league champions would play each other in an NFL-AFL championship game. In 1967, the NFL divided each conference into two divisions; the Eastern Conference had the Capitol and Century Divisions; the Western Conference had the Central and Coastal Divisions. At season's end, the two division winners in each conference would play for the conference title, and the conference champions would play for the NFL championship and the right to represent the NFL in the NFL-AFL championship game.
1967 - Western Conference Playoff - Green Bay Packers 18 - Los Angeles Rams 7
1969 - Western Conference Playoff - Minnesota Vikings 23 - Los Angeles Rams 20


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In 1970, with the absorption of the AFL into the NFL, further re-structuring was required because of the large number of teams involved. The NFC consisted of most of the old NFL teams, and was now divided into three divisions, Eastern, Central, and Western. the AFC, which consisted of all of the old AFL teams plus the old NFL Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers, also had three divisions named the same. In order to even out the playoff brackets, the non-division-winning team with the best record was designated a "wildcard" entry into the playoffs, and would play the division champion with the best record.
1973 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Dallas Cowboys 27 - Los Angeles Rams 16
1974 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 19 - Washington Redskins 10
1974 - NFC Championship - Minnesota Vikings 14 - Los Angeles Rams 10
1975 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 35 - St. Louis Cardinals 23
1975 - NFC Championship - Dallas Cowboys 37 - Los Angeles Rams 7
1976 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 14 - Dallas Cowboys 12
1976 - NFC Championship - Minnesota Vikings 24 - Los Angeles Rams 13
1977 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Minnesota Vikings 14 - Los Angeles Rams 7


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1978 saw the addition of a second wildcard entry into the playoffs. Under the new format, the weekend after the completion of the regular season would see two wildcard teams play, with the winner playing the division champion with the best record. This had the added bonus of allowing all division champions to have this "Wildcard Weekend" off before their first playoff game.
1978 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 34 - Minnesota Vikings 10
1978 - NFC Championship - Dallas Cowboys 28 - Los Angeles Rams 0
1979 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 21 - Dallas Cowboys 19
1979 - NFC Championship - Los Angeles Rams 9 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0
1979 - NFL Championship (Super Bowl 14) - Pittsburgh Steelers 31 - Los Angeles Rams 19
1980 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - Dallas Cowboys 34 - Los Angeles Rams 13
1983 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 24 - Dallas Cowboys 17
1983 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Washington Redskins 51 - Los Angeles Rams 7
1984 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - New York Giants 16 - Los Angeles Rams 13
1985 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 20 - Dallas Cowboys 0
1985 - NFC Championship - Chicago Bears 24 - Los Angeles Rams 0
1986 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - Washington Redskins 19 - Los Angeles Rams 7
1988 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - Minnesota Vikings 28 - Los Angeles Rams 17
1989 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 21 - Philadelphia Eagles 7
1989 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 19 - New York Giants 13
1989 - NFC Championship - San Francisco ***** 30 - Los Angeles Rams 3

Thus ended a 17 year period that saw the Rams in the playoffs 14 of those years, more than any other team during that period of time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990 saw another change in playoff eligibity -- a third wildcard team was added. The three wildcard teams and the division champion with the worst record would play during "Wildcard Weekend." Unfortunately, the Rams would not be involved in playoffs for the next 9 years. In fact, the Rams would finish last in their division 6 of those 9 years. But the dry spell ended in 1999 with the return of the Rams (now located in St. Louis) to the playoff scene.
St. Louis:
1999 - NFC Divisional Playoff - St. Louis Rams 49 - Minnesota Vikings 37
1999 - NFC Championship - St. Louis Rams 11 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6
1999 - NFL Championship (Super Bowl 34) - St. Louis Rams 23 - Tennessee Titans 16
2000 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - New Orleans Saints 31 - St. Louis Rams 28
2001 - NFC Divisional Playoff - St. Louis Rams 45 - Green Bay Packers 17
2001 - NFC Championship - St. Louis Rams 29 - Philadelphia Eagles 24
2001 - NFL Championship (Super Bowl 36) - New England Patriots 20 - St. Louis Rams 17




The Rams franchise has a long and impressive history of playoff appearances. Through the 2001 season, only the Dallas Cowboys (26), and the New York Giants (25) have participated in more playoff seasons than the Rams (24). Only the Dallas Cowboys (9) have more consecutive seasons with playoff appearances than the Rams (8). The Rams overall post-season record is 18-22 (.450).


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Rams history of playoff appearances:
The Rams organization begain in Ohio in 1936 as the Cleveland Rams in the second version of the American Football League. In 1937, they were awarded an NFL franchise. In 1946, the team moved to Los Angeles, California. In the early years, up through 1965, the NFL consisted of just 2 divisions, Eastern and Western (called American and National Conferences in 1950-1952). The playoffs were simple: the winners of each conference would play each other for the NFL title. There were occasional conference playoffs due to tied records. During this period, the Rams won their conference 5 times, and won 2 of their 5 NFL Championship Game appearances, once while still in Cleveland, and once in Los Angeles.

Cleveland:
1936 - AFL Championship - Cleveland Rams vs. Boston Shamrocks - Cancelled
1945 - NFL Championship - Cleveland Rams 15 - Washington Redskins 14

Los Angeles:
1949 - NFL Championship - Philadelphia Eagles 14 - Los Angeles Rams 0
1950 - National Conference Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 24 - Chicago Bears 20
1950 - NFL Championship - Cleveland Browns 30 - Los AngelesRams 28
1951 - NFL Championship - Los AngelesRams 24 - Cleveland Browns 17
1952 - Western Division Playoff - Detroit Lions 31 - Los Angeles Rams 21
1955 - NFL Championship - Cleveland Browns 38 - Los Angeles Rams 14


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning in 1967, some changes began to appear which would have an impact on post-season playoffs. From 1967 through 1969, the NFL and the upstart AFL would remain separate leagues. However, the two league champions would play each other in an NFL-AFL championship game. In 1967, the NFL divided each conference into two divisions; the Eastern Conference had the Capitol and Century Divisions; the Western Conference had the Central and Coastal Divisions. At season's end, the two division winners in each conference would play for the conference title, and the conference champions would play for the NFL championship and the right to represent the NFL in the NFL-AFL championship game.
1967 - Western Conference Playoff - Green Bay Packers 18 - Los Angeles Rams 7
1969 - Western Conference Playoff - Minnesota Vikings 23 - Los Angeles Rams 20


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1970, with the absorption of the AFL into the NFL, further re-structuring was required because of the large number of teams involved. The NFC consisted of most of the old NFL teams, and was now divided into three divisions, Eastern, Central, and Western. the AFC, which consisted of all of the old AFL teams plus the old NFL Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers, also had three divisions named the same. In order to even out the playoff brackets, the non-division-winning team with the best record was designated a "wildcard" entry into the playoffs, and would play the division champion with the best record.
1973 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Dallas Cowboys 27 - Los Angeles Rams 16
1974 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 19 - Washington Redskins 10
1974 - NFC Championship - Minnesota Vikings 14 - Los Angeles Rams 10
1975 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 35 - St. Louis Cardinals 23
1975 - NFC Championship - Dallas Cowboys 37 - Los Angeles Rams 7
1976 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 14 - Dallas Cowboys 12
1976 - NFC Championship - Minnesota Vikings 24 - Los Angeles Rams 13
1977 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Minnesota Vikings 14 - Los Angeles Rams 7


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1978 saw the addition of a second wildcard entry into the playoffs. Under the new format, the weekend after the completion of the regular season would see two wildcard teams play, with the winner playing the division champion with the best record. This had the added bonus of allowing all division champions to have this "Wildcard Weekend" off before their first playoff game.
1978 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 34 - Minnesota Vikings 10
1978 - NFC Championship - Dallas Cowboys 28 - Los Angeles Rams 0
1979 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 21 - Dallas Cowboys 19
1979 - NFC Championship - Los Angeles Rams 9 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0
1979 - NFL Championship (Super Bowl 14) - Pittsburgh Steelers 31 - Los Angeles Rams 19
1980 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - Dallas Cowboys 34 - Los Angeles Rams 13
1983 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 24 - Dallas Cowboys 17
1983 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Washington Redskins 51 - Los Angeles Rams 7
1984 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - New York Giants 16 - Los Angeles Rams 13
1985 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 20 - Dallas Cowboys 0
1985 - NFC Championship - Chicago Bears 24 - Los Angeles Rams 0
1986 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - Washington Redskins 19 - Los Angeles Rams 7
1988 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - Minnesota Vikings 28 - Los Angeles Rams 17
1989 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 21 - Philadelphia Eagles 7
1989 - NFC Divisional Playoff - Los Angeles Rams 19 - New York Giants 13
1989 - NFC Championship - San Francisco ***** 30 - Los Angeles Rams 3

Thus ended a 17 year period that saw the Rams in the playoffs 14 of those years, more than any other team during that period of time.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990 saw another change in playoff eligibity -- a third wildcard team was added. The three wildcard teams and the division champion with the worst record would play during "Wildcard Weekend." Unfortunately, the Rams would not be involved in playoffs for the next 9 years. In fact, the Rams would finish last in their division 6 of those 9 years. But the dry spell ended in 1999 with the return of the Rams (now located in St. Louis) to the playoff scene.
St. Louis:
1999 - NFC Divisional Playoff - St. Louis Rams 49 - Minnesota Vikings 37
1999 - NFC Championship - St. Louis Rams 11 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6
1999 - NFL Championship (Super Bowl 34) - St. Louis Rams 23 - Tennessee Titans 16
2000 - NFC Wildcard Playoff - New Orleans Saints 31 - St. Louis Rams 28
2001 - NFC Divisional Playoff - St. Louis Rams 45 - Green Bay Packers 17
2001 - NFC Championship - St. Louis Rams 29 - Philadelphia Eagles 24
2001 - NFL Championship (Super Bowl 36) - New England Patriots 20 - St. Louis Rams 17