So far, every game changer I’ve written about has been baseball related. We’ve often stated on the DT podcast that baseball has been, and probably always will be, the driving force behind APBA Games. The APBA Blog reflects that as well, with most content baseball-related. Well, game changers aren’t all from baseball. So, I figure it was time to dive into another sport.
This week’s game changer will be football-related as we look at Pete Gogolak, the first soccer-style kicker in professional football. When he joined the AFL’s Buffalo Bill in 1964, it was unlikely most people realized how influential he’d be on the future of football. Before Gogolak, pro kickers took a straight-on “conventional” approach to the ball. Additionally, they were often players from other positions. Paul Hornung was a halfback and kicker. George Blanda was a quarterback and kicker. Frank Gifford was a halfback and kicker. Lou Groza was a tackle and kicker. This changed with Gogolak, who specialized as a placekicker.
APBA football cards reflect specialization as well. Special teams players have specific codes above the third column to reflect specializations like kicking, punting, and returning. Gogolak was always a KA (primary placekicker) and KO (kick off). In 1969 he punted 12 times in a backup capacity, so he also received a PB (second punter) designation. You’ll notice in a card like Groza’s, he is a tackle who also placekicks (KA) and kicks off (KO).
Gogolak was also the first Hungarian to play in the NFL. The Budapest-born Gogolak’s best season was 1965 when he was selected to the Pro Bowl and led the league in field goals made and attempted. Starting in 1966 Gogolak moved to the New York Giants and played with them until the end of his career in 1974. Besides being the Giants’ all-time leading scorer with 646 points, Gogolak holds a Giants record for consecutive PATs with 133. In 2010 Gogolak was part of the New York Giants’ inaugural induction class for their Ring of Honor.
| Game | 0-19 | 0-19 | 20-2 | 20-2 | 30-3 | 30-3 | 40-4 | 40-4 | 50+ | 50+ | Scor | Scor | Scor | Scor | Scor | Scor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | FGA | FGM | FGA | FGM | FGA | FGM | FGA | FGM | FGA | FGM | FGA | FGM | Lng | FG% | XPA | XPM | XP% |
| 149 | 57 | 56 | 66 | 54 | 67 | 31 | 86 | 31 | 18 | 1 | 294 | 173 | 54 | 58.8% | 354 | 344 | 97.2% |
Can’t forget the asterisked kickers of the late ’70s as well.
Many coaches said this would never work. The lower trajectory of soccer style kickers would result in too many blocked kicks. (Many coaches said the shotgun would never work, too.) :)