Chargers Photos from the 60s

[sonorajim]

Just so you guys know, I had season tickets then on about the 40 yard line sitting on concrete bleachers. enjoyed the hell out of that game. In Feb the next year left for the Army but kept my tickets that my father and uncle used until finall gave them up 6 years later when came back home with my German wife. So some of us old Charger Fans are still around.

I served with 3rd Armored in '66-'67. Didn't have enough sense to watch AFL, though until Coryell was hired.

[Portland1961]

Just so you guys know, I had season tickets then on about the 40 yard line sitting on concrete bleachers. enjoyed the hell out of that game. In Feb the next year left for the Army but kept my tickets that my father and uncle used until finall gave them up 6 years later when came back home with my German wife. So some of us old Charger Fans are still around.

[OG619FrightninLightnin]

We moved to SD in 76 from the Bay Area and for business purposes my Dad who also was a huge football fan and played for Colorado before the war took me to every game.

I have some pics of those days but maybe should put them in another thread?

[Boltjolt]

Glory be! Look at those white helmets! Yep, white was the original color.

[northerner]

I also don't remember much reaction to the change. I had season tickets starting in about 74. Now that I watch old videos of the Chargers the blue helmets were a part of history. I like all the Charger uniforms.

thanks for the feedback. the Charger Power shirts in the stands (late 1970's) were awesome. I have newer reprint that i bought online.

[northerner]

To me changing the helmet was fairly minor, compared to changing the jersey from powder blue (actually my wife says that “French blue” is a more accurate description) to royal blue. Frankly, I don’t remember much reaction to the uniform change back then. Of course, the team was horrible in that era, so maybe fans don’t care much.

yeah, right in the middle of the playoff drought between 1965 and 1979. thanks for the feedback.

[Craig440]

I also don't remember much reaction to the change. I had season tickets starting in about 74. Now that I watch old videos of the Chargers the blue helmets were a part of history. I like all the Charger uniforms.

[joebarnin]

quick question for any of the guys during this era - how did the fans react to the new royal blue helmet in 1974? i am interested in the general reaction to the change.

i started watching in 1979, so for me, the royal blue helmet will always be my version of the "classic" helmet.

thanks in advance for any replies.

To me changing the helmet was fairly minor, compared to changing the jersey from powder blue (actually my wife says that “French blue” is a more accurate description) to royal blue. Frankly, I don’t remember much reaction to the uniform change back then. Of course, the team was horrible in that era, so maybe fans don’t care much.

[northerner]

quick question for any of the guys during this era - how did the fans react to the new royal blue helmet in 1974? i am interested in the general reaction to the change.

i started watching in 1979, so for me, the royal blue helmet will always be my version of the "classic" helmet.

thanks in advance for any replies.

[Craig440]

I feel like telling a story since Roo asked me to. I lived in Granite Hills area of El Cajon. Several Chargers lived there also. My mom sold most of them their house. I think it was about 1970 and I worked at Alpha Beta on second street. I was a box boy. Walt Sweeney would come in about once a week and shop. Yes, he did that. Maybe not once a week but regularly. We had one checker lady who was smitten big time by him. I knew him and his wife because we (my mom and I) would go to their house and watch the games sometimes. Anyway, this lady who was smitten got to check him out one time. She was so flustered and excited she could hardly do it. He was very polite and kind of flirty with her. It was funny.


Then much later in life I had a pool route in Tierrasanta. I would go to JP's bar now and then. They had a book signing with Walt but I didn't make it there. He died soon after. He blamed the NFL and the Chargers for his drug problem. Which I think they may have enabled it a lot. Same with Rick Redman who's wife challenged Pete Rozellle big time. But that's another story. Elaine Redman was/is a firecracker.

Emil Karas was also a neighbor. Lived up the hill a little right next to my good friend. All those years I never saw him or met him. He had a very large yard that was private.

[joebarnin]

I've updated the web page with a few more articles. Including photos from the 1963 AFL championship (yea!) and the 1964 championship (boo!).

https://ebydurbin.net/aflhistory/

[dmac_bolt]

Maybe you remember sitting here?
67-B18-03.jpg

Great pic!