1959 Profile: Charlie Conerly

Quarterback
No. 42
Mississippi

"A real record smashing passer- Charlie completed 133 out of 233 passes good for 1,367 yards and 18 touchdowns. In addition, he carried the ball 104 times for Ole Miss, averaging over four yards per try. He scored nine touchdowns and accounted for 162 points. Charlie also ranked eleventh in the country with a punting average of 40.1 yards.

Charlie was originally on the Redskins' draft list. The Giants received rights to him by trading Howie Livingston and another player."

-1948 Bowman No. 12

"In his first season with the Giants, Charlie smashed several collegiate marks last season, completing 133 out of 233 passes for 1,367 yards and 18 touchdowns. He carried the ball 104 times for a rushing average of four yards per try.

Charlie ranked second in the nation in ground gaining. He accounted for 162 points rushing and passing including a single-game high of 36 against Tennessee."

-1948 Bowman No. 53

"Charlie practically rewrote the Giants' record book for single-season achievement last year- his first in professional ball. He completed the most passes (162); gained the most yards via passing (2,175); most touchdown passes (22); most passes completed in one game (36 ... a new league record)- and all accomplished after a slow start.

Charlie smashed all collegiate aerial marks in 1947 by completing 133 out of 233 passes."

-1949 Leaf No. 49

"The National Football League Rookie of the Year in 1948, 'Chucking' Charlie holds the NFL record of 36 completions in one game.

Charlie played quarterback for Mississippi. In his senior year (1947) he set a collegiate record by completing 133 out of 233 passes for 1,367 yards and 18 touchdowns. He carried the ball 104 times for a rushing average of four yards a try."

-1950 Bowman No. 103

"Charlie stood fifth in the league in passing in 1950. He made an average gain per pass of 7.58 yards. He threw 132 passes, completed 56 for 1,000 yards and tossed eight touchdown passes.

Charlie joined the Giants in 1948 and became the Rookie of the Year. He played for Mississippi and had a terrific senior year. He completed 133 of 233 passes for 1,367 yards. He carried the ball 104 times for a rushing average of four yards for each try."

-1951 Bowman No. 56 (Bowman Gum, Inc.)

"Charlie holds the National Football League record for most passes completed in one game, 36. He hurled 47 touchdown passes in three years, four in one game against the Bears in 1949. At Mississippi he won All-American honors.

Charlie, as a quarterback, is field director of the T and Steve Owen's A formation single wing."

-1952 Bowman No. 63

"Conerly ranked number 10 in the league last year for average yards gained by passing. He accounted for about 75% of the total yards gained passing by the Giants in 1952. He holds the National Football League record for most passes completed in one game, 36. He hurled 47 touchdown passes in three years, four in one game against the Bears in 1949."

-1953 Bowman No. 20

"In his seventh season, Conerly ranks as one of the great quarterbacks of the League. He holds the record for most passes completed in one game, 36, which he accomplished back in 1948. Charlie is the only quarterback to defeat the Cleveland Browns four times. He has twice thrown four touchdown passes in one game, against the Bears in 1949 and against the Browns in 1949.

All-America at Mississippi and Rookie of the Year for 1948 in the NFL, he's a cotton farmer in his home town."

-1954 Bowman No. 113

"Conerly threw his 100th touchdown pass last season, making him the third in NFL history to enter this magic circle. Only Baugh and Luckman preceded Conerly, though Bobby Layne equaled the mark four days later.

In the very next game, Charlie suffered torn knee ligaments and was lost for the last two games. So he'll be going for his 101st touchdown pass next season, his eighth as a Giant.

Conerly had one of his best seasons in 1954. He kept the Giants in contention for most of the season. He was Rookie of the Year in 1948 when he set the NFL record for most passes completed in a game, 36."

-1955 Bowman No. 16

"Conerly, now in his ninth season, is the Giants' Old Pro. He completed 98 of 202 passes in 1955 for 1,310 yards and 13 touchdowns and a 48.5 completion average; only 13 were intercepted.

An All-American at Ole Miss in 1947, he originally was Washington property, but the Giants managed to obtain the rights to him in a trade. He was Rookie of the Year in '48, setting an NFL completion record of 36 passes in a single game. In 1954 he became the third NFL passer after Baugh and Luckman to connect for 100 touchdown passes; he currently trails Bobby Layne as the top active passer, 113 to 114.

Conerly was a Marine corporal in the Pacific. He is a married cotton farmer from Clarksdale, Mississippi."

-1956 Jay Publishing

"Again last season, Charlie was among the top passers in the League. He is one of the two active players who have tossed more than 100 touchdown passes in his pro career. Joining the Giants after his discharge from the Marines, Charlie won the Rookie of the Year award in 1948."

-1956 Topps No. 77

"Charlie Conerly (42), now in his ninth season with the Giants, is one of pro football's great clutch players. Going into the current season, the former Mississippi All-America had thrown 113 touchdown passes. He holds just about every Giant passing record and several league marks. Originally a single-wing tailback, Chuck has developed into a slick T quarterback."

-1956 NFL Championship Game Official Program (Yankee Stadium)

"Conerly, now in his tenth season, has now thrown more touchdown passes than all but Baugh and Luckman. He threw his 100th in 1954 and now has 152. He sets a new Giant passing record every time he cocks his arm. He's one of the greatest passers ever at hitting a receiver in the open.

In 1956, Conerly completed 90 of 174 (51.7 percent) for 1,143 yards, 10 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. His career was climaxed with two touchdown passes in last December's World Championship rout of the Bears, 47-7. Conerly completed seven for 195 yards in that game.

An All-American at Ole Miss in '47, he was originally Washington property. The Giants obtained the rights to him in a trade. He was Rookie of the Year in '48, setting a one-game completion record (36 passes) which still stands.

Conerly was a Marine corporal in the Pacific. He is a married cotton farmer from Clarksdale, Mississippi."

-1957 Jay Publishing

"A large part of the success of the 1956 Giants can be credited to Charlie's strong right arm and keen football judgment. An amazingly accurate passer, Charlie had the fewest passes intercepted (7) last year. In '48 he set the NFL record of 36 completions in one game."

-1957 Topps No. 109

"Charlie Conerly, Giant quarterback, is starting his tenth year as a pro. He was Rookie of the Year in 1948 and has starred ever since. Charlie was the third NFL passer to throw 100 touchdown tosses."

-1957 Chicago Bears Official Program

"Charlie Conerly (42), a 10-year Giant, is one of football's supreme clutch performers. The Ole Miss All-America, converted from a single-wing tailback to a T quarterback as a pro, has thrown more NFL touchdown passes than all but Baugh and Luckman. He had 125 going into this season. Every time Charlie uncocks his arm, he sets a new Giant passing record.

Married, he farms cotton in Clarksville, Miss., in the off-season."

-1957 New York Giants Official Program (Yankee Stadium)

"Dependable Charlie keeps rolling along for the Giants. After Don Heinrich was injured early last season, Charlie stepped in and did a whale of a job the rest of the way. He wound up as the seventh top passer."

-1958 Topps No. 84

"Charlie Conerly, veteran quarterback, starts his 11th year. Drafted No. 11 by the Redskins in 1945, he was traded to the Giants, who won the bidding contest against Branch Rickey of the All-America Conference to sign Conerly for 1948.

Rookie of the Year as a single-wing tailback in '48, Conerly set an NFL record of 36 completions in one game. He was switched to the T for '49. With 134 touchdown passes, Conerly ranks third to Sam Baugh (187) and Sid Luckman (139) in NFL history.

As a single-wing tailback at Mississippi, Conerly in '47 set NCAA records with 133 completions in 233 attempts for 1,367 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also scored nine touchdowns rushing. He was an All-America choice.

Conerly was born September 19, 1921, and was a Marine corporal in Pacific action. Married, his home is Clarksdale, Mississippi. He invested his earnings in a cotton farm in Clarksdale."

-1958 Chicago Cardinals Official Program (Comiskey Park)

"The ancient of the league at 38 and the third all-time top touchdown pass maker in the NFL, Charlie is preceded only by the fabulous Sammy Baugh and Sid Luckman. Originally drafted by the Redskins after a brilliant career at Ole Miss, he started as a single-wing tailback, switching to the T in 1949.
Charlie has a cotton farm in Clarksdale, Mississippi."

-Pro Football Handbook 1959

"The No. 11 draft choice of the Washington Redskins in 1945, Conerly was traded to the Giants, who won the bidding contest against Branch  Rickey's All-America Conference Brooklyn Dodgers. He was Rookie of the Year in '48 as a single-wing tailback.

Conerly set an NCAA record at Mississippi in 1947 with 133 completions in 233 attempts for 1,367 yards and 18 touchdowns. He served in the Marines and saw action in the Pacific.

He set an NFL record with 36 completions in a single game in 1948. Going into his 12th season of pro football, Conerly ranks second only to Sammy Baugh in touchdown passes, 187-144. His NFL passes have been good for 16,194 yards.

Conerly is married and has invested in a cotton farm in Clarksdale, Miss."

-1959 N.F.L. Pro-Football Yearbook (Jay Publishing)

"Only Sammy Baugh and Bobby Layne have thrown more N.F.L. touchdown passes than Charlie Conerly (42). The gallant 38-year-old Giant quarterback had fired 147 pay-off shots going into this season and had gained nearly ten miles on his 1,212 pass completions. Always at his best in the clutch, Conerly has played a starring role in most of the important Giant victories of his long tenure.

A triple-threat single-wing tailback at Mississippi and as a Giant rookie in 1948, Charlie switched under center when the Giants changed to a T formation in 1949."

-1959 New York Giants Official Program (Yankee Stadium, November 1)

"Don't forget Charlie Conerly Day at the Stadium two weeks from today, when the Giants meet the Redskins. And order your tickets for the Charlie Conerly Night dinner-dance at the Concourse Plaza Hotel. Tickets for this gala affair, priced from $10, may be obtained from Harry Bachrach at Section Five Club headquarters in the Concourse Plaza. Make reservations now!"

-1959 New York Giants Official Program (Yankee Stadium, November 15)

"Charlie Conerly was drafted No. 11 by the Redskins in 1945. He was traded to the Giants, who won a bidding contest against Branch  Rickey's All-America Conference Brooklyn Dodgers. He was Rookie of the Year in 1948 as a single-wing tailback. He set an NFL record of 36 completions in a single game in 1948. 

He was switched to the T for 1949. With 147 touchdown passes, Conerly ranks second to Sam Baugh (187) in NFL history. As a single-wing tailback at Mississippi, Conerly set NCAA records in '47 with 133 completions in 233 attempts for 1,367 yards and 18 touchdowns. 

Born September 19, 1921, he was a Marine corporal in Pacific action. He's married and has invested his earnings in a cotton farm in Clarksdale, Miss."

-1959 Cleveland Browns Official Program