Middle Linebacker
No. 55
Colorado
"It takes a heck of a football player to make a go of it an unfamiliar position, but Ralph Heck did exactly that for the Giants last year. Heck is a respected outside linebacker, a reputation he earned through seven pro seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons. Ralph was traded to the Giants in '69, and then young Henry Davis, whom the Giants had heralded as their middle linebacker of the future, began making mistakes. Abruptly, Heck became the Giants' middle linebacker although, at 6-1 and 230 pounds, he is not really big enough to play the middle.
Heck is tough. Those big offensive linemen blotted him out occasionally, but for the most part he gave New York the required solidity at MLB. This year Heck may switch back to the corner. That's assuming former Brown Wayne Meylan can do the job in the middle. But Heck, 29, is assuming nothing."
-Brenda and Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1970
"A star at Colorado and a member of the 1962 Orange Bowl team, Ralph was voted MVP in Colorado's win over Oklahoma in 1961. He earned three varsity letters playing center, guard and linebacker. He was drafted by the Eagles in 1963 and played there for three seasons before being claimed by Atlanta in the 1966 expansion draft.
Ralph's coach at Colorado, Sonny Grandelius, is an ex-Giant himself."
-1970 Topps No. 127
MATT HAZELTINE
Linebacker
No. 64
California
"Steadiest 49er linebacker and among the soundest in the circuit. Hazeltine was an All-American center before shifting to pro defensive duties. He joined San Francisco in 1955 while still growing and has gained an inch [6-1] and 20 pounds [220] since. He will use his experience in '60 to break in the club's promising rookie corner men.
"When an enemy end or back goes for a short pass, they usually have Matt to reckon with. He's adept at knocking down the short ones or dealing out bone-crushing tackles that pry the ball loose for incompletions."
-1960 Topps No. 119
"Embarking on his seventh pro season, Matt was a fine center at California, where his father had also been a football star. He tried pro linebacking as a relatively light 200-pounder and over the years he's grown in both ability and size without sacrificing speed. Now a hard-hitting 220-pounder, Matt is the rallying point for the 49er defense."
-1961 Fleer No. 66
"A devastating tackler, Matt's speed and brains have made him a top NFL linebacker."
-1962 Topps No. 160
"For turning back plays run to the side, Matt Hazeltine must be graded as a superior linebacker. He has that alert lateral speed so essential to cut down on running ambitions and is blessed with enough knowledge to anticipate just what the enemy is plotting most of the time. His economy of style has kept him from all-NFL lists and caused opponents to underrate him. Hazeltine recovers well when forced to move back to cover receivers. He's not too strong fending off the power drive directed toward him."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963
"Now a ten-year man, Matt Hazeltine is considered one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL.
He was an All-American center at the University of California in 1954. His father was also a grid hero at California in the pre-World War II era. Since reporting as a 49er rookie, Hazeltine as grown an inch and gained 20 pounds. The defensive captain the past four seasons, he's a great pal of Y.A. Tittle.
During the off-season, Hazeltine has varied business interests such as insurance brokerage and dry-cleaning."
-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964
"Matt is tagged by San Francisco fans as the most underrated linebacker in the NFL. A speedy man on the field, he nails his opposition with hard, sure tackles.
In whose footsteps is Matt following? His father's. He was a pre-World War II star at California."
-1964 Philadelphia No. 160
"Linebacking has become so glamorous a position in recent years that unless you're colorful or have a super press agent working for you, you're apt to be overlooked. But what Matt Hazeltine may lack in color he compensates for in consistent, solid effort. He has been performing in his workmanlike fashion for ten seasons now and has developed time-tested techniques at turning running plays in toward the middle and for putting pressure on the passer.
Matt was a No. 4 draft choice of the 49ers, after starring for Pappy Waldorf's California Bears in 1954. He's been team captain the last five seasons."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"Matt has been team captain for the last five years. Well-liked, he is the 49ers player representative.
He has improved each year, with 1964 his best yet."
-1965 Philadelphia No. 175
"Take the word of Detroit coach Joe Schmidt, who was a perennial All-Pro at the position, you have to have a knack of anticipation to be an outstanding linebacker. Being a good athlete is secondary. But Matt Hazeltine has combined both these qualities, which explains why he has survived 11 pro seasons. Admittedly slowed down, he still possesses that special sixth sense which tells him where the play will be unfolding, and his reactions are still sharp enough to get him there.
Matt first came into prominence as a center and linebacker at California, where, in 1954, he was an All-America. He came to the 49ers as their fourth-round draft pick."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"Senior member of the San Francisco team, Matt has been a standout linebacker for the 49ers for fifteen years. He is an aggressive player on the field and a real rock'em, sock'em type of tackler. Matt is particularly good at cutting off attempted sweeps and power plays. He played in the 1963 and 1965 Pro Bowl Games."
-1969 Topps No. 204
JIM FILES
Linebacker
1st Round
Oklahoma
By selecting this prized linebacking prospect from Oklahoma in the 1st round, the Giants continue to build a young defense that already shows promise of being as aggressive and feared as the fabled New York defenses of the past. Along with his combination of size and quickness, Jim has both an uncanny ability to follow an unfolding play and an intimidating desire for physical contact. He has the talent to defend against both the run and the pass required for a linebacker to achieve stardom. Yankee Stadium's football partisans could soon have a new defensive hero.
Hazeltine is the son of a University of California grid star."
-1960 Pro Football Handbook
"When an enemy end or back goes for a short pass, they usually have Matt to reckon with. He's adept at knocking down the short ones or dealing out bone-crushing tackles that pry the ball loose for incompletions."
-1960 Topps No. 119
"Embarking on his seventh pro season, Matt was a fine center at California, where his father had also been a football star. He tried pro linebacking as a relatively light 200-pounder and over the years he's grown in both ability and size without sacrificing speed. Now a hard-hitting 220-pounder, Matt is the rallying point for the 49er defense."
-1961 Fleer No. 66
"A devastating tackler, Matt's speed and brains have made him a top NFL linebacker."
-1962 Topps No. 160
"For turning back plays run to the side, Matt Hazeltine must be graded as a superior linebacker. He has that alert lateral speed so essential to cut down on running ambitions and is blessed with enough knowledge to anticipate just what the enemy is plotting most of the time. His economy of style has kept him from all-NFL lists and caused opponents to underrate him. Hazeltine recovers well when forced to move back to cover receivers. He's not too strong fending off the power drive directed toward him."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963
"Now a ten-year man, Matt Hazeltine is considered one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL.
He was an All-American center at the University of California in 1954. His father was also a grid hero at California in the pre-World War II era. Since reporting as a 49er rookie, Hazeltine as grown an inch and gained 20 pounds. The defensive captain the past four seasons, he's a great pal of Y.A. Tittle.
During the off-season, Hazeltine has varied business interests such as insurance brokerage and dry-cleaning."
-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964
"Matt is tagged by San Francisco fans as the most underrated linebacker in the NFL. A speedy man on the field, he nails his opposition with hard, sure tackles.
In whose footsteps is Matt following? His father's. He was a pre-World War II star at California."
-1964 Philadelphia No. 160
"Linebacking has become so glamorous a position in recent years that unless you're colorful or have a super press agent working for you, you're apt to be overlooked. But what Matt Hazeltine may lack in color he compensates for in consistent, solid effort. He has been performing in his workmanlike fashion for ten seasons now and has developed time-tested techniques at turning running plays in toward the middle and for putting pressure on the passer.
Matt was a No. 4 draft choice of the 49ers, after starring for Pappy Waldorf's California Bears in 1954. He's been team captain the last five seasons."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"Matt has been team captain for the last five years. Well-liked, he is the 49ers player representative.
He has improved each year, with 1964 his best yet."
-1965 Philadelphia No. 175
"Take the word of Detroit coach Joe Schmidt, who was a perennial All-Pro at the position, you have to have a knack of anticipation to be an outstanding linebacker. Being a good athlete is secondary. But Matt Hazeltine has combined both these qualities, which explains why he has survived 11 pro seasons. Admittedly slowed down, he still possesses that special sixth sense which tells him where the play will be unfolding, and his reactions are still sharp enough to get him there.
Matt first came into prominence as a center and linebacker at California, where, in 1954, he was an All-America. He came to the 49ers as their fourth-round draft pick."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"Senior member of the San Francisco team, Matt has been a standout linebacker for the 49ers for fifteen years. He is an aggressive player on the field and a real rock'em, sock'em type of tackler. Matt is particularly good at cutting off attempted sweeps and power plays. He played in the 1963 and 1965 Pro Bowl Games."
-1969 Topps No. 204
JIM FILES
Linebacker
1st Round
Oklahoma
By selecting this prized linebacking prospect from Oklahoma in the 1st round, the Giants continue to build a young defense that already shows promise of being as aggressive and feared as the fabled New York defenses of the past. Along with his combination of size and quickness, Jim has both an uncanny ability to follow an unfolding play and an intimidating desire for physical contact. He has the talent to defend against both the run and the pass required for a linebacker to achieve stardom. Yankee Stadium's football partisans could soon have a new defensive hero.
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