ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – The Packers hit the bye week after a tough start to the season, but despite their record, they are still a darling to many, but it took a key matchup for that to happen.
Team Historian Cliff Christl says the Packers could barely draw a crowd until a 1929 David vs Goliath game in New York City.
“Packers went to New York. The championship was decided by league standings and they beat the Giants. They played 12 players. 10 of them played all 60 minutes and one player left in the last minute and they put in a sub.”
Christl says with that win, an important group of people got on board with the Packers.
“They won their first league Championship and became the darling of the New York Sportswriters.”
He says the Packers and Giants games were attracting three times the crowd that other games were.
“When most NFL games are attracting 12,000 fans, all of the sudden the Packers and Giants are drawing 35,000 plus.”
From there, Christl says the rest was history.
“The Packers for many years were the biggest drawing card in pro football.”
