Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-11
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW 5, FRANCE, srApu
Now Let Georqe Try 1t

CHICAGO Aug. 1l-One of the sigficant aspects
of AI-star football extravaganza tomorrow in
Soldier Field will be the absence of Otto Graham at quarter
back for the Cleveland Browns. The Big Man, more
valuable to the Browns these many than Ted Williams
has the Red says he intends to retire That isl
Otto qualities unless the team needs me-"
The Browns are going rather undessed without
their quarterback unqueonaby the best in the business
these Ever since 1916 the
star has been their key their artist on
handofs de luxe and not totally nept at packing
the ball himself
It was Graham who was quarterback for the Browns in
each the -Ameca Conferences four years and was
the urinary reason why they won every title Graham it
led his team to National League heights after the
All-America folded.
SOME 10000 oN-THE-scENE customers and millions
of television spectators may have inkng by mid
night tomorrow whether the Browns still need Graham
With all due respect to George Ratterman his undersudy
they probably football teams don't often lose the
likes of Graham without experiencing knocks in their
engines.
Graham, still only 49, has played lot of football. Some
it. from high school to college to Navy PreFght
to professional behted his exceptional talents he
wepad and being no knothead, Otto got together
with Jim Hegan catcher for the Cleveland Indians and
opened insurance business that apparently paying Off
Grahams seeming reluctance to expose himself to
of the club physicians stitching
There's combination for you, incidentally top quar-
terback and catcher While works atheticay and
in the other the business Shows where the
brains in the two sports seem to be conferred
THESE ALL-sTAR GAMES which the late Arch Ward
invented in always have been Grahams cup OF tea
He's been in of em-tWce A-Star and once as
a pro-
The first time in 1943 when, freshly graduated
from Northwestern Otto really tore it for the Redskins
when he intercepted pass and 81 yards for touch
down. This of the good Rsdskn teams although
bit early effort but also exceptional
Al-Star squad. 1t ball game for hail. Al-Stars
ahead by only AL when Graham took off. 1t wound up
17-7 and the Redskins became the first to lose in
five years
In those years the rules relaxed So because
Graham had been in the Navy and not yet in pro
ball. invited to play again in 1946 In the
leading the AlSars to 1910 win over the Los Angeles
Rams Alto 38yard touchdown pass to Crazy Legs
Hirsch, who along with Graham and Pat Harder was
collegiate" repeater.
BECAUSE HE PLAYED in the AlAmerica Conference
further opportunity for Graham to distinguish
himself in All-star game until 1884, or until the Browns
National League club and, therefore eligible to
play in the Chicago affair
Otto winner again. throwing two touchdown
passes in $50 romp for the pros.
Tomorrow it will be Ratterman in Graham's spot and
the exNotre Damer is bad substitute There times
when Ratterman plays up Grahams highest Standards
but not every week Some games the fellow is plain
ordinary.
Ratterman hasn't played much for the Browns, and
this understandable because his has been similar
years ago, to Sam Byrds, when he Babe Ruth's
understudy.
George do a job mentioned previously and
Coach Paul Brown take bow if Ratterman can run
the Cleveland club in the proper For when he
acquired Raerman from the old New York Yanks Brown
taking the most expensive bench warmer in the
game Now CONES the time to if he still play.