New Directions for Youth Inc. – New Directions for Youth Spirit of Hope Auction
Auction Ends: Sep 30, 2010 11:30 AM PDT

Memorabilia

Framed and autographed photo of Y.A. Tittle

Item Number
111
Estimated Value
Priceless
Sold
60 USD to Wonkaman
Number of Bids
3  -  Bid History

Item Description

Framed and autographed photo of Y.A. Tittle leading the underdog Giants past the Redskins on Oct. 28, 1962, altering the fate of both teams.

In 1962, the Giants ultimatley emerged as the team to beat in the NFL's East Division. But on Oct. 28 (Week 7), New York was the underdog. The Redskins came into Yankee Stadium (yes, Yankee Stadium) riding a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) and looking as though they, not the Giants, were the biggest threats to Vince Lombardi's Packers for leaguewide supremacy.

Giants QB Y.A. Tittle wasn't impressed or intimidated.

The 35-year-old Tittle completed 27 of 39 passes for 505 yards and a record-tying seven touchdown passes against Washington. (Sid Luckman was the first player to throw seven TDs in one game in 1943. Five quarterbacks have accomplished the feat.) The Giants' 49-34 victory was the second leg in what was a nine-game winning streak. In fact, the Giants didn't lose again until the NFL title game, where they fell to Green Bay, 16-7.

The game had the opposite effect on the Redskins. Washington won only one more game all season, and its defense, perhaps demoralized by the ease with which the Giants moved up and down the field, suffered irreparable damage. The Skins allowed more than 300 yards passing five more times that season and ended up having the 12th-ranked defense (out of 14 teams). Yes, it's safe to say the Skins never recovered from Tittle's astonishing assault.

So not only was Tittle's performance a statistical masterpiece, but it also altered the fate of both teams involved. It also proved Tittle was far from finished. Perhaps buoyed by his great performance against the Skins, Tittle went on to play the best football of his career. He had 33 TD passes in 1962 and followed that up with a career-best 33 TD passes in 1963, his second-to-last season.

"It was just one of those games where I couldn't do anything wrong. It just seemed that every time I put the football up in the air towards the end zone, somebody from the Giants was there to catch it. I really didn't want to go out and throw the record-tying touchdown. But [coach] Allie [Sherman] put me back in there, and we tied the record." -- Tittle