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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERSThe first regular season leaguegame was on September 8, 1946against the New York Yankees. The49ers scored first, but lost 21-7 ina game that began in sunshine andended in the famous Kezar fog.The 49ers finished 9-5 in theirfirst season under Shaw, and wenton to have an 8-4-2 record in1947, 12-2 finish in 1948 and10-4 record, including a trip to theChampionship Game, in their finalseason in the AAFC.At the end of 1949, it wasannounced that the AAFC hadrun its course. San Francisco,49ers Founder, Tony MorabitoCleveland and Baltimore receivedNFL franchises and would beginplay in the NFL in 1950. The merger was what Morabito had hoped for all along as he, his brother Victor and general managerLou Spadia, continued to hold the reins.The 49ers struggled during their first season among the NFL elite, finishing with a 3-9 record. The following year though, the49ers went 7-4-1.As the seasons went on, Morabito was the heart and soul of the organization, signing on greats like The Million Dollar Backfield:Joe “The Jet” Perry, Hugh “The King” McElhenny and John Henry Johnson. He also attracted some of the NFL’s most renownedtalents in R.C. Owens, Bob St. Clair, Leo Nomellini, John Brodie and Y.A. Tittle.The players appreciated his honesty, and trusted his every move and word.As the 1950’s progressed, Morabito was warned by his doctors that a bad heart and the rigors of football were not a healthycombination. But Morabito wasn’t going to let a health scare get in the way of continuing with his passion. “What the hell, if I’mgoing to die, I might as well die at a football game,” he said.On October 27, 1957, the 49ers hosted the Chicago Bears at Kezar. The 49ers entered the game with a 3-1 record behind thetalents of Owens, Perry, Tittle, McElhenny, Billy Wilson, and others. The Bears had a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter beforethe 49ers scored to close the deficit at 14-7. Just as the 49ers lined up for the next kickoff, Morabito, who was sitting next tohis wife, Josephine, and his brother, Victor, in the guest box, suddenly collapsed. The great heart that had been with the 49erssince the franchise’s inception had failed.Father Bill McGuire of St. James parish was summonedto the guest box and pronounced Morabito his finalabsolution. Morabito looked up at him and smiled.“Thank you father,” he said.Those were his last words.The 49ers were behind 17-7 in the third quarter whenthe team learned of Morabito’s death. His playersrallied and came back to defeat Chicago, 21-17, in anemotional last win for their owner. The 49ers finished theseason with three straight victories and an 8-4 record,tying Detroit for the NFL Western Division title.Victor, Tony’s younger brother, kept the team in the familyuntil 1964, when he too died of a heart attack. BothVictor and Tony’s wives, Jane and Josephine, retainedcontrol of the 49ers with Lou Spadia as team presidentuntil 1977, when a new team owner, Edward DeBartoloJr. of Youngstown, Ohio emerged to buy the franchise.Morabito’s conviction, passion and character birthedand kept an NFL franchise in San Francisco, and laid thesturdy foundation that has enabled the 49ers to becomeone of the NFL’s premier football powers over the past60 years.Tony Morabito’s widow, Josephine (left), and Victor Morabito’swidow, Jane (right), kept control of the 49ers after their husbands’passing along with team president Lou Spadia (middle).
LEN ESHMONT AWARDThe Len Eshmont Award, the 49ers most prestigious annual honor, has been given each year to the 49ers player who bestexemplifies the “inspirational and courageous play” of Len Eshmont. A member of the original 1946 49ers team, Eshmontcoached at Navy and Virginia following his playing days with the 49ers. Eshmont died in 1957.Listed below are the 49ers annual Len Eshmont Award winners since its inception in 1957:1957 QB Y.A. Tittle1958 FB Joe Perry1959 HB J.D. Smith1960 S Dave Baker1961 DT Leo Nomellini1962 DE Dan Colchico1963 T Bob St. Clair1964 DT Charlie Krueger1965 QB John Brodie1966 HB John David Crow1967 LB Dave Wilcox1968 LB Matt Hazeltine1969 CB Jimmy Johnson1970 S Roosevelt Taylor1971 LB Ed Beard1972 DE Tommy Hart1973 S Mel Phillips1974 T Len RohdeLEN ESHMONT AWARD WINNERS1975 CB Jimmy Johnson1976 DE Tommy Hart1977 S Mel Phillips1978 RB Paul Hofer1979 RB Paul Hofer1980 DT Archie Reese1981 TE Charle Young1982 WR Dwight Clark1983 RB/ST Bill Ring1984 LB Keena Turner1985 FB Roger Craig1986 QB Joe Montana1987 WR Jerry Rice1988 NT Michael CarterRB Roger Craig1989 QB Joe Montana1990 DE Kevin FaganLB Charles Haley1991 WR John Taylor1992 QB Steve Young1993 WR Jerry Rice1994 QB Steve Young1995 FB William Floyd1996 DT Bryant Young1997 DT Dana Stubblefield1998 DT Bryant Young1999 DT Bryant Young2000 DT Bryant Young2001 RB Garrison Hearst2002 S Tony Parrish2003 LB Julian Peterson2004 DT Bryant Young2005 DT Bryant Young2006 DT Bryant Young2007 DT Bryant Young2008 WR Isaac BruceBOBB MCKITTRICK AWARDThis award is given annually to the 49ers offensive lineman who best exemplifies the dedication, excellence andcommitment of offensive line coach Bobb McKittrick, a five-time Super Bowl champion.In 1999, the San Francisco 49ers, under the direction of Bill Walsh, established the Bobb McKittrick Award. The award ismeant to honor those offensive linemen who have best represented the courage, intensity and sacrifice displayed by thelate Coach McKittrick during his 21 years of service with the 49ers.“Bobb gave distinguished service to the organization since our renaissance in 1979,” Walsh said. “He was a vital factor infive Super Bowl championships, the evolution of a dynasty and in the production of some of the finest offensive linemenin football. Offensive linemen don’t receive the recognition they so richly deserve. This gives us a venue to honor theirsacrifices and achievements.”A bronze plaque of McKittrick hangs in the 49ers locker room surrounded by the photographs of the McKittrick Awardwinners.1981 Keith Fahnhorst1983 John Ayers1984 Randy Cross1985 Fred Quillan1986 Keith Fahnhorst1987 Bubba Paris1988 Steve Wallace1989 Harris Barton1990 Guy McIntyreBOBB MCKITTRICK AWARD WINNERS1991 Jesse Sapolu1992 Guy McIntyre1993 Harris Barton1994 Derrick Deese1995 Kirk Scrafford1996 Jesse Sapolu1997 Ray Brown1998 Chris Dalman1999 Ray Brown2000 Jeremy Newberry2001 Ray Brown2002 Scott Gragg2003 Jeremy Newberry2004 Kyle Kosier2005 Jeremy Newberry2006 Eric Heitmann2007 Eric Heitmann2008 Eric Heitmann
Page 1: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERSFOUNDERAnthony J
Page 5 and 6: GARRY NIVER AWARDThe Garry Niver Aw
Page 7 and 8: NFC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR199
Page 9 and 10: 49ERS IN THE HALL OF FAME1969-DT Le
Page 11 and 12: 2000-LB Dave Wilcox (1964-74). Nick
Page 13 and 14: PRO BOWL 49ERS1950 (Jan. 14, 1951)F
Page 15 and 16: ALL-PRO 49ERS1946 — Alyn Beals E
Page 17 and 18: 1995 — Merton Hanks FS (First Tea
Page 19 and 20: UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS SIGNED—
Page 21 and 22: 49ERS TRADE HISTORY1950HB Emil Sitk
Page 23 and 24: 1984DT Louie Kelcher from San Diego
Page 25 and 26: All-Time Alphabetical RosterALast F
Page 27 and 28: Last First Position College Years J
Page 45 and 46: 62 Art Michalik/69 Bob HantlaRT 76
Page 47 and 48: 45 Elbert Kimbrough (3)RH 40 Abe Wo
Page 49 and 50: 77 Jean Barrett (2)RT 79 Cas Banasz
Page 51 and 52: LCB 42 Ronnie Lott (12)RCB 21 Eric
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26 Mike McGruder* (1)LCB 25 Eric Da
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RCB 24 Mike Rumph (13)SS 33 Tony Pa
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1965 - Outstanding offensive perfor
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1983 - For the second time in three
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Championship Game for the second ti
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to rush for 1,000 yards since 1992.
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tory. The 49ers finished the season
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mann held strong under center, serv
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san francisco 49ers founder

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