Perspective Of An Average Steelers Fan: The First All-Time Steelers Lineup

As an average Steelers fan; I got caught up in a recent debate on whether Antonio Brown is already the all-time greatest Steelers wide receiver. Hines Ward and John Stallworth are still ahead of AB on my all-time Steelers list. I do rate him over Lynn Swann who truncated his career in part due to the multiple clubbings upside the head he endured from the Oakland Raiders. However, most current fans have already crowned AB and he still could have several more very productive years.

If Le’Veon Bell signs a longterm contract and continues to produce in the Black & Gold; he could be in the same discussion as Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis as the best Steelers running back ever very soon – especially if he & AB help the Steelers win a 7th Lombardi Trophy.

Recently, while researching archives for another story; I came across what I believe is the first ever all-time Steelers team. If you are aware of an earlier list, please let me know. It was run as a contest by former Pittsburgh Press Sports editor Chester L. Smith in August 1953 in his Village Smithy column.

The Black & Gold had completed 20 seasons of play if the 1943 Steagles and 1944 Card-Pitt aka “Carpets” joint teams were included. There was not much to cheer about in those days; the Steelers had managed only four winning seasons and three other seasons when they were at .500. Of course, there was the 1947 playoff team which finished 8-4 record, the best record up to that time.

Readers could send their own lists and the submissions that came closest would get two tickets to the preseason game against the Chicago Bears. Five folks were named as winners of the contest. Smith had Steelers head coach Joe Bach and assistant coach Walt Kiesling plus two other unnamed persons for six voters on the selection committee.

Here is the consensus all-time Steelers team as of August 1953:

NOTE: In these early days, platooning offenses and defenses was still a recent innovation so just 11 positions selected. The offensive linemen would play a 5-man defensive front. There was a tie so 12 players made this list.

Twelve other early Steelers received votes. Here they are the honorable mentions:

Seven of the all-time players were still on the roster for the upcoming 1953 season including Ernie Stautner who would play until 1963 and be the first Steelers player ever to have his number retired by the team. Many of the selected players had three or less seasons played yet made the all-time list since they were the best the selectors had seen in a Steelers uniform up to that time. This reflects the shorter careers back then, but a number had their football careers interrupted due to serving in the military. I’ve marked those players with an “*” while others were traded away like “Bullet” Bill Dudley.

Here is where I place these early notable Steelers on my own Average Steelers Fan All-Time Steelers list along with some highlights from their careers:

Some of those players from that early all-time list have stood the test of time. Others have slipped into oblivion. You must wonder how some would have made out if their football careers were not interrupted by the war.

In the 2018 Memorial Day Weekend: Steelers Friday Night Five Questions, I committed to play songs that Steelers Depot respondents had suggested might be the new Steelers anthem if Renegade by Styx was ever replaced. Here is entry six of 45 from Jeremy: Vegetable Man by Pink Floyd.