Another loss of one of the heroes of the youth of the Bay Area has touched us, this week. The passing of the great John Henry Johnson, along with other members of the 1950”s Forty Niner”s “Million Dollar Backfield,” 49er greats, Hugh McElhenny, Jolt”en Joe Perry, Y.A. Tittle, brought a deep felt sadness to this one very young sports fan. The rivalry between the citizens of San Francisco and Oakland was put aside during football season, back then, as both populations joined hands in their support of the ”50s 49er teams, against the hated Rams of that despised Southern California city.
The meetings on the field between the two teams was as big a deal as today”s Super Bowl, is, in this era. My own wonderful memories are built around listening to the excitement of the “Million Dollar Backfield” on Sunday afternoons, while riding in pop”s Model A on one of his educational tours he took the family on every Sunday. When game time came on, I doubt we heard a word of his effort to point out this or that, of things and places of interest, as we drove along. It was the game on the radio that held our attention; it was the game that made our hearts beat faster or fall like a stone when our boys fell short in their brave effort to win one for the fans.
During the season, the entire week on the E. Morris Cox Grammar School playground, was first spent debating the previous Sunday”s game and the second half spent on deep feelings shared on the upcoming weekend game. It was the Million Dollar Backfield that brought us the greatest joys during their playing days at old Kesar Stadium at the edge of Golden Gate Park. The excitement they brought our young hearts can not be described, only felt at the time it was happening to the young fans, for which I was a member, which I was thankful of being part of.
The loss of John Henry brought the grand memories of this old man back to a time that now seems so sorely missed. Never was the level of enjoyment felt as such as it was, back in the good old days. I can only say, thanks for the memories guys.
Note: During the football season, San Francisco and Oakland were brought together like a family of one, back then, rooting for the Niner”s, but, come baseball season, it was war between the two, fought on the diamond, between the San Francisco Seals and our beloved Oakland Oaks.
Jim Hall
Clearlake Oaks
