Don Hutson scored a record 17 touchdowns... Cecil Isbell passed for a record-setting 2,021 yards... Bulldog Turner intercepted 8 passes, a new record
Offensive numbers were vaulting upwards in 1942, and new stars were replacing established veterans in most offensive categories and then the youngsters were drafted into the military at the onset of World War II.
Don Hutson, Green Bay's pass catching End was voted the NFL Player of the Year for the second straight season, 1941 and 1942.
1942 NFL Scoring Leaders:
Don Hutson, Green Bay Packers 17 TD, 33XP, 1FG - 138 Points... Roy McLean, Chicago Bears 9 TD - 54 Points... Frank Maznicki, Chicago Bears 2 TD, 21XP, 4FG - 45 Points... Gary Famiglietti, Chicago Bears 7 TD - 42 Points... Hugh Gallarneau, Chicago Bears 7 TD- 42 Points...
1942 Rushing Leaders:
#1 Bill Dudley, Pittsburgh Steelers 696 yards on 162 ATT, 4.3 average, 66 yd longest and 5 touchdowns.
#2 Merl Condit, Brooklyn Dodgers 647 yards on 129 ATT, 5.0 average, 63 yd longest and 3 touchdowns.
#3 Gary Famigietti, Chicago Bears 503 yards on 118 ATT, 4.3 average, 21 yd longest and 8 touchdowns.
#4 Andy Farkas, Wash. Redskins 468 yards on 125 ATT, 3.7 average, 22 yd longest and 4 touchdowns.
#5 Dick Riffle, Pittsburgh Steelers 467 yards on 115 ATT, 4.1 average, 44 yard longest and 4 touchdowns.
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1942 Passing Leaders:
#1 Cecil Isbell, Green Bay Packers completed 146-of-268, 2,021 Yards, 24 TD, 73 INT, 14 yd longest.
#2 Sammy Baugh, Wash. Redskins completed 132-of-225, 1,524 Yards, 16 TD, 53 INT, 11 yd longest.
#3 Sid Luckman, Chicago Bears completed 57-of-105, 1,023 Yards, 10 TD, 52 INT, 13 yd longest.
#4 Tommy Thompson, Pitts. Steelers completed 95-of-203, 1,410 Yards, 8 TD, 65 INT, 27 yd longest.
#5 Bud Schwenk, Chicago Cardinals completed 126-of-295, 1,350 Yards, 6 TD, 69 INT, 27 yd longest.
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1942 Receiving Leaders:
Don Hutson, Green Bay Packers 74 caught, 1,211 yards, 17 TD
Pop Ivy, Chicago Cardinals 27 caught, 259 yards, 0 TD... Dante Magnani, Cleveland Rams 24 caught, 276 yards, 4 TD... Jim Benton, Cleveland Rams 23 caught, 345 yards, 1 TD... Dick Todd, Washington Redskins 23 caught, 328 yards, 4 TD...
Punting Leader: Sammy Baugh, Redskins 39 Punts, 1,725 yards, 46.6 average, 74 longest, 0 Blocks...
Interceptions Leader: Clyde Bulldog Turner, Chicago Bears 8 INT, 96 yards, 12.0 average, 1 TD, 42 yard longest...
Kickoff Return Leader: Marshall Goldberg, Chicago Cardinals 15 Returns, 393 yards, 26.2 average, 1 TD, 95 longest...
Punt Return Leader: Merlyn 'Merl' Condit, Brooklyn Dodgers 21 Returns, 210 yards, 10.0 average, 0 TD, 23 yard longest... footballhistorian.com - NFL Football History
Just scratching the surface... High performing collegiate players join the pro ranks: Football History by staff@footballhistorian.com
Frank Balazs, Green Bay Packers Fullback - one of the nation's top high school stars, he was head-and-shoulders above the rest at Lane Tech High School on the north side of Chicago... A collegiate All-Star at the University of Iowa, cousin Frank Balazs played 5 games with the World Champion Green Bay Packers in 1939... in 1940 he scored a touchdown, collected 107 yards on 25 rushes, for a solid 4.3 average and was traded to the Chicago Cardinals early in 1941. Enlisted into the US Mariners and spent 23 months in heavy wartime fighting in the South Pacific.
Dick Todd, Washington Redskins Halfback (1939-1948) - starred at Texas A&M... an all-around athlete he had an outstanding rookie campaign in '39, rushing for 266 yards on 57 attempts, with two touchdowns... Todd was selected an All-Pro in his second NFL season when he was the in the entire league in rushing with 408 yards, 76 attempts, a fine 5.4 yards per/average and scored four touchdowns. Spent three years ('43-'45) in military duty.
George Faust, Chicago Cardinals Quarterback (1939) - a high performing college All-Star at the University of Minnesota he played one season, 9 games in 1939 before Leaving and entering the insurance business in his hometown of Minneapolis. *
Larry Buhler, Freen Bay Packers Halfback (1939-1941) - debuted in the halfback slot as a rookie in '39... played HB and fullback in 1940 and was the team's backup quarterback in '41... scouts rating: - quick maneuvering and plays excellent defensive. Buhler's best season was 1940 when he rushed for 118 yards on 36 carries.
Tony Calvelli, Detroit Lions Center/Guard (1939-40, 1947) - University of Minnesota halfback one year and an All-Star as a varsity center in his final college year... a muscular, hard-hitting line blacker, he debuted with the Lions in '39 and played Guard and Center positions as a rookie. Calvelli intercepted a pass in the end-zone for a touchdown in 1940 and had a solid performing year in '40, his last season in the NFL... returned to the pros in 1947 with the San Francisco 49ers for six more games.
Lou Tamasetti, Pittsburgh Steelers Halfback (1939-1949) - one of the fastest players in college at Bucknell University, he had an outstanding long NFL career... gained 86 yards on 49 attempts as a rookie with Pittsburgh in '39... was one of the leading NFL rushers in his second big-league season - gaining 246 yards on 68 attempts, a 3.6 yard per/average and scored one touchdown... served in military in 1943-1945.
