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1958 Pittsburgh Steelers season

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1958 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head coachBuddy Parker
Home fieldPitt Stadium
Results
Record7–4–1
Division place3rd NFL Eastern
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1958 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 26th in the National Football League. Coming off a 6–6 result in 1957, the Steelers moved to a new venue, the University of Pittsburgh's 60,000 seat Pitt Stadium, a significantly larger facility than the 40,000 seat Forbes Field. Despite the superior accommodations, the Steelers never in 1958 drew more than the 31,130 fans they brought out to their season opener.

Background

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Layne trade

[edit]

After the second game of the season, Steelers coach Buddy Parker arranged a trade on October 6 that sent quarterback Earl Morrall and two draft picks to the Detroit Lions for quarterback Bobby Layne.[1][2][3] a future hall of famer.

Ticketing and attendance

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With optimistic expectations about the growth of the NFL, the Steelers moved to a new larger facility for the 1958 season, the University of Pittsburgh's Pitt Stadium. Designed for football rather than baseball, the Pitt facility offered seating for 60,000 — dwarfing the 40,000 seat capacity of venerable Forbes Field.[4] Despite the enlarged and improved accommodations, the Steelers drew their largest home crowd for the season opener, October 5 against the Cleveland Browns — one of the best teams in the league during the decade of the 1950s — with 31,130 ticketed people through the gate.[5]

The Steelers priced tickets in three price tiers in 1958 — $3.00 seats, $5.00 seats, and $6.00 seats.[6] Season ticket booklets for the 6 regular season games were priced at $15.00, $30.00, and $36.00, respectively.[6]

Pre-season

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Schedule

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Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Location Attendance Sources
1 August 16 vs. Cleveland Browns L 0–10 0–1 Rubber Bowl Akron, OH 27,202 [7]
2 August 20 at Green Bay Packers W 3–0 1–1 County Stadium Milwaukee, WI 17,294 [8]
3 August 30 Chicago Bears L 10–17 1–2 Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh 16,029 [9]
4 September 6 vs. Baltimore Colts W 13–10 2–2 Civic Stadium Buffalo, NY 8,661 [10]
5 September 12 vs. Chicago Cardinals L 7–21 2–3 Busch Stadium St. Louis, MO 25,302 [11]
6 September 21 Los Angeles Rams L 6–31 2–4 Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles 26,396 [12]

Regular season

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Main article: 1958 NFL season

Schedule

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Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources
1 September 28 at San Francisco 49ers L 20–23 0–1 Kezar Stadium 51,856 Recap [13]
2 October 5 Cleveland Browns L 12–45 0–2 Pitt Stadium 31,130 Recap
3 October 12 Philadelphia Eagles W 24–3 1–2 Pitt Stadium 23,153 Recap
4 October 19 at Cleveland Browns L 10–27 1–3 Cleveland Stadium 66,852 Recap
5 October 26 at New York Giants L 6–17 1–4 Yankee Stadium 25,007 Recap
6 November 2 Washington Redskins W 24–16 2–4 Pitt Stadium 19,525 Recap
7 November 9 at Philadelphia Eagles W 31–24 3–4 Franklin Field 26,306 Recap
8 November 16 New York Giants W 31–10 4–4 Pitt Stadium 30,030 Recap
9 November 23 at Chicago Cardinals W 27–20 5–4 Comiskey Park 15,946 Recap
10 November 30 Chicago Bears W 24–10 6–4 Pitt Stadium 20,094 Recap
11 December 7 at Washington Redskins T 14–14 6–4–1 Griffith Stadium 23,370 Recap
12 December 13 Chicago Cardinals W 38–21 7–4–1 Pitt Stadium 16,660 Recap
Note: Conference opponents in Bold.

Standings

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NFL Eastern Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
New York Giants 9 3 0 .750 7–3 246 183 W4
Cleveland Browns 9 3 0 .750 8–2 302 217 L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 7 4 1 .636 6–3–1 261 230 W1
Washington Redskins 4 7 1 .364 3–6–1 214 268 W1
Chicago Cardinals 2 9 1 .182 2–7–1 261 356 L6
Philadelphia Eagles 2 9 1 .182 2–7–1 235 306 L4
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Western Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Baltimore Colts 9 3 0 .750 8–2 381 203 L2
Los Angeles Rams 8 4 0 .667 7–3 344 278 W3
Chicago Bears 8 4 0 .667 7–3 298 230 W2
San Francisco 49ers 6 6 0 .500 4–6 257 324 W2
Detroit Lions 4 7 1 .364 3–6–1 261 276 L2
Green Bay Packers 1 10 1 .091 0–9–1 193 382 L7
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Game summaries

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Game 1 (Sunday September 28, 1958): San Francisco 49ers

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1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 13 0 20
49ers 7 0 6 10 23

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 32,150
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • San Francisco – McElhenny 2 run (Soltau kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Mathews 10 pass from Morrall (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 22
  • Pittsburgh – Younger 1 run (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 23
  • San Francisco – Pace 11 run (kick blocked)
  • San Francisco – Brodie 1 run (Soltau kick)
  • San Francisco – FG Soltau 22

Game 2 (Sunday October 5, 1958): Cleveland Browns

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Browns 7 17 14 7 45
Steelers 0 10 0 2 12

at Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 31,130
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring Drives:

  • Cleveland – Brown 23 run (Groza kick)
  • Cleveland – Mitchell 21 pass from Plum (Groza kick)
  • Cleveland – Brewster 8 pass from Plum (Groza kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Tracy 1 run (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 31
  • Cleveland – FG Groza 32
  • Cleveland – Brown 59 run (Groza kick)
  • Cleveland – Brown 3 run (Groza kick)
  • Cleveland – P. Carpenter 4 pass from Ninowski (Groza kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Safety, Ninowski tackled by Stautner in end zone

Game 3 (Sunday October 12, 1958): Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 3 0 0 0 3
Steelers 14 7 3 0 24

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 23,153
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

Game 4 (Sunday October 19, 1958): Cleveland Browns

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 7 0 0 3 10
Browns 7 14 0 6 27

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 66,852
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Mathews 64 pass from Tracy (Miner kick)
  • Cleveland – Brown 27 pass from Plum (Groza kick)
  • Cleveland – Brown 48 run (Plum kick)
  • Cleveland – Renfro 36 pass from Plum (Plum kick)
  • Cleveland – Mitchell 7 pass from Plum (kick failed)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 47

Game 5 (Sunday October 26, 1958): New York Giants

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 3 3 0 6
Giants 7 3 0 7 17

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 25,007
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • New York Giants – Karilivacz 23 fumble run (Summerall kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 27
  • New York Giants – FG Summerall 34
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 39
  • New York Giants – Heinrich 1 run (Summerall kick)

Game 6 (Sunday November 2, 1958): Washington Redskins

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 3 3 0 10 16
Steelers 0 14 0 10 24

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 19,525
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Washington – FG Baker 13
  • Pittsburgh – Orr 19 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Younger 2 run (Miner kick)
  • Washington – FG Baker 27
  • Pittsburgh – Mathews 62 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Washington – FG Baker 32
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 43
  • Washington – Walton 26 pass from Guglielmi (Baker kick)

Game 7 (Sunday November 9, 1958): Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 14 14 0 31
Eagles 7 3 7 7 24

at Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 26,306
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 38
  • Philadelphia – Retzlaff 18 pass from Barnes (Walston kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Tracy 13 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Tracy 25 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Philadelphia – FG Walston 16
  • Philadelphia – Barnes 3 run (Walston kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Mathews 34 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Tracy 40 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Philadelphia – McDonald 10 pass from Van Brocklin (Walston kick)

Game 8 (Sunday November 16, 1958): New York Giants

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Giants 7 3 0 0 10
Steelers 0 7 14 10 31

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 30,030
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • New York Giants – Gifford 1 run (Summerall kick)
  • New York Giants – FG Summerall 42
  • Pittsburgh – Layne 1 run (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Tracy 9 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Glick 37 fumble run (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 43 (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Layne 1 run (Miner kick)

Game 9 (Sunday November 23, 1958): Chicago Cardinals

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 10 10 0 7 27
Cardinals 10 3 7 0 20

at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 15,946
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Chicago Cardinals – Matson 101 kick return (Conrad kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Elter 5 run (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 37
  • Chicago Cardinals – FG Conrad 38
  • Pittsburgh – Elter 8 run (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 30
  • Chicago Cardinals – FG Conrad 12
  • Chicago Cardinals – Matson 1 run (Conrad kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Orr 78 pass from Layne (Miner kick)

Game 10 (Sunday November 30, 1958): Chicago Bears

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 0 0 0 10 10
Steelers 7 3 0 14 24

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 20,094
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Tracy 30 run (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 22
  • Chicago Bears – Jewett 13 pass from Brown (Blanda kick)
  • Chicago Bears – FG Blanda 34
  • Pittsburgh – Orr 48 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Tracy 18 run (Miner kick)

Game 11 (Sunday December 7, 1958): Washington Redskins

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 0 7 7 14
Redskins 0 14 0 0 14

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 23,370
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Washington – Bosseler 7 run (Baker kick)
  • Washington – Bosseler 2 run (Baker kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Orr 55 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – McClairen 28 pass from Layne (Miner kick)

Game 12 (Saturday December 13, 1958): Chicago Cardinals

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 7 14 0 21
Steelers 0 17 7 14 38

at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather: Sunny, cold (the water pipes in Pitt Stadium froze)
  • Game attendance: 16,660
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Orr 36 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Chicago Cardinals – Matson 92 kick return (Conrad kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Miner 13
  • Pittsburgh – Layne 17 run (Miner kick)
  • Chicago Cardinals – Watkins 48 pass from Reynolds (Conrad kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Orr 17 pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • Chicago Cardinals – Matson 1 run (Conrad kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Orr 72 pass from Tracy (Miner kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Reynolds 5 run (Miner kick)

References

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  1. ^ Livingston, Pat (October 7, 1958). "Layne takes over as Steeler QB". Pittsburgh Press. p. 27.
  2. ^ Sell, Jack (October 7, 1958). "Steelers get Layne for Morrall". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  3. ^ "Lions send Bobby Layne to Steelers for Morrall". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. October 7, 1958. p. 21.
  4. ^ Arnold Zeitlin/Associated Press, "Quarterbacks Poser for NFL Coaches," Elmira [NY] Telegram, Sept. 7, 1958, p. 6-D.
  5. ^ "Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 5th, 1958," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com
  6. ^ a b Ray Byrne and Ed Kiely (eds.), Pittsburgh Steelers 1958 (26th year): Press, Radio & TV Guide. Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club, 1958, p. 2.
  7. ^ Don Plath, "27,202 See Browns Topple Steelers: Defense Shines in 10–0 Win," Akron Beacon-Journal, Aug. 17, 1958, p. B1.
  8. ^ Art Daley, "Late Steeler FG Tips Packers in Downpour, 3–0: Pitt Interception Sets Up Last Second Miner Boot," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Aug. 21, 1958, p. 35.
  9. ^ Jimmy Miller, "'Confused' Steelers Lose to Bears," Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Aug. 31, 1958, sports pp. 1, 3.
  10. ^ Cameron C. Snyder, "Steelers Down Colts in Buffalo Exhibition, 13–10: Morrall Hurls Pair of Touchdown Passes During Second Period," Baltimore Sun, Sept. 7, 1958, sports pp. 1, 5.
  11. ^ Joe Pollack, "Cardinals Sweep to 21–7 Victory Over Steelers: McHan-to-Nagler Passes Pile Up Two TDs Before 25,302," St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Sept. 13, 1958, p. 9.
  12. ^ Cal Whorton, "Arnett Stars as Rams Rout Steelers, 31–6," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 22, 1958, section 4, pp. 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-rams-sock-steelers/162980227/ 3.
  13. ^ Bob Brachman, "Brodie Rallies 49ers to 23–20 Victory: Soltau's Field Goal Decisions Steelers," San Francisco Examiner, Sept. 29, 1958, sect. 2, pp. 5, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-49ers-rally-t/162989005/ 8.
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