1953 NFL Season
As originally written by Tim Brulia:
The Dallas Texans, bankrupt and run by the league since the middle of the '52 season, are replaced by the Baltimore Colts.
Week 1, 1953:
9/27:
Bears-Colts, 2:00, Not televised
Steelers-Lions, 2:00, DuMont. Chris Schenkel (NY & Regional). Joe Tucker (PGH). Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET).
Redskins-Cardinals, 2:00, ABC. Red Grange, Bill Fay
Browns-Packers, 2:30, Not televised
Giants-Rams, 5:00, Not televised
Eagles-49ers, 5:00, Not televised
Week 2, 1953:
10/2:
Redskins-Eagles, 8:30, Not televised
10/3:
Giants-Steelers, 8:00, DuMont. Ray Scott
Lions-Colts, 8:30, WJBK-Detroit. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds
10/4:
Browns-Cardinals, 2:00. DuMont: Jim Britt (National). DuMont: Bill McColgan, John Fitzgerald (CLE). ABC: Red Grange, Bill Fay (CHI).
Bears-Packers, 2:30, Not televised
Rams-49ers, 5:00, DuMont. Bob Kelley (Pacific)
Note: Wire accounts found in newspaperarchive.com indicate that the WSH-PHI game was to have been regionally televised by ABC, but the cables needed for the telecast never arrived. The articles said that NFL Commissioner Bert Bell was "fuming" over the incident.
Week 3, 1953:
10/10:
Eagles-Browns, 8:30, DuMont. Ray Scott
10/11:
Colts-Bears, 2:00. WMAR Baltimore: Jimmy Dudley, John MacLean. ABC: Red Grange, Bill Fay (CHI).
Cardinals-Steelers, 2:00, Not televised
Giants-Redskins, 2:00. DuMont: Chris Schenkel (NY). Amoco Network: Mel Allen, Jim Gibbons (WSH).
49ers-Lions, 2:00, DuMont. Jim Britt (Coast to Coast)
Rams-Packers (Milwaukee), 2:30, Not televised
Week 4, 1953:
10/17:
Steelers-Eagles, 8:00, DuMont. Ray Scott
10/18:
Cardinals-Giants, 2:00, DuMont. Harry Wismer, Chris Schenkel (NY)
Browns-Redskins, 2:00, DuMont. Bill McColgan, John Fitzgerald (CLE)
Rams-Lions, 2:00, DuMont. Jim Britt (Coast to Coast)
49ers-Bears, 2:00, ABC/NBC. Red Grange, Bill Fay
Colts-Packers, 2:30, Not televised
Note: Per reganBuffalo, the SF-CB game was seen on "several NBC affiliates." Whether they similcast the ABC telecast or had their own crew is unknown at this time.
Week 5, 1953:
10/24:
Packers-Steelers, 8:30, DuMont. Ray Scott
10/25:
Browns-Giants, 2:00, DuMont. Jim Britt, Harry Wismer (National). Bill McColgan, John Fitzgerald (CLE).
Eagles-Cardinals, 2:00. DuMont: Byrum Saam, Claude Haring (PHI). ABC: Red Grange, Bill Fay (CHI).
Redskins-Colts, 2:00, Amoco Network. Mel Allen, Jim Gibbons
Bears-Rams, 5:00, Not televised
Lions-49ers, 5:00, WJBK-Detroit. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds
Week 6, 1953:
10/31:
Packers-Colts, 8:00, DuMont. Bob Wolff
11/1:
Giants-Cardinals, 2:00. DuMont: Harry Wismer, Chris Schenkel (NY). ABC: Red Grange, Bill Fay (CHI).
Eagles-Steelers, 2:00, DuMont. Byrum Saam, Claude Haring (PHI)
Redskins-Browns, 2:00. DuMont: Jim Britt, Bill McColgan (National). Amoco Network: Mel Allen, Jim Gibbons (WSH).
Bears-49ers, 5:00, Not televised
Lions-Rams, 5:00, WJBK-Detroit. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds
Week 7, 1953:
11/7:
Colts-Lions, 8:00, DuMont. Bob Wolff
11/8:
Cardinals-Redskins, 2:00, Amoco Network. Mel Allen, Jim Gibbons
Packers-Bears, 2:00. ABC. Red Grange, Bill Fay (CHI).
Giants-Eagles, 2:00, DuMont. Harry Wismer, Chris Schenkel (NY)
Steelers-Browns, 2:00, DuMont. Jim Britt (National)
49ers-Rams, 5:00, DuMont. Bob Kelley (Pacific)
Week 8, 1953:
11/15:
Colts-Eagles, 2:00, WMAR-Baltimore, Jimmy Dudley, John MacLean
Bears-Redskins, 2:00, Amoco Network. Mel Allen, Jim Gibbons
Rams-Cardinals, 2:00, ABC. Red Grange, Bill Fay
Steelers-Giants, 2:00, DuMont. Joe Tucker, Bob Prince (PGH)
49ers-Browns, 2:00, DuMont. Jim Britt, Bill McColgan (National)
Lions-Packers, 2:30, DuMont. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds
Week 9, 1953:
11/21:
Cardinals-Eagles, 8:00, DuMont. Ray Scott, Herman Hickman
11/22:
Browns-Steelers, 2:00, DuMont. Jim Britt (National). Bill McColgan, John Fitzgerald (CLE). Bill Campbell, Claude Haring (WFIL-Philadelphia).
Lions-Bears, 2:00. DuMont: Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET). ABC: Red Grange, Bill Fay (CHI).
Rams-Colts, 2:00, Not televised
Redskins-Giants, 2:00, Amoco Network. Mel Allen, Jim Gibbons
49ers-Packers (Milwaukee), 2:30, Not televised
Week 10, 1953:
11/26:
Packers-Lions, 11:00 AM, DuMont. Byrum Saam (National)
11/29:
Cardinals-Browns, 2:00, DuMont. Bill McColgan, John Fitzgerald
Rams-Bears, 2:00, DuMont. Ray Scott, Van Patrick (National)
Eagles-Giants, 2:00, DuMont. Byrum Saam, Claude Haring (PHI). Harry Wismer, Chris Schenkel (NY).
49ers-Colts, 2:00, Not televised
Redskins-Steelers, 2:00, Amoco Network. Mel Allen, Jim Gibbons
Week 11, 1953:
12/5:
Colts-Rams, 5:00, DuMont. Bob Kelley (National)
12/6:
Bears-Lions, 2:00, DuMont. Jim Britt (National)
Giants-Browns, 2:00, DuMont. Harry Wismer, Chris Schenkel (NY)
Eagles-Redskins, 2:00. DuMont: Byrum Saam, Claude Haring (PHI). Amoco Network: Mel Allen, Jim Gibbons.
Steelers-Cardinals, 2:00. DuMont: Joe Tucker, Bob Prince (PGH). ABC: Red Grange, Bill Fay (CHI).
Packers-49ers, 5:00, DuMont. Crew unknown
Week 12, 1953:
12/12:
Packers-Rams, 5:00, DuMont. Bob Kelley (National)
12/13:
Cardinals-Bears, 2:00, ABC. Red Grange, Bill Fay
Browns-Eagles, 2:00, DuMont. Bill McColgan, John Fitzgerald (CLE)
Lions-Giants, 2:00, DuMont. Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds (DET)
Steelers-Redskins, 2:00. DuMont: Joe Tucker, Bob Prince (PGH). Amoco Network: Mel Allen, Jim Gibbons
Colts-49ers, 5:00, DuMont. crew unknown
Postseason
NFL Championship:
12/27: Browns-Lions, 1:00, DuMont. Harry Wismer, Red Grange
Pro Bowl in Los Angeles:
1/17: East-West: 4:00, DuMont. Tom Harmon, Red Grange