Paul Hornung won the Heisman Trophy with Notre Dame. |
The Durham Bulls will welcome Paul Hornung, the Pro Football Hall of Fame halfback from the Green Bay Packers, to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Friday, June 30th before the Bulls game against the Norfolk Tides.
Hornung, the Heisman Trophy winner and All-American at Notre Dame was the NFL Player of the Year in 1960 and 1961. He led NFL scorers three years including a record 176 points in 1960. In his career, he amassed 3,711 yards rushing, 130 receptions, 760 points along with a record 19 points in the 1961 NFL title game. Hornung played in two Pro Bowls.
The Hall of Fame Website says about Hornung,
“Even though the Green Bay Packers had quality players at almost every position during the “dynasty years” of the 1960s, many insist that Paul Hornung, the team’s bonus draft pick in 1957, was the most important contributor to the Packers’ successes.
Said to have a “nose for the end zone,” Hornung scored 760 points in nine seasons on 62 touchdowns, 190 PATs and 66 field goals. As his record clearly shows, Paul did more than just score points. He gained 3,711 yards rushing and 1,480 yards on pass receptions.
He reached the zenith of his colorful NFL tenure with three exceptional seasons in 1959, 1960, and 1961. Paul led the NFL in scoring each year and, in 1960, he posted a record 176 points. The 1956 Heisman Trophy winner as a Notre Dame quarterback; Hornung was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1961. In the 1961 NFL Championship Game, Paul was on Christmas leave from the Army when he stunned the New York Giants with a record-smashing 19-point outburst as Green Bay won, 37-0.
Paul’s pro career got off to a slow start as he divided his time between fullback and quarterback for two different head coaches. That changed, however, when Vince Lombardi was named coach and he made Hornung his starting halfback. Throughout his super-star career, Paul remained a dangerous threat to put points on the board.
In 1965, he scored five touchdowns against the Baltimore Colts and scored the clinching touchdown in the championship game against the Cleveland Browns.”
Tickets for Friday’s game are available at (919) 956-BULL or online at www.durhambulls.com
Thanks to DBBC’s Matt DeMargel for this capcom story & photo.
