1950 San Francisco 49ers season

1950 San Francisco 49ers season
Head coach	Buck Shaw
Home field	Kezar Stadium
Results
Record	3–9–0
Division place	T-5th NFL National
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Uniform

The 1950 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's first season in the NFL, after playing the previous four years in the All-America Football Conference, which folded after the 1949 season. The 49ers, Baltimore Colts, and Cleveland Browns all joined the NFL from the AAFC.

San Francisco's first ever NFL game was at Kezar Stadium on September 17 against the New York Yanks, as the 49ers fell short, losing by a score of 21–17. They would start the season 0–5 before recording their first NFL victory in a close 28–27 victory over the Detroit Lions at home. The Niners would play better after the 0–5 start, going 3–4 in their remaining 7 games to finish the season 3–9, and fail to qualify for the playoffs.

Quarterback Frankie Albert would complete 50.7% of his passes, while throwing for 14 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Running back Joe Perry would rush for a team high 647 yards and 5 touchdowns, while wide receiver Alyn Beals caught 22 passes for 315 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

Offseason

NFL Draft

See also: 1950 NFL draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1	11	Leo Nomellini	Defensive Tackle	Minnesota
2	23	Don Campora	Tackle	Pacific
3	37	Ray Collins	Tackle	LSU
4	49	Morris Bailey	End	TCU
5	63	Harry Kane	Center	Pacific
6	75	Don Van Pool	End	Oklahoma
7	89	Lindy Berry	Halfback	TCU
8	101	Ellery Williams	End	Santa Clara
9	115	Pete Zinach	Halfback	West Virginia
10	127	Bob Celeri	Quarterback	California
11	141	Harley Dow	Tackle	San Jose State
12	153	Don Burke	Fullback	USC
13	167	Lou Cecconi	Halfback	Pittsburgh
14	179	Tom Payne	End	Santa Clara
15	193	Leo Crampsey	End	St. Bonaventure

Round	Pick #	Player	Position	College
16	205	Charley Shaw	Guard	Oklahoma A&M
17	219	Cliff Van Meter	Halfback	Tulane
18	231	Ralph Genito	Halfback	Kentucky
19	245	Forrest Klein	Guard	California
20	257	Jack Nix	Quarterback	USC
21	271	Guerin Alker	Center	Loyola
22	283	Billy Wilson	End	San Jose State
23	297	Jim Williams	End	Rice
24	309	Bill Wyman	Tackle	Rice
25	323	Bob Dunn	Guard	Dayton
26	335	Jim Powers	Quarterback	USC
27	349	Ken Johnson	Guard	Pacific
28	361	Charley Hall	Halfback	Arizona
29	375	Bob Whelan	Halfback	Boston College
30	387	Bob Stillwell	End	USC

Even though the former AAFC teams drafted after all of the NFL teams in each round, the Niners grabbed future Hall of Famer Leo Nomellini in the first round.

Regular Season

Schedule

#	Date	Visitor	Result	Score	Home	Record	Attendance
1	September 17	New York Yanks	L	21–17	San Francisco 49ers	0–1–0	29,600
2	September 24	Chicago Bears	L	32–20	San Francisco 49ers	0–2–0	35,558
3	October 1	Los Angeles Rams	L	35–14	San Francisco 49ers	0–3–0	27,262
4	October 8	San Francisco 49ers	L	24–7	Detroit Lions	0–4–0	17,337
5	October 12	San Francisco 49ers	L	29–24	New York Yanks	0–5–0	5,740
6	October 22	Detroit Lions	W	28–27	San Francisco 49ers	1–5–0	27,350
7	October 29	Baltimore Colts	W	17–14	San Francisco 49ers	2–5–0	14,800
8	November 5	San Francisco 49ers	L	28–21	Los Angeles Rams	2–6–0	15,952
9	November 12	San Francisco 49ers	L	34–14	Cleveland Browns	2–7–0	28,786
10	November 19	San Francisco 49ers	L	17–0	Chicago Bears	2–8–0	35,105
11	November 26	San Francisco 49ers	L	25–21	Green Bay Packers	2–9–0	13,186
12	Bye
13	December 10	Green Bay Packers	W	30–14	San Francisco 49ers	3–9–0	19,204

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. New York Yanks

Week One: New York Yanks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Yanks	14	0	7	0	21
49ers	0	10	0	7	17

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

• Date: Sunday, September 17
• Game attendance: 29,600
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information
First quarter NYY – Zollie Toth 2 yard run, Chet Adams kick (NYY 7–0) NYY – Joe Golding 32 yard fumble return, Chet Adams kick (NYY 14–0) Second quarter SF – Paul Salata 2 yard pass from Frankie Albert (Gordie Soltau kick) Top passers NYY – SF – Top rushers NYY – Zollie Toth, 18 Car, 108 Yds, 1 TD SF – Top receivers NYY – SF – Top tacklers NYY – SF –

Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears

Week Two: Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	3	9	17	3	32
49ers	7	7	0	6	20

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

• Date: Sunday, September 24
• Game attendance: 35,558
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter SF – Bruno Banducci 11 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7–0) CHB – George Blanda 34 yard field goal (SF 7-3) Second quarter SF – Norm Standlee 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 14-3) CHB – Safety, Wash Serini tackled Frankie Albert in end zone (SF 14-5) CHB – Ken Kavanaugh unknown fumble return, Johnny Lujack kick (SF 14-12) Third quarter CHB – Julie Rykovich 15 yard run, Johnny Lujack kick (CHB 19-14) CHB – George Blanda 28 yard field goal (CHB 22-14) CHB – Gerry Weatherly 23 yard interception return, Johnny Lujack kick (CHB 29-14) Fourth quarter CHB – George Blanda 40 yard field goal (CHB 32-14) SF – Frankie Albert 1 yard run, kick failed (CHB 32-20) Top passers CHB – SF – Top rushers CHB – SF – Top receivers CHB – SF – Top tacklers CHB – SF –

Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Week Three: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	14	0	14	7	35
49ers	0	7	7	0	14

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

• Date: Sunday, October 1
• Game attendance: 27,262
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter LA – Dick Hoerner 1 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 7–0) LA – Glenn Davis 5 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 14-0) Second quarter SF – Paul Salata 2 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (LA 14-7) Third quarter SF – Jim Cason 13 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (TIE 14-14) LA – Vitamin Smith 97 yard kickoff return, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 21-14) LA – Dan Towler 34 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 28-14) Fourth quarter LA – Tank Younger 1 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 35-14) Top passers LA – SF – Top rushers LA – SF – Top receivers LA – SF – Alyn Beals 7 Rec, 106 Yds Top tacklers LA – SF –

Week 4: at Detroit Lions

Week Four: San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	7	0	7
Lions	3	7	7	7	24

at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan

• Date: Sunday, October 8
• Game attendance: 17,337
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter DET – Doak Walker 23 yard field goal (DET 3–0) Second quarter DET – Bobby Layne 1 yard rush, Doak Walker kick (DET 10–0) SF – Joe Perry 1 yard rush, Gordie Soltau kick (DET 10-7) Third quarter DET – Cloyce Box 23 yard pass from Bobby Layne, Doak Walker kick (DET 17-7) Fourth quarter DET – Doak Walker 28 yard pass from Bobby Layne, Doak Walker kick (DET 24-7) Top passers SF – DET – Top rushers SF – DET – Top receivers SF – Jim Cason 8 Rec, 124 Yds, 1 TD DET – Top tacklers SF – DET –

Week 5: at New York Yanks

Week Five: San Francisco 49ers at New York Yanks – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	10	0	7	7	24
Yanks	0	15	0	14	29

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

• Date: Thursday, October 12
• Game attendance: 5,740
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 26 yard field goal (SF 3–0) SF – Johnny Strzykalski 28 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 10-0) Second quarter NYY – Sherman Howard 24 yard pass from George Ratterman, kick failed (SF 10-6) NYY – Art Weiner 34 yard pass from George Ratterman, Chet Adams kick (NYY 13-10) NYY – Safety, Martin Ruby tackled Frankie Albert in end zone (NYY 15-10) Third quarter SF – Joe Perry 5 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 17-15) LA – Dick Hoerner 1 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (TIE 14-14) LA – Paul Barry 1 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 21-14) LA – Tom Keane 25 yard interception return, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 28-14) Fourth quarter SF – Jim Cason 27 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 24-15) NYY – George Taliaferro 12 yard pass from George Ratterman, Chet Adams kick (SF 24-22) NYY – Buddy Young 14 yard rush, Chet Adams kick (NYY 29-24) Top passers SF – NYY – Top rushers SF – NYY – Top receivers SF – Jim Cason 8 Rec, 124 Yds, 1 TD NYY – Top tacklers SF – NYY –

Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions

Week Six: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	7	14	6	27
49ers	14	7	7	0	28

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

• Date: Sunday, October 22
• Game attendance: 27,350
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter SF – Joe Perry 2 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7–0) SF – Alyn Beals 9 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 14-0) Second quarter SF – Gordie Soltau 4 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 21-0) DET – Cloyce Box 58 yard pass from Bobby Layne, Doak Walker kick (SF 21-7) Third quarter SF – Jim Cason 9 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 28-7) DET – Doak Walker 58 yard pass from Bobby Layne, Doak Walker kick (SF 28-14) DET – Jim Cain 2 yard fumble return, Bobby Layne kick (SF 28-21) Fourth quarter DET – Dick Rifenburg 19 yard pass from Robert Hoernschemeyer, kick failed (SF 28-27) Top passers DET – SF – Top rushers DET – SF – Top receivers DET – SF – Top tacklers DET – SF –

Week 7: vs. Baltimore Colts

Week Seven: Baltimore Colts at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colts	0	7	0	7	14
49ers	0	7	0	10	17

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

• Date: Sunday, October 29
• Game attendance: 14,800
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter No scoring Second quarter SF – Emil Sitko 4 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7-0) BAL – Hal Crisler 31 yard pass from Y. A. Tittle, Rex Grossman kick (TIE 7-7) Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter SF – Frankie Albert 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 14-7) SF – Gordie Soltau 13 yard field goal (SF 17-7) BAL – Chet Mutryn 1 yard run, Rex Grossman kick (SF 17-14) Top passers BAL – SF – Top rushers BAL – SF – Joe Perry, 16 Car, 142 Yds Top receivers BAL – Hal Crisler 3 Rec, 117 Yds, 1 TD SF – Top tacklers BAL – SF –

Week 8: at Los Angeles Rams

Week Eight: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	7	7	7	21
Rams	0	7	21	0	28

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

• Date: Sunday, November 5
• Game attendance: 15,952
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter No scoring Second quarter SF – Jim Cason 24 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7-0) LA – Bob Boyd 72 yard pass from Bob Waterfield, Bob Waterfield kick (TIE 7-7) Third quarter SF – Howie Livingston 35 yard interception return, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 14-7) LA – Dick Hoerner 1 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (TIE 14-14) LA – Paul Barry 1 yard run, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 21-14) LA – Tom Keane 25 yard interception return, Bob Waterfield kick (LA 28-14) Fourth quarter SF – Alyn Beals 36 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (LA 28-21) Top passers SF – LA – Top rushers SF – LA – Top receivers SF – LA – Top tacklers SF – LA –

Week 9: at Cleveland Browns

Week Nine: San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	7	7	0	0	14
Browns	7	7	3	17	34

at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Date: Sunday, November 12
• Game attendance: 28,786
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter SF – Frankie Albert 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7-0) CLE – Dub Jones 7 yard pass from Otto Graham, Lou Groza kick (TIE 7-7) Second quarter CLE – Marion Motley 22 yard run, Lou Groza kick (CLE 14-7) SF – Alyn Beals 28 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (TIE 14-14) Third quarter CLE – Lou Groza 22 yard field goal (CLE 17-14) Fourth quarter CLE – Lou Groza 10 yard field goal (CLE 20-14) CLE – Dub Jones 3 yard run, Lou Groza kick (CLE 27-14) CLE – Rex Bumgardner 12 yard run, Lou Groza kick (CLE 34-14) Top passers SF – CLE – Top rushers SF – CLE – Marion Motley 21 Car, 114 Yds, 1 TD Top receivers SF – Alex Loyd 5 Rec, 102 Yds CLE – Top tacklers SF – CLE –

Week 10: at Chicago Bears

Week Ten: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	0	0
Bears	10	7	0	0	17

at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Date: Sunday, November 19
• Game attendance: 35,105
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information
First quarter CHI – George Blanda 32 yard field goal (CHI 3-0) CHI – John Hoffman 39 yard interception return, Johnny Lujack kick (CHI 10-0) Second quarter CHI – Ken Kavanaugh 39 yard pass from Johnny Lujack, Johnny Lujack kick (CHI 17-0) Third quarter no scoring Fourth quarter no scoring Top passers SF – CHI – Top rushers SF – CHI – Top receivers SF – CHI – Top tacklers SF – CHI –

Week 11: at Green Bay Packers

Week Eleven: San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	7	0	14	0	21
Packers	7	6	0	12	25

at City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin

• Date: Sunday, November 26
• Game attendance: 13,196
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter SF – Johnny Strzykalski 1 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 7-0) GB – Billy Grimes 57 yard run, Ted Fritsch kick (TIE 7-7) Second quarter GB – Tony Canadeo 2 yard run, kick failed (GB 13-7) Third quarter SF – Fred Gehrke 2 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 14-13) SF – Emil Sitko 10 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 21-13) Fourth quarter GB – Jack Cloud 2 yard run, kick failed (SF 21-19) GB – Floyd Reid 44 yard pass from Paul Christman, kick failed (GB 25-21) Top passers GB – SF – Top rushers GB – SF – Top receivers GB – SF – Top tacklers GB – SF –

Week 13: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week Thirteen: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	7	0	7	0	14
49ers	10	14	0	6	30

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

• Date: Sunday, December 10
• Game attendance: 19,204
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter GB – Billy Grimes 96 yard pass from Tobin Rote, Ted Fritsch kick (GB 7-0) SF – Johnny Strzykalski 7 yard run, Gordie Soltau kick (TIE 7-7) SF – Gordie Soltau 21 yard field goal (SF 10-7) Second quarter SF – Joe Perry 10 yard pass from Frankie Albert, Gordie Soltau kick (SF 17-7) SF – Joe Perry 78 yard run, Jack Nix pass from Frankie Albert (SF 24-7) Third quarter GB – Steve Pritko 3 yard pass from Tobin Rote, Clayton Tonnemaker kick (SF 24-14) Fourth quarter SF – Fred Gehrke 4 yard pass from Frankie Albert, kick failed (SF 30-14) Top passers GB – SF – Top rushers GB – SF – Joe Perry, 9 Car, 135 Yds, 1 TD Top receivers GB – SF – Top tacklers GB – SF –

Standings

NFL National Conference
	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Los Angeles Rams	9	3	0	.750	9–2	466	309	W1
Chicago Bears	9	3	0	.750	8–2	279	207	W1
New York Yanks	7	5	0	.583	7–4	366	367	W1
Detroit Lions	6	6	0	.500	5–6	321	285	L1
San Francisco 49ers	3	9	0	.250	3–8	213	300	W1
Green Bay Packers	3	9	0	.250	2–9	244	406	L2
Baltimore Colts	1	11	0	.083	1–4	213	462	L5

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Pro Bowl

San Francisco's players selected for the Pro Bowl:

Player	Position
Frankie Albert	Quarterback
Visco Grgich	Offensive Line
Leo Nomellini	Defensive Line
Norm Standlee	Running Back
Johnny Strzykalski	Running Back

References

• SHRP Sports
• Pro Football Reference