The matter of team history is unusually complicated with the Baltimore Ravens. When Cleveland Browns owner, the late Art Modell, relocated his team to Baltimore, he left the Cleveland Browns history in Cleveland, where it was absorbed by the expansion Browns in 1999.
The Indianapolis Colts did not choose that route when they snuck out of Baltimore in 1984. To be fair, it has been standard practice for teams that relocate to move their history with them. The Arizona Cardinals, for example, count their time in Chicago and St. Louis at part of the current team’s continuity, although they did not escape either city without notice under cover of darkness. Modell, however, departed from this, showing sensitivity to Cleveland’s outrage of losing the team, and Baltimore’s concern about doing to that city what had been done to them.
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Although the Colts officially remain in possession of the old Colts’ records, that has not stopped the current Baltimore franchise from recognizing and bestowing honor to those who came before, who ignited the fire in the city’s football fan base that not even the Colts’ surreptitious departure could quench.
In 1996, the new Ravens organization wasted no time in reaching out to former Colts and encouraging their involvement/stamp of approval with the franchise. No one was as important to this effort as John Unitas, who delivered the game ball in the opening game against Oakland (I’ll have much more to share about that game in a few weeks).
It was Unitas’ passing on September 11, 2002, that inspired the inclusion of Baltimore Colts greats in the fledgling Ravens’ Ring of honor, begun in 2000 with the induction of RB Earnest Byner and added to in 2001 with the 2000 Super Bowl championship team.
Regarding that decision, Art Modell was quoted in the October 5, 2002, Baltimore Sun, “We thought we understood how important Johnny and the Colts were to this community,” Ravens owner Art Modell said. “But we saw an even deeper devotion when John passed. We’ve paid tribute to the history of Baltimore football since we’ve arrived but we felt we had to do more when John died. That’s why we’re adding him and the Hall of Fame Baltimore Colts to our Ring of Honor.”
For those of you who have never been to M&T Bank Stadium, or who have but never noticed the Ring of Honor, the lettering for the Colts’ honorees reads “19 24 70 77 John Unitas and the Baltimore Colts 82 83 88 89.” The numbers represent the jersey numbers worn by, in order, Unitas, Lenny Moore, Art Donovan, Jim Parker, Raymond Berry, Ted Hendricks, John Mackey, and Gino Marchetti-the eight Baltimore Colt Hall of Famers. Unitas, Parker, Berry, Hendricks, and Marchetti were named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary team, and all but Donovan were included in the NFL’s 100th anniversary team (Donovan was a finalist).
Unitas was also honored with a statue and the naming of the main entrance of the stadium “Unitas Plaza.” I’ll have a separate piece coming up about Unitas in a few weeks, but here are briefs on the other greats.
Lenny Moore (RB/WR) – Moore played with the Colts his entire career, from 1956-1967. He is one of only four players in NFL history with over 5,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards (Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk, and Tiki Barber are the others). When he retired, Moore held league records with 113 touchdowns, 18 straight games scoring a touchdown (still shared with LaDainian Tomlinson), and 11 straight games scoring a rushing touchdown. In an era where scoring was much lower than it is today (Moore now stands 16th on the career touchdown list), he could find the end zone like no one else. The 87 year-old Moore remains active doing community work in the Baltimore area.
Art Donovan (DT) – Donavan was one of two original NFL Baltimore Colts (along with Marchetti) to gain induction into the Hall of Fame. He played for the Colts from 1953-1961 and was inducted into the Hall in 1968. He is mostly known as a raconteur of funny football stories on the Late Show with David Letterman and the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (kind of the NFL’s answer to Bob Uecker), not to mention his hysterical 1987 memoir “Fatso.” He was also a co-host on a popular show on Baltimore’s Channel 13 in the 1990’s, “Brasse, Donovan, Davis and Fans,” with former teammate DE Ordell Brasse and longtime Baltimore sports personality Tom Davis. Donovan passed away in 2013 at the age of 89.
Jim Parker (OT/OG) – Parker played his entire career for the Colts, from 1957-1967 and was inducted to the HOF in 1973. Unlike all but Moore, though, he played two positions. Parker came into the league as a dominating left tackle but was moved over to left guard during the 1962 season and amazingly was named all-pro at BOTH positions. Parker finished his career at guard and tallied eight consecutive Pro Bowl selections. In his 1984 book “The New Thinking Man’s Guide to Pro Football,” the late Paul Zimmerman (also known as Dr. Z) described Parker as “the best pure pass blocker who ever lived.” Parker passed away in 2005 at the age of 71.
Raymond Berry (WR) – Berry played his entire career for the Colts, from 1955-1967 and was inducted to the HOF in 1973. When he retired, his 631 receptions and 9,275 yards receiving were both the most in NFL history (they now stand 68th and 59th, respectively). He played a huge role in the famous 1958 NFL Championship game against the Giants, hauling in a then-championship game record 12 catches for 178 yards. Berry spent most of the 25 years after his playing career ended coaching, highlighted by leading the New England Patriots to Super Bowl XX, where they lost to the Chicago Bears. He is now 88 years old and, the last I could find, retired and living in Tennessee.
Ted Hendricks (LB) – Born in Guatemala; the man nicknamed “The Mad Stork” because of his 6”7” height played his first five seasons in Baltimore from 1969-1973. He signed with the Packers in 1974, then moved on to the Raiders for the final nine years of his career. He was inducted into the HOF in 1990. After Colts coach Don Shula wisely moved him from his collegiate position of DE to LB, Hendricks became quite the playmaker, piling up sacks, batted passes, interceptions, and blocked kicks. He played in 215 consecutive regular season games and four Super Bowls (one with the Colts, three with the Raiders). He is currently 73 years old and working for the Hall of Fame Player’s Association on behalf of ex-players.
John Mackey (TE) – Mackey played for the Colts from 1963-1971, then finished up his career in San Diego in 1972. In 1992, he became only the second pure tight end inducted into the Hall of Fame. On the field, he is probably best remembered for scoring on a controversial 75-yard touchdown pass from Unitas in Super Bowl V. Off the field, he was known for his work with the Players Association, holding the presidency from 1970-1973. He became the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit that overturned the “Rozelle Rule,” which had limited a player’s ability to become a free agent. Sadly, he battled dementia in his later years and passed away in 2011.
Gino Marchetti (DE) – Marchetti debuted for the Dallas Texans in 1952, which then became the Colts in 1953 (a long story I’ll likely write about down the road). He retired in 1966 and was inducted to the HOF in 1972. Marchetti was All-Pro an amazing nine times. When Sid Gilman was the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, he called Marchetti, “(T)he greatest player in football. It’s a waste of time to run around this guy’s end. It’s a lost play. You don’t bother to try it.” Forrest Gregg, a pretty fair tackle for Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers, gave this testimonial, “You ask who was the best … just my opinion, Marchetti was the best all-around player I ever played against. Great pass rusher. Great against the run. And he never let you rest.” Yes, Marchetti is the Gino behind Gino’s Hamburgers. He passed away in 2019, and his obituary was posted on both ESPN and Restaurant Business.
This was a group that honored Baltimore both on and off the field, and it is great that the Baltimore Ravens chose to honor them. Was it good PR? Of course it was, but sometimes the right thing to do is also good PR.
Coming next week, I’ll look at some of the lesser-known Ravens names in the Ring of Honor. In the meantime, hit me up on twitter @jimjfootball. Come on, you know you want to.
Until then, good night John Boy. No, that’s the Waltons.
Live long and prosper. No, that’s Mr. Spock.
Oh, well, have a great week everyone.
Jim Johnson spent most of his life in Maryland, growing up with the Orioles, the Colts, Terps, and later Ravens. He started his sports writing career as “The Courtmaster,” covering the Terps and ACC hoops and was a frequent guest on Bob Haynie’s old WNST show and other sports talk across the region. He is currently in his second run at BSL. After previously covering Maryland and Big Ten Football, he now writes about the NFL, primarily the action in the AFC North. Jim covers both current and historic stories, seeking perspective and having fun in the process.