Review Fix chats with “Crash of the Titans: The Early Years of the New York Jets and the AFL†author William J. Ryczek who discusses the research process, origin and creative opportunities behind this amazing book.
About Crash of the Titans:
Before Namath, before the Heidi Game, before the guaranteed Super Bowl victory, there were the New York Titans. Remember the Titans? They played to meager crowds and mediocre results in the decrepit Polo Grounds. The organization, a charter member of the American Football League in 1960, was in constant danger of bankruptcy. After struggling for three seasons, the Titans would finally be assumed by the league. New owners were found, the franchise was renamed the Jets and a new stadium would welcome the team in 1964.
The revised edition of this award-winning book covers the turbulent history and eventual crash landing of the team that would become the New York Jets. The early days of the upstart AFL are also explored, as are the league’s constant feuds with the Titans’ underfunded and overbearing owner, Harry Wismer. Four appendices with team results, rosters and statistics are included.
About William J. Ryczek:
William J. Ryczek is a finance professional from Wallingford, Connecticut, who writes about early baseball, football, the Yankees, and the Mets.
Review Fix: What inspired this book?
William J. Ryczek: In September 1969, I read a Sports Illustrated article called Last of the Titans, by former Titan Alex Kroll. Although I had only vague memories of the team, I found the article quite interesting and about 25 years later, I started to research the Titans. Kroll, as expected, was a very interesting interview subject.
Review Fix: What was your research process like?
Ryczek: It was different than it would be today, since the internet was in its infancy. There was a lot of newspaper microfilm review and a lot of telephone interviews. I was able to network with the players to get contact information for others and wound up to speaking to a very large percentage of the surviving Titans, as well as some of their opponents like Gino Cappelletti and Frank Tripucka. The highlight was interviewing Sammy Baugh, possibly the greatest football player ever, who coached the Titans in 1960-61. I called him one evening and, remarkably, he picked up the phone. “I’m eatin’ my dinner,” he said. “Can you call back in a half hour?” I did, he picked up, and was as candid and helpful as I could have asked. I could see why the players loved him.
Review Fix: What’s your favorite part of the book?
Ryczek: The story of the formation of the AFL was very interesting to me, since it was one of the few new leagues in any sport that survived. The story of Harry Wismer is another favorite part. He could be a book in himself–a remarkable egotistical, larger than life character.
Review Fix: Any challenges?
Ryczek: The usual–finding the time to travel and do research. Weeding out the true and amazing stories from the tall tales. Finding ex-players and coaches.
Review Fix: What was your favorite Titans team??
Ryczek: 1960. They were the first and had a very exciting offense backed by very little defense. With Don Maynard and Art Powell, the Titans had two of the best receivers in pro football.
Review Fix: Worst moment for the team during that time?
Ryczek: The worst moment was the 1962 season when payrolls were missed and the team sunk into bankruptcy. The last few games of that season were an endurance contest as they barely made it to the finish line.
Review Fix: Most underrated Titans player from the era?
Ryczek: Most Titans got their due, since they were playing in New York. Maynard made it to the Hall of Fame, Larry Grantham was well-known and Lee Grosscup got a tremendous amount of notoriety for playing for the Titans for a relatively short time. I interviewed Lee, spoke with him on a few other occasions, and interviewed him again for a book on minor league football. Lee was a wonderful, warm, bright, interesting man who unfortunately passed away a few months ago. If I were to pick one player who didn’t get the notice they deserved, I might pick tackle Bob Mischak, an excellent player and a team leader.
Review Fix: Overrated?
Ryczek: The only name that comes to mind is a man who was with the Titans only briefly, All-American Gerhard Schwedes from Syracuse. Schwedes was a product of the primitive scouting system of the era–a player who starred for a big time team and was assumed to be a star. But he was too slow and too small and accomplished virtually nothing with the Patriots or Titans.
Review Fix: What did you learn that you weren’t expecting?
Ryczek: The gist of Kroll’s article was comical, making fun of the situation. When I first talked to lineman Roger Ellis, who became a good friend, he said he wouldn’t help me if I was just going to make fun of them. What I learned is that the Titans were a good, competitive team with some outstanding players. They just didn’t have enough money.
Review Fix: How do you want the book to be remembered?
Ryczek: The best (and only) history of a really interesting football team and a memorable group of players. Don Maynard, who wrote the forward, is one of the unique characters of football and Harry Wismer was one of most memorable owners in professional sports.
Review Fix: Why should a Jets fan read this?
Ryczek: Without the Titans there are no Jets. The highlight of the Jets’ existence was Super Bowl III, and there were a few Titans on that team. The history of the team didn’t start in 1963.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Ryczek: I just had a book called “The Sixties in the News” the story of the 1960s, come out this week. I wanted to do one non-sports book before I died, and I made it. A biography of former Pirate and Red Sox first baseman Dick Stuart (Dr. Strangeglove) is finished and should be out in a few months.
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