Chandler#81 Posted October 17 Posted October 17 Ralph chose Buffalo! Jets fans? Giants fans?, Browns? God forbid! Thank you, Ralph! From the depths of my heart 2 3 4 Quote
Ned Flanders Posted October 17 Posted October 17 I recall Miami was his first choice but the city was burned by the old AAFC and they didn't want to mess with an upstart pro league again. PS: Ralph is cheap. 3 Quote
Sweats Posted October 17 Posted October 17 Wasn't Orchard Park his last choice?........and Detroit was where his heart was? I seem to recall that many, many years ago (i might be wrong). Quote
Saxum Posted October 17 Posted October 17 Just now, Sweats said: Wasn't Orchard Park his last choice?........and Detroit was where his heart was? I seem to recall that many, many years ago (i might be wrong). He wanted to become part ownership of Lions but his interest was turned down. It is part of reason for initial colors of the Bills. He inquired regarding Mijami but his interest was spurned. Do not remember any other places he enquired before being recommended to Buffalo based on All-America Football Conference Team, 1946-1949 attendance. Kenneth R. Crippen wrote on this; I have one of his books in storage. https://canvasrebel.com/meet-ken-crippen/ 1 1 Quote
Mr. WEO Posted October 17 Posted October 17 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Ned Flanders said: I recall Miami was his first choice but the city was burned by the old AAFC and they didn't want to mess with an upstart pro league again. PS: Ralph is cheap. Wilson was the AFL's second choice as Bills owner to have a team in a city that was not his first choice to own one.. He wanted Miami, but Hunt said no. Pat McGroder is credited with bringing pro football back to Buffalo--he had been heavily lobbying the NFL to come there. They wouldn't. Hunt called him before Ralph, offering him an AFL franchise. HE turned him down, figuring Buffalo would be the next NFL expansion team. Edited October 17 by Mr. WEO 1 Quote
TrentEdwardsCheckDownOn4th Posted October 17 Posted October 17 (edited) The city owes a lot to this man. Even after his death he made sure his foundation donated over 100 million to the city of Buffalo. The money is currently being used to completely reimagine Lasalle park (now named Ralph Wilson park). And sure he was cheap... and buffalo may not have been his first choice. But he somehow kept the bills in buffalo for over 50 years. I imagine most other owners would have sold out and moved the team. Edited October 17 by TrentEdwardsCheckDownOn4th 5 2 Quote
Saxum Posted October 17 Posted October 17 21 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said: Ralph chose Buffalo! Jets fans? Giants fans?, Browns? God forbid! Thank you, Ralph! From the depths of my heart Hunt gave him choices of five cities so Buffalo was not "last choice" as which has been cited. Quote
holla83 Posted October 17 Posted October 17 21 minutes ago, Sweats said: Wasn't Orchard Park his last choice?........and Detroit was where his heart was? I seem to recall that many, many years ago (i might be wrong). Ralph was from Detroit. According to the Bills 50th anniversary DVD he and his father had a small stake in the Lions at one point. As far as Miami goes, I remember hearing there was an issue with a lease for the Orange Bowl and Ralph chose Buffalo instead. 3 Quote
Ned Flanders Posted October 17 Posted October 17 2 hours ago, holla83 said: Ralph was from Detroit. According to the Bills 50th anniversary DVD he and his father had a small stake in the Lions at one point. Hence the blue/silver uniforms to look like the Lions in 1960 and 61. The only real difference was the lack of the Detroit logo on the helmet. https://www.gridiron-uniforms.com/GUD/controller/controller.php?action=teams-season&team_id=BUF&year=1961 https://www.gridiron-uniforms.com/GUD/controller/controller.php?action=teams-season&team_id=DET&year=1961 2 1 Quote
Jimmy Harris 69 Posted October 18 Posted October 18 13 hours ago, Chandler#81 said: Ralph chose Buffalo! Jets fans? Giants fans?, Browns? God forbid! Thank you, Ralph! From the depths of my heart I’m grateful Ralph. I’m sorry I blamed you sometimes even when you did good things. You and the entire Wilson family have been good to Buffalo and Bills fans like me and my family. Cheers! 1 Quote
Old Coot Posted October 18 Posted October 18 Some pre-NFL Buffalo Bills / Bisons history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Bills_(AAFC) Quote
Wacka Posted October 18 Posted October 18 He gave tons of $ to the Buffalo Hospice. The campus in Cheektowaga (behind the old Como Mall) its named after him and his wife. 1 1 1 Quote
BUFFALOBART Posted October 18 Posted October 18 20 hours ago, Sweats said: Wasn't Orchard Park his last choice?........and Detroit was where his heart was? I seem to recall that many, many years ago (i might be wrong). The original 1959 Bills team colors, were silver, and blue. Quote
RyanC883 Posted October 18 Posted October 18 wouldn't have the privilege of talking with you all. would likely be either a Giants, Jets (gag), or Steelers fan. (lived in Binghamton, then PGH). 1 Quote
DrDawkinstein Posted October 18 Posted October 18 A lot more productive time on my hands. And a lot less heart break. 1 Quote
machine gun kelly Posted October 18 Posted October 18 Ralph was the best thing for Buffalo, even though “he was cheap”. He really tried to create a winning team prior to free agency. I know he became senile in the end, but of the $1.4 billion sale of the team, he split the earnings to Buffalo and Detroit. I may have lived in FL for 30 years, but I’m still a Buffalonians at heart and literally everyone down here knows it. I know we are better off with the Pegulas now, but they’ve received their wish list with the stadium, and maybe no SB, but maybe the draft or other perks. This is 10 year old news so not sure what else to say. I want to idea BUFFALO BILLS fan, not anywhere else. It would crush me. Go Bills, and I liked Sals suggestion this morning. We still have a little $ so his thought was maybe another WR. I’m not opposed to it as we won’t find a K who is that much better than Bass as bad as he’s played. Another upgrade even small, would be better than Hollins, or Samuel at this point. They are doing nothing, and Samuel just isn’t what we thought. I’m included in that premise. Quote
PromoTheRobot Posted October 18 Posted October 18 On 10/17/2024 at 12:10 PM, MPL said: I think Ralph was the original writer of this song Wow, great song. Never heard of the guy before. Looked up his bio on Wikipedia. Sad ending. Quote
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