* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Curran
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Restoring Baltimore's Football Heritage
FOR the purpose of encouraging the Executive Director and the Vice President of Exhibits of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to separate the Colts' storied Baltimore history from the current Indianapolis franchise to more accurately reflect the team's legacy and to pay tribute to those spectacular Hall of Famers who brought to their Baltimore fans many years of team spirit and civic pride and left to them bittersweet memories of balmy days spent with family and friends at the old Memorial Stadium on 33rd Street in the heart of Baltimore City.
Body
Recitals
In the Canton, Ohio Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Mementoes Room, where tribute is paid to the 32 National Football League teams and the stars representing each franchise, the Indianapolis Colts history includes sports lore of 10 Colts Hall of Famer's that, but for one, played their whole career as Baltimore Colts:
• Raymond Berry, WR 1955 -1967
• Art Donovan, OT 1953 -1961
• Weeb Ewbank, Coach 1954 - 1962
• Ted Hendricks LB 1969 - 1973
• John Mackey, TE 1963 - 1971
• Gino Marchetti, DE 1953 - 64
• Lenny Moore, RB 1956 - 1967
• Jim Parker, OT 1957 - 1967
• Joe Perry, FB 1961 - 1962
• Don Shula, Coach 1963 - 1969
• Johnny Unitas, QB 1956 - 1972.
Fans Baltimore-based Colts Hall of Famers have expressed their support for "Restoring Baltimore's Football Heritage " by signing a petition presented on a website dedicated to bringing about the change, that reads:
"To: Pro Football Hall of Fame:
In many ways the Baltimore Colts are the equivalent of NFL orphans. They have no home, at least not one recognized by the NFL and that is a sad statement considering the Baltimore Colt's historical relevance. The players who left parts of their broken bodies on 33rd Street at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore are aging and unfortunately some have passed, like Hall of Famers John Unitas and Jim Parker. Others are ailing.
The time has come to distinguish these men in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as Baltimore Colts. Restoring the Baltimore Colts' tradition is a simple yet grossly overdue change that will enable future generations of NFL fans to properly recognize the contributions of these men. This is the choice of the players - to be recognized in the Hall of Fame as Baltimore Colts. And let's face it, they've earned it.
Baltimore deserves its own heritage just as much as the City of Indianapolis deserves theirs. It is time to help both cities firmly establish their own place and identities in the NFL's illustrious history and in Pro Football's ultimate shrine - the Hall of Fame.
It's the right thing to do for the players and for all the fans of the National Football League."
The City Council supports this petition to place our football heroes in their rightful context as an important part of Baltimore's history and civic pride. The dedication to the heroes of war that graces the facade of Memorial Stadium also apply to our steely heroes of the gridiron - "Time shall not dim the glory of their deeds."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Executive Director and the Vice President of Exhibits of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are urged to separate the Colts' storied Baltimore history from the current Indianapolis franchise to more accurately reflect the team's legacy and to pay tribute to those spectacular Hall of Famers who brought to their Baltimore fans many years of team spirit and civic pride and left to them bittersweet memories of balmy days spent with family and friends at the old Memorial Stadium on 33rd Street in the heart of Baltimore City.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Executive Director and the Vice President of Exhibits of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ánthony Lombardi, Jr., and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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