Good memories, thanks for sharing.I not only saw Gino play in person at least 20 times at Fenway, BC, and Harvard Stadium over the years, but I believe I also saw him kick at the newly opened Schaefer Stadium as well. I was one of those fortunate kids who used to shag balls for Gino when he would practice kickoffs and field goals at Wellesley's Junior High School Football Field in the late '60s and early '70s. A gentleman in every way. Not only was he "Mr. Reliable" as a kicker, but Gino was also a Raymond Berry-like receiver who was very clutch. He and Babe made some beautiful music together. I am so glad that he announced the first 3 Super Bowl wins for the franchise. He was Mr. Patriot. RIP, Duke.
I well remember that game! I was there as well!I remember a Friday night Pats game at Fenway vs the Houston Oilers and the visitors were up 24-22 late in the 4th qtr but Babe drove the Pats into FG position and Gino banged through a game winner (IIRC at 0:00) that landed in the Sox bullpen. Pandemonium ensued.
RIP #20
This definitely happened, but struggling to find the audioSomeone please correct me if my memory is failing me—but I have this distinct memory of Gil and Gino doing a sort of sing-songy celebration at the end of the '03 AFCCG, maybe when Vinatieri hit the clinching FG to go up 10. I just have this memory of them singing about going to Houston. I'm sure someone else remembers if this happened, but I remember as being such a fun moment. There was always the fear that maybe the first SB was something of a fluke and then the 03 and 04 teams came along and dominated so that first trip back to the SB was in some ways just as special as the win over Pittsburgh two years prior.
Such good memories of that booth.
Add George Blanda to this stellar listOne of the few players that contributed for years in a skill position and as a kicker. Two others come to mind right away: Sammy Baugh and Paul Hornung. Gino was definitely a favorite of mine in the early Patriots years.
Yup Blanda was Houston's QB (20-44 328 yds 2 TD, 1 pic) and kicker (3 XP, 1 FG) in the 25-24 game at Fenway I cited uptread.Add George Blanda to this stellar list
Just saw your post Jack. I lived in Wellesley for two years also and met him at the Jr. High field. As my post above says. I also used to shag kicks for one of your classmates who was the kicker on the Jr High and High School team. Gary Alberice.I not only saw Gino play in person at least 20 times at Fenway, BC, and Harvard Stadium over the years, but I believe I also saw him kick at the newly opened Schaefer Stadium as well. I was one of those fortunate kids who used to shag balls for Gino when he would practice kickoffs and field goals at Wellesley's Junior High School Football Field in the late '60s and early '70s. A gentleman in every way. Not only was he "Mr. Reliable" as a kicker, but Gino was also a Raymond Berry-like receiver who was very clutch. He and Babe made some beautiful music together. I am so glad that he announced the first 3 Super Bowl wins for the franchise. He was Mr. Patriot. RIP, Duke.
Then we've met in a past life, because I caught Alba, a classmate, every once in a while. Small world.Just saw your post Jack. I lived in Wellesley for two years also and met him at the Jr. High field. As my post above says. I also used to shag kicks for one of your classmates who was the kicker on the Jr High and High School team. Gary Alberice.
Then we may have played touch football at the Junior High Field with a bunch of his friends and mine in the summers of 69 and 70.Then we've met in a past life, because I caught Alba, a classmate, every once in a while. Small world.
Oh ah one maw thing as Columbo would say. Speaking of Alba, during one of our many touch football games in the Summer of 70 I head collided with Gary's younger Brother Manny and suffered my 2nd concussion in my life. Not fun. Manny didn't get a concussion, lucky for him. Haven't had a concussion since, knock on wood.Then we've met in a past life, because I caught Alba, a classmate, every once in a while. Small world.
Found it (link is timestamped):This definitely happened, but struggling to find the audio
Well done!
Peter King has a salute to Gino in his latest that includes a factoid about him and Blanda:Add George Blanda to this stellar list
I think the death of Gino Cappelletti at 89 deserves more than an RIP, Gino. Five reasons why:
• He was one of the last true versatile players in football history. In 1960, with the first-year Boston Patriots of the American Football League, he played defensive back and kicker. Then he switched to wide receiver in 1961. He returned kicks, played briefly in the backfield, caught 292 passes in his career, and led the AFL in scoring five times, more than any player.
• He scored the first points in AFL history—a 35-yard field goal against Denver on a September Friday night on the campus of Boston University—and he is one of three men (George Blanda and Jim Otto) to play every game for his team in the AFL’s 10-year history.
• Some of his games … wow. In 1960, as a DB, Cappelletti intercepted three passes in a game against Oakland at Kezar Stadium. In 1961, against Houston, in his second month as a receiver, he caught six passes for 131 yards and a go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter—and kicked four PATs and a field goal. In a 1964 game at Denver, Cappelletti kicked six field goals in six tries. In 1965, at Fenway Park, he caught five passes for 151 yards (including 26- and 57-yard TD passes) and was four-for-four in field goals against Houston.
• Cappelletti was the AFL MVP in 1964, beating out Charley Hennigan, who had the first 100-catch season in football history (101 catches, 1,546 yards).
• Christened “Mr. Patriot,” Cappelletti did color on the Patriots radio broadcasts for 28 years. If asked their all-time favorite Patriot, many of a certain age in the six-state New England region would say Cappelletti, even today.