Obscure RB trivia

[Bryan]

1) In the 1968 NFL season, there were only 3 RBs who had over 5000 career rushing yards at the time. Name the three.

2) This RB ran for over 1000 yards in two different pro football league seasons in the same calendar year. Name him.

[Bob Gill]

For the first question, Don Perkins is one, and I think Dick Bass is another -- although he crossed 5,000 yards during the season, so maybe you don't want to count him. Those were the first two guys I thought of. After that I looked at another half-dozen or more, but none of them qualified. John David Crow just missed: 1968 was his final season, and he started out with something like 4,960 yards, but carried only four times all year.

[Brian wolf]

Perkins, Kelly, Bass ... didn't Clem Daniels play in 1968?

[Bob Gill]

Not Kelly. 1968 was only his third year as a starter. And I did think of Daniels, who I believe had crossed 5,000 yards by 1968, but he wasn't in the NFL, so I assume he doesn't qualify either.

[Brian wolf]

Perkins, Bass and Moore but Moore retired, unless Daniels is counted?

The other back in question was from the USFL, maybe Gary Anderson or Joe Cribbs?

[SixtiesFan]

For the first question, Don Perkins is one, and I think Dick Bass is another -- although he crossed 5,000 yards during the season, so maybe you don't want to count him. Those were the first two guys I thought of. After that I looked at another half-dozen or more, but none of them qualified. John David Crow just missed: 1968 was his final season, and he started out with something like 4,960 yards, but carried only four times all year.

In 1968 John David Crowe was switched to tight end and was the 49ers starter all year.

[Bob Gill]

In 1968 John David Crowe was switched to tight end and was the 49ers starter all year.

Oh yeah, I think I just about remember that now that you mention it.

[TanksAndSpartans]

If 2) is USFL, I'm really interested to hear who. I'm almost positive Maurice Carthon had 1,000 yards in the USFL, but he was a blocking FB in the NFL. I think there was a CC article about how many games he played in one year, but I don't recall the details. Herschel Walker would be a plausible guess, but I'm sure it's not him.

[Bryan]

For the first question, Don Perkins is one, and I think Dick Bass is another -- although he crossed 5,000 yards during the season, so maybe you don't want to count him.

I am counting Bass because he had 5000 career rushing yards in the 1968 season. So its Perkins, Bass and...

[Bryan]

Not Kelly. 1968 was only his third year as a starter. And I did think of Daniels, who I believe had crossed 5,000 yards by 1968, but he wasn't in the NFL, so I assume he doesn't qualify either.

Clem Daniels was in the NFL in the 1968 season, playing for the Niners. He also had 5000+ career rushing yards. So the three RBs are Perkins, Bass & Daniels. Kind of tricky, but also kind of weird that there was such a relative dearth of great RBs at that time.