Forty Niners

Several years back, I overheard a Green Bay Packer aficionado's disdain for 49ers fans. His dislike for them spanned mainly from their relative lack of knowledge of Niner history compared to fans of other legendary NFL teams. Being a fairly well-read `Frisco aficionado, I thought of challenging his assumption, but I came to a realization that, in a general sense, he was correct. Aside from a few old-timer sports nuts, I've never really known a bay-area resident Niner fan who had a good running knowledge of his/her team's past achievements, heartbreaks, and rosters before their breakout 1981 season. Fortunately, this book is just the thing that's needed to get the quasi-clueless red-and-gold die-hard a leg up on his/her Niner know-how! Each of the teams' first fifty seasons are briefly profiled, along with the win-loss record from each year. From their post-WWII creation as part of a new football league, to their heartbreaking playoff loss to the Lions in '57, to their frustrating early-seventies playoff defeats to the Cowboys, to their amazing Cinderella 1981 season, to the Super Bowl years in the 80s and mid-90s, this book covers a lot of the bases when it comes to the teams' past highs & lows.And let's not forget some of their greatest moments, like overcoming a 28-point halftime deficit to beat the New Orleans Saints in what was at one time the greatest comeback in pro football history. Or Dwight Clark's "Catch" against Dallas, and the amazing third-quarter goal-line stand against Cincinnati that helped turned the tide in their first Super Bowl victory. There's Joe Montana's famous drive to beat the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. And who could forget Steve Young finally escaping from Montana's shadow with his amazing MVP performance in Super Bowl XXIX? Oops, I almost failed to mention Jerry Rice's career-spanning, single-handed rewriting of almost all of the NFL's significant receiving records!Also included are profiles of the 49ers' most notable players and coaches. Frankie Albert, Dick Nolan, RC Owens, John Brodie, Y.A. Tittle, Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Bill Walsh, Dwight Clark, Hugh McElhenny, Leo Nomellini, Jerry Rice, and many more are each given a page or two about their amazing achievements and contributions as a Niner player, coach, or exec.Then of course there's the great Niner stories and legends. You'll find out how linebacker Jack Reynolds earned the moniker "Hacksaw", and read about his penchant for driving himself to the home games already suited-up and ready to go. You'll discover who Len Eshmont was, and learn of the annual team award named in his honor. Then there's coach Bill Walsh dressing up as a bellhop to welcome his players to their hotel in Pontiac, Michigan before their first Super Bowl victory. Oops, let's not forget about Joe Montana's bike-pilfering practical jokes. And did you know that `Frisco is credited with being the first team to use the shotgun formation in pro football? These little tidbits and more await y