Here is an interesting tidbit from the Packers' weekly press release:
Bob Mann, the Packers' first African-American player, passed away on Saturday at age 82. The receiver played in Green Bay during the early 1950s.
Mann played college football at the University of Michigan and was part of the Wolverines' undefeated national championship team of 1947.
After two seasons with the Detroit Lions and a partial season with the New York Yanks, Mann signed with the Packers as a free agent in 1950.
He led Green Bay in receptions (50), receiving yards (696) and touchdowns (8) in 1951 and was the team's second-leading receiver in 1952 and 1953 behind Billy Howton. "He was on the small side. He wasn't a big receiver but he was a very nifty, productive receiver," Packers historian Lee Remmel said. "He was very professional in his approach to the game. He was a man of great dignity."
The Packers had two African-American players in training camp in 1950, offensive lineman Jim Thomas and running back Jim Clark, but neither made the final roster, according to Remmel. That made Mann the team's first African-American player when he joined the Packers midway through the 1950 season.
Mann concluded his playing career with the Packers in 1954 and went on to head a successful law practice in Detroit. He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1988.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at Detroit’s St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bob Mann Athletic Scholarship Fund, established in his honor to assist Detroit student athletes.
Bob Mann, the Packers' first African-American player, passed away on Saturday at age 82. The receiver played in Green Bay during the early 1950s.
Mann played college football at the University of Michigan and was part of the Wolverines' undefeated national championship team of 1947.
After two seasons with the Detroit Lions and a partial season with the New York Yanks, Mann signed with the Packers as a free agent in 1950.
He led Green Bay in receptions (50), receiving yards (696) and touchdowns (8) in 1951 and was the team's second-leading receiver in 1952 and 1953 behind Billy Howton. "He was on the small side. He wasn't a big receiver but he was a very nifty, productive receiver," Packers historian Lee Remmel said. "He was very professional in his approach to the game. He was a man of great dignity."
The Packers had two African-American players in training camp in 1950, offensive lineman Jim Thomas and running back Jim Clark, but neither made the final roster, according to Remmel. That made Mann the team's first African-American player when he joined the Packers midway through the 1950 season.
Mann concluded his playing career with the Packers in 1954 and went on to head a successful law practice in Detroit. He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1988.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at Detroit’s St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bob Mann Athletic Scholarship Fund, established in his honor to assist Detroit student athletes.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
