Christmas and Electric Football Memories

[styx]

Originally Posted by Franny-j-boy

Coach, I just wanted to say thank you sooo much for that memory because you really touched me.I'm 39 as well and although my dad died when I was in second grade I'll never forget 1977 and getting my superbowl game for x-mas and the excitement I had when I saw "Santa" had gotten me my favorite and most wanted toy. My mom had to think "I picked that one right" because I don't even remember or care what else I got. My older brother and I played that game every single night. I was a Cowboy fan starting out so I would practice soo hard and always play a tough game against my brother Pat. I would always make sure the board was clean and my players would always get a pep talk. We had such a great neighborhood back then in Cincinnati with a ton of older kids to play with. This game was soo huge a least six other people got that game that year, and about four others already had it. We got a league going with schedules,standings,and stats that made it too much fun. Everyone put in five dollars and I kept all the money in an envelope. Those were the days as I have only now been able to reach my childhood through all of you, and especially my league in Mid Ohio. Thanks to all of you for making (every time I come on here) feel like Christmas. It's been a long long time since my "little boy" has been out. I've been so caught up into being a grown up that I forgot we all have that "boy" in us that just wants to play. God bless and please keep this hobby alive. Thanks again Coach Shabby for this post.
Frank Jacobs

hi frank,i remember getting my first superbowl game,i had it until i was old enough to enter the u.s air force,when i was 19,after a long career mostly abroad,i couldnt wait to play it again,but the field did not survive without me,so i bought a superbowl game between the rams an titans,i will be saving it for my grandson, he;s only 2 and already loves to play.

[Electric Coach]

The Christmas of 1982 my grandmother bought my first Super Bowl set. It was the 600 Model. It came with the Steelers and the Cowboys. Ironically, it was the first set where I completed my first pass using the TTQB. I guess I had graduated.

Maurice

The Electric Coach

[Franny-j-boy]

I just went back and read this post I wrote a few years ago and man I am sooo blessed to have this hobby still alive, and with a great passion in my life. Thanks to all of you for feeling the way i do about this electric football/miniature football hobby we love. Man, I love playing in Mid-Ohio.

[NEW CASTLE HiTMEN]

I remember it well. I got the same game Frank did. The Cowboys -vs Broncos. It was the year my grandma died and three months before we moved in with my grandfather. My mother told me santa may not come to our house this year because she had to quite work and take care of our grandmother. I was hardly affected because we are a tight knit family. You can imagine the surprise when I awoke Christmas morning. Man, I loved that game. I played with it so much, that the switch broke and my grandfather had to fix it twice. He soldered the wires going into the switch. The cord became three feet shorter becaue of it. My older brother didn't care for the game, so I spent hour after hour playing solitaire. I can remember Craig Morton returning a kickoff for a TD in a game I played with my uncle that very day. AWSOME. JUST AWSOME. Then my nephew received a game for Christmas a few years back (Rams vs Titans) and I fell in love all over again. Thank you one and all for keeping this game/hobby alive. And Frank, THANKS FOR SHOWING THAT PICTURE.

[mark robin]

i got 3 different sets in a 4 year period, i never ask for much, but my parents saw how much time i spent, and how i took care of my EF stuff everyday. my 3 sets were the championship set(ive since replaced that one), the haiti teams, Cowboys(bs)vs Broncos(ws), then the Rams Steelers haiti Superbowl. ive since added just about every set ever made, i think im missinf 2 620 size boards and 2 500 size boards to have every one ever made. just think, my hobby was started by buying HKBS teams at a garage sell for .25 cents apeice back in '74.

[KINGPIN]

The day that changed my life as I knew it. My older brother Butch and I got a 1969 Jets/Colts Super bowl game. When we opened up the christmas wrapping I remember us looking at each other for what seemed to be 20 minutes before we could say a word, my father was about ten feet away looking at us, the look on his face I is something I will never forget. His eyes were starting to tear up, my brother asked what was wrong, my dad responded and said I remember getting my first electric football game in 1947 on christmas day from my father, the first year it was made guys. He came over and helped us unload the box and when the figures were pulled out me and my older brother flipped out and I remember my brother putting his hands on the first colt figure he touched and he said this is JOHNNY UNITAS his favorite player. At that moment my dads eyes went from tearing up to a grown man crying with joy, as a boy my dads parents were poor, that christmas football game he got was the only christmas toy he ever got on christmas. I still have that game and it's players and for over 40 years I have pulled that game out once a week, set the players up and remember the first time I laid eyes on it, after 40 years I still can't say a word for what seemed to be at least 20 minutes, remembering my fathers eyes and my brother yelling JOHNNY UNITAS'. I'm 47 and that christmas day in 1969 is the only time i've ever seen my dad cry and also on that 1969 christmas day, my father gave us his 1947 electric football game and that game is under lock and key in my garage. That is still the best CHRISTMAS I EVER HAD.


THE KINGPIN

[mark robin]

thats awesome vince. lets hear some more stories guys.

[Orleanian In Exile]

Mine was the Tudor 618 board which I got for Christmas after we moved back to the Gentilly Woods neighbourhood. That year's model featured the 26 NFL helmets on the siderails and the two teams that came bundled with it were the Rams and the Packers. There was many a contest between those two NFC adversaries, and the Packers more often that not won over Los Angeles —which I particularly appreciated since, in those days, the Rams were one of the teams that used to run all over the Saints every year, without fail. Well, even though I remain primarily a Saints fan, and cheered the Bears through the 80s, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Green Bay because of my little plastic Packers and the enjoyment they gave me playing them.

But that Christmas was a special one: first one in the new house and with a very special present under the tree that year. How I wish I could have that set back —I'd managed to keep it intact through the years until it went down with the Old House in the New Orleans flood.

[Shabby J]

Great story Vincent, thanks for sharing.

Keep 'em coming guys, this is always a good Holiday thread.

It is amazing how much this game shaped our lives when we were growing up and still affects us today.

Great!

[detroitchild]

That Christmas my brother and I got an electric football set. I don't remember the make/model but it came with a set of red and amber figures and some weak ********** paint that was pretty useless. I painted up the Maize and Blue and MADE my brother use the other team as the Ohio Buckeyes (I was into it more that he was). Had that set for two years until my little cousin fell on it. Ended up getting a Tudor 600 and 500 series a few years later for Christmas. I was hooked on EF until high school (girls, girls, girls). I don't remember what I did with those games but me and the guys in the hood had most of the teams and we ran a league for a few years.

Great memories!