Any Jim Hart fans out there?

[SECTION 11]

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[Cardinals.Ken]

uhhh...yes...duh!...this is a Cardinals message board!

 

[CardLogic]

I first began following the Cardinals during the Jim Hart era. Man, could that guy throw a football!

 

[denverbirdfan]

my dad and jim hart are friends. hart used to be athletic director at southern illinois university nearby where i grew up. i got to meet him when i was a boy - he was a very nice guy and everybody knows - a great quarterback!

 

[JD Robertson]

I was a little young to remember anything about him, Neil Lomax was coming on when I started to really follow the Cards, but my parents thought the world of him.

On another note, a friend of mine's dad lived on the same floor of the dorm when they were at SIU-Carbondale.

JD

 

[Indiana Hoosier]

Jim Hart to Jackie Smith, Mel Gray and Roy Green. On the sidelines Mr. Don "Air" Coryell. Guys and Gals those were the days. Gave up a lot of points, but Damm we could score at any time. Great picture Section 11. I have a couple of old Sporting News with Jim Hart and Larry Wilson on the covers!

 

[Sack Daddy]

Originally posted by SECTION 11
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Biiiigggg Jimmy Hart fan! When I was a little kid (8 to be exact) I wrote Jim a letter about how big of fan I was and enclosed a Topps card I wanted him to sign. My Dad was worried a pro football player wouldn't give me the time of day.
Two weeks later I get home from school and there's a large box from the St.Louis Cardinals with an envelope attached to the top. In the envelope is a HANDwritten letter from Jim Hart. It was a full page long. In it he told me how much he enjoyed my letter and how it reminded him why he played and why he was so fortunate. In the box was an authentic Jim Hart jersey, signed 8x10 photo, 3 signed Topps football Cards and tons of other Cardinals' goodies. From that day on I was the most loyal Jim Hart and Cardinal fan you ever met, and I still am to this day. What a cool guy.
Years later while in the Air Force and and stationed at Scott Air Force base I played in a golf tournament in which Jim was also playing. I met him and shook his hand and told him about the letter I had written to him years ago. He smiled and said he remembered and the reason why was, he couldn't believe an 8 year old could keep a 10 page letter interesting. We laughed and before he walked away he asked if I was still a fan; I told him more than ever. What a cool guy.

 

[conraddobler]

Great thread 11 I had an autographed Cardinal gym bag back in the 2nd grade signed by Mr. Hart I loved that thing and of course it got lost.

He is a very nice guy and always did have an awesome arm. I'll never forget the pass to Mel Gray with time running out against the Redskins that was the first case of almost an instant replay the officials confered about it for what seemed like forever with a playoff spot in the balance..

That was great when they came back and said it was a catch at the time I really didn't think it was.

 

[red desert]

I'm with you . . .

I didn't think it was a catch either, but WOW what a game. I was just a kid back then, but I remember that play like it was yesterday. This post brought back a lot of memories.

 

[who_me?]

Thanks for the memories guys! Jim Hart, Mel Grey, Roy Green, Air Coryell WOW!! those were some fun times.

Conraddobler you just mentioned the game that I remember the most. My brohter is a Redskins fan and we were watching that game when our neighbors kids threw a firecracker on our front porch about the same time as the play you just mentioned happened. My brother, who's not a small guy, went tearing out of the house across the yard after them in his stocking feet. What makes it priceless is , if I remember correctly, he came across our dogs dumping ground. He never did catch the kids, but he did have a period of good luck!

 

[TruColor]

Jim Hart was the MAN. Couldn't outrun my grandma, but what an arm. And, what a leader. I remember that Cardinals-Redskins game myself. I still to this day question whether or not Mel actually ever had possession of that ball, but it ended up being a W vs. the Skins, so who cares?!

It still bugs me to think that both he and Terry Metcalf ended up their respective careers with the Redskins.

 

[JeffGollin]

What I remember most about Jim Hart was that Charley Johnson had suffered injuries, wasn't expected back etc. etc. and I'm wondering where we're going to find a decent QB without using a top draft pick.

Then along comes this baby faced kid from Southern Illinois (the Salukis) and the rest is history.

I suspect that Don Coryell, at least in part, had something to do with Jim Hart's development into a really good NFL quarterback.

 

[denverbirdfan]

THE SALUKIS RULE!!!

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Jim Hart was good...but he was no Neil Lomax!

 

[AZCardsWin]

Hey I own that Sports Illustrated! I have it in my showcase in my Cardinals themed basement.

Go Cards/ America!
Tim
KFFL.com

 

[RedRob]

Like Denverbirdfan I too grew up in Southern Illinois. Met Jim Hart when I was about 12 and had him autograph a poster that I've had since I was 7 (25 yrs). I have it framed and hanging on the wall to this day.

Denverbirdfan, where did you grow up? I'm from Murphysboro, graduate of SIU. Now living with my wife in Scottsdale (also from Murphy and graduate of SIU).

By the way I was in shaking like a leaf when I spoke to Mr. Hart. He was totally cool.

 

[red desert]

Denverbirdfan -

Any chance of getting me a signed poster? I'll be happy to pay him for it. Or can you direct me to a place where I might be able to purchase one?

 

[john h]

Originally posted by CardLogic
I first began following the Cardinals during the Jim Hart era. Man, could that guy throw a football!

I think the 60's with the Jim Hart teams were some of the most fun games I have ever watched. That is when they gained the name The Cardiac Cardinals. With Hart and that great core of wide receivers we could really make things happen. Jim was from Souther Illinois and came off the bench one day and never looked back. We had a great offensive line headed by Jaws Dan Dierdorf and a great field goal kicker in Jim Bakken. Sonny Randall, Stump Mitchell and I think John David Crow was palying with him. Larry Wilson was still playing as I remember. Never had such exciting teams since then.

 

[john h]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
What I remember most about Jim Hart was that Charley Johnson had suffered injuries, wasn't expected back etc. etc. and I'm wondering where we're going to find a decent QB without using a top draft pick.

Then along comes this baby faced kid from Southern Illinois (the Salukis) and the rest is history.

I suspect that Don Coryell, at least in part, had something to do with Jim Hart's development into a really good NFL quarterback.

Jeff: was that not Dr. Charlie Johnson?

 

[artp]

I have that SI magazine. It contains the quote from Jim, "Don't call me chinaman." With todays political correctness, I don't think they would even print that line.

 

[Redmark]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
What I remember most about Jim Hart was that Charley Johnson had suffered injuries, wasn't expected back etc. etc. and I'm wondering where we're going to find a decent QB without using a top draft pick.

Then along comes this baby faced kid from Southern Illinois (the Salukis) and the rest is history.

I suspect that Don Coryell, at least in part, had something to do with Jim Hart's development into a really good NFL quarterback.

Charley Johnson was called up as a reserve to serve in the Viet Nam War. He wasn't injured having come off some pretty fabulous seasons (over 4,000 yards in one as I recall). Jim Hart was a no-name undrafted baby-faced kid who no one knew anything about stepping into a pro-bowlers shoes during the exhibition season. The only thing comparable that I can think of, after Jim Hart's 17-year career, is maybe the Rams getting an Arena leaguer to replace their high-priced star and going to the Superbowl.

 

[Redmark]

Originally posted by john h
I think the 60's with the Jim Hart teams were some of the most fun games I have ever watched. That is when they gained the name The Cardiac Cardinals. With Hart and that great core of wide receivers we could really make things happen. Jim was from Souther Illinois and came off the bench one day and never looked back. We had a great offensive line headed by Jaws Dan Dierdorf and a great field goal kicker in Jim Bakken. Sonny Randall, Stump Mitchell and I think John David Crow was palying with him. Larry Wilson was still playing as I remember. Never had such exciting teams since then.

Revisionist History! Dierdorff, Bakken yes. John David, Sonny Randle long retired. Stump yet to appear with Niel Lomax, Roy Green and O.J Anderson in the eighties under Jim Hannifan.

 

[Redmark]

Originally posted by Redmark
Revisionist History! Dierdorff, Bakken yes. John David, Sonny Randle long retired. Stump yet to appear with Niel Lomax, Roy Green and O.J Anderson in the eighties under Jim Hannifan.

Sorry my bad. The kicker was none other than a long-tall lefty, Irishman named Neil O'donohough!

 

[Redmark]

What were Mel Gray's first two catches?

And who threw them?

 

[denverbirdfan]

RedRob

Go Red Devils! I grew up in Marion and left after high school (1996) and went to ASU and lived in Tempe until last summer. When were you at SIU? I've spent many a game at the Arena and McAndrew. Hey, maybe you know, what happened to a like 7 foot b-ball player from Murphy named Aaron something. Great player, I think about my age?

Oh yeah Red Desert:
I would have to ask my Dad as it's been over a decade since I met Mr. Hart. I'll see for you.