ExWNYer Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Per 'One Bills Live' today. R.I.P., Mike. https://www.buffalobills.com/video/afl-focus-mike-stratton-440106 https://talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/the-hit-heard-round-the-world/ 1 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColoradoBills Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 RIP Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSE Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 RIP BIG MIKE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFT Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 RIP, Mike!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve O Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 ?RIP Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwight in philly Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Understated, awesome player.. true gifted athlete , believe he was a tight end in college.. Another "Bill of autumn" passes away.. R I P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddyjj Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 # 58 RIP. Great player and a better man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenorthremembers Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 RIP 58. Love to hear the old stories about the AFL teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 (edited) The rumor is, Jesus put on a flack jacket when hearing about this news. Edited March 26, 2020 by Binghamton Beast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 This one hurts. Thank you Mike, for many wonderful memories! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldmanfan Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Damn. Such great memories of him. Was there for the Hit. RIP Mike, one of the greats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExWNYer Posted March 25, 2020 Author Share Posted March 25, 2020 (edited) https://www.wkbw.com/sports/buffalo-bills/bills-legend-mike-stratton-dies-at-age-78 Edited March 25, 2020 by ExWNYer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah John Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 What a team, what a defense, what a great player. And what great uniforms. Seriously, I think those mid-60s unis were the best the Bills ever had. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Gehman Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 (edited) I enjoyed having some conversations with Mike, and am proud to share a couple of his stories. Buffalo drafted 34 players during the 1962 AFL draft, including linebacker Mike Stratton. Granted, not all of them reported, instead opting for the NFL or going a different way for other reasons. That said, it's little wonder that the coaches had difficulty remembering who was who or, for that matter, who played what position, “Buster Ramsey had always been partial about everyone from Tennessee, so he was pretty instrumental in my being drafted. But when I got to camp, [Lou] Saban, who was the personnel director, had become the head coach by that time, and I wanted to be a tight end,” said Stratton. “Lou called out all the names of the players we had in camp and what time we were supposed to go out [onto to the field], and he never did call my name. So afterward, I walked over to him and said, ‘Coach, what group would you like me to go out with? He looked at me and says, ‘What was your name again?’ I told him, and he said. ‘Ah, just go out there with someone.’ “Anyway, they had already got Ernie Warlick from the Canadian League, and he was pretty well set as their tight end, so I didn't get much of an opportunity. They started me at defensive end, and I tried to play a little bit there. And then we got a bunch of linebackers hurt, thank goodness, and they changed me to linebacker. It was just a series of very fortunate events.” With a career-high six interceptions during his rookie season, Stratton and the Bills were fortunate that he still possessed the soft hands of a tight end. “I'd always pictured myself as a tight end,” said Stratton, who would deliver “the hit heard ‘round the world” on San Diego's running back Keith Lincoln two years later in the AFL Championship Game. “Most linebackers, I think, came to linebacker from tight end. We sort of all pictured ourselves as tight ends, although not very many other people did.” Memories of the AFL Championship Seasons “I think it really started the year before. We finally got on a good track and started winning some games. Although we did lose a playoff game for our division to Boston in ‘63, ‘64 was when everybody sort of came together. It was what I consider more of a team effort than anything else. We had a good mixture. We had some folks that had played with other teams and other leagues and everything. And then we had some younger folks, too. I think Paul Maguire added quite a bit to our team as a punter and being able to see from the Chargers, who had a good run. Of course, he was telling everybody that he had more talent than the Chargers did. So I think he did a lot to build up the confidence of the team. Besides, all of his wisecracks and everything kept the team very loose. I think it was sort of a special time where we had a nice group of players that sort of came together and played with a lot of heart for each other. It was just more of a team effort than anything else.” Edited March 25, 2020 by Jim Gehman 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Coot Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 A video on Mike Stratton's career. At 1:20 you can see two views of the "hit heard 'round the world." https://buffalonews.com/2020/03/25/buffalo-bills-mike-stratton-afl-championship-hit-heard-round-the-world/ Chargers' coach Sid Gilman called it the most beautiful tackle he had ever seen. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaw66 Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 9 minutes ago, Old Coot said: A video on Mike Stratton's career. At 1:20 you can see two views of the "hit heard 'round the world." https://buffalonews.com/2020/03/25/buffalo-bills-mike-stratton-afl-championship-hit-heard-round-the-world/ Chargers' coach Sid Gilman called it the most beautiful tackle he had ever seen. If you don't know Stratton, this is a really good couple of minutes about him. Interesting that Stratton said the 64 Bills were about coming together as a team. It wasn't the players, but the team. Also interesting that he gives so much credit to Maguire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColoradoBills Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 When we were kids playing sandlot tackle football at Dingens Park and someone made a good tackle we called you Mike Stratton! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryland-bills-fan Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 I remember Guitry, Jacbonson and Stratton as the linebackers at old War Memorial Stadium. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
par73 Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 A true great, who deserves HOF consideration, imo. With the type of athlete he was, I think he would have been successful in today's game. He was also the nicest guy you'd want to meet, off the field. RIP, Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayboy54 Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 RIP Mike. You will forever be remembered! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T master Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 RIP Mike !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hampton Josh fan Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Tom Sestak, Roland Mcdole,Jim Dunaway and Tom Day , Big Mike Stratton at OLB. Butch Byrd at safety. What a set of warriors. Thank you Mike. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 5:47 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helpmenow Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Stratton was all around linebacker. He could cover and he was a fierce LB. He was the 58 before anyone. Milano wishes he was this good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearNorth Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 A hero of my adolescence, remember when I saw the hit on Lincoln, wow, the Bills can win this game! 1 hour ago, Helpmenow said: Stratton was all around linebacker. He could cover and he was a fierce LB. He was the 58 before anyone. Milano wishes he was this good. Would be nice if the LB's wore 58 on their sleeves this year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreggTX Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Not only was he worthy of a HOF nod, but that 64-65 Bills D was the best defense the AFL ever produced. I loved watching them play and am still a defense first guy today. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Romes Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Arguably the greatest play in franchise history and the history of the AFL. Passes away 8 months after Keith Lincoln. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helpmenow Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 And the iconic photo that was taken by Robert l Smith who passed away as well. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Frankish Reich Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 7 hours ago, Jim Gehman said: I enjoyed having some conversations with Mike, and am proud to share a couple of his stories. Jim, thanks for sharing that. Those 60's Bills teams were a little before my time so I almost skipped this thread. Having read your post, I'm glad I didn't. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExWNYer Posted March 26, 2020 Author Share Posted March 26, 2020 13 minutes ago, Helpmenow said: And the iconic photo that was taken by Robert l Smith who passed away as well. Mr. Smith signed and personalized a copy of his book, 'The Buffalo Bills: A View Through the Lens of Robert L. Smith, 1960-1995', for me. To this day, it is still one of my most cherished pieces of Bills memorabilia. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cripple Creek Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 RIP to a great one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Romes Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 3 hours ago, Helpmenow said: And the iconic photo that was taken by Robert l Smith who passed away as well. Lincoln (7/19), Photographer Smith (2/20), Stratton (3/20) all pass away within 8 months of each other. I thought I was seeing many retrospectives on the HHRTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyC81 Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 RIP Mike. Thanks for your great contributions to the Bills AFL Titles. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 13 hours ago, maryland-bills-fan said: I remember Guitry, Jacbonson and Stratton as the linebackers at old War Memorial Stadium. Ron GuiDry came after the titles and Harry JACOBS was our MLB. John Tracy (R.I.P.) was our other OLB during title years. 13 hours ago, Hampton Josh fan said: Tom Sestak, Roland Mcdole,Jim Dunaway and Tom Day , Big Mike Stratton at OLB. Butch Byrd at safety. What a set of warriors. Thank you Mike. Hate to be ‘that guy’, but George ‘Butch’ Byrd was our Cornerback, along with Booker Edgerson. George Saimes was our great Strong Safety and Tommy Janik our FS. just doin’ my part to keep these great teams & players included in team history. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hampton Josh fan Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 7 hours ago, Chandler#81 said: Ron GuiDry came after the titles and Harry JACOBS was our MLB. John Tracy (R.I.P.) was our other OLB during title years. Hate to be ‘that guy’, but George ‘Butch’ Byrd was our Cornerback, along with Booker Edgerson. George Saimes was our great Strong Safety and Tommy Janik our FS. just doin’ my part to keep these great teams & players included in team history. Thank you for referencing Saimes. He was the lynchpin of the backfield. I can't believe I forgot about his great contribution. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hampton Josh fan Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 The Bills had a great defense in the Stratton era.The underrated Marty Schottenheimer and Mlb Harry Jacob's along with John Tracy were Mike's linebacker teammates. What a joy for Bills fans to watch them flying around and make hits like the one big Mike made on Lincoln to clinch the championship. This team made me a lifetime fan although I lived in Brooklyn. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Booker Edgerson on the passing of Mike Stratton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob in STL Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 22 hours ago, Hampton Josh fan said: Tom Sestak, Roland Mcdole,Jim Dunaway and Tom Day , Big Mike Stratton at OLB. Butch Byrd at safety. What a set of warriors. Thank you Mike. Right On! Best defense in the AFL in the mid 60's. Harry Jacobs at MLB, John Tracey OLB, with Stratton at OLB Butch Byrd and Booker Edgerson were the corners George Saimes - was an all AFL Safety. We also had Tommy Janik and Haygood Clarke back there. Cookie could have probably started at LB too if we needed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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