Butch Byrd needs the WOF now!!

[Helpmenow]

Erik Brady has a good story today in the news. I’ve been banging butch byrd name forever in here. Way better than #24 who is on the wall. 

Edited April 15, 2022 by Helpmenow

[Gugny]

https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/erik-brady-effort-underway-to-get-butch-byrd-on-bills-wall-of-fame/article_aa237dfa-bc28-11ec-9aad-0f975cbaff58.html

 

Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s big-league color barrier 75 years ago today. Major League Baseball retired his No. 42 on the 50th anniversary. Since then, no one on any ballclub wears it – except for today, on Robinson Day, when everyone does.

 

The time has come for the Buffalo Bills to honor their 42, too. Butch Byrd, who wore that number in the 1960s, still holds the franchise record for career interceptions, with 40. And he returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown in the 1965 American Football League title game, which remains the last time the Bills won a league championship.

 

Byrd’s name and number belong on the Bills Wall of Fame. Of course they do. That they aren’t there already is hard to believe.

No Byrd? Absurd.

 

“I hope it will come someday,” he says. “I don’t want to sound conceited, but I think I had a pretty good career.”

Byrd pauses. “I’d like not to have to make it posthumously.”

 

Traditionally, Wall of Fame honorees have been chosen by a panel of team personnel and select media members. The committee has not met since Cookie Gilchrist was chosen as the 31st member in 2017, and there are no meetings scheduled. The future of the Wall of Fame is unknown as the Bills begin their transition to a new stadium.

 

Byrd played in Buffalo for seven seasons, 1964 through 1970. His franchise record for interceptions stands the test of time. He returned five of those 40 for touchdowns and made the AFL All-Star team five times. Then there is that game-breaking punt return against the San Diego Chargers in 1965. Byrd remembers every step of it.

 

“Oh yeah, absolutely. John Hadl punted. I was back with Ed Rutkowski. I caught it and took two steps to my left. Ed put a block on the gunner, and I reversed field to the right. I had the sideline, and then Paul Maguire knocked down the last two guys and I was in. That’s how it happened. It was over in a flash.”

 

 

[MiltonWaddams]

The man belongs there and I doubt there is anyone here who can explain why he's not been there for 30 years already.

[Gugny]

16 minutes ago, MiltonWaddams said:

The man belongs there and I doubt there is anyone here who can explain why he's not been there for 30 years already.

 

I have no idea how Cookie made it there.  I'd rather see Byrd and Schobel up there than Cookie and Simpson.

[Rico]

23 minutes ago, MiltonWaddams said:

The man belongs there and I doubt there is anyone here who can explain why he's not been there for 30 years already.

Inconceivable, unless it’s a Ralph thing.

[Shaw66]

2 minutes ago, Rico said:

Inconceivable, unless it’s a Ralph thing.

I've wondered for years what Byrd did that keeps him from the recognition he deserves.  Did Mrs. Wilson agree to sell to the Pegulas only on the condition that they would not put Byrd on the Wall?   

 

I've been baffled how Edgerson got the nod and not Byrd.  This isn't quite fair to Edgerson - he was better than this, but Edgerson was something like Byrd's Levi Wallace.  

[Hapless Bills Fan]

[This is an automated response]

 

As a courtesy to the other board members, please use more descriptive topic titles. A single name if far too vague to post as a title and provides little insight into what specifically the post is talking about.The topic starter can edit the topic title line to make it more appropriate.

 

Thank you.

[HOUSE]

Banging ??

[GreggTX]

I can't believe he isn't there already. The guy was on the All-Time AFL 1st team. He was phenomenal.

[Poleshifter]

In the off-season, Butch Byrd worked as a mechanic at a Chrysler dealership at Delaware and Hertel. My next door neighbor was a salesman there, and told me Butch worked in the garage.

 

In the story above, they mention Paul Maguire throwing key blocks on Butch big punt return. Can you imagine your punter being out there on the punt return team? Smaller rosters, of course, so more jobs to do for each player.

 

Paul Maguire co-owned Sestak & Maguire's restaurant on Elmwood in Kenmore.

 

[nucci]

2 hours ago, Poleshifter said:

In the off-season, Butch Byrd worked as a mechanic at a Chrysler dealership at Delaware and Hertel. My next door neighbor was a salesman there, and told me Butch worked in the garage.

 

In the story above, they mention Paul Maguire throwing key blocks on Butch big punt return. Can you imagine your punter being out there on the punt return team? Smaller rosters, of course, so more jobs to do for each player.

 

Paul Maguire co-owned Sestak & Maguire's restaurant on Elmwood in Kenmore.

 

Maguire played LB too

Edited April 15, 2022 by nucci

[oldmanfan]

Byrd was a great CB.  Definitely deserves the Wall.

[T master]

2 hours ago, Gugny said:

https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/erik-brady-effort-underway-to-get-butch-byrd-on-bills-wall-of-fame/article_aa237dfa-bc28-11ec-9aad-0f975cbaff58.html

 

Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s big-league color barrier 75 years ago today. Major League Baseball retired his No. 42 on the 50th anniversary. Since then, no one on any ballclub wears it – except for today, on Robinson Day, when everyone does.

 

The time has come for the Buffalo Bills to honor their 42, too. Butch Byrd, who wore that number in the 1960s, still holds the franchise record for career interceptions, with 40. And he returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown in the 1965 American Football League title game, which remains the last time the Bills won a league championship.

 

Byrd’s name and number belong on the Bills Wall of Fame. Of course they do. That they aren’t there already is hard to believe.

No Byrd? Absurd.

 

“I hope it will come someday,” he says. “I don’t want to sound conceited, but I think I had a pretty good career.”

Byrd pauses. “I’d like not to have to make it posthumously.”

 

Traditionally, Wall of Fame honorees have been chosen by a panel of team personnel and select media members. The committee has not met since Cookie Gilchrist was chosen as the 31st member in 2017, and there are no meetings scheduled. The future of the Wall of Fame is unknown as the Bills begin their transition to a new stadium.

 

Byrd played in Buffalo for seven seasons, 1964 through 1970. His franchise record for interceptions stands the test of time. He returned five of those 40 for touchdowns and made the AFL All-Star team five times. Then there is that game-breaking punt return against the San Diego Chargers in 1965. Byrd remembers every step of it.

 

“Oh yeah, absolutely. John Hadl punted. I was back with Ed Rutkowski. I caught it and took two steps to my left. Ed put a block on the gunner, and I reversed field to the right. I had the sideline, and then Paul Maguire knocked down the last two guys and I was in. That’s how it happened. It was over in a flash.”

 

 

 

Is there any way we as fans of the Bills could start a petition to be sent to the Pegula's & the Bills or to Brandon Beane him self ? I bet Beane doesn't even know about Byrds contributions to the team & if he did i bet he would be the one leading the charge to get his name on the WOF .

 

It needs to be done this guy is a Bills treasure where do i sign !!! Make it so number 1 !! 

[Punching Bag]

23 minutes ago, Poleshifter said:

In the off-season, Butch Byrd worked as a mechanic at a Chrysler dealership at Delaware and Hertel. My next door neighbor was a salesman there, and told me Butch worked in the garage.

 

In the story above, they mention Paul Maguire throwing key blocks on Butch big punt return. Can you imagine your punter being out there on the punt return team? Smaller rosters, of course, so more jobs to do for each player.

 

Paul Maguire co-owned Sestak & Maguire's restaurant on Elmwood in Kenmore.

 

 

I can imagine Moorman doing and well.  Paul Maguire was a decent LB for his time.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Maguire

Quote

Maguire played in six of the ten American Football League Championship Games — three with the Chargers and three with the Bills, winning three AFL Championship rings, and he was the league's all-time punter in punts and yardage. He was one of only twenty players who were in the AFL for its entire ten-year existence

 

[Sestak4ever]

4 hours ago, Gugny said:

https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/erik-brady-effort-underway-to-get-butch-byrd-on-bills-wall-of-fame/article_aa237dfa-bc28-11ec-9aad-0f975cbaff58.html

 

Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s big-league color barrier 75 years ago today. Major League Baseball retired his No. 42 on the 50th anniversary. Since then, no one on any ballclub wears it – except for today, on Robinson Day, when everyone does.

 

The time has come for the Buffalo Bills to honor their 42, too. Butch Byrd, who wore that number in the 1960s, still holds the franchise record for career interceptions, with 40. And he returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown in the 1965 American Football League title game, which remains the last time the Bills won a league championship.

 

Byrd’s name and number belong on the Bills Wall of Fame. Of course they do. That they aren’t there already is hard to believe.

No Byrd? Absurd.

 

“I hope it will come someday,” he says. “I don’t want to sound conceited, but I think I had a pretty good career.”

Byrd pauses. “I’d like not to have to make it posthumously.”

 

Traditionally, Wall of Fame honorees have been chosen by a panel of team personnel and select media members. The committee has not met since Cookie Gilchrist was chosen as the 31st member in 2017, and there are no meetings scheduled. The future of the Wall of Fame is unknown as the Bills begin their transition to a new stadium.

 

Byrd played in Buffalo for seven seasons, 1964 through 1970. His franchise record for interceptions stands the test of time. He returned five of those 40 for touchdowns and made the AFL All-Star team five times. Then there is that game-breaking punt return against the San Diego Chargers in 1965. Byrd remembers every step of it.

 

“Oh yeah, absolutely. John Hadl punted. I was back with Ed Rutkowski. I caught it and took two steps to my left. Ed put a block on the gunner, and I reversed field to the right. I had the sideline, and then Paul Maguire knocked down the last two guys and I was in. That’s how it happened. It was over in a flash.”

 

 

Byrd also had a pick against the Chargers in that 65 championship game. He did it all. A great all time Bill.

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

 

[FLFan]

He could definitely have OJ’s spot as far as I am concerned.  

[Big Turk]

16 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

I have no idea how Cookie made it there.  I'd rather see Byrd and Schobel up there than Cookie and Simpson.

 

Probably because he was a really good player?

[sherpa]

20 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

I've wondered for years what Byrd did that keeps him from the recognition he deserves.   

 

Could it be that someone saw that horrible Utica Club commercial he did in the 60's?

Sent from my rotary phone using my right index finger.

 

[Niagara Bill]

12 minutes ago, sherpa said:

 

Could it be that someone saw that horrible Utica Club commercial he did in the 60's?

Sent from my rotary phone using my right index finger.

 

Did UC that!

I watched it with Schultz and Dooly

[sherpa]

1 minute ago, Niagara Bill said:

Did UC that!

I watched it with Schultz and Dooly

 

I sure did.

It is burned in my memory.

[HOUSE]

Thank you

 

[Just Jack]

18 hours ago, T master said:

 

Is there any way we as fans of the Bills could start a petition to be sent to the Pegula's & the Bills or to Brandon Beane him self ?

 

Change.org

 

[SoMAn]

20 hours ago, BUFFALOBART said:

Byrd is from my hometown, and he is the reason that I became a Bills fan!

He lived with his family in the apartment complex next to our Williamsville elementary school that we walked to every morning. We ‘played football’ with his boys on the school grounds. They were several years younger than us, so it was more just tossing the ball around.

Times have sure changed since then;

our star corner lived in a modest apartment complex. His punt return for TD was kicked by opposing team QB. On the same play, Bills, punter McGuire (also a LB) was blocking for returns on special teams. 
I still think ‘Byrd’ when I see a Bills uni with # 42.  A great player in the formative years of Bills football. He deserves to be honored. 

[Rico]

21 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

I've wondered for years what Byrd did that keeps him from the recognition he deserves.  Did Mrs. Wilson agree to sell to the Pegulas only on the condition that they would not put Byrd on the Wall?   

 

I've been baffled how Edgerson got the nod and not Byrd.  This isn't quite fair to Edgerson - he was better than this, but Edgerson was something like Byrd's Levi Wallace.  

I’ve read in a similar thread in here that Booker would still interact with the Bills a lot as an alumnus while Butch would not.

[Jamie Mueller]

22 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

I've wondered for years what Byrd did that keeps him from the recognition he deserves.  Did Mrs. Wilson agree to sell to the Pegulas only on the condition that they would not put Byrd on the Wall?   

 

I've been baffled how Edgerson got the nod and not Byrd.  This isn't quite fair to Edgerson - he was better than this, but Edgerson was something like Byrd's Levi Wallace.  

I've no argument against putting Butch Byrd onto the Bills' Wall of Fame... but I also remember Booker Edgerson being a much better player than what's being suggested here...

 

[Helpmenow]

26 minutes ago, Jamie Mueller said:

I've no argument against putting Butch Byrd onto the Bills' Wall of Fame... but I also remember Booker Edgerson being a much better player than what's being suggested here...

 

Good player however #42 should be on the wall. 

[Shaw66]

2 hours ago, Rico said:

I’ve read in a similar thread in here that Booker would still interact with the Bills a lot as an alumnus while Butch would not.

This wouldn't surprise me.   He's been noticeably absent from Bills world, so far as I can recall, for a long time.  I wonder whether he burned bridges with people over one thing or another.  

 

[SoMAn]

2 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

This wouldn't surprise me.   He's been noticeably absent from Bills world, so far as I can recall, for a long time.  I wonder whether he burned bridges with people over one thing or another.  

 

This relates to a recent topic in our house where my wife is organizing a reunion.  She’s concerned that some  people aren’t interested. I explain that a lot of folks are content to leave the past in the past. I’m one of them.
I maintain contact with a handful of old friends and acquaintances, but have no desire to rekindle ‘friendships’ with people who were merely on the outskirts of some social construct from days gone by.  Let’s ‘catch up’’!  Ummm, no let’s not. 
Doesn’t Edgerson still live in WNY?  
Byrd may be ok with not dwelling on the past and enjoying the now while planning for the future.  I don’t know if the Bills ask WOF prospects if they’re enthusiastic about that recognition, but for all we know Byrd declined the offer.

[Nextmanup]

The 40 INT record, from such a different era is pretty impressive!  

 

 

[Shaw66]

23 minutes ago, SoMAn said:

This relates to a recent topic in our house where my wife is organizing a reunion.  She’s concerned that some  people aren’t interested. I explain that a lot of folks are content to leave the past in the past. I’m one of them.
I maintain contact with a handful of old friends and acquaintances, but have no desire to rekindle ‘friendships’ with people who were merely on the outskirts of some social construct from days gone by.  Let’s ‘catch up’’!  Ummm, no let’s not. 
Doesn’t Edgerson still live in WNY?  
Byrd may be ok with not dwelling on the past and enjoying the now while planning for the future.  I don’t know if the Bills ask WOF prospects if they’re enthusiastic about that recognition, but for all we know Byrd declined the offer.

That's an interesting take.  I think some guys dwell on the past.  DeLamleure gives me that impression.   Some guys, like Kelly, live in the present but certainly enjoy the connection to the past.   Other guys just let it go and move on - football is what they did in their 20s, but it's not their current life.  

 

Whatever the reason, he is a notable absence from the wall. 

[Augie]

On 4/15/2022 at 10:35 AM, Rico said:

Inconceivable, unless it’s a Ralph thing.

 

I have to think there is something personal behind the scenes that we don’t know that explains this. It’s too obvious he belongs, and it’s been FAR too many years to go by. I hope the Pegula's correct this ASAP. 

 

Besides being an all-time great player, he was a kind and forgiving man. He and his family lived at a property my mother managed. My sister would babysit their kids and I traded football cards with his son. I watched Bills games in his living room while my sister was sitting his kids.  He came to the door one day dressed in a nice suit. He was talking with my dad and I wanted to show them both a little science fact I had learned that day. If you put equal pressure on an egg from every direction, it will not/cannot  break. Unfortunately, my pressure was less than equal, and I sprayed raw egg all over his suit. 😱

 

I say he was kind and forgiving…… because I lived to tell that tale. 

 

Put the man on The Wall. It’s a no-brainier. GET IT DONE! 

[The Dean]

3 hours ago, Jamie Mueller said:

I've no argument against putting Butch Byrd onto the Bills' Wall of Fame... but I also remember Booker Edgerson being a much better player than what's being suggested here...

 

 

Byrd deserves to be on the wall. No doubt, IMO.  But you are right about Booker.  He deserves to be there, as does Cookie.

 

There's no need to discredit others when presenting a case for someone else who is worthy.

 

1 hour ago, SoMAn said:

This relates to a recent topic in our house where my wife is organizing a reunion.  She’s concerned that some  people aren’t interested. I explain that a lot of folks are content to leave the past in the past. I’m one of them.
I maintain contact with a handful of old friends and acquaintances, but have no desire to rekindle ‘friendships’ with people who were merely on the outskirts of some social construct from days gone by.  Let’s ‘catch up’’!  Ummm, no let’s not. 
Doesn’t Edgerson still live in WNY?  
Byrd may be ok with not dwelling on the past and enjoying the now while planning for the future.  I don’t know if the Bills ask WOF prospects if they’re enthusiastic about that recognition, but for all we know Byrd declined the offer.

 

I'm somewhere in the middle between you and your wife. My best friend today (I'm 65) is still my best friend from kindergarten.  Many of my closest friends I have known for over 40 years. Although we are spread out all over the country we have almost daily contact (email, text, phone calls) and get together at least once a year. Typically several times.

 

My sister, who maintains Facebook relationships with old friends she hasn't seen or spoken to in years.  If I haven't kept up SOME person-to-person relationship with someone (in person, phone, email, etc) semi regularly over the years, I probably don't need to know what they are up to.

 

My brother lived in the past, as did a couple of friends who have passed away. They were very unhappy in their current situations and constantly would harp on how great things were, how they were screwed 40 years ago, etc. I don't have a lot of use for that. It's possible to move forward and make new friends without losing contact with your past. At least it seems pretty simple to me.

 

But if in a reunion situation, I have no problem having a drink with some old friends/acquaintances. Although I find it rare that drink will turn into any sort of renewed active friendship. It has happened, but it's quite rare for me.

[Gugny]

4 minutes ago, The Dean said:

 

Byrd deserves to be on the wall. No doubt, IMO.  But you are right about Booker.  He deserves to be there, as does Cookie.

 

There's no need to discredit others when presenting a case for someone else who is worthy.

 

 

My only knock on Cookie being on the Wall is that he only played three years in Buffalo.  Three great years?  Of course.  But, personally, I'd like to see the Wall celebrate long-tenured Bills - which is why I've always been a huge Schobel advocate and, staying on topic, Byrd.

 

[SoMAn]

18 minutes ago, The Dean said:

 

Byrd deserves to be on the wall. No doubt, IMO.  But you are right about Booker.  He deserves to be there, as does Cookie.

 

There's no need to discredit others when presenting a case for someone else who is worthy.

 

 

I'm somewhere in the middle between you and your wife. My best friend today (I'm 65) is still my best friend from kindergarten.  Many of my closest friends I have known for over 40 years. Although we are spread out all over the country we have almost daily contact (email, text, phone calls) and get together at least once a year. Typically several times.

 

My sister, who maintains Facebook relationships with old friends she hasn't seen or spoken to in years.  If I haven't kept up SOME person-to-person relationship with someone (in person, phone, email, etc) semi regularly over the years, I probably don't need to know what they are up to.

 

My brother lived in the past, as did a couple of friends who have passed away. They were very unhappy in their current situations and constantly would harp on how great things were, how they were screwed 40 years ago, etc. I don't have a lot of use for that. It's possible to move forward and make new friends without losing contact with your past. At least it seems pretty simple to me.

 

But if in a reunion situation, I have no problem having a drink with some old friends/acquaintances. Although I find it rare that drink will turn into any sort of renewed active friendship. It has happened, but it's quite rare for me.

The Facebook thing with my wife is what I don’t get. Suddenly, she’s carrying on dialogues every day with some nobody that was in her 2nd grade class picture that she hasn’t had contact with since grammar school. IMO a lot of time is wasted with those relationships. Of course, any of us may have significant others that believe we waste a lot of time at the Stadium Wall speculating about draft picks for which we’ll know the answers in less than two weeks. Touché my dear. 

[The Dean]

24 minutes ago, SoMAn said:

The Facebook thing with my wife is what I don’t get. Suddenly, she’s carrying on dialogues every day with some nobody that was in her 2nd grade class picture that she hasn’t had contact with since grammar school. IMO a lot of time is wasted with those relationships. Of course, any of us may have significant others that believe we waste a lot of time at the Stadium Wall speculating about draft picks for which we’ll know the answers in less than two weeks. Touché my dear. 

 

🤣 Exatly

[hondo in seattle]

On 4/15/2022 at 9:28 AM, Gugny said:

 

I have no idea how Cookie made it there.  I'd rather see Byrd and Schobel up there than Cookie and Simpson.

 

I'd put Cookie and Byrd before Schobel.  

 

OJ is the greatest Bill ever.  And a scumbag.   I'd rather not see his name anywhere.

[hondo in seattle]

51 minutes ago, Gugny said:

 

My only knock on Cookie being on the Wall is that he only played three years in Buffalo.  Three great years?  Of course.  But, personally, I'd like to see the Wall celebrate long-tenured Bills - which is why I've always been a huge Schobel advocate and, staying on topic, Byrd.

 

 

But Cookie's years were transformational - from founding franchise to AFL champions.  I remember Larry Felser trying to convince people that Cookie deserved to be talked about in the same breath as Jim Brown and OJ.  At his peak, he was nearly that good.  

 

His fiery competitiveness helped turn those early Bills into winners.  And I think his advocacy helped advance the treatment of players of color.  

 

Fans used to excitedly chant "Lookie, Lookie, Here comes Cookie!"  Nobody ever chanted, "Noble, noble, that's our Schobel!"

[Augie]

2 hours ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

But Cookie's years were transformational - from founding franchise to AFL champions.  I remember Larry Felser trying to convince people that Cookie deserved to be talked about in the same breath as Jim Brown and OJ.  At his peak, he was nearly that good.  

 

His fiery competitiveness helped turn those early Bills into winners.  And I think his advocacy helped advance the treatment of players of color.  

 

Fans used to excitedly chant "Lookie, Lookie, Here comes Cookie!"  Nobody ever chanted, "Noble, noble, that's our Schobel!"

 

Apparently I was not old enough to fully appreciate Cookie. I’ll take your word for it, as I was more of the age to hear about Cookie after the fact.  I will say, three years seems short, but the earliest formative years for the teams are special and I guess can be viewed like “dog years”. Like Neil Armstrong, you get special recognition for being special first. 

[ManCrushPassRush]

The WOF has way too many members. Kind of makes it not as important.