On This Day in History: Lambeau’s Packers Triumph

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WGBW) – The Green Bay Packers, coached by Curly Lambeau, return to a hero’s welcome after securing their first NFL title with a 25-0 triumph over the Bears, going undefeated for the season.

On the same day, ten years later, the NFL held its first of only two drafts in Wisconsin. This one was in Milwaukee on December 9, 1939, and lasted all of a couple hours.

Back then, drafts were typically held on the eve of the NFL championship game. The Packers hosted the championship game that year at the “Dairy Bowl” the stadium in the infield of the Milwaukee Mile racetrack.

Coach Curly Lambeau thought the Milwaukee location would draw a bigger crowd and he was right. Even with the steep ticket price for the time, $4.40, the game was sold out. More than 32,000 fans watched the Packers shut out the New York Giants 27-0.

That victory was just one of six world championships for Lambeau, including the first of only two three-peats in history ’29, ’30, and ’31. Lambeau’s feat has only been duplicated once and that was by another Packers coach, Vince Lombardi in ’65, ’66, and ’67. It hasn’t been done since.