Post by Lithfan on May 30, 2016 7:17:28 GMT -5
May 30, 1974
Sam Walton, a largely forgotten member of the 1968 Super Bowl team, retired from the NFL on this date, May 30, 1974.
Walton, an offensive tackle, was a 3rd round pick of the Jets in 1968, out of Texas A&M. Going in to the 1968 season, the Jets had a need at RT. The plan was to convert DT Jim Harris to OL, but Harris was beaten out for the starting spot by the rookie. Walton started all 14 regular season games, but Coach Ewbank felt he lacked the quickness to handle DEs Ike Lassiter of the Raiders and Bubba Smith of the Colts. He was replaced by a smaller, quicker man, Dave Herman, who moved over from G to start at Tackle in the AFL Championship Game and the Super Bowl. Walton only played one more season as a Jet, being traded to the Saints after the 1969 season.
He floated around the league for several years, with stops in New Orleans, Houston and Minnesota before retiring from the NFL on this date, May 30, 1974 to try to resurrect his career in the USFL. He signed with the NY Stars of the USFL on 5/31/74. He would be waived by the Stars in June.
Sam passed away in 2002, after a post-football life that included many years of homelessness and alcohol abuse. Former teammates including Larry Grantham and Curley Johnson tried to help Sam get his life back together, but he refused, being too proud to let his former teammates see how what his life had become. He was 59 years old in 2002 when he suffered a heart attack. His body was found in a vacant apartment in Memphis.
Sam's son, Martin Beloch, speaking to the NY Post at the time of his father's death, recalls that his life began to unravel soon after he left football. “We thought someone slipped something in his drink, but the end result was he became ill and schizophrenic,” Beloch said. “He became a recluse and lived on Social Security. He was a good person, very intelligent and he could talk to you forever about the ’69 Jets, but he didn’t want anyone to do anything for him. People would ask him for dinner – he’d eat at the homeless shelter.”
RIP, Sam.
Sam Walton, a largely forgotten member of the 1968 Super Bowl team, retired from the NFL on this date, May 30, 1974.
Walton, an offensive tackle, was a 3rd round pick of the Jets in 1968, out of Texas A&M. Going in to the 1968 season, the Jets had a need at RT. The plan was to convert DT Jim Harris to OL, but Harris was beaten out for the starting spot by the rookie. Walton started all 14 regular season games, but Coach Ewbank felt he lacked the quickness to handle DEs Ike Lassiter of the Raiders and Bubba Smith of the Colts. He was replaced by a smaller, quicker man, Dave Herman, who moved over from G to start at Tackle in the AFL Championship Game and the Super Bowl. Walton only played one more season as a Jet, being traded to the Saints after the 1969 season.
He floated around the league for several years, with stops in New Orleans, Houston and Minnesota before retiring from the NFL on this date, May 30, 1974 to try to resurrect his career in the USFL. He signed with the NY Stars of the USFL on 5/31/74. He would be waived by the Stars in June.
Sam passed away in 2002, after a post-football life that included many years of homelessness and alcohol abuse. Former teammates including Larry Grantham and Curley Johnson tried to help Sam get his life back together, but he refused, being too proud to let his former teammates see how what his life had become. He was 59 years old in 2002 when he suffered a heart attack. His body was found in a vacant apartment in Memphis.
Sam's son, Martin Beloch, speaking to the NY Post at the time of his father's death, recalls that his life began to unravel soon after he left football. “We thought someone slipped something in his drink, but the end result was he became ill and schizophrenic,” Beloch said. “He became a recluse and lived on Social Security. He was a good person, very intelligent and he could talk to you forever about the ’69 Jets, but he didn’t want anyone to do anything for him. People would ask him for dinner – he’d eat at the homeless shelter.”
RIP, Sam.
