Cool story John. I too have fond memories of Electric Football, although the constant resetting up of players would become tedious. But my favorite Christmas gift was another sports game: Tabletop Hockey, where you could pull long metal rods to move the players, and twist the rods to pass or slap the puck. We had the Original Six teams in the game so we could change out teams for each game. Fun memories, sparked by your column John!
Had the game myself. Played incessantly. Friend Bobby was a magician. Could score from anywhere. His best play was wing to center. I couldn’t stop him!
Yes! The players were made of thin metal back then. I had to beat a kid at a garage sale for the right to buy it for $2. I used the pass from the RW over to the Center and then slam the rod in for a goal!
I loved that game. I too had Pong. I also loved this game https://boardgamegeek.com/image/1721082/bas-ket. Simpler times where we had to be creative. I’m not sure they were better times, but the memories are.
I received the Roman Gabriel electric football game and since I’m a girl my brother was very jealous 😀. During the Ram games I would do his calls for each play. Fun times best gift that Christmas.
What a great game, electric football! I played the game with a neighbor kid on his garage floor around 1966 when about 10. So that game must have been around a while when you got yours. We could play that for hours! And yes, the player motions were all very unpredictable and goofy (running backward towards the wrong goal with the felt football). There was also a playbook that came with the game and so I learned the basics about play calling, like a draw, a screen, a QB sneak. I am not sure if that book came from Tudor or some other source, but we needed to know what plays to call. Childhood was so simple back then :-)
John, do you recall a favorite NFL game from our era? I was a huge Chargers fan as a kid, Air Coryell, Fouts, Joiner, Chandler and especially Kellen Winslow. It was those lighting bolts on the helmets & uni’s. I was a NW boy but just couldn’t get behind Seattle/Jim Zorn in those days… My favorite was the 1981 AFC Divisional, Chargers vs. Miami/Shula. The Epic in Miami I’ve since learned it’s called. I watched that live on TV as a 9 yr old kid and have never felt a more thrilling game
APBA baseball was a staple in our household for years. “66! 1! It’s outta here!” Fantastic game. Getting the new cards was the greatest day of the year.
I had a deluxe electric football, painted both teams, placed number decals on them, ordered four more teams and did the same for them, gave every player a name, devised 16-game schedules….I had a kicker who could make 80-yard FGs with that felt ball! I had a running back for my Hawaii Surfers team who was 6’2, 280, and ran a 4.4 40! It was a whole world unto itself! That was 60 years ago and I still have fond memories of electric match-ups from my youth!
I remember getting an "electric" football game for Christmas in the early 70s. The vibrating field terrified my dog and the players did more square dancing than actual football. It was awesome.
I still have the little hand held game from way back when squirreled away...I did not realize someone was selling it again, plus I also had the other one also, but long gone. Simpler times when things like the now defunct Rose Bowl the greatest college game of all time and a New Year's day tradition.
Now you kids get the hell off my lawn or I will squirt you with the damned hose :)
I too got an electric vibrating football game when I was 10. (I think it was Christmas of 1953) My brother and I played for hours. I tried to have my grandsons put down their phones for a few minutes to explain the game. They had the same blank look I have when they hand me the controls and try to explain how to play the most recent Madden football version.
Cool story John. I too have fond memories of Electric Football, although the constant resetting up of players would become tedious. But my favorite Christmas gift was another sports game: Tabletop Hockey, where you could pull long metal rods to move the players, and twist the rods to pass or slap the puck. We had the Original Six teams in the game so we could change out teams for each game. Fun memories, sparked by your column John!
Maple Leafs, Red Wings, Canadiens, Rangers, Black Hawks, and Bruins.
Yep! Liked it far better than electric football, since there was some skill involved rather than just random movement.
Had the game myself. Played incessantly. Friend Bobby was a magician. Could score from anywhere. His best play was wing to center. I couldn’t stop him!
But oh so fun.
I, as well! Electric football is #1 with me, but I love the hockey game, too! One advantage to electric football is solo ploy...
Yes! The players were made of thin metal back then. I had to beat a kid at a garage sale for the right to buy it for $2. I used the pass from the RW over to the Center and then slam the rod in for a goal!
I loved that game. I too had Pong. I also loved this game https://boardgamegeek.com/image/1721082/bas-ket. Simpler times where we had to be creative. I’m not sure they were better times, but the memories are.
I think they were simpler.
Ed, I played that basketball ball game my entire childhood. It never got old. Mine was passed down from late 60’s and was San Antonio Spurs on the box
I received the Roman Gabriel electric football game and since I’m a girl my brother was very jealous 😀. During the Ram games I would do his calls for each play. Fun times best gift that Christmas.
Roman Gabriel - now there’s a flashback to my single-digit youth!
Thanks Lisa
GO DAWGS
My best friend had an electric football game..we spent hours and days playing it..so much fun..thanks for the memories John
I had one friend who also loved to play
What a great game, electric football! I played the game with a neighbor kid on his garage floor around 1966 when about 10. So that game must have been around a while when you got yours. We could play that for hours! And yes, the player motions were all very unpredictable and goofy (running backward towards the wrong goal with the felt football). There was also a playbook that came with the game and so I learned the basics about play calling, like a draw, a screen, a QB sneak. I am not sure if that book came from Tudor or some other source, but we needed to know what plays to call. Childhood was so simple back then :-)
No screen time. Hours of fun. I wonder how that may have contributed to my appreciation for the action on game days.
John, do you recall a favorite NFL game from our era? I was a huge Chargers fan as a kid, Air Coryell, Fouts, Joiner, Chandler and especially Kellen Winslow. It was those lighting bolts on the helmets & uni’s. I was a NW boy but just couldn’t get behind Seattle/Jim Zorn in those days… My favorite was the 1981 AFC Divisional, Chargers vs. Miami/Shula. The Epic in Miami I’ve since learned it’s called. I watched that live on TV as a 9 yr old kid and have never felt a more thrilling game
https://youtu.be/-SdBOT_FTio
I had one!!! Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs! 1970!! I loved it!
My version had no teams. I am tempted to buy one that does. LOL
I had the same set. Sadly, I watched my Vikings lose 4 Super Bowls, starting with the Chiefs in 1970.
Love your nostalgic post, John. Merry Christmas to you and your family 😊🎄
Score!
Merry Christmas John Merry Christmas.
You and I played the same games as kids. One of my favorite gifts was action GI. Joe with the jeep. That and Evel Conival stunt bike.
You're bringing back some memories now.
I wonder if there is a GI Jane today?
Now this is a story I can relate to. But passing that felt football was a real trick. Nothing close to the Geno Smith completion rate of 70+%.
And then there was APBA football with real players, and dice!
I did not dare throw a pass LOL... it was so hard.
APBA baseball was a staple in our household for years. “66! 1! It’s outta here!” Fantastic game. Getting the new cards was the greatest day of the year.
Loved APBA. We had leagues with 2-3 football games going at once. Played 14 game schedule. With all the teams.
Electric football was the best. Our version was using magnetic paddles under the players to move them around the field. We played constantly.
I love that you had more control. I felt helpless as my running back ran into the pile.
I had a deluxe electric football, painted both teams, placed number decals on them, ordered four more teams and did the same for them, gave every player a name, devised 16-game schedules….I had a kicker who could make 80-yard FGs with that felt ball! I had a running back for my Hawaii Surfers team who was 6’2, 280, and ran a 4.4 40! It was a whole world unto itself! That was 60 years ago and I still have fond memories of electric match-ups from my youth!
You had a great version of the game.
I played a full year-round schedule with my six teams between ages 10-13. I was a late bloomer, but found a gem of a wife who loves football too!
Did you ever have the "Basket" game?
Oh, how we LOVED that in 1968!!
Pull the little metal lever, and watch your
Ping-pong ball short towards the little hoop
No electricity, but we thought we had TALENT.🤣
I remember getting an "electric" football game for Christmas in the early 70s. The vibrating field terrified my dog and the players did more square dancing than actual football. It was awesome.
It was not unlike society with the randomness...
I still have the little hand held game from way back when squirreled away...I did not realize someone was selling it again, plus I also had the other one also, but long gone. Simpler times when things like the now defunct Rose Bowl the greatest college game of all time and a New Year's day tradition.
Now you kids get the hell off my lawn or I will squirt you with the damned hose :)
I bought one of the new versions. I tried to get the kids into it. They were not impressed 😂
I too got an electric vibrating football game when I was 10. (I think it was Christmas of 1953) My brother and I played for hours. I tried to have my grandsons put down their phones for a few minutes to explain the game. They had the same blank look I have when they hand me the controls and try to explain how to play the most recent Madden football version.
Share the grandkids and their video addiction.
A generation of cyborgs? When do direct implants begin?
I'm happy to be on the back 9.