Beginning in 1962, Pittsburgh began playing a Saturday night game the first week of October. This opened the area up for a regional telecast the next day. Fortunately for me at least, it was Chris Schenkel telecasting the New York Giants. The Giants were in the Championship Game in 62 and 63.
1962-Week 4 New York at St. Louis Cardinals -The Giants won this game easily 31 to 14. What I remember is Y.A. Tittle, always a pocket passer, running eight yards for a touchdown. Schenkel in his enthusiastic manner said "Tittle is beside himself." Y. A. got more satisfaction from this run than from 10 touchdown passes.
1962-NFL Tittle game at Yankee Stadium vs. Green Bay Packers. This was a dull disappointing affair. The only bright spot was Giants Erich Barnes blocked punt deep in Packers territory. Little known Jim Collier had the one big play of his career. He recovered in the ball inside the Packer two and, like a snake, crawled in for a touchdown. Packers 16 Giants 7.
1963-Week 4 New York at DC Stadium. The Redskins game back from 17 to 0 deficit to 17 to 14. Midway in the fourth quarter, the Giants had ball fourth one at the Redskins 22. Y.A. Tittle made a fake hand off to Alex Webster, rolled to his right, and threw a 22 yard touchdown pass to Del Scofner. Giant 24 Redskins 14.
1963-NFL Title Game at Wrigley Field, Chicago. Temperature 4 degrees. This was one of the biggest disappointments in Giants history. Y.A. Tittle sustained a severe knee injury as he threw a 14 yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford. Chicago Defensive end Larry Morris crashed into his planted left knee. This hurt him the rest of the game and the next series was the turning point. The Giants intercepted at the Bears 30 and Y.A. went for broke on the next play. Tittle knew he had to get another score quickly before his knee just froze.
He hit Del Scofner in the End Zone almost perfectly but Scofner dropped it. On the next series, Morris intercepted a badly timed screen between Tittle and halfback Joe Morrison. Larry Morris intercepted and ran to the Bears 6. A touchdown followed. Instead of 14 to 0 it was tied at 7. The wind and cold were freezing Y.A.'s knee. He did almost nothing the rest of the way. Bears won 14 to 10.
1964. Week 4 at Dallas. Don Chandler missed an extra point. The Giants and Cowboys played to a 13 all tie.
Week 14 Cleveland Browns at Yankee Stadium
The 2-9-1 Giants were playing 9-3-1 Cleveland Browns. CBS thought this would be for the NFL East title; but the Giants fell 52 to 20. Frank Ryan threw five touchdown passes. The Browns won the Eastern Conference . The Giants fell to last place at 2-10-2.
After 1964, Chris Schenkel moved to ABC. While he was good, he seemed out of place without telecasting the New York Giants.