1960 Elbert Dubenion
Worn by the Buffalo Bills from 1960-61
Record in these helmets: 11-16-1
44 ELBERT DUBENION FL Buffalo Bills 1960-68 6' 190 Bluffton Age 25:
Bills leader in receiving yardage in 1960 with 752 yards. Also carried the ball 16 times for 94 yards, as well as returning kickoffs and punts. Tremendous speed earned him the nickname "Golden Wheels from his teammates while the sportswriters sobriquet was "Board Hands." To the fans, he was good old Duby. Dubenion played in 1964 AFL Championship Game as well as All-Star game. Last of the original Bills.
The Bills wore steel blue numbers on their helmet in 1960 and 1961. The helmet number color matched the color of their home jerseys. If the colors resemble the Detroit Lions, it may be because owner Ralph Wilson was from Detroit and a Lions minority stockholder when he committed himself to the upstart American Football League.
Here the rear rubber bumper has been removed. When Elbert Dubenion retired, he was the AFL Bills' all-time receiver with 296 receptions for 5,424 yards and 36 touchdowns. Yet he only led the team in receiving one season - in 1966. In their inaugural season, Buffalo reportedly lost the least amount of money - $175,000.
OTHERS WHO WORE THE BILLS SILVER AND BLUE
1960: All-AFL DE LaVerne Torczon.
1960: All-AFL DT Chuck McMurtry. (5-11 310)
1960: All-AFL LB Archie Matsos.
1960: All-AFL DB Richie McCabe.
1961: All-Star DE LaVerne Torczon
1961: All-Star T Ken Rice.
1961: All-Star DB Billy Atkins.
1961: All-Star and All-AFL DT Chuck McMurtry.
1961: All-Star and All-AFL LB Archie Matsos.
Unfortunately, the lighting doesn't do this picture justice.
But then, how can a plain silver helmet look really good.