A look at the formative days of the San Diego Chargers football team, Charging Through the AFL takes us from the team's inception and first year in Los Angeles, through the move to San Diego, and ultimately into the NFL. The Chargers were the flagship team in the American Football League. They brought a wide-open style of play to professional football, and changed the game forever with a passing attack that is the basis of the modern-day West Coast Offense. Many never before published photos, game summaries and interviews with former Charger players and coaches give us a look at the world of professional football in the 1960s, before the merger of the American and National Football Leagues. Todd Tobias brings us the Chargers as they have never been seen before, as Sid Gillman, John Hadl, Ron Mix, Earl Faison, Ernie Ladd and many more tell of football and life during the most important decade in pro football history. Forward by Pro Football Hall of Famer Lance Alworth.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By M
Format:Hardcover
I want to encourage every Charger & AFL fan who has even a slim interest in the history of the Bolts and their legendary AFL players to pick up this intelligently-written and arranged book. It would also make a great holiday gift for that Bolt fan you know. If you have seen or heard any of the recent San Diego media coverage on this book and heard the story behind its making, you can understand why I'm so jazzed about it.
The author, who was being treated for advanced Hodgkins lymphoma at the time, spent 4 years delving in the Chargers archives and interviewing players for this definitive work. The book is filled with never-before-published photos (330 in all) and stories not only of well-known AFL Charger players and coaches, but also lesser-known and obscure players who spent time in the Bolts Powder Blues during the 1960s. In many cases, the author says these were some of the most interesting stories to share. Even former Charger players from that era have expressed amazement at the author's comprehensive efforts at recapturing the feelings of what it was like to be a player in the old AFL.
For those of us oldsters who grew up in the 1960s with the Powder Blues, it will take us back to very fond memories of a bygone era. For those of you who weren't around then, you'll be even more proud of the Chargers legacy that we all now share as fans of the team. The book has been so popular the first printing is already sold out and is now on order for the second run. But it's worth the wait for all fans of the old AFL and those curious about what the "glory years" were all about! Tobias says his next project may be a history of the Coryell years of the Chargers. If his present book is any indication, that work will also be something to really appreciate. Go Bolts!
The author, who was being treated for advanced Hodgkins lymphoma at the time, spent 4 years delving in the Chargers archives and interviewing players for this definitive work. The book is filled with never-before-published photos (330 in all) and stories not only of well-known AFL Charger players and coaches, but also lesser-known and obscure players who spent time in the Bolts Powder Blues during the 1960s. In many cases, the author says these were some of the most interesting stories to share. Even former Charger players from that era have expressed amazement at the author's comprehensive efforts at recapturing the feelings of what it was like to be a player in the old AFL.
For those of us oldsters who grew up in the 1960s with the Powder Blues, it will take us back to very fond memories of a bygone era. For those of you who weren't around then, you'll be even more proud of the Chargers legacy that we all now share as fans of the team. The book has been so popular the first printing is already sold out and is now on order for the second run. But it's worth the wait for all fans of the old AFL and those curious about what the "glory years" were all about! Tobias says his next project may be a history of the Coryell years of the Chargers. If his present book is any indication, that work will also be something to really appreciate. Go Bolts!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Steve Ryser
Format:Hardcover
Until this book came out, I hadn't had any luck finding a quality book on the history of the San Diego Chargers. This book covers the first ten seasons of the San Diego Chargers- the American Football League years.
With its glossy pages and dimensions of just over 12 inches tall and over 9 inches wide, the book is well-suited for presenting photographs. Just about every page has at least one picture.
The book consists of four main sections:
The first is a 15-page chronological narrative history (with photographs).
The second section consists of 16 pages of nothing but photographs. Eight of those pages have at least one color photograph. The only color photographs in the book are in this section. By far most of the book's pictures are in black and white.
The third section is 76 pages and is where the bulk of the reading is for this book. This has the author's interviews of 59 people connected with the Chargers- players, coaches, and one beat writer. Each interview is written up separately and lasts about a page or two.
The last section is 93 pages of San Diego Charger statistics and box scores of every regular and post season Charger game of the 1960's. And, like the rest of the book, there are plenty of photographs throughout this section, too.
The book is well-written. The photographs are enjoyable too. My main complaint (or wish) is that I would have liked a longer chronological narrative of the team's history than the 15-page one provided. However, the interview and statistical sections flesh out much of that history but just in a different format.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in San Diego Charger history of that era. And I thank the author for writing a book on a much overlooked slice of football history.
With its glossy pages and dimensions of just over 12 inches tall and over 9 inches wide, the book is well-suited for presenting photographs. Just about every page has at least one picture.
The book consists of four main sections:
The first is a 15-page chronological narrative history (with photographs).
The second section consists of 16 pages of nothing but photographs. Eight of those pages have at least one color photograph. The only color photographs in the book are in this section. By far most of the book's pictures are in black and white.
The third section is 76 pages and is where the bulk of the reading is for this book. This has the author's interviews of 59 people connected with the Chargers- players, coaches, and one beat writer. Each interview is written up separately and lasts about a page or two.
The last section is 93 pages of San Diego Charger statistics and box scores of every regular and post season Charger game of the 1960's. And, like the rest of the book, there are plenty of photographs throughout this section, too.
The book is well-written. The photographs are enjoyable too. My main complaint (or wish) is that I would have liked a longer chronological narrative of the team's history than the 15-page one provided. However, the interview and statistical sections flesh out much of that history but just in a different format.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in San Diego Charger history of that era. And I thank the author for writing a book on a much overlooked slice of football history.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Alex Edelman
Format:Hardcover
A great book. a fun read. by a great author, filled with interviws and awesome pictures galore...
A must have for any NFL or AFL fan of any age...
Alex
A must have for any NFL or AFL fan of any age...
Alex
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A must for fans of the Chargers' AFL years
I watched my first televised football game on September 28, 1969 when I tuned into NBC to watch the San Diego Chargers play Broadway Joe Namath and the New York Jets with broadcast... Read more
Published on August 9, 2010 by Tom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love of the AFL
This book is a treasure if you were a follower of the AFL. And it does not matter what team you followed, you will like to old pictures and stories when it seemed players loved... Read more
Published on May 24, 2008 by James P. Manfred
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent American Football League (1960-69) book on the Los Angeles /...
The gang is all here! Coach Sid Gillman, QBs
Tobin Rote (who started in the CFL!), WR Lance
Alworth, RBs Keith Lincoln, et, al. Read more
Tobin Rote (who started in the CFL!), WR Lance
Alworth, RBs Keith Lincoln, et, al. Read more
Published on May 6, 2008 by Ricahrd A. Salzer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Charging through the AFL : Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers'...
An outstanding and informative history of the LA/SD Chargers from their inception in 1960 through their entire 10 year history in the American Football League. Read more
Published on August 13, 2007 by Michael Papp
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book on Chargers history!
The book would have received 5 starts, but for not having enough color photos. Overall, it's a wonderful book to add to any football collection. Read more
Published on May 9, 2007 by R. Lopez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Charging Through the AFL
This is the perfect book for fans of the Chargers and the AFL. Author Tobias has secured hard-to-find photos and game programs as well as exclusive interviews with original... Read more
Published on February 1, 2005 by Steve Sloan
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 14
books:
See all 14 books this book cites
- San Diego by Lee Peterson on page 79, and page 75
- Instant Replay by Jerry Kramer on page 106
- American Football (My Sport) by Tim Wood on page 7
- New York (Land of Liberty) by Ellen Sturm on page 13
- Frommer's Comprehensive Travel Guide San Diego '95 (Frommer's City Guides) by Alice Garrard on page 15
See all 14 books this book cites
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