Cappelletti was certainly one of solely three gamers who have been in each certainly one of their staff’s video games over the lifetime of the A.F.L. — 14 regular-season video games in every of 10 seasons. The others have been George Blanda, the quarterback and kicker for the Houston Oilers and the Oakland Raiders, and Jim Otto, the Raiders’ heart.
Cappelletti retired after 10 seasons within the A.F.L. and one within the N.F.L. with 292 receptions for 4,589 yards and 42 touchdowns, together with 176 discipline objectives, 342 additional factors and 4 two-point conversions.
Survivors embrace his spouse, Sandy; three daughters, Gina, Cara and Christina; and 10 grandchildren.
In their first three seasons, the Patriots performed their dwelling video games at Boston University, at Nickerson Field. They switched to Fenway Park, dwelling of the Red Sox, in 1963.
“We felt like we were legitimate because it was a major league venue,” Cappelletti informed The New York Times in 2012, reflecting on the A.F.L.’s presumed inferiority complicated as a long-shot challenger to the N.F.L.
“But,” he acknowledged, “we still had a ways to go.”
To keep away from having one staff blocking spectators’ view within the low-rising seats alongside Fenway’s first-base line, each groups’ benches have been positioned on the identical sideline, in entrance of a short lived grandstand adjoining the left-field wall often called the Green Monster.
“That led to some crazy things,” Cappelletti recalled. “We could wander over near their bench and eavesdrop on their play-calling.”
He informed of a recreation during which the Patriots put that plan into motion towards the coach of the Kansas City Chiefs:
“I remember Hank Stram calling for screen passes and us yelling to our defense about what was coming.”
Jordan Allen contributed reporting.
