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Unsung heroes of the 49ers championship years (photos)
Mike Maloney/Chronicle 1985
That's Wendell Tyler above, gaining a big chunk of his 135 combined yards in the 38-16 Super Bowl XIX victory over the Miami Dolphins. But when's the last time you've seen his photo in a 49ers retrospective?
Almost 30 years after the first 49ers Super Bowl, the list of household names has dwindled -- young fans might mistakingly think that Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, Ronnie Lott, Steve Young and Jerry Rice won the championships playing by themselves. This is a tribute to the Wendell Tylers, Jim Stuckeys and Mike Wilsons -- unsung heroes of the 49ers championship teams. Only two of the following 16 players made it to a Pro Bowl as a 49er, but all were big contributors to the franchise's dynasty. You can buy these and others in the Chronicle Photo Store.
-Peter Hartlaub
John Storey/Chronicle 1979
Paul Hofer (49ers tenure 1976-81): Hofer was a fan favorite, pouring his heart and soul into every run. We have a photo of him in street clothes on crutches at the sideline, and he doesn't look like he could possibly be a football player. (Jello Biafra went to a 49ers game?) Hofer blew out his knee in 1980, somehow came back to play in the first part of the 1981 Super Bowl year and then hurt himself again. He never played a playoff down that year, but I hope he received a ring any way. He definitely gave everything he had to the 49ers.
Steve Ringman/Chronicle 1980
Jim Stuckey (1980-86): With his Def Leppard hair and pool noodle neck protector, Stuckey was a recognizable presence. But he was an unheralded member of the San Francisco defensive corps, playing beside more famous 49ers such as Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds and Fred Dean. Stuckey's 1982 fumble recovery in the NFC championship against the Dallas Cowboys to clinch the game was one of the biggest plays in franchise history. Shown here in 1980, Stuckey has a huge wound on his arm, and he's looking at it dismissively like he's a Terminator. No doubt he played in the next series.
Mike Maloney/Chronicle 1981
Freddie Solomon (1978-85): Here's Fast Freddie Solomon in 1981, surrounded by the entire roster of the New York Giants, plus a couple more guys sent from the future to stop him. Despite some impressive years -- including 59 catches for a 16.4 yard average in 1981 -- Solomon never made a Pro Bowl. One big reason that Dwight Clark became such a legend as a possession receiver was Solomon's ability to stretch the field. Even though Solomon's number isn't retired, I'll never be comfortable with another 49ers receiver wearing No. 88.
Fred Larson/Chronicle 1983
Bill Ring (1981-86): At five-foot-nothing, a hundred and nothing, running back Ring was a fan favorite. He was a special teams standout and short yardage specialist who never rushed for more than 254 yards in a year, but his impact extended beyond statistics. Who on the 49ers was going to dog it when Ring was pouring every ounce of his limited talent into every play? One of my first memories of a live 49ers game is the crowd going crazy when Ring came in and converted a third-and-short for the first down.
Fred Larson/Chronicle 1983
Ray Wersching (1977-87): The Austria-born kicker was known for his quirks, including his strange habit of looking down at the ground as he entered the game from the sideline, gazing at the field goal uprights only after he kicked the ball. But he was a very reliable kicker under pressure, with highlights including four field goals in Super Bowl XVI. My fantasy football team is called Free Ray Wersching!, named after he was accused of embezzlement (the charges were later dismissed) in a case involving a business partner who ripped off an insurance company. Here's a link to a recent story written about Wersching by my colleague Sam Whiting.
Chris Stewart/Chronicle 1984
Lawrence Pillers (1980-84): Pillers was acquired from the New York Jets in 1980. He was a steady but low-profile performer during the 1981-82 season before he dislodged the ball from Cowboy Danny White in the NFC championship game to save the game. Pillers was a favorite with my family because the guy always seemed to have a smile on his face. He was the Cody Ross of that first Super Bowl championship team. Clearly football, and life, was a joy for the guy, and it rubbed off on the fans.
Mike Maloney/Chronicle 1985
Wendell Tyler (1983-86): It's an understatement to say that Wendell Tyler's tenure on the 49ers started with great suspicion. The running back had beaten up the 49ers as a member of the hated L.A. Rams. But he quickly earned everyone's respect, giving the 1980s 49ers their first superstar-caliber running back, with a shifty but hard-charging running style. This photo was taken after a nine-yard touchdown in the 1985 NFC Championship game against the Chicago Bears. Note the unconditional fan love. (Except maybe the guy on the right in the Oakland A's cap.)
Michael Zagaris/1985
Dan Bunz (1978-84): A key contributor to the Super Bowl XVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Bunz's third down stacking of receiver Charles Alexander on the 1-year-line was arguably the most impressive play of the goal line stand. He also inspired some of the more memorable Candlestick Park bedsheet signs of the early 1980s. ("Hot Cross Bunz," with poorly rendered caricatures of Bunz and Randy Cross, was featured in our section. Go Section 32!) Bonus Bunz trivia: He also made a cameo in "North Dallas Forty" under the name Danny J. Bunz.
Fred Larson/Chronicle 1985
Carlton Williamson (1981-87): If the 49ers secondary during the 1981-82 Super Bowl season was The Beatles, then Williamson was definitely the George Harrison. Very talented, essential to the success of the whole, and underappreciated as an individual. This photo was taken after a first quarter interception for a touchdown during a preseason game in 1985. That turned out to be Williamson's best year, with three interceptions -- one for a touchdown -- and a Pro Bowl appearance. (Lott = John; Hicks or Wright = Paul; Not sure who Ringo is. Maybe Tom Holmoe? I didn't think this one out ...)
Mike Maloney/Chronicle 1985
Dwaine Board (1979-1988): One of two requests via Twitter from the Bay Area Sports Guy. I was on the fence about Board, originally putting him in the "too famous to be unsung" category with John Taylor, Charles Haley, Randy Cross and a few others. But when I found out he never made it to a Pro Bowl, despite three 10-plus sack seasons, he was inducted. Plus, this photo (which would probably result in a penalty in quarterback-coddling 2011) is too great to leave out. I'm guessing former CFL standout Dieter Brock still has post-traumatic stress disorder from this hit.
Tom Levy/Chronicle 1986
John Ayers (1977-1987): I could have picked any member of the gutty, undersized early 1980s offensive line, which included Dan Audick, Fred Quillan and Keith Fahnhorst. But I like Ayers for his hustle, positive attitude and durability at the left guard position. Here he congratulates Jerry Rice after an October 1986 touchdown. (Rice's hand-drawn Flash 80 towel will make our inevitable "unsung sports accessories" feature.) Sadly, Ayers died in 1995 after a struggle with liver cancer. RIP John Ayers.
Fred Larson/Chronicle 1988
John Frank (1984-88): Frank was a hard-blocking tight end with good hands who played especially well in the red zone. (He scores here in 1988 in a 34-33 season-opening victory against the New Orleans Saints. Not sure what Wes Chandler and Brett Maxie are arguing about on the right.) Frank also gets notice for his Gump-esque life travels. He was a Rhodes Scholar nominee in college, and went on to become an Otolaryngologist. He was also a founding member of the Israeli bobsledding team. I'm guessing he piloted a shrimp boat and met Richard Nixon somewhere along the way, but it never made it to his Wikipedia entry.
Steve Ringman/Chronicle 1989
Mike Wilson (1981-1990): Mike Wilson spent a selfless decade as a 49er, working as a third receiver behind the likes of Dwight Clark, John Taylor and Jerry Rice. They kept him around for his excellent blocking skills, but he was an underrated pass-catcher, peaking with 450 yards and five touchdowns in 1987. Despite his relatively low profile, Wilson is one of just six 49ers to have four Super Bowl rings with the team.
Scott Sommerdorf/Chronicle 1990
Kevin Fagan and Pierce Holt (1987-1993; 1988-1992): Fagan and Holt were both grinders, doing a lot of the dirty work while the "Elephant" linebacker and others in Bill Walsh's scheme took the spotlight. Here, Fagan sacks Phil Simms on a last-second play that sealed a 7-3 win. (The football is bouncing after being thrown down in disgust.) He had a career-high 9.5 sacks that year, but never made it to a Pro Bowl. In addition to the Unsung Heroes squad, Fagan is also a first ballot member of the Bay Area Pro Sports All-Moustache team.
Deanne Fitzmaurice/Chronicle 1991
Jesse Sapolu (1983-1997): Sapolu picks up Montana, who looks a little bit dazed, in this 1991 playoff game. Whoever hit Montana, I'm guessing it wasn't Sapolu's fault. He was very steady at guard and center during his 13-year career with the team. I still see a lot of Jesse Sapolu jerseys when I go to games. The Samoa-born lineman and graduate from the University of Hawaii was and is still a favorite. He's the only member of the 1995 championship team that I included here, partly because I hate those weird 3D uniforms the 49ers wore that year. (Merton Hanks would have been added any way if I found a great photo.)
Scott Sommerdorf/Chronicle 1991
Harry Sydney (1987-1991): Of all the 49ers, Sydney is the one whose life should be made into a movie of the week. He was cut by the Seattle Seahawks the preseason he was drafted, and didn't make it back to the NFL for seven years. After a stint in the USFL and odd jobs as a pizza delivery guy and forklift driver, the fullback found a home in Bill Walsh's offense, and was a pioneer third down specialist -- a great blocker and receiver who fit into Walsh's scheme. I may be hallucinating, but I think he was also the team's emergency quarterback for a year or two. Here Sydney benefits from a block by 49er Jamie Williams, another unsung hero candidate.
I hope you enjoyed the photos. We've been sitting in the same 49ers seats for four generations, and I had a lot of fun looking these up. Please let me know what I missed in the comments.
If you have a request for a future archive search, please send it to me on a postcard at:
Let's Go to the Morgue!
C/O Peter Hartlaub
San Francisco Chronicle
901 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103.
Include your city of residence, plus your first name and last initial -- or full name if you're comfortable with that. Make sure my name is on the postcard, otherwise it will never get to me.
PETER HARTLAUB is the pop culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and founder of this parenting blog, which admittedly sometimes often has nothing to do with parenting. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/peterhartlaub. Your questions answered on VYou at www.vyou.com/peterhartlaub.
| September 15 2011 at 07:06 AM
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