Baltimore sent guard Hanson Churchwell to Washington for a…
Baltimore sent guard Hanson Churchwell to Washington for a future draft choice that became the 1960 tenth-round selection at No. 112, used on Ernie Barnes. Barnes did not provide on-field value for the Colts, while Churchwell played 10 games with two starts for Washington before being released. Surviving sources disagree on whether the transaction occurred September 18 or September 22, so that date conflict remains explicit.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1960 tenth round pick (#112-Ernie Barnes)
Washington Commanders Received
- player Hanson Churchwell
Trade Analysis
What the Baltimore Colts Received
Baltimore's side of the legacy row is recorded as 1960 tenth round pick (#112-Ernie Barnes). Multiple independent draft ledgers confirm that the 1960 tenth-round selection at No. 112 belonged to Baltimore from Washington and was used on Ernie Barnes. Barnes became a professional player, but his documented career value came after Baltimore released him; he later appeared for New York, San Diego and Denver in the AFL. For a hindsight trade grade, that means the Colts can receive credit for obtaining a real, traceable draft asset, but not for Barnes' later production with other organizations.
What the Washington Redskins Received
Washington's side is recorded as Hanson Churchwell. Contemporary reporting and Pro Football Archives both support Churchwell moving from Baltimore to Washington in September 1959. Churchwell then appeared in 10 games and started two for Washington that season before being released in December. That is legitimate short-term roster value, but it was not a long-term building block. The surviving evidence therefore supports the player movement without requiring the evaluation to overstate his impact.
Who Won the Trade?
The verdict is Even. Baltimore converted Churchwell into a future draft choice whose identity can be traced to Barnes, while Washington received a player who contributed immediately but briefly. Neither side turned the exchange into substantial sustained value for its own club. Matching B- grades reflect a supportable transaction with modest realized returns on both sides rather than a missing or placeholder verdict.
Historical Context
The only material archival problem is the exact execution date. Pro Sports Transactions reconstructs the deal on September 18, 1959, while Pro Football Archives lists September 22, and a September 23 contemporary newspaper report says Baltimore traded Churchwell on Tuesday, which also points to September 22. That conflict is preserved explicitly. It does not prevent a reader-facing verdict because the player movement, Washington-originated 1960 tenth-round asset, No. 112 selection and subsequent player outcomes are independently supported. The record is therefore publishable as a complete historical evaluation without pretending the disputed date has been conclusively reconciled.