Los Angeles received Bob Pellegrini in the March 1962 swap,…
Los Angeles received Bob Pellegrini in the March 1962 swap, but he never appeared in a regular-season game for the Rams and was traded to Washington before the season. Philadelphia received John Baker, who started all seven games he played for the Eagles that year and recorded four sacks. Neither side landed a long-term answer, but Philadelphia extracted the only direct on-field return from the exchanged players.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Bob Pellegrini
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player John Baker (Haywood)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On March 5, 1962, Los Angeles acquired linebacker Bob Pellegrini from Philadelphia for defensive lineman John Baker. The names were established NFL players, but the value of this deal turned on what happened immediately afterward rather than on their reputations before the swap.
Los Angeles Rams Return
The Rams never received regular-season production from Pellegrini. Pro Football Archives records him as traded to Los Angeles on March 5 and then traded again to Washington on September 4. His career ledger contains no 1962 Rams games. That makes the direct football return from the player acquired here effectively zero for Los Angeles. Because Pellegrini was moved onward rather than simply released, the later transaction is relevant context, but it is not treated as if he produced Rams snaps that never occurred. A D+ reflects the absence of direct playing value.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Philadelphia received Baker and used him as a starter when healthy. Pro Football Reference credits him with seven games, seven starts and four sacks for the 1962 Eagles. He also recovered a fumble. Baker left after that season, so the Eagles did not gain a multi-year building block, but seven starts and real pass-rush production are concrete value. That limited one-season contribution fits a C+.
Value in Hindsight
This was not a franchise-shaping trade for either club. Baker's Philadelphia stay was brief, while Pellegrini never made it to a Rams regular-season game. The distinction is still meaningful: one team received measurable on-field work from its acquisition and the other did not. The verdict does not inflate Baker's later Pittsburgh success, because that production belonged to another team.
Final Verdict
Philadelphia Eagles Win. The Eagles receive C+ for seven starts and four sacks from Baker. The Rams receive D+ because Pellegrini produced no regular-season playing value for Los Angeles before being traded again. The edge is modest, but it is supported by the team-specific outcomes of the players exchanged.