Minnesota acquired linebacker Cliff Livingston from New York…
Minnesota acquired linebacker Cliff Livingston from New York on March 31, 1962, sending defensive back Dick Pesonen and its 1963 seventh-round choice, No. 87, later used on Dave Hoppmann. Livingston started for the 1962 Vikings but stayed only one season. Pesonen gave the Giants multiple seasons of secondary depth and interceptions, producing the more durable direct player return for New York.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Cliff Livingston
New York Giants Received
- player Dick Pesonen
- pick 1963 seventh-round pick (No. 87, Dave Hoppmann)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On March 31, 1962, Minnesota acquired linebacker Cliff Livingston from the Giants. New York received defensive back Dick Pesonen plus Minnesota's seventh-round pick in the 1963 draft. Draft-transfer records identify that selection as No. 87, used on Dave Hoppmann. Contemporary material also directly describes Livingston-for-Pesonen, making the central player exchange clear. The future seventh-rounder was an additional asset for New York rather than an unrecorded side payment.
Minnesota's Return
Livingston gave the young Vikings immediate experience. He appeared in Minnesota's starting lineup during the 1962 season and provided a veteran presence on a defense still being built around players such as Jim Marshall and Rip Hawkins. His value was real but short-lived: 1962 was his only season with Minnesota. The Vikings therefore received one year of useful linebacker service from the centerpiece they acquired.
New York's Return
Pesonen produced the longer team-specific return. He played for the Giants across the 1962, 1963 and 1964 seasons and intercepted passes from the secondary. New York also held the seventh-round selection that became Hoppmann. Hoppmann did not develop into a major Giants player, so the pick should not be overstated, but it represented an extra controlled asset on top of a defensive back who stayed longer than Livingston did in Minnesota.
Value in Hindsight
The transaction was closer than a simple career-length comparison because Livingston was an established veteran who could start immediately for an expansion-era club. Minnesota received exactly that short-term usefulness. New York, however, received multiple seasons from Pesonen and an additional draft choice. The Giants' advantage comes from accumulated team service and asset quantity, not from a superstar outcome on either side.
Final Verdict
New York Giants Win. New York earns a B- for getting several seasons from Pesonen plus a seventh-round selection. Minnesota receives a C+ because Livingston was a legitimate 1962 starter, but one season of service was not enough to match the Giants' broader return. This is a modest New York win rather than a lopsided trade.