Oakland received Dick Christy, Hal Smith, and Alan Miller.…
Oakland received Dick Christy, Hal Smith, and Alan Miller. Miller became the strongest part of the package and supplied productive multi-year backfield work for the Raiders. The return gave Oakland genuine value and keeps the trade from being one-sided. Even so, none of the three matched the franchise-level impact New England received from quarterback Babe Parilli over seven seasons.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Dick Christy
- player Hal Smith
- player Alan Miller
New England Patriots Received
- player Vito Parilli / Babe Parilli
- player Billy Lott
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1961-04-04, Las Vegas Raiders received Dick Christy; Hal Smith; Alan Miller, while New England Patriots received Vito Parilli / Babe Parilli; Billy Lott. The evaluation follows the football value actually created by the consideration each club controlled. When an acquired pick was later moved again, that later transaction is treated separately rather than automatically credited as player production from this exchange.
Las Vegas Raiders Return
Oakland received Dick Christy, Hal Smith, and Alan Miller. Miller became the strongest part of the package and supplied productive multi-year backfield work for the Raiders. The return gave Oakland genuine value and keeps the trade from being one-sided. Even so, none of the three matched the franchise-level impact New England received from quarterback Babe Parilli over seven seasons.
New England Patriots Return
New England received Billy Lott and Babe Parilli, with Parilli becoming the defining player in the transaction. He spent seven seasons at quarterback for the Patriots, threw for 16,747 yards and 132 touchdowns, earned three AFL All-Star selections, and entered the Patriots Hall of Fame. That sustained franchise importance gives New England the strongest return by a substantial margin.
Value in Hindsight
Oakland received Dick Christy, Hal Smith, and Alan Miller, with Miller becoming a productive multi-year Raiders back. New England received Billy Lott and Babe Parilli. Parilli became a seven-season Patriots quarterback, threw for 16,747 yards and 132 touchdowns for the franchise, made three AFL All-Star teams, and entered the Patriots Hall of Fame. That franchise-level return gives New England the win. The comparison emphasizes direct club service, starting responsibility, production, and retained draft value without overstating later transactions that required additional consideration.
Final Verdict
Las Vegas Raiders receives a B and New England Patriots receives a A. The verdict is New England Patriots Win. The grade spread reflects the scale of the original transaction and the difference in realized football value, while still giving credit for legitimate depth, draft capital, and short-term service.