Baltimore acquired defensive end Don Joyce from the Chicago…
Baltimore acquired defensive end Don Joyce from the Chicago Cardinals for guard Bill Lange and an unidentified draft choice in September 1954. Joyce became a seven-season Colt, played 81 regular-season games, and was part of Baltimore's 1958 and 1959 championship teams. Lange remained useful in Chicago, but the Colts received the far more durable and consequential player.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Bill Lange
- pick draft pick (selection not identified)
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Don Joyce (b. 1929-10-08)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
This September 1954 transaction exchanged a young defensive lineman for an offensive lineman plus future draft consideration. Transaction histories identify Don Joyce going to Baltimore and Bill Lange plus an unidentified choice going to Chicago. Because the exact draft selection cannot be traced, the most responsible comparison focuses on the documented NFL service of Joyce and Lange rather than assigning an unsupported downstream player to the Cardinals.
What Chicago Cardinals Received
Baltimore received Don Joyce and found a long-term piece. The Colts later remembered Joyce as a seven-season defender who appeared in 81 regular-season games from 1954 through 1960. He was part of the 1958 and 1959 NFL championship clubs, giving Baltimore useful continuity on the defensive front during the franchise's rise from expansion-era struggles to league champion.
What Baltimore Colts Received
Chicago received Bill Lange, who remained with the Cardinals and provided genuine offensive-line service. Team and season records place him in the starting lineup, including a 12-start 1955 campaign. The additional draft choice adds theoretical value, but its exact identity is not securely established. Lange's contribution makes the Cardinals' return respectable, though it was shorter and less consequential than Joyce's Baltimore tenure.
Final Verdict
Indianapolis Colts Win. Chicago acquired a useful starting lineman and another choice, so a C+ recognizes that the Cardinals received real value. Baltimore's A- comes from landing a seven-year defender who lasted through two championship seasons and became part of the core of a rapidly improving club. Joyce's longevity and team success create a clear edge without overstating the unidentified pick.
Baltimore acquired defensive end Don Joyce from the Chicago Cardinals for guard Bill Lange and an unidentified draft choice in September 1954. Joyce became a seven-season Colt, played 81 regular-season games, and was part of Baltimore's 1958 and 1959 championship teams. Lange remained useful in Chicago, but the Colts received the far more durable and consequential player.