Philadelphia sent Bob Schnelker and Frank Ziegler to the…
Philadelphia sent Bob Schnelker and Frank Ziegler to the Giants for Don Menasco and Chet Lagod. Neither Menasco nor Lagod produced an Eagles regular-season appearance after the deal, while Schnelker became a seven-year Giants receiving fixture, two-time Pro Bowler and member of the 1956 NFL championship team.
New York Giants Received
- player Frank Ziegler
- player Bob Schnelker
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Don Menasco
- player Chet Lagod
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Contemporary reporting and transaction records agree on the June 12, 1954 four-player deal: Philadelphia sent end Bob Schnelker and halfback Frank Ziegler to New York for defensive back Don Menasco and guard Chet Lagod. There was no additional undisclosed consideration in the source-supported package.
Philadelphia Return
Neither incoming player produced regular-season value for the Eagles after the trade. Menasco played six games for Washington in 1954, not Philadelphia, and never appeared in the NFL again. Lagod had played 11 games with six starts for the Giants in 1953 but did not appear in another NFL regular-season game after that season.
New York Return
Ziegler also did not play after 1953, but Schnelker transformed the deal. Beginning in 1954 he spent seven seasons with the Giants, starting 72 regular-season games from 1954 through 1960. He caught 183 passes for 3,232 yards and 29 touchdowns over those Giants seasons, earned Pro Bowl honors in 1958 and 1959, and was part of New York's 1956 NFL championship team.
Hindsight Comparison
The Eagles received no realized regular-season contribution from either incoming player. The Giants received a long-term starting end who became one of their primary receivers across multiple contending seasons. That creates a decisive franchise-value gap even though three of the four names produced no post-trade value for their new clubs.
Final Verdict
New York Giants Win. The Giants earn an A for landing seven productive seasons, two Pro Bowls and a championship contributor in Schnelker. Philadelphia receives a D because the two players acquired in return never produced an Eagles regular-season appearance while the club surrendered the transaction's only substantial post-trade asset.