Cleveland and the new Baltimore Colts completed a 15-player…
Cleveland and the new Baltimore Colts completed a 15-player trade in March 1953, one of the largest swaps in NFL history. Baltimore received 10 players, including Don Shula, Bert Rechichar and Carl Taseff. Cleveland's five-man return included future Hall of Fame tackle Mike McCormack, who became a cornerstone of championship Browns teams and gives Cleveland the decisive edge.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Tom Catlin
- player Don Colo
- player Herschel Forester / Herschel Forrester
- player Mike McCormack
- player John Petitbon
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Harry Agganis
- player Dick Batten
- player Gern Nagler
- player Bert Rechichar
- player Ed Sharkey
- player Stu Sheetz
- player Don Shula
- player Art Spinney
- player Carl Taseff
- player Elmer Willhoite
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
The Baltimore Colts were a newly organized NFL club in 1953 and needed roster volume immediately. Cleveland, already an established contender, could exchange a larger group of expendable or movable players for a smaller package it valued more highly. Pro Football Hall of Fame histories date the deal to March 26, 1953, correcting the older March 25 entry and describing the 15-player scope that made the transaction historically unusual.
What Cleveland Browns Received
Cleveland's return was led by Mike McCormack, who became one of the defining offensive tackles of his era and eventually entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Browns also received Don Colo, John Petitbon, Tom Catlin and Herschel Forester. McCormack became the swing asset: he helped Cleveland sustain its championship-level line play and provided elite long-term value from a trade otherwise remembered for its enormous head count.
What Baltimore Colts Received
Baltimore received 10 players, and the package was far from empty quantity. Don Shula, Bert Rechichar, Carl Taseff and Art Spinney all became recognizable parts of early Colts rosters, with Rechichar and others contributing meaningful seasons. The volume helped an expansion-era club become functional quickly. Baltimore's return therefore deserves a solid B even though none of the 10 matched McCormack's eventual stature.
Final Verdict
Cleveland Browns Win. Baltimore accomplished an important roster-building objective and received several useful players, so this was not a fleecing. Cleveland earns an A because McCormack became a Hall of Fame tackle and a championship cornerstone, the most valuable individual outcome by a wide margin. The Colts earn a B for turning one transaction into immediate depth and multiple contributors across a new roster.
McCormack's Hall of Fame career ultimately outweighed Baltimore's broader collection, though the Colts still gained several useful pieces for their newly assembled roster. with the documented outcomes considered.