Baltimore acquired fullback Jim Spavital from Chicago on…
Baltimore acquired fullback Jim Spavital from Chicago on August 27, 1950, sending the Bears its 1951 first-round choice. Spavital started nine games for the Colts and produced 484 yards from scrimmage with three touchdowns. Chicago then used the No. 2 overall pick on quarterback Bob Williams, whose NFL career totaled 981 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. The realized returns were much closer than the premium draft slot suggests.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1951 first round pick (#2-Bob Williams)
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Jim Spavital
Trade Analysis
The Package Is Clear
On August 27, 1950, Chicago traded fullback Jim Spavital to the Baltimore Colts for Baltimore’s first-round selection in the 1951 NFL Draft. Draft records identify that acquired choice as No. 2 overall, where the Bears selected Notre Dame quarterback Bob Williams. The transaction is therefore not missing a hidden asset: it is a direct player-for-premium-pick exchange whose value can be judged from what each side actually received.
Spavital Gave Baltimore Immediate Production
Spavital became a regular contributor for the 1950 Colts. He appeared in 11 games, started nine, rushed 58 times for 246 yards and two touchdowns, and added 21 receptions for 238 yards and another score. That amounted to 484 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns for a one-win team. His Baltimore tenure lasted only that season because the franchise folded after 1950, but the acquired player did deliver useful immediate production.
The Number Two Pick Did Not Become a Star
Chicago’s return looked much more powerful on draft day. The Bears owned the No. 2 overall choice and selected Williams. His professional results were modest for such a high selection: 29 games, 981 passing yards, 10 touchdown passes, and 12 interceptions. He started seven games by Pro Football Reference’s accounting and never became a long-term franchise quarterback. The enormous face value of the pick therefore did not translate into an enormous realized advantage.
Final Verdict
Chicago obtained the more valuable asset in theory, while Baltimore received the more immediate production. Once the judgment centers on realized football value instead of draft position alone, neither side created enough separation for an A-versus-D result. Spavital’s productive season and Williams’ limited NFL career support an Even Trade, with B- grades for both Chicago and Baltimore.