Minnesota's expansion roster added Mel Triplett, Bob…
Minnesota's expansion roster added Mel Triplett, Bob Schnelker and Bob Schmidt from New York in July 1961. The Giants received Dave Whitsell, Zeke Smith, the 1962 fifth-round pick used on Bookie Bolin, and another 1962 selection whose exact slot is not securely traced. Triplett immediately started at fullback, while the Giants recovered multiple assets, producing a genuinely balanced early-franchise exchange.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Mel Triplett
- player Bob Schnelker
- player Bob Schmidt
New York Giants Received
- player Dave Whitsell
- player Zeke Smith
- pick 1962 fifth-round pick (No. 58, Bookie Bolin)
- pick additional 1962 draft choice (selection untraced in surviving records)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
In July 1961, the expansion Vikings acquired Mel Triplett, Bob Schnelker and Bob Schmidt from the Giants. New York received Dave Whitsell, Zeke Smith and two 1962 draft choices. One is traceable as the fifth-round selection, No. 58, used on Bookie Bolin; the other selection is documented at the transaction level but its exact slot is not securely connected in surviving draft-transfer records. That package gave Minnesota veteran help and New York a broader asset return.
Minnesota's Return
Triplett immediately became useful for the new franchise. He started eight games in 1961 and rushed for 407 yards, then returned for the 1962 season and scored three offensive touchdowns. Schnelker's Minnesota stay was brief, but he caught the first touchdown in Vikings history, a pass from Fran Tarkenton. Schmidt supplied another veteran piece. For an expansion team trying to field a credible roster, the package delivered real early-season utility.
New York's Return
The Giants received two players and two draft choices. Whitsell did not become a long-term Giant, and Zeke Smith's NFL career was limited, so the player side did not produce a major New York cornerstone. The draft capital nevertheless gave the Giants multiple chances to refresh a veteran roster, including the fifth-round selection used on Bolin. Quantity and flexibility were the strengths of New York's side rather than one dominant outcome.
Value in Hindsight
Minnesota can point to the best immediate player return in Triplett and an enduring franchise footnote from Schnelker. New York can point to four incoming assets and the sensible decision to convert several veterans into younger options. Neither side produced a star whose career overwhelms the comparison. Because one of the Giants' two draft slots remains untraced, the evaluation should also avoid inventing a downstream player and stay at the confirmed package level.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Both teams receive B- grades. Minnesota obtained useful expansion-year veterans and meaningful early production without surrendering a premium pick. New York received a deeper four-asset package and preserved future roster flexibility, but no confirmed return became a decisive long-term star for the Giants. The evidence supports a productive transaction for both clubs rather than a clear winner.