San Diego acquired the AFL rights to Lance Alworth from…
San Diego acquired the AFL rights to Lance Alworth from Oakland for Bo Roberson, Gene Selawski and Hunter Enis; one transaction history also lists an unnamed fourth player. Alworth became a Hall of Fame receiver and one of the defining stars of the AFL. Oakland received useful play from Roberson, but nothing approaching Alworth's franchise-changing career.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Bo Roberson
- player Gene Selawski
- player Hunter Enis
- player another unnamed player
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- other rights to Lance Alworth
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Oakland selected Lance Alworth in the 1962 AFL draft, but San Diego was determined to sign the Arkansas star. Raiders media guides record the core exchange as Alworth's rights for Bo Roberson, Gene Selawski and Hunter Enis. Pro Sports Transactions also lists an unnamed fourth player, a detail not preserved in the Raiders' later summaries. The uncertainty around that marginal piece does not change the known center of the transaction.
What San Diego Received
Alworth became one of the greatest receivers of his era. The Pro Football Hall of Fame credits him with 542 career receptions, 10,266 receiving yards and 85 touchdowns. He was selected All-AFL seven consecutive seasons from 1963 through 1969 and became the first AFL player elected to the Hall of Fame. With the Chargers he helped win the 1963 AFL championship and became one of the franchise's defining offensive stars.
What Oakland Received
Roberson supplied the best return for the Raiders. The club's history credits him with 113 catches for 1,834 yards and extensive kickoff-return production during his Oakland tenure. Enis appeared in seven games with one start for the 1962 Raiders, while Selawski did not produce a career remotely comparable to Alworth's. Even granting the possibility of an additional unnamed player, Oakland's package never approached the singular value San Diego received.
How the Value Aged
This is a classic case where one elite player overwhelms a multi-player return. Oakland obtained usable contributors, especially Roberson, but San Diego landed a Hall of Famer who helped define both the Chargers and the AFL. The transaction's historical significance is not dependent on resolving the identity of the possible fourth player because the gap between Alworth and the named return is already enormous.
Final Verdict
The Chargers retain an A+ and the Raiders a D. Oakland received some useful production, but San Diego acquired a Hall of Fame cornerstone for the rights package. Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers Win remains the clear hindsight verdict.