Green Bay traded the rights to Babe Parilli and Bob Fleck,…
Green Bay traded the rights to Babe Parilli and Bob Fleck, both entering military service, to Cleveland for Bobby Garrett, John Bauer, Jack Miller and Chester Giarola. The six-player deal looked enormous on paper, but much of the Packers' return failed to stick: Garrett played nine games in 1954, while Bauer and Miller did not make the club and Giarola did not report. Cleveland's return was also delayed, leaving a surprisingly balanced outcome.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Vito Parilli / Babe Parilli
- player Bob Fleck
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Bobby Garrett
- player John Bauer
- player Jack Miller
- player Chester Giarola
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On August 6, 1954, Green Bay and Cleveland completed one of the era's largest name-player trades. The Packers sent the rights to quarterback Babe Parilli and lineman Bob Fleck, both entering military service. Cleveland sent quarterback Bobby Garrett, tackle John Bauer, defensive back Jack Miller and tackle Chester Giarola. Garrett had been the first overall pick in the 1954 draft, giving the transaction enormous attention. Cleveland Browns Return Cleveland had to wait for Parilli and Fleck because both were in military service. Parilli eventually joined the Browns in 1956 and shared quarterback duties before being traded back to Green Bay the following year. His larger professional career came later, especially in the AFL, but Cleveland did not receive those future seasons. The Browns nevertheless acquired legitimate quarterback rights without giving away a player who became a star in Green Bay. Green Bay Packers Return The Packers' four-player return looked stronger on paper than it became on the field. Garrett appeared in nine games in 1954 without making a start, completing 15 passes for 143 yards. Packers historical accounts note that Bauer and Miller did not make the team and Giarola did not report. The apparent quantity and draft pedigree therefore translated into surprisingly little lasting production. Value in Hindsight The deal's reputation is shaped by impressive names and draft status, but realized value narrows the gap considerably. Cleveland did not keep Parilli for the prime years that later defined his career, while Green Bay failed to convert four incoming players into a durable core. Both clubs made defensible bets under unusual military-service circumstances, and both received less than the headline package suggested. Final Verdict Both teams earn a C. Green Bay's massive-looking return produced limited actual service, while Cleveland's rights-based acquisition yielded only a temporary Parilli chapter before another trade sent him back. The transaction is historically fascinating, but neither side captured enough enduring value from this specific exchange to claim a decisive win.