Pittsburgh acquired Wally Hilgenberg from Detroit for John…
Pittsburgh acquired Wally Hilgenberg from Detroit for John Baker on January 28, 1968. Hilgenberg never played for Pittsburgh, while Baker appeared for Detroit in 1968, leaving Detroit with the only direct on-field return. In hindsight, the grades are B- for Detroit Lions and D+ for Pittsburgh Steelers, producing a Detroit Lions Win verdict. The modest scoring reflects the limited scale of the transaction.
Detroit Lions Received
- player John Baker (Haywood)
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Wally Hilgenberg
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Pittsburgh acquired Wally Hilgenberg from Detroit for John Baker on January 28, 1968. Hilgenberg never played for Pittsburgh, while Baker appeared for Detroit in 1968, leaving Detroit with the only direct on-field return. The hindsight test is the regular-season service, draft value, or certain consideration each club actually received. This was a minor transaction, so the grading should distinguish useful value from a miss without inflating either result.
Detroit Lions Return
Pittsburgh acquired Wally Hilgenberg from Detroit for John Baker on January 28, 1968. Hilgenberg never played for Pittsburgh, while Baker appeared for Detroit in 1968, leaving Detroit with the only direct on-field return. In hindsight, the grades are B- for Detroit Lions and D+ for Pittsburgh Steelers, producing a Detroit Lions Win verdict. The modest scoring reflects the limited scale of the transaction.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
From Pittsburgh Steelers's side, Pittsburgh acquired Wally Hilgenberg from Detroit for John Baker on January 28, 1968. Hilgenberg never played for Pittsburgh, while Baker appeared for Detroit in 1968, leaving Detroit with the only direct on-field return. That balance supports a D+ grade for Pittsburgh Steelers and a B- for Detroit Lions. The final call is Detroit Lions Win, with the grades kept proportional to the small stakes of the deal.
Value in Hindsight
Hilgenberg never played for Pittsburgh, while Baker appeared for Detroit in 1968, leaving Detroit with the only direct on-field return. That is the central separation. A C-range grade can represent a defensible low-stakes move, while a B-range result requires a clearer positive return. A D-range grade fits a side that surrendered something and received little or no usable value. The available history is specific enough to make that distinction without treating a small transaction like a blockbuster.
Final Verdict
The final call is Detroit Lions Win. Detroit Lions receives a B-, while Pittsburgh Steelers receives a D+. Those grades reflect the documented terms, the value that materialized afterward, and the limited scale of the move.