Alex Wojciechowicz, one of 12 Philadelphia Eagles in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died yesterday at his home in Forked River, N.J. He was 76.
Wojciechowicz, who was called "Wojie" by his teammates, was considered past his prime when the Eagles acquired him from Detroit during the 1946 season.
The 6-0, 235-pound Wojciechowicz played both ways, center and linebacker, for the Lions for eight seasons. He was 31 with a lot of hard miles on him when he came to Philadelphia.
However, Eagles coach Greasy Neale used Wojciechowicz strictly at linebacker and the former Fordham All-America responded with five stellar seasons.
With Wojciechowicz on defense, the Eagles became the only team to win consecutive NFL championship games by shutout. They blanked the Chicago Cardinals, 7-0, in 1948 and shut out the Los Angeles Rams, 14-0, in 1949.
The Eagles compiled a 20-3-1 record in those two seasons and outscored their opponents, 761-290. The team did not have a losing record in the five 4 1/2 seasons Wojciechowicz played here. He retired from football after the 1950 season.
"Wojie was the toughest guy on the ballclub," said Jack Hinkle, a fullback on those Eagles teams. "He looked like a big, shaggy dog. A sad-eyed St. Bernard. But he'd rip your head off."
Wojciechowicz was best known for his ability to tie up enemy pass receivers at the line of scrimmage.
"I never knew how tough Wojie was until I ran a few plays against him in practice," said Al Wistert, the Eagles' captain and two-way tackle, now retired in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
"We were short on players one day and I volunteered to play end. I thought it would be fun, catching the ball. I never had a chance. Wojie grabbed me and held me so tight, I couldn't move.
"I belted him with my forearm, hit him with everything I had, and I couldn't budge him," Wistert said. "That was when I realized why (opponents) weren't catching any passes against us."
Like most of the ex-Eagles, Wistert last saw Wojciechowicz in November 1988, when the championship teams had a reunion at Veterans Stadium.
Owner Norman Braman had a reception for the former players and their
families on Saturday night. The following day, the 1948 and '49 teams were introduced at halftime of the Eagles-Rams game.
The game was tied, 10-10, at intermission. As the gray-haired Wojciechowicz passed the Eagles in the tunnel on his way off the field, he growled, "Get with it, will ya?"
Wojie's little pep talk might have helped. The Eagles went on to win the game, 30-24.
