Maxie Baughan had plenty of good times on the field as a member of the Eagles from 1960-65, a time during which he made 5 Pro Bowls and helped the Eagles win the 1960 NFL Championship.
"It was great football in this great town," said Baughan on Thursday, a day when he was announced as a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2012. Joining Baughan with Eagles connections are former quarterback Tommy Thompson and Dan Baker, the voice of Eagles games at Veterans Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field since 1985.
"I came in here and there was Chuck Bednarik and Norm Van Brocklin and I started right away. It was something special."
Baughan, selected in the second round of the 1960 NFL draft, started every game for the Eagles in the NFL Championship season and went on to make five Pro Bowls, along with being named to three All-Pro teams.
He was traded to Los Angeles after the 1965 season, but his memories of Philadelphia are fond, indeed.
"It was a great city to play in and to live in," he said. "I was away from home and Philadelphia was very welcoming. I moved right into a new family and on the field, Buck Shaw (head coach) told me, 'You're going to start right away,' and I did."
Thompson was the team's quarterback for eight seasons (1941-42, 1945-50) and threw for 10,240 yards and 90 touchdowns as an Eagle. He led the NFL in passing in 1948, when the Eagles won the first of back-to-back NFL championships. In both seasons, Thompson led the NFL in quarterback rating.
Baker was humbled by his selection and was very aware of the select company to be inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall Of FameĀ in November.
"It's an illustrious group and I'm honored," he said. "I love every day of my career and I'm blown away by this moment. It's a very special day for me, one I will never forget."
