Pine Apple's Fred Cone played in first ever football game at Lambeau Field

Fred Cone of Pine Apple

Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin is one of the most famous football stadiums in America. Located about 1,000 miles from Wilcox County, many describe Lambeau Field as a “football Mecca,” and many football fans have a trip to this famous stadium on their bucket lists. I’ve never been there, but I’ve always wanted to go.

Interestingly, today – Sept. 29 – marks the 65^th anniversary of the first game ever played at Lambeau Field. It was on that day in 1957 that the Packers defeated their rivals, the Chicago Bears, 21-17. Even more interesting is the fact that Pine Apple native Fred Cone played in that historic first game at Lambeau Field.

Cone, who graduated from Moore Academy in Pine Apple, was a fullback and placekicker for the Packers, who drafted him in 1951. During his six seasons with the Packers, he led the team is scoring in five of those seasons, including his rookie season. In 1955, he also led the NFL is successful field goals.

The inaugural game at Lambeau Field, which was then known as New City Stadium, was the opening game of the season for Green Bay and their win over Chicago was considered an upset. A crowd of 32,132 fans were on hand for the game, which included an elaborate stadium dedication ceremony. (Today, the stadium has a seating capacity of 81,441.)

Chicago struck first when Ed Brown scored on a five-yard run in the first quarter. George Blanda kicked the extra point to give Chicago a 7-0 lead.

Green Bay responded with a 37-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter from Babe Parilli to Billy Howton. Cone, who would be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1974, booted the extra point to tie the game, 7-7.

Chicago grabbed the lead later in the second quarter when Harlon Hill scored on an 11-yard pass from Ed Brown. Blanda added the extra point to give Chicago a 14-7 lead.

Later in the second quarter, the 5-foot-11, 199-pound Cone rumbled into the endzone on a one-yard run. He tacked on the extra point to tie the game, 14-14.

Chicago posted their final points of the game in the third quarter when Blanda kicked a 13-yard field goal to give Chicago a 17-14 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Green Bay put themselves over the top when Gary Knafelc caught a six-yard scoring pass from Parilli. Cone scored the final point of the game when he kicked the ensuing extra point through the uprights, leaving the Packers with a 21-17 advantage.

Cone finished the game with 20 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown. His longest run of the game was a six-yarder. Interestingly, fellow Alabamian Bart Starr, who would go on to become a legendary player under Vince Lombardi, would finish the game with three pass completions for 38 yards.

Cone sadly passed away on Dec. 31, 2021 at the age of 95. He lived a long, full life and he no doubt had many memories from his football playing days. Chief among those memories would have to be the first ever game played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, so many miles away from his hometown of Pine Apple.