For the Dawgs of the CyberPOUND:

Book Description:
There was little fanfare when Art “Mickey” McBride flew into Chicago in 1945 to purchase a professional football team for Cleveland. But that act set in motion a tradition that has brought the city of Cleveland together on Sunday afternoons for (most of) the sixty years to follow. Cleveland Browns History is the story of championship seasons, legendary coaches, and Hall of Fame players. Coach Paul Brown led his teams to seven league title games in their first 17 seasons. Running backs Marion Motley, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelley each rushed over opposing defenses and<br><br>straight into Canton, Ohio, along with fellow Browns like Otto Graham, Ozzie Newsome, and Len Ford. The “Kardiac Kids” in 1980 had too many nail-biters for some fans, but won the AFC Central in typical fashion—by three points in the final game of the season. All these stories, plus those of the many unsung heroes to don the NFL’s only logo-less helmet, fill the pages of this book, sure to delight any Cleveland Browns fan.

About the Cover:
The front and back cover was designed by Arcadia Publishing, and the photography was selected by Frank Henkel. 

The color photo on the front cover ("The Huddle") is a famous shot taken by Vince LaValle in a contest against the Houston Oilers on December 20, 1992.  The Browns lost the game (and all hopes for a playoff appearance), but the indelible image of Bernie Kosar leading the offense lived on.  The photo was the centerpiece of the Bernie Kosar Card Company of the late 1990's, and has appeared in numerous other publishings.  More of LaValle's photography is featured in chapters 7 and 8 in this book.

The black and white photograph on the front cover is of Otto Graham pacing the sidelines, with Marion Motley and others looking on.  Graham is seen holding his helmet in one hand and a football in the other, waiting to return to the game.  During that game, played on November 15, 1953, Graham was hit in the face after a tackle in an era that hadn't yet discovered facemasks on helmets.  Graham was ushered into the locker room, and required 13 stitches to sew up the wound.  During the half, the Browns fitted graham's helmet with a clear plastic bar to protect the wound, and the facemask was born.  The photograph first appeared in the Cleveland Press on November 17, 1953, and was taken by Press photographer Fred Bottomer.  Many Bottomer photographs can be found in the first two chapters of this book.

The color photograph appearing on the back cover is of Dwayne Rudd, the former Browns' outside linebacker.  In the photograph, Rudd is celebrating a big tackle, but not the one that he is most famous for.  In the 2002 season opening contest against the Chiefs, the Browns held a 39-37 lead with time enough for one Kansas City play from about mid-field.  Rudd rushed QB Trent Green, and tackled him for an apparent sack to end the game.  Rudd removed his helmet in jubilation, but Green fumbled before he was down.  The Chiefs recovered the fumble, and Rudd was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.  The penalty put KC in field goal range, and the Chiefs won the game, 40-39.  The photograph was taken by Reuters photographer Aaron Josefczyk, who contributed much of the photos in chapter 9 of this book.

An underlay photograph of Brian Sipe barking out signals at the line of scrimmage stretches from the back cover, through the spine, to the front cover.  When the book's covers are spread open, the entire Browns' offense can be seen.  The photograph was taken on November 17, 1974, when the Browns battled the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, and was one of the first games in which Sipe, the leader of the Kardiac Kids, played.  The Browns lost that game, 20-16, but went on to greater things as Sipe and the Browns won a divisional crown and made two playoff appearances.  The photograph appeared in the Cleveland Press on January 27, 1975.  Many Sipe photographs and stories appear in chapters 5 and 6.

About the Author:
Frank M. Henkel is the creator of the online NFL History Network, which includes his own brownshistory.com, and is now one of the largest pro football history sites on the internet. He is also a member of the Professional Football Research Association. A lifelong Browns fan, Henkel’s dogs—Bernie and Hanford—are named for his childhood football heroes.