Lamar’s Gamble

Retail Price: $24.95

In 1957 the United States was still in the midst of a post-World War II euphoria. General Dwight Eisenhower, leader of the allied troops in the war was a popular bi-partisan President. Returning veterans were getting reestablished in civilian life. Baby boomers and the economy were well: booming. Sports were all the rage. Baseball, boxing and horse racing ruled the roost but soon they all would have another sport to content with, football. Within 15 years, football would leave them all in the dust. Looking back and wondering what the lords of football did so right, Lamar’s Gamble tells the story of those men, and how the foresight of one exceptional man, Lamar Hunt, forged a merger between the growing National Football League and his own upstart American Football League.

Lamar Hunt didn’t know what he was getting into when he tried to buy into the more established NFL in 1957. Lamar’s Gamble: A Tale of the AFL-NFL Merger is a story rife with gamblers, and hard drinkers who were womanizers, racists, misogynists and maybe — just maybe – even murderers. Many team owners were in it for the money, and there was plenty of that to go around. Lamar Hunt persevered against the wishes of his father: oil barron, H.L Hunt, and the skepticism of the media who labeled Lamar Hunt and the other AFL co-owners, The Losers Club. Still, Lamar Hunt persevered. Just how he did it, well, that is our story.

Praise for Lamar’s Gamble

“Riveting…great storytelling! Lamar’s Gamble gave me a better perception of the NFL. I absolutely loved this book!” —Dwight Hicks, Two-time Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX), San Francisco 49ers, four-time Pro Bowl selection

Lamar’s Gamble is a rollicking, racy, radically refreshing account of how the ‘old’ NFL and fledgling AFL got hitched. I burned through this book like Patrick Mahomes working the two-minute drill.”—Armen Keteyian, Emmy Award Winning Investigative Reporter CBS, Multi-time New York Times Best Selling Author

“I’ve been taking action for forty years. Two things I’ve learned: No one wins, and if money’s involved, nothing’s on the level. This book is on the nose.” —Johnny “Clams”, Long time New York City bookmaker

CFL America Radio podcast


Proceeds from the sale of this book will also help other communities and organizations preserve their history through Our American Heritage Project, a non-profit organization.
About The Author

Billy O’Connor

In Billy O’Connor’s colorful life, the Irish immigrant was a Vietnam vet, a Teamster, an inveterate gambler, an illegal bookie, a bar owner, and an alcoholic and drug user. Billy also served twenty years with the New York City Fire Department and was a first responder at Ground Zero.

Learn More about Billy O’Connor

Frank Pace  A four-time Emmy Award nominee, Frank Pace has produced more than 700 hours of network television in a career that has spanned nearly four decades. His credits include Head of the Class, Suddenly Susan, George Lopez, Shake it Up, Girl Meets World, and Murphy Brown. Frank has also produced four movies, including the Emmy Award-winning NBC movie Babe Ruth. This is the fifth book he has co-authored, the first two with Rod Carew & Armen Keteyian. Combustible is the third he has co- Learn More about Frank Pace
Book Details
Author: Billy O’Connor, Frank Pace
Pages: 224 pages
Product Dimensions: 6" x 9"
ISBN: 978-1-948901-76-5
Cover Type: Hardcover
Case Quantity:

Have any questions or want to get in touch?