As we move closer to the 2023 NFL Draft (April 27-29), The Big Red Zone is looking back on all of the 28 St. Louis Cardinals drafts (1960-87). This installment focuses on the 1962 Draft, which was held December 4, 1961 in Chicago. Although the Cardinals had 21 picks, it was arguably their least productive selection meeting. Wally Lemm, who was in his first season as the team’s head coach in 1962, summarized it succinctly. “We came up with only one player, Irv Goode, who helped us,” Lemm said in the 1975 book “Big Red,” written by St. Louis Globe-Democrat sports editor Robert L. Burnes.
1961 St. Louis Cardinals Draft
| rd-overall | player | position | college |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | Fate Echols | T | Northwestern |
| 1-12 | Irv Goode | G | Kentucky |
| 2-19 | Bobby Jackson | FB | New Mexico State |
| 3-24 | Chuck Bryant | E | Ohio State |
| 4-47 | Roger Kochman | HB | Penn State |
| 5-69 | Bill Rice | E | Alabama |
| 6-75 | Jack Elwell | WR | Purdue |
| 7-90 | Bill Kirchiro | G | Maryland |
| 8-103 | George Gross | DT | Auburn |
| 9-118 | Wilburn Hollis | QB | Iowa |
| 10-131 | George Francovitch | G | Syracuse |
| 11-146 | Jimmy Saxton | HB | Texas |
| 12-159 | Bob O’Billovich | G | Montana State |
| 13-174 | Bill Diamond | G | Miami (Fla.) |
| 14-187 | George Mans | E | Michigan |
| 15-202 | Dick Barlund | E | Maryland |
| 16-215 | Bucky Wegener | G | Missouri |
| 17-230 | Don Kasso | HB | Oregon State |
| 18-243 | Don Donatelli | C | Florida State |
| 19-258 | Don Smith | B | Langston |
| 20-271 | Judge Dickson | B | Minnesota |
*Fate Echols arrived at rookie training camp overweight and was cut; he was re-signed before the 1962 season. He played in only eight games (0 starts) in two seasons with the Cardinals, including 1963, when he was switched to defensive tackle.
*An All-American at Kentucky, Irv Goode became an immediate starter with the Big Red. After playing left tackle for two seasons, he moved to left guard in 1964. Played in 134 games (132 starts) in 10 seasons in St. Louis. Was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1964 and 1967. Traded to Buffalo before the 1972 season but missed the entire season with a knee injury. Goode was “greatly disappointed” when the Big Red traded him. “You don’t play 10 years for an organization and not feel that way when you’re not needed any longer,” Goode told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Buffalo traded Goode to Miami before the 1973 season. He was a backup lineman for the Dolphins and their long snapper for two years, including ’73 when the Dolphins won the Super Bowl.
*Charlie Bryant played in 13 games (0 starts) for St. Louis in 1962.
*Jack Elwell played in 13 games (0 starts) for St. Louis in 1962. He caught one pass for 11 yards.
THE BIG RED ZONE 
A really disappointing draft and a disappointing 4-9-1 season. So glad that Irv Goode was able to end his career with a Super Bowl ring.
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