After the 1960 season, the L.A. Rams traded Del Shofner to the Giants.
What Giant player or players did the Rams get for him? (Many Rams fans
believe Shofner was traded to the Bears, but Shofner never spent a
minute with the Bears.)

Howdy olderobert-ga,

As noted by the commenter, the Rams web site might be the source for the
"Bears/Shofner" story, which is full of errors.

These two postings indicate that it was a straight out trade of the 1962
first round draft choice (got in another trade) for Del Shofner.

From a "NFL History Network" message base.
http://nflhistory.net/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=printer_format&om=6&forum=DCForumID27

"The Los Angeles Rams wanted that pick to get Roman Gabriel in the draft,
so the Rams traded Del Shofner to the Giants for their number one draft
choice that they had aquired from Minnesota in the Shaw trade."

From the Inside "For the BEST Informed Giants Fan" Football web site.
http://www.insidefootball.com/interactive/letters_2005/archive/0205_idx.html

"The result is they picked up Y.A. Title for a lineman (great trade), Del
Shofner for a first round draft choice that turned out to be Roman Gabriel."

This is supported, in part, by this post on the 1962 Minnesota draft pick,
on the VikingUpdate.com/Scout.com web site.
http://vikings.scout.com/2/37504.html

"...
1962 (Drafted 2nd) Dec. 4, 1961
...
1. No Choice, Choice traded to New York for George Shaw
..."

If you need any clarification, please feel free to ask.


Search strategy:

Google search on: Shofner Rams Giants 1961
://www.google.com/search?q=Shofner+Rams+Giants+1961

Google search on: Rams "draft choice" 1962 Gabriel
://www.google.com/search?q=Rams+%22draft+choice%22+1962+Gabriel

Google search on: Giants Minnesota Shaw 1961
://www.google.com/search?q=Giants+Minnesota+Shaw+1961

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Answer by denco-ga on 11 Sep 2005 22:06 PDT

Some detail on the background information, olderobert-ga.

A "NFL History Network" posting on the George Shaw trade.
http://nflhistory.net/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=7&forum=DCForumID27

"Minnesota gave the Giants their first round draft choice for 1962, so they
were willing to pay a high price for Shaw."

The Sports E-cyclopedia entry on the Roman Gabriel draft pick.
http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/larams/larams.html

"1962: The Rams have 2 of the top 3 picks and select QB Roman Gabriel and DT
Merlin Olsen."

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Thanks so much! Finally, an answer that withstands analysis.

From the Rams website:

1961
Rams trade Bill Wade, Del Shofner, and John Guzik to Chicago for Zeke
Bratkowski, Lindon Crow and 1962 first draft choice, which enables
Rams to draft both future Rams greats Roman Gabriel and Merlin Olsen
the following year. Rams finish with 4-10 record.
http://www.stlouisrams.com/History/Chronology/

My pleasure, olderobert-ga, and thanks for the 5 star rating.

Now, if the Rams would just correct their web site.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher