1968 Profile: Babe Parilli

Quarterback
No. 15
Kentucky 
"Parilli is an outstanding quarterback and passer who's still looking for that 'big season' in his sixth year. He is a good runner and punter.
He was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania."

-Pro Football Handbook 1959

"One of the cagiest quarterbacks in the AFL, Babe came to the Patriots in a big off-season trade with Oakland. His ball-handling and faking are deceptive."

-1961 Topps No. 175

"Vito Parilli goes it alone in 1962 after a '61 season of sharing responsibilities with Butch Songin. Now 32, the 'Babe' has had locker space in Green Bay, Cleveland and Oakland (1960) and has the mobility and knowledge to frighten away all quarterback challenges. He was the most accurate aerialist in '61, carding a 53 passing average while completing 104 for 198 to gain 1,314 yards. As a runner he moved 183 yards in 38 carries, a respectable 4.8 average gain."

-Don Schiffer, 1962 Pro Football Handbook

"The veteran quarterback did well calling the signals for the Patriots last year. Babe ranked fifth in the league in passing in 1961, completing 104 of 198 aerials for 1,315 yards and 13 touchdowns. A fine runner, he gained 182 yards on the ground on 38 rushes, good for a 4.8 average. He scored five touchdowns himself and raced over the goal line for an additional two points after a touchdown for a total of 32 points.
Babe was acquired in a trade from Oakland."

-1962 Fleer No. 4

"Ask them in Boston how come the Patriots blew the Eastern title in 1962 and they'll cry of the broken right collarbone suffered by Vito (Babe) Parilli in the closing weeks of the season. The ex-Packer quarterback was on a magnificent tear and had sparked the Pats to the top of the circuit when disaster struck in the game against Houston.
Now 33, he's also been a pro at Green Bay, Cleveland, Oakland and Canada. He passed for 1,988 yards last year, clicked for 18 touchdowns, had fewer passes intercepted (8) than any other quarterback and was the No. 2 aerialist in the AFL.
The greatest quarterback in the history of the University of Kentucky, Parilli played in the Orange, Sugar and Cotton Bowls- which could be a unique record."

-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963

"The Patriots virtually saw their title hopes come crashing down when the Babe landed on his shoulder after a Houston tackler crashed into him on November 18, 1962. Up to that time, he had piloted the Pats into the Eastern Division lead. Babe was the AFL's No. 2 pitcher last year with a 55.3 completion percentage and had 18 touchdown heaves in 10 games.
The Babe has achieved the stature expected of him when he finished at Kentucky, acclaimed as one of the best college passers ever."

-1963 Fleer No. 2

"Boston fans were either mad or wild about Vito Parilli in 1963 and at one time their boos were so loud that the ancient quarterback was about to check in his pads for keeps. Nobody was neutral about his feeling for the 34-year-old Kentucky ace who's been active with the Browns, Packers, Canadian League and Raiders. Parilli hit on 153 passes for 2,335 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, and his skilled play-calling was a major factor in getting Boston to the top in the East.
He sparkled in 1962 and the Patriot comeback fell short when he broke his collarbone in the 10th game."

-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964

"Now in his 11th pro season, Vito (Babe) Parilli is the key man of the Patriot attack. The old-pro quarterback completed 153 of 337 passes for 2,335 yards and 13 touchdowns last season despite early-season injury problems.
A former All-American at the Univerisity of Kentucky, Parilli bounced around the NFL with the Browns and Packers before moving to Canada and then to the Oakland Raiders before the Pats got him in a big trade. After alternating with Butch Songin, he took over as the regular quarterback late in the 1961 season.
He's a florist equipment salesman."

-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964

"The veteran quarterback recovered from his injuries just in time to star in the 1963 AFL playoff game. He completed 14 passes for 300 yards. Babe also received the honor of opening as the starting quarterback in the All-Star game at San Diego.
Despite a broken collar bone in the 10th game of the 1962 season, Babe declares that season as his peak AFL campaign."

-1964 Topps No. 17

"Age seems only to improve Vito (Babe) Parilli, who at 35 had the finest season of his professional career. The one-time 'Sweet Kentucky Babe' heaved the ball 3,441 yards last year for the third highest total ever in professional football. Only Sonny Jurgensen and John Unitas have passed for more yardage in a single season. Babe also racked more touchdown passes than any other pro quarterback, with 31.
A pro since 1952, when he broke in with Green Bay, in the NFL, he also put in hitches with the Browns, Canadian football and the Oakland Raiders before coming to Boston in 1961."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965

"A well-experienced veteran, Babe has weathered many campaigns in pro football. A real take-charge guy, he is the leader of the Patriots offensive attack.
Many feel that 1964 was Babe's best year. He completed 31 touchdown passes, which led all pro leagues.
Babe led Kentucky to victories in the Orange, Sugar and Cotton Bowls."

-1965 Topps No. 17

"On and on flows the 'Kentucky Babe,' Vito Parilli. The Patriot quarterback is beginning his 13th pro season- on a new two-year contract. For several seasons now, Babe, 36, has shown signs of fraying at the seams. Last year, he completed only 173 passes on 426 attempts and had 26 intercepted. This year, one of Babe's jobs will be to break in his successor, Johnny Huarte.
Actually, Parilli has never been a great passer. But he is a clever faker and a smart play-selector who has watched better arms come and go."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966

"A veteran of 13 professional seasons, Babe ranks among the best in pro football. In his college days, Babe led Kentucky to victories in the Orange, Cotton and Sugar Bowls.
With a rifle arm, he pinpoints his receivers. Babe led all the pro leagues with 31 touchdown tosses in 1964."

-1966 Topps No. 12

"Retirement is a word Babe Parilli has dodged as artfully as he does a blitzing linebacker. The 37-year-old maestro has been written off more times than an unemployed brother-in-law and still he comes back.
Last year, riding the crest of a hot streak over the second half of the season, Babe completed 181 passes out of 382 attempts for 2,721 yards and 20 touchdowns. It was a performance that earned him the Comeback of the Year award. He had experienced a disappointing season in 1965, when he completed only 40 per cent of his passes.
His is a career that dates back to his All-America years at Kentucky in 1950 and '51; then he entered the pros with Green Bay. He didn't reach Boston until 1961, and he's been at the controls ever since. In 1964, he threw for 31 touchdowns and 3,441 yards, third highest total in the history of pro football."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967

"One of the pro world's top ball handlers, Babe's best year was in 1964 when he threw for 31 touchdowns and 3,441 yards. The Patriots have turned down tempting trade bids for this exceptional quarterback."

-1967 Topps No. 2

"Let's see now, Babe Parilli is 38 years old and is playing in his 15th professional season.
He didn't come to the Patriots until 1961 and since then he has rolled up 17,750 yards in passing to rank third among all AFL quarterbacks. In 1964 he was the All-League quarterback when he threw 31 touchdown passes for 3,441 yards- third highest total in professional football history. In 1966, he won the Comeback of the Year award, and last year he ranked sixth in the league in passing with 161 completions for a 46.8 percentage, 2,317 yards and 19 touchdowns. What hurt him was his 24 interceptions.
The Babe's career dates back to 1952, when he broke in with Green Bay."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968