In an interesting press release, the San Francisco 49ers announced that they will be creating a fan voting option as part of their annual induction of past 49ers greats into the Edward J. DeBartolo 49ers Hall of Fame. The team's Hall debuted in 2009 and will feature its third class this year.
I'm still trying to figure out the details, but the basic idea is that fans will be able to choose one of three individuals with their vote. The winner of that vote will be inducted and the remaining two will not be eligible for the additional ownership selection. For this first fan vote, the three eligible individuals are Roger Craig, George Seifert and Gordy Soltau. I've included the 49ers attached bios after the jump. We all know about Craig and Seifert. Soltau played for the team from 1950 to 1958.
You can cast your vote at 49ers.com. Will Roger Craig run away with this thing, or will you find yourself voting for Seifert or Soltau?
ROGER CRAIG - 49ers Running Back 1983-90
An 11-year NFL veteran, Roger Craig spent eight seasons as a member of the 49ers after being drafted in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft out of Nebraska. Known as a relentless competitor, Craig is one of the most versatile running backs to ever play the game, and in 1985, he became the first player in NFL history with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. In eight seasons with the 49ers, Craig totaled 11,506 yards from scrimmage, which ranks second most in team history. He finished his NFL career with 8,189 rushing yards, 4,911 receiving yards and 73 total touchdowns, making the playoffs in each of his 11 seasons. The four-time Pro Bowler (1985, '87-89) and one-time All-Pro (1988) won three Super Bowl titles with the 49ers (Super Bowls XIX, XXIII and XXIV) and was named AP Offensive Player of the Year in 1988.
GEORGE SEIFERT - 49er Head Coach 1989-96 (Def. Coor. 1983-89 & Secondary 1980-82)
George Seifert served eight seasons as the head coach of the 49ers and compiled a 108-35-1 overall record, which included two Super Bowl titles (XXIV and XXIX). When he retired after the 1996 season, his club-record .755 winning percentage marked the best in NFL history. He reached both 50 and 75 wins faster than any head coach in NFL history, and became only the second rookie head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl (XXIV). A three-time NFL Coach of the Year (1989, '90, '94), Seifert joined the 49ers coaching staff in 1980 and took part in all five of San Francisco's Super Bowl Championships. Seifert is a native of San Francisco and graduated from Polytechnic High School, which is located across the street from Kezar Stadium.
GORDY SOLTAU - 49ers E/K 1950-58
Gordy Soltau spent his entire nine-year NFL career as a member of the 49ers, excelling as both a pass-catching end and kicker. A three-time Pro Bowler (1951-53) and two-time All-Pro (1952-53), Soltau led the 49ers in scoring in eight of his nine seasons played, including an NFL-high in both 1952 and 1953, and was the 49ers all-time leading scorer with 644 points upon his retirement in 1958. He recorded 249 catches for 3,487 yards and 25 touchdowns, while converting 70 of 139 field goals for 303 points, during a career in which he only missed two games. Soltau was originally drafted in the third round of the 1950 draft by the Green Bay Packers out of the University of Minnesota. He was quickly traded to the Cleveland Browns, who in turn, sent him to the 49ers. Prior to attending college, Soltau served in an elite branch of the Navy - the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) - where he became one of the original frogmen during World War II.