Carlin retiring after 55 years with Eagles
Ticket executive Leo Carlin, who joined the team in 1960, has outlasted 14 head coaches.
'I'M JUST a kid from north Philly. The streets were my playground. Hunting Park was my field for baseball, at which I was not very good. And the alleys were my hiding place. But there was always one continuous factor in my childhood. In fact, in my whole life. And that was that I loved football.
"I didn't get big, but I gave it a shot when I could. Both in high school and in the sandlots. I was blessed to do the next best thing. I worked in professional football. The Philadelphia Eagles became my second home. My playground. My job, which I love. And my personal attachment to the great game of football.''
- Opening two paragraphs to Leo Carlin's unfinished memoirs
Leo Carlin dictated those words into a tape recorder 7 years ago after approaching me about ghost-writing his memoirs. For a number of reasons, we both got sidetracked and the project has been on hold for a while.
If we ever finish it, though, it'll be a helluva tale.
Carlin, 77, the Eagles' longtime ticket executive, is retiring at the end of the month after 55 years with the organization
"I guess it's time,'' he said yesterday. "People ask me why I'm retiring. Well, I spent 8 years with the Jesuits [at St. Joe's Prep and St. Joe's University]. I joined the Marine Corps. I got married. I had seven kids and 22 grandchildren. I haven't had a free day in a long time. Now [his wife] Kay and I will have a free day.''
Carlin joined the Eagles' ticket office in 1960, which also happens to be the last year the team won the NFL championship. He has been with the franchise through five ownerships and 14 head coaches and has overseen the team's moves from Franklin Field to Veterans Stadium to Lincoln Financial Field.
He was inducted into the Eagles' Hall of Fame 2 years ago and has been a frequent nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
"This place has been a blast,'' he said. "It's been wonderful. The characters I've met. The friends that I've made over 55 years. Players, coaches, it's an unending list.
"I'm kind of speechless. Have I cried a little bit? Yes, I've cried. I do that a little bit. But that's me.''
Carlin said he's been thinking for a while about retiring, something Kay, his wife of 55-going-on-56 years, has been encouraging.
"Every now and then Kay would give me a little nudge,'' he said. "She'd say to me, 'Cmon, Leo, it's my turn.' And she's right. Besides, 55 is a nice, round number.''
Three of the Carlins' seven children do not live in the Philadelphia area. So, visiting them will be at the top of their things-to-do-in-retirement list.
"I'm also going to be in and out of here as I please,'' he said. "They've been extremely nice to me. [Eagles president Don] Smolenski has been fantastic. You may see me on the sidelines. You may see me in the press box. Not at every game, but I'll be there.''