Sport: The Left-Hander

Coaches and rival quarterbacks were viewing Frankie Albert with increasing wonder and alarm. Was he five years ahead of his time, or 50 years behind it? As signal-caller for San Francisco's unbeaten (pro) 49ers, he frequently violates football's ABCs by passing on fourth down, deep inside his own territory, instead of kicking. Because Frankie makes it work, other pro quarterbacks are trying it.* His theory: "As long as you have the ball you can make touchdowns."

At other times, Albert operates as if he had a one-track mind and knew only one play. He...

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