Here’s a great Browns trivia question: What running backs bridged the short gap in the mid-1950s between the careers of Pro Football Hall of Famers Marion Motley and Jim Brown?

The answers are Maurice Bassett, Fred “Curly” Morrison, Preston Carpenter and Ed Modzelewski.

Modzelewski, who died last Feb. 28 of congestive heart failure at the age of 86, played for the Browns from 1955-59. And it was on this date 60 years ago, on Oct. 16, 1955, when he had one of his better games, scoring two of Cleveland’s three touchdowns in a 24-14 win over the host Washington Redskins at Griffith Stadium.

The win, the Browns’ third in a row as they improved their record to 3-1, avenged a 27-17 loss to Washington at Cleveland in the season opener back on Sept. 25.

Yes, that’s right, the regular seasons back in the day began much later than they do today because the exhibition seasons – er, preseasons – ended much later and were much longer than the current ones.

Modzelewski’s six-yard scoring run and Lou Groza’s 41-yard field goal gave the Browns a 10-7 halftime lead. The Browns then broke the game open with two unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter on Otto Graham’s five-yard pass to Modzelewski and right linebacker Walt Michael’s 25-yard interception return.

Modzelewski ended the season with 619 yards rushing, second-best on the team, and six TDs. He also scored twice on pass receptions. His 48 points put him into a second-place tie on the club in scoring.

Then in their 38-14 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL Championship Game, Modzelewski was the Browns’ leading rusher with 61 yards in 13 carries and their top receiver with five catches for 34 yards.

Those numbers may not stack up favorably against those of Motley and Brown, but when neither of those two players weren’t around, Modzelewski’s contributions were a big help to some big Browns victories.

Modzelewski spent much of his Cleveland career playing against his brother, defensive tackle Dick Modzelewski of the arch rival New York Giants. Dick Modzlewski, who lives in the Cleveland area, was later traded to the Browns in 1964 and spent the final three years of his career with them, playing an integral role in that first season when the team won the NFL championship.

The Modzelewski brothers operated restaurants together.