The American Football League (AFL) accomplished something that no other rival league in American pro sports history ever has -- a merger with the established league that preserved all its members. Every AFL franchise forced its way into the NFL -- with Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cleveland joining the 10 AFL clubs to form the newly-configured American Football Conference (AFC), starting with the 1970 season.This book traces the origins of the AFL in the late 1950s by examining each of the eight original franchises. If you are a Dolphins or Bengals fan, be advised your team is not in this book as they were AFL expansion franchises that started play in 1966, and 1968, respectively.If you remember the AFL you'll love this book. If you are merely AFL-curious, go ahead and give it a shot. Of all the books about the early days of the AFL, this has to be in the top five.