The ownerships of the Baltimore and Los Angeles franchises of the National Football League were traded yesterday in a deal that had no precedent in major professional team sports. The players and coaches were not affected and their affiliations will remain the same but the exchange permitted Carroll Rosenbloom, the longtime owner of the Colts, to leave Baltimore and also to save $4.4‐million in capital gains taxes.

The arrangement came in two parts. First, Robert J. Irsay, a 49‐year‐old Chicago businessman and an avid admirer of John Unitas, the Colts’ quarterback, bought up the stock of the Rams which cost him $19‐million. The largest stock block was sold by the estate of Daniel R. Reeves, who was the club president Mr 30 years until his death in April, 1971.

Irsay then swapped the Ram franchise for the Colts’ in a nocash exchange with Rosenbloom. The 65‐year‐old chairman of the Colts had been searching for ways to get out of Baltimore for over a year.

Fans, Criticism Irk Owner

He felt the achievements of the Colts, the Super Bowl champions of 1971, were not fully appreciated by the fans, especially when it came to preseason games. Three such games there last summer averaged only 16,000 in attendance.