BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — History is something the Buffalo Bills have celebrated on many occasions; and now in their 60th season, one man celebrates his own history.
81-year-old Former Key Bank President Peter Zaleski who was born and raised in Buffalo, was the first end zone season ticket holder for the Buffalo Bills.
"I've been a season ticket holder for 60 years, since the very beginning," Zaleski says. "[Back then] a season ticket was $21, we didn't have to pay for the preseason game."
Zaleski's been in the stands to see the "K Gun" offense in the 1990s, Joe "The Juice" Ferguson hitting 2,000 yards in the 70s, and quarterback Jack Kemp winning two AFL championships in the 60s, which happen to be Zaleski's favorite Bills team.
"I can still name the entire lineup for the Bills' 1965 defense," Zaleski says.
It's the rare record-breaking AFL-era Zaleski remembers fondly; but the heartbreak that stands out just a little bit more.
A total of 493 losses in 60 years.
"That's a whole lot of losses a whole lot of frustrations," Zaleski says.
It got to a point where the losing, almost became too much.
"I almost gave up my tickets at 50 years," Zaleski says.
But his love for the team, and the family tradition the games created stands taller than the losses.
So Zaleski kept the tickets and made his way to New Era Field for the Bills' 2019 home opener, his 60th in a row and 50th for his son David.
"It's become a family event for me," Zaleski says.
"What a fantastic way to spend time with your father," David Zaleski says.
Peter and David were honored on the field by the Buffalo Bills before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"They let us go on the field to let us see how big those guys really are," Peter Zaleski says.
The culmination of 60 years of football with some good...and some bad.
"It's been tougher than its been nicer I'll put it that way but you keep coming back as do most Bills fans," Peter Zaleski says.
He's planning on keeping the tradition alive, and while he does hope for a championship, but for him it's not about that.
"I think it would mean more to the city than to me," Peter Zaleski says. I've enjoyed the games, I've enjoyed the process, to use the the coaches' words, and if we won,t a Super Bowl that would be fine."
