Top 10 football I am missing

A while back I posted about cards I am missing in my football HOF collection. I wanted to update that list.

1. Jack Butler – The 2012 inductee has three different Topps cards, all of which have been abducted by aliens.

2. Frank Gifford – Former TV guy is really expensive.

3. Mike McCormack – Browns lineman is affordable, I just have to be patient.

4. Doak Walker – He does not have any Topps cards, so I have to find a Bowman card.

5. Chuck Bednarik – I should buy this former Eagles star with a Frank Gifford card.

6. Norm Van Brocklin – This is the newest QB I need.

7. Tom Fears – The former Rams flanker is kind of expensive.

8. George Connor – This Bears cards are surprisingly affordable.

9. Len Ford – Only has a couple of cards so it is difficult to get him.

10. Arnie Weinmeister – I did not know the former Giants player had cards.

Worst card back

This is a 1974 Topps card of Jim Johnson, who a HOF cornerback for the 49ers. While most people look at the front of the card, I want to focus on the back, presented here.

Looks normal, but check out that cartoon.

 

This is the kind of thing that Topps could get away with in the 70′s. I imagine if they did that today, there would be controversy and the graphics person would be fired. I wonder if there are any other politically incorrect cartoons on the backs of trading cards. If you know any, please comment here. Thank you.

 

 

1959 Topps Ernie Stautner

Ernie Stautner was an example of the American dream. He was born in Germany in 1925, and his family moved to New York when he was a child. He served his country as a Marine, attended Boston College and became a football star. As a player, he was a 9 time Pro Bowl selection and a 10 time All Pro with very average Steelers teams. As a coach, he won two Super Bowl rings with the Cowboys and a World Bowl championship in Germany.

Another day, another Baltimore Colt

If someone would walk up to you on the street and say,”Quick, who was the first Colt elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame?” Would your response be:

A) Johnny Unitas
B) Lenny Moore
C) Art Donovan
D) Raymond Berry
E) Listen, I have mace and I am not afraid to use it on weird people asking me football trivia questions. Go away. Be gone!

If you picked C, Art Donovan, you would be correct. If you picked E, you are wound a little bit to tight, and should take a deep breath, it is only a football question.

Anyway…

Today’s card is an Art Donovan from the 1959 Topps set. This set features a color background similar to the 1958 Topps baseball. The background does not bother me as much as others, I just wish the logo was a little bit clearer on the card, if it is going to be on there. As far as rookies, you have Giants linebacker Sam Huff, Colts lineman Jim Parker, Browns running back Bobby Mitchell and Packers running back Jim Taylor, except for the fact it isn’t him. While it isn’t shocking that Topps puts the wrong person on the card, the fact they did the same thing to Taylor the next year is just funny. While it is hard to statistically argue a case for a lineman, Donovan’s HOF case is based on his selection to five Pro Bowls and the team’s success as NFL champions in 1958 and 1959. After his career, he became a social creature, giving speeches, writing a book entitled “Fatso” (apparently he doesn’t speak political correctness) and even guest spots on David Letterman’s old talk show, before he became the establishment he hated so much. In fact, if you see the second commercial with Letterman, Oprah and the other guy, Letterman is wearing a number 70, Art Donovan retro jersey. I first heard about him in a print ad for ESPN. I did not know who he was, but the ad featured floating heads of Art with speech bubbles including “my head is the size of a quarter” and “The Carolina Panthers? Boy, I am getting old.” Why I remember that is beyond me.

The back of this card includes the statement, “As a tackler, he seldom misses.” I really wish Topps could be honest with card backs. I would pay big bucks for a card of a back up defensive player on a bad team if the card back read, “against the run, he is like Ray Charles in the Louvre, no Earthly clue.” or, “the only way he can stop a decent wide receiver is with mace.” You can’t tell me you wouldn’t pay bucks for that card too.

Enough with the funny business, here is the card.

1963 Topps Lenny Moore

After a two post baseball break, I am back with another old football card. This is a card from the 1963 Topps set of Colts legend Lenny Moore. The design is fairly straightforward, a headshot and a name plate with the team and position. The cool thing with this set is the Hall of Fame rookie cards, including Rams defensive end Deacon Jones, Cowboys defensive tackle Bob Lilly, Packers defensive back Willie Wood, Packers linebacker Ray Nitchke and Cardinals defensive back Larry Wilson.

Lenny Moore was similar to Marshall Faulk in his area, a great combination of running back and flanker. Moore played his college football at Penn State, when Joe Paterno was an assistant coach. To me the most impressive statistic was his record of 26 touchdowns of over 50 yards. That is my kind of player, the electric star. When NFL network created their list of the 100 greatest players in pro football history, Moore was number 94. Fellow Canton honoree Bobby Mitchell spoke about him. The first thing Bobby spoke about was the stylish way Lenny had his ankles taped around his shoes. The biggest thing with Lenny was the numbers, 12,451 combined yards, seven Pro Bowls and 113 touchdowns.

Here is the card.

Expos – Angels Trade

1954 -2012

2012 Topps baseball battle one

Time to talk 2012 Topps Baseball. Every year I pick up two packs and see which pack is better. I score it one to ten with ten being awesome. First a comment about the design. I am not all that thrilled with the design. I like the white borders and the logo, but I really liked last years design and this is ok, not great. Maybe it will grow on me.

Play ball!

Pack 1
Brendan Ryan Seattle Mariners ss
If I was going to get a Mariners infielder, I would have preffered Dustin Ackley. Oh Well. 3

Craig Kimbrel Atlanta Braves P
Ace closer for now. Thats more like it. 6

Vernon Wells LA Angels OF
Veteran outfielder. Solid card. 6

Rex Brothers Colorado Rockies P SHINY
Shinyness adds one point which puts it at a 2.

Albert Pujols Golden Giveaway Code
Giveaways! 7

Albert Pujols WS Game 3
Enjoy seeing him 20 times a year Rangers fans. 7

Miguel Olivo Seattle Mariners C
Good catcher, but thats it 4

Nyjer Morgan Milwaukee Brewers OF
BEAST MODE! 5

Roy Halladay Philadelphia Phillies P
Will see your BEAST MODE and strike it and you out. 9

Nick Hundley San Diego Padres C
I think I know which one that is. 4

Alex Rios Chicago White Sox OF
He is good, but meh. 4

Madison Bumgarner SF Giants P
Giants have pitchers other than Cain, Lincecum and weirdo guy? 5

Grand total – 67

pack 2

Luke Hochevar KC Royals P
Former top pick. 4

Eduardo Nunez NY Yankees SS
Yankees SS who is NOT annoying. 3

Luke Scott Baltimore Orioles OF
No Comment. 3

Jordan Zimmerman Washington Nationals P
I like the Nats, this guy could be something. 5

Willie Mays Golden Greats
Thats more like it. Best player in the pack. 9

Nolan Ryan Gold Standard
Best pitcher in pack. THE Express. 9

Desmond Jennings TB Rays OF
This kid is supposed to be good. 6

Rick Porcello Detroit Tigers P
Topps, the Tigers pitcher you were supposed to send me is spelled Verlander. 6

Denard Span Minnesota Twins OF
No shame in being DSpan. 6

David Robertson NY Yankees P
And a Yankee to close it. Bleh. 3

John Buck Miami Florida Marlins C
New Marlins logo, even though it has not been featured in a game yet. 4

Danny Duffy KC Royals P
A complete common. 2

Grand Total – 60

Two legends cant top the power of Doc and the Machine. Pack 1 wins!!

1957 Topps Bob St Clair

 

In keeping with my current series of Hall of Fame cards I have picked up while on hiatus, I present Bob St Clair of the San Fransisco 49ers. Before I talk about the player, I would like to talk about the set. I appreciate this set because it gives a bit of insight into the fundamentals of 1950′s football while showing us what they looked like. If you wonder why Mr. St Clair is holding his hands near the center of his chest, it is because that is the way offensive lineman had to position themselves, otherwise it would have been a penalty. When the NFL transition from that form to the current form, it gave quarterbacks and running backs more time to operate and was partially responsible for the statistic explosion we have today. This set, 1957 Topps, has seven (count em) Hall of Fame rookies. They are: Steelers defensive back Jack Butler, Cardinals defensive back Dick “night train” Lane, Colts wide receiver Raymond Berry, Packers quarterback Bart Starr, Eagles wide receiver Tommy McDonald, Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas and Packers running back Paul Hornung. Now THAT is a set worth buying!

Bob St Clair was born in San Fransisco in 1931. He also played his college football at the University of San Francisco before they disbanded the football program. The USF Dons were to be invited to the Orange Bowl but only if they would leave the two African American players (Burl Toler and Ollie Matson) behind. The players discussed it, and in no uncertain terms, told the Orange Bowl where they could stick that invitation. After the program disbanded, St Clair played one year at University of Tulsa. He went on to be a third round draft pick. He played on offense, defense and special team in his career, including ten blacked field goals in one year. It helped that he was at six foot nine, the tallest player in football. He was the starter in five Pro Bowls and was the mayor of a town as an active player. His nickname was the Geek because he was rather unusual, including his preference for raw meat. Why there has not been a movie done about this guy is anyone’s guess. Here is the card.

 

Raymond Berry 1960 Topps

During the Super Bowl last week, some people may have wondered who was the older gentleman who brought the trophy to the stage. It was Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame wide receiver Raymond Berry. After his college career at Southern Methodist University, Berry was a 20th round draft selection in 1954. He was not a big time college player and it is surprising he was drafted at all. He was not physically gifted, but he studied the science of route running as much as anyone in his time. While in Baltimore he connected with another outcast at quarterback, Johnny Unitas. Their post practice workouts were the secret to their success as they developed a keen sense of where they and the ball would be. In thirteen years he had more Pro Bowl games (six) than fumbles (one). By the end of his career, Berry caught 631 passes for 9.275 yards and 68 touchdowns. Here is a classic card of Raymond Berry.

What I collect

Since I have rebooted the blog, I decided I should do a quick post about my collections. I purchase packs of Topps on occasion and am always looking for interesting cards for no apparent reason, but my real collections are:

Pro Football HOF Collection – At least one regular Topps card from each player in the Pro Football HOF. I will use Bowman or Philadelphia if I must. I have 173 different Hall of fame players.

Future Pro Football HOF Collection – Like above but with players I think will make it to Canton, even players I don’t like such as Thomas Brady.

Pro Baseball HOF Collection – Complete Topps runs of each Topps era HOFer. While I have only completed a couple of runs, but I do have Topps cards of 85 different HOFers.

Future Pro Baseball HOF Collection – Like above but guys who will be in one day, from the obvious (Greg Maddux) to the kid wonders (Evan Longoria).

Montreal Expos Collection – Only one card of each players in Expos history in Expos garb. This collection is just getting started. If you have any Expos looking for a good home, please email me von dot spalding at gmail dot com. That is code to cornfuse the spambots. As soon as I get it together I will have a checklist.

The eclectic collection – What is the eclectic collection? Well, that will be for a post of its own. Suffice it to say it is a collection I really enjoy discussing and have become a bit obsessive with.

I would like to thank all my readers and commenters and encourage everyone to email me or comment below. It is good to know someone out there is receiving these.

Peace Out
Von