New York Giants

After finishing in 1st place 5 times between 1958 and 1963 (and losing the championship game each time), the Giants fell on hard times. They didn’t return to the post-season until 1981, and didn’t appear in a Super Bowl until 1986 (which they won – their first championship since 1956). 

 

I got all these cards in the past 2 months.  I’ve often wondered why the Giants have so many players wearing their helmets in the 1966 and 1967 card sets, while almost no other team’s players did so. 

 

Morrall and Scholtz – The 2nd of 2 multi-player cards in the 1966 set. 

 

Earl Morrall – The 49ers’ 1st-round pick (2nd overall) in 1956, Morrall quarterbacked the Steelers in 1957, the Lions (1958-64), and the Giants (1965-67). He started every game in ’65, but missed half the games in ’66. In 1967 the Giants traded for Fran Tarkenton, so Earl rode the bench. 

 

He played for the Colts from 1968-71, starting every game in 1968 due to injuries to Johnny Unitas. From there he finished up with the Dolphins from 1972-76. Usually riding the bench, he started 9 games in both ’71 and ’72 ahead of the injured Bob Griese. Morrall was named first-team All-Pro in ’68 and ’72. 

 

Bob Scholtz was drafted by the Lions in 1960 and was their starting center for his first 2 seasons. From 1962-63, he started about half the games at tackle, then was the backup center in 1964. He spent his last 2 seasons with the Giants – as the starting center in ’65 and a backup in ’66. He retired after being selected by the Saints in the 1967 expansion draft. 

 

Tucker Frederickson was the first-overall pick in the 1965 draft. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie after starting 10 games at fullback. After missing the 1966 season with a knee injury, he started about half the games over the next 2 seasons, before missing all but 5 games in 1969. He played every game in 1970 and 10 games in 1971. 

 

*Steve Thurlow – The Giants’ 2nd-round pick in 1964, Thurlow played 2 seasons with the Giants (starting 11 games in 1965), then played for the Redskins from 1966-68. 

 

Joe Morrison was picked by the Giants in the 3rd round of the 1959 draft, and played for 14 seasons – all with the Giants. Playing both running back and flanker during his career, most of his starts came in 1960 and 1964-68. Despite never leading the league in any category, and accumulating no Pro Bowl or All-Pro nominations, Morrison is one of 14 Giants whose number is retired. 

 

Greg Larson – The Giants’ 6th-round pick in 1961, Larson was a starting guard or tackle for his first 2 seasons, then was the starting center every year from 1963-73, except for 1965. He made the Pro Bowl in 1968, and only missed 3 games in his 13-year career. 

 

*Rosey Brown was drafted by the Giants in 1953, and was their starting left tackle every year from 1953-65, missing only 4 games during his career. He made the Pro Bowl 9 times and was first-team All-Pro 6 times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975. 

 

No linemen, but a full defensive backfield! 

 

*Jerry Hillebrand – The Giants’ 1st-round pick in 1962, he played for the Giants from 1963-66. After a season with the Cardinals, he played for the Steelers from 1968-70. 

 

Spider Lockhart – Drafted by the Giants in 1965, Lockhart was a starting defensive back all during his 11-year career. Initially the left cornerback, he switched to free safety in 1967. 

 

Clarence Childs was drafted by the Boston Patriots in 1961, but began play with the Giants in 1964. He was a starting cornerback for New York in 1966 and 1967, and finished his career with the Bears in 1968. 

 

*Dick Lynch was picked by the Redskins in 1958. After a rookie season with Washington, he played for the Giants from 1959 to 1966, and was their starting right cornerback from 1959 to 1965, replaced by Childs in 1966. 

 

Henry Carr – The Giants’ 4th-round pick in 1965, Carr had been a track star at Arizona State, and won 2 gold medals at the 1964 Olympics. He was drafted so that the team would have someone who could cover the Cowboys’ Bob Hayes. Carr was a starting safety for his first 2 years, then moved to cornerback in his final season, where a knee injury caused him to miss 5 games, and eventually ended his career. 

 

Hall of Famers - 1

 

*Unknown to me before November 2023 

 

Next: Philadelphia Eagles

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings joined the NFL in 1961, and except for finishing in 2nd place in 1964, they finished no higher than 4th place in 6 of their first 7 seasons. However, they followed that with first-place finishes in 10 of the next 11 seasons, including 4 Super Bowl losses. 

 

In 1966 they finished in 6th place with a 4-9-1 record, causing the Vikings to replace their inaugural head coach (Norm Van Brocklin) with Bud Grant in 1967. 

 

The cards for Ron Vander Kelen and Lance Rentzel are not in the original 1966 set. These are among the many cards I purchased from RetroCards.net. 

 

The only one of these cards I had before 2023 is Bobby Walden’s. I’ve had that since the 1960s, and it’s in pretty bad shape. 

 

Fran Tarkenton was the Vikings' 3rd-round pick in 1961, and was their starting QB every season from 1961-66, including making 2 Pro Bowl appearances. After a 5-year stay with the Giants (including 4 more Pro Bowls), he returned to Minnesota for another 7 seasons, making the Pro Bowl 3 more times, as well as being named first-team All-Pro in 1975. 

 

He only missed 8 games in his 18-year career, including 5 in 1977. Tarkenton led the NFL in passing yards in his final season, with 3468. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

 

Ron Vander Kelen – Drafted by the Jets in 1963, but not by any NFL team, Vander Kelen was a backup QB for the Vikings from 1963-67. Only once did he start more than 1 game per season, with 3 starts in 1967 (the year Tarkenton departed). 

 

Tommy Mason was the Vikings' #1 pick (first overall) in the 1961 draft. After making only 4 starts in his rookie season, he started almost every game from 1962-64 and was named to the Pro Bowl in each season. After starting half the games in each of ’65 and ’66, he was traded to the Rams, where he was mostly a backup from 1967-70. He finished up with the Redskins in 1971. 

 

Bill Brown was drafted by the Bears in the 2nd round in 1961. After a season on their bench, he was traded to the Vikings, and after spending 1962 on their bench, he was their starting fullback from 1963-69, missing only 2 games in that span while making 4 Pro Bowls. From 1970-74 he played in every game for the Vikings, but only a handful as the starter. 

 

Lance Rentzel was the Vikings’ 2nd-round pick in 1965. After only starting 1 game in each of his first 2 seasons, he was traded to the Cowboys and started every game at flanker for the next 3 seasons. After missing the 1970 season, he started every game for the Rams in 1971. 

 

Paul Flatley was selected in the 4th round by the Vikings in 1963, and was their starting split end for almost every game from 1963-67, making the Pro Bowl in 1966. He also played for the Falcons from 1968-70. 

 

*Gordon Smith – An undrafted free agent, Smith started 29 games at tight end for the Vikings from 1961-65. 

 

Mick Tingelhoff was an undrafted free agent, but started EVERY GAME at center for the Vikings for 17 seasons from 1962-78. From 1964-69, he was named to the Pro Bowl every year and first-team All-Pro 5 times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015. (It seems like he was the NFL’s version of Jim Otto.) 

 

Grady Alderman – The Lions’ 10th-round pick in 1960, Alderman was a backup guard in his rookie season. Acquired in the expansion draft, he was the Vikings’ starting left tackle from 1961-73, starting all but 8 games in that 13-year span. He was named to 6 Pro Bowls between 1963 and 1969, and finished his career as a backup in 1974. 

 

Fred Cox – The Browns’ 8th-round pick in 1961, Cox didn’t play until 1963. He played in every game for the Vikings from 1963-77, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1970. 

 

*Rip Hawkins – The Vikings’ 2nd-round pick in 1961, Hawkins played every game at middle linebacker from 1961 to 1965, starting all of them save for 1 game in his rookie season. He also made the Pro Bowl in 1963. 

 

Ed Sharockman was taken in the 5th round in 1961 by the Vikings. After only playing 1 game in his rookie season, he was the team’s starting right cornerback for the next 10 seasons. In 1972 he played in 7 games (1 start) but was released at the end of October. Claimed by the Eagles on the same day, he retired the following day. 

 

Bobby Walden was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1961, but did not play until joining the Vikings in 1964. After 4 seasons with Minnesota, he joined the Steelers and was their punter through the 1977 season. He made the Pro Bowl in 1969, and collected 2 Super Bowl rings with the Steelers. 

 

Hall of Famers - 2 

*Unknown to me before November 2023. 

 

Next: New York Giants

Los Angeles Rams

After finishing no higher than 5th place from 1959-65, the Rams finished 3rd in 1966 at 8-6, their first winning record since 1958. In 1967 they finished in 1st place at 11-1-2, but lost in the 1st round of playoffs. 

 

The Rams finished in 1st place every year from 1973-79, finally making the Super Bowl in ’79, which they lost to the Steelers. 

 

 

The only Rams’ card I had before last month was Tommy McDonald (which I’ve had since the 1960s). 

 

Bill Munson was the Rams’ 1st-round pick in 1964. He played for the Rams for 4 seasons, starting 8 and 10 games in his first 2 seasons, but none after that as Roman Gabriel took over. He was traded to the Lions before the 1968 season, and played there from 1968-75, starting most of the games only in ’68 and ’74. In his final 4 seasons (’76-’79) he bounced around from Seattle to San Diego to Buffalo. 

 

Gabriel and Bass – This is one of two multi-player cards in the 1966 set. 

 

Roman Gabriel was the Rams’ #1 pick (2nd overall) in 1962. He started all but 1 game from 1966 to 1972, nabbing 3 Pro Bowl invites during that time, and was first-team All-Pro in 1969. He also played for the Eagles from 1973-77, making another Pro Bowl appearance in 1973. 

 

Dick Bass was the Rams’ #1 pick (2nd overall) in 1959. He played for the Rams from 1960-69, primarily as their starting fullback, but also played halfback in ’60 and ’64. In 1962 he became the Rams’ first 1000-yard rusher, also topping 1000 yards in 1966. 

 

*Jim Stiger was selected in the 19th round by the Cowboys in 1963. He played for Dallas from 1963-65, and the Rams from 1965-67. Mostly a backup halfback, he started 8 games at fullback in 1964. 

 

Tommy McDonald was a 3rd-round pick for the Eagles in 1957. He played 12 seasons in the NFL, for the Eagles (’57-’63), Cowboys (’64), Rams (’65-’66), Falcons (’67), and Browns (’68). He was his team’s starting flanker every season from 1959-1967. McDonald made the Pro Bowl every season from 1958 to 1962 (while only making 3 starts in 1958), and another Pro Bowl appearance in 1965. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. 

 

Willie Brown – The Rams’ 3rd-round pick in 1964, Brown was a spot player for Los Angeles in ’64 and ’65, then played on the Eagles’ special teams for 7 games in 1966. His brother Ollie was an outfielder for the Giants and Padres. 

 

Marlin McKeever was the Rams’ 1st-round pick (4th overall) in 1961. He played linebacker for his first 3 seasons (starting in the middle in ’62 and ’63), then switched to tight end from 1964 to 1968, before returning to MLB from 1969-73. McKeever played for the Vikings in 1967 and Redskins from 1968-70, before returning to the Rams for 1971-72. He finished up with the Eagles in 1973. 

 

 

Bruce Gossett kicked for the Rams from 1964-69, and the 49ers from 1970-74. He was a Pro Bowler in ’66 and ’68. 

 

Deacon Jones – Above, we have seen four #1 picks by the Rams. Jones was a FOURTEENTH-round pick in 1961, was the Rams' starting left end from 1961-71, started all but 1 game from 1962-70, was named to the Pro Bowl every year from 1964-70, was first-team All-Pro every year from 1965-69, all while anchoring the Rams’ “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line. He also invented the head-slap! Jones finished up with the Chargers (’72-’73) and Redskins (’74), and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980. 

 

Merlin Olsen was the Rams’ #1 pick (3rd overall) in 1962. He was also the 2nd overall pick in the AFL draft. He played for the Rams from 1962-74, starting every game in that time except for 2 in his rookie season. After 11 seasons at left defensive tackle, he switched to right D-tackle for his final 4 years. Olsen made the Pro Bowl every season but his last, and was first-team All-Pro every year from 1966-70. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982. 

 

I haven’t figured out Philadelphia Gum’s 1966 terminology habits for defensive backs yet. (In the 1967 set, I recall they were always referred to as “Defensive Back”.) Sometimes the 1966 cards say “Halfback” (making it hard to tell if unknown players are on offense or defense), sometimes “Defensive Halfback”, and sometimes “Defensive Back”. On top of that, I would assume the halfbacks are the cornerbacks (because safeties are often described as “deep men”), but on these cards they tend to be the safeties. 

 

Aaron Martin signed with the Rams in 1964. He started 8 games at right cornerback as a rookie, then missed all but 4 games the next season. He played for the Eagles from 1966-67, starting every game in ’67. He finished his career with the Redskins in 1968. 

 

Eddie Meador was picked by the Rams in the 7th round of the 1959 draft. He was a starting defensive back every season from 1959-70, starting all but 2 games in that time. A cornerback from 1959-63, he played free safety from 1964-70. He was a 6-time Pro Bowler, and was twice named first-team All-Pro. 

 

Hall of Famers - 3

 

*Unknown to me before November 2023 

 

Next: Minnesota Vikings

Detroit Lions

I am going to post these 1966 teams in the order they appear on the checklist (skipping teams where I don’t have all the cards yet). 

 

 

In 1966 the Lions finished at 4-9-1, their 2nd consecutive 6th place finish (in a 7-team division). Although they would finish in 2nd place every season from 1969 to 1975, it wasn’t until 1983 that they would win their division, for the first time since 1957. 

 

The only 1966 Lions’ cards I had before last month were Amos Marsh and Pat Studstill. 

 

Milt Plum was the Browns’ #1 pick in 1957, and was their starting QB from 1958 to 1961. He led the NFL in completion % from 1959-61, and made the Pro Bowl in ’60 and ’61. 

Play-calling squabbles with coach Paul Brown led to his trade to Detroit before the 1962 season. He was the Lions’ starting QB for most of 1963-67, then was traded to the Rams in the deal that brought Bill Munson to the Lions. Plum played in 1 game for the Giants in 1969. 

 

Tom Watkins was a backup halfback for the Browns (’61), Lions (’62-‘67), and Steelers (’68), starting as many as 7 games only once (1964). 

 

Amos Marsh – An undrafted free agent, Marsh played fullback for the Cowboys from 1961-64, starting every game in 1962. He played halfback for the Lions from 1965-67, and started 12 games in 1966. 

 

Pat Studstill played for the Lions from 1961-67 (missing all of 1963 with a knee injury). He made the Pro Bowl in his only 2 seasons as a full-time starter (’65, ’66), and led the NFL in receiving yards in 1966. He also played 3 seasons with the Rams (1968-70) as a backup. Besides his receiving duties, he was also his team’s punter from 1965-72. He joined the Patriots in 1972 as a punter only. 

 

John Gordy was the Lions’ 2nd-round pick in 1957, and played every game at right guard through the 1967 season (missing the ’58 season). He started all but 6 games (aside from ‘58), and made the Pro Bowl 3 times. 

 

Alex Karras was the Lions’ 1st-round pick in 1958. Except for missing the 1963 season while suspended for gambling, he played every game at left defensive tackle for the Lions from 1958-70, until missing 1 game in his final season. He started every game except for 4 in his rookie season and 2 in his final season. A 3-time 1st-team All-Pro, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020. 

 

 

Roger Brown was a 4th-round pick in 1960, and played every game for the Lions from 1960-66 (starting all but 1 game). He was traded to the Rams before the 1967 season, and started every game there for 2 years. He finished as a Rams’ backup in 1969. Brown made the Pro Bowl every season from 1962-67, and was 1st-team All-Pro in ’62 and ’63. 

 

Wayne Walker was the Lions’ 4th-round pick in 1958. He was their starting right linebacker from 1960 to 1972. He made the Pro Bowl from 1963-65, and was 1st-team All-Pro in ‘65. Walker was also the Lions’ kicker from 1962-68. 

 

Dick LeBeau was the Browns’ 5th-round pick in 1959, but never played for them. After starting 6 games at free safety for the Lions in ’59, he was a starting cornerback every season from 1960-71, missing only 1 game (in 1971). In his final season (1972) he moved back to free safety. A 3-time Pro Bowler (’64-’66), he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. 

LeBeau also coached for 29 seasons for the Eagles (1973-75), Packers (1976-79), Bengals (1980-91, DC from 84-91), Steelers (1992-96, DC from 95-96), Bengals (DC from 1997-2000, head coach 2000-02), Bills (2003), Steelers (DC 2004-14), and Titans (DC 2015-17). 

 

*Wayne Rasmussen was drafted in the 9th round in 1964, and played for the Lions from 1964-72. Primarily a free safety, most of his starts came in ’65, ’66, and ’70. 

 

*Bobby Smith was the Rams’ 7th-round pick in 1961. He played for the Rams from 1962 to midway through the 1965 season. He was the Rams’ starting free safety in 1962 and cornerback in ’63 and ’64, while also returning kicks and punts in ’64 and ’65. His final year-and-a-half was with the Lions, who used him as a backup DB and occasional kick returner. 

Hall of Famers - 2

*Unknown to me before November 2023 

  

Atlanta Falcons

It’s a new year, and this is a new blog, so we are starting off with a new team. 

The Atlanta Falcons joined the NFL in 1966. As such, all of these players are shown in the uniform of their 1965 team (except for the Steve Sloan custom card by *RetroCards.com). 

Each team in the 1966 set has 11 player cards, a team photo card, and a “play card” (an “in-action” card). 

For the past 5 weeks, I have been scrounging on eBay to complete my 1967 AFL and 1966 NFL sets. I now only need 13 player cards for the 1966 set. (I also need the team cards and “play cards” for all but the Eagles and Falcons, but I’m not sure I will get those. They seem like a waste of money, as I would much rather have the cards for individual players.) 

I have had the Dan Grimm, Frank Lasky, and Ralph Heck cards since the 1960s, so they are in bad condition, and needing an upgrade.

Since the Falcons are a new team, there is no team photo or play card. Instead, there are 2 cards showing the team logo, with one of them having a list of the expansion draftees on the back. (The same is true for the Saints in the 1967 set.) 

 

Dennis Claridge - His NFL career consisted of 1 pass attempt for the 1965 Packers, and 3 starts for the 1966 Falcons.

Steve Sloan - This card was not in the original set, but is a custom card by *RetroCards.com. Like Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, and Richard Todd, Sloan played for Alabama.  Unlike those others, he had a short career: 3 games in '66 and 5 games in '67, all for the Falcons.

**Perry Lee Dunn played for the Cowboys (64-65), Falcons (66-68), and Colts (69), only starting 14 games in that time.

Ernie Wheelwright played for the Giants, Falcons, and Saints from 1964-70.  His only regular playing time was in 1966 (Falcons) and 1967 (Saints).

Alex Hawkins played for the Colts from 1959 to 1965, but was only a starter in '60 and '61.  After playing for the Falcons in 1966, he returned to Baltimore for 1967-68.

Dan Grimm started 13 games for the Packers in 1964, filling in for the injured Jerry Kramer, but played very little in '63 and '65. He was a starter for the Falcons in '66 and '68, then wrapped up his career in 1969 with the Colts and Redskins.

Frank Lasky started 1 game for the Giants in '64 and 8 games in '65.  He did not play for the Falcons.

Bob Richards was a starting defensive end for the Eagles from 1962-65, and started 13 and 6 games Falcons in '66 and '67.

**Guy Reese - From 1962 to 1964, Reese started all but 2 games for the Cowboys at left defensive tackle.  He started 3 games for the Colts in '65 and 2 games for the Falcons in '66.

Ralph Heck - A backup linebacker for the Eagles from 1963-65 and the Falcons in '66, Heck started all but 1 game from 1967-68.  He also played for the Giants from 1969-71.

**Larry Benz started all but 2 games at safety for the Browns from 1963 to 1965. He did not play after 1965.

Ron Smith was quite the Swiss Army Knife.  An excellent kick and punt returner (leading the league while with the Falcons in '66 and '67), he was also a starting cornerback (Falcons '66, Rams '69) and starting safety (Rams '68, Bears '71-'72, Chargers '73). In 1967 he was the Falcons' starting split end.

Hall of Famers -0

 

** Unknown to me before November 2023 

 

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*You may have noticed an advertisement link for RetroCards on my blog sidebars. This is not a paid ad. I put it there because I like their products, and wanted to share that with my readers. They make “cards that never were” for many football teams in the 1960s and 1970s. 

 

Although the company is Cowboys-centric, there are also a lot of sets for the Packers and Bears, and for every NFL team in 1963 and 1966. They also make some baseball sets, including the 1962 Houston Colt .45s and 1970 Milwaukee Brewers (not Pilots), and a few non-sports sets too. 

 

To date, I have purchased the following sets from them:

1967 Packers
1968 Packers
1967 Cowboys
1971 Cowboys
1966 Eagles
1968 Eagles
1967 Saints
1967 Chiefs
1967 Raiders
1973 Quarterbacks
Vince Papale
King Corcoran
Assorted 1966 NFL QB cards
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World