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 

 

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