San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers were 6-6-2 in 1966, finishing in 4th place for the 2nd consecutive year. 

 

Between 1958 and 1969, the 49ers never won more than 7 games in a season. They had a good 3-year run from 1970-72, winning 10, 9, and 8 games respectively while making the playoffs each year (something they wouldn’t reach again until 1981). 

 

Like all the dozen or so 1966 football cards I've had since the 1960s, the Bruce Bosley and Walt Rock cards are in sad shape.

 

John Brodie was the 49ers’ 1st pick (3rd overall) in the 1957 draft. He was the starting QB from 1960 to 1971, but missed 11 games in 1963. Brodie led the NFL in TD passes in ’65 and ’70, and made the Pro Bowl in both seasons. 

 

George Mira – The 49ers 2nd pick in 1964, Mira played for San Fran from 1964-68, never starting more than 2 games in a season. Before the 1969 season, he was traded to the Eagles, with the 49ers fleecing Philly out of their 1966 1st-round pick (Randy Beisler). He also played for the Colts (’70) and Dolphins (’71), and played in the CFL and WFL from 1972-77. This is a custom card by RetroCards. 

 

John David Crow – The Cardinals’ 1st-round pick (3rd overall) in 1958, he was their starting halfback from 1958-64, making 3 Pro Bowls while there. Moving to the 49ers in 1965, he was a starter for the remainder of his career (1965-68), playing halfback until switching to tight end in 1968. 

 

Ken Willard was the 49ers’ 1st-round pick in 1965 and was the starting fullback every year from 1965-73. A 4-time Pro Bowler, he finished up with the Cardinals in 1974. 

 

*Gary Lewis – A 6th-round pick in 1964, Lewis was a bench player until 1968, when he started every game for the 49ers. After another season on the bench (1969) he played 1 game for the Saints in 1970. 

 

Bernie Casey was the 49ers’ 1st-round pick in 1961. A reserve as a rookie, he was the starting flanker for 1962-66. He also played for the Rams from 1967-68, and made the Pro Bowl in 1967. After his playing career he became an actor, appearing in some blaxploitation flicks in the early-70s. He appeared in several dozen movies after that, including "Brian’s Song", "Sharky’s Machine", "Never Say Never Again", and "Another 48 Hours". 

 

Dave Parks - The first overall pick by the 49ers in 1964, Parks was their starting split end from 1964-67, making the Pro Bowl in his first 3 seasons. In 1965 he lead the league in receptions and receiving yards, and was named first-team All-Pro. He also played for the Saints from 1968-72, starting at split end before switching to tight end in 1969. Parks finished up with the Oilers in 1973. 

 

Bruce Bosley was drafted by the 49ers in 1956. After starting every game at defensive end as a rookie, he switched to offense and was their starting left guard from 1958-61. He was the team’s starting center from 1962-68, then played for the Falcons in 1969. 

 

Walt Rock – The 49ers’ 2nd-round pick in 1963, Rock played defensive end as a rookie then started every game at right offensive tackle from 1964-67. He was also a starting tackle for the Redskins from 1969-73. 

 

Tommy Davis was drafted by the 49ers in 1957, but did not play until 1959. He was the team’s kicker and punter from 1959-1969, making the Pro Bowl in ’62 and ’63. 

 

Jimmy Johnson was the 49ers’ 1st-round pick (6th overall) in 1961. The team’s starting right cornerback as a rookie, he switched to flanker in 1962. He was a defensive back every season from 1963-76, starting all but 8 games in those 14 years. After playing free safety in 1963, he moved to left cornerback in 1964. A 5-time Pro Bowler and 3-time first-team All-Pro, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. 

 

Kermit Alexander – The 49ers’ 1st-round pick in 1963, Alexander was a starter every season from 1963-69, usually at cornerback but playing free safety in ’64 and ’65. He was also a starter for the Rams from 1970-71, then finished his career as an Eagles' backup from 1972-73. He was also a kick and punt returner every season except 1972. 

 

Hall of Famers - 1

 

*Unknown to me before November 2023 

 

Next: Washington Redskins

Wow, Somebody Likes the Rams!

Since I started this blog a few months ago, I have posted 8 of the 15 NFL teams. Here are the views as of today: 

Atlanta Falcons - 21 

Detroit Lions - 14 

Los Angeles Rams - 456 

Minnesota Vikings - 11 

New York Giants - 11 

Philadelphia Eagles - 7 

Pittsburgh Steelers - 10 

St. Louis Cardinals - 6 (posted less than 1 week ago) 

 

St. Louis Cardinals

A few weeks ago, I added a "League Champions" chart and a link to the Vintage Blogroll to my football card blog sidebars. This week I have added 2 more items: 

1. A list of cards I still need to complete the set. 

2. Under the RetroCards ad, there is a list of all the sets I have purchased from them. I highly recommend these cards to everyone. They come in sets of 9 to 25 cards (depending on the team and year), and average out to less than $2.00 per card. 

 

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The Cardinals and the Bears (initially known as the Decatur Staleys) are the 2 oldest teams in the NFL, having been charter members in 1920. (The Packers joined in 1921.) 

 

The Cardinals moved from Chicago to St. Louis in 1960. In 1966 they finished with a record of 8-5-1, good for 4th place (out of 8 teams). 

 

Between 1948 and 2008, the only time they finished in 1st place was in ’74 and ’75. 

 

Charley Johnson was the Cardinals’ 10th-round pick in 1960. He was their starting QB from 1962-66, and again in 1969. (Johnson was in the Army during 1967-68, but received weekend passes to attend the games, backing up Jim Hart.) Johnson was the Oilers’ starting QB in ’70 and ’71, then after backing up rookie Dan Pastorini in 1971, he played for the Broncos from 1972-75, starting most games until his final season. 

Terry Nofsinger was drafted by the Steelers in 1961, and played 9 games (no starts) for them over 4 seasons. He played for the Cardinals from 1965-66, and started 5 games in 1966. He was also a backup for the Falcons in 1967. This card was not part of the original set, but was made by RetroCards. 

*Bill Triplett – The brother of Giants’ fullback Mel Triplett, Bill was drafted by the Gints in 1962, but played his first 4 seasons for the Cardinals. The Cards’ strong safety during his rookie year, he was their starting halfback in ’63 and ’65 (missing the 1964 season). After riding the Cardinals’ bench in 1966, he spent a year with the Giants, then played for the Lions from 1968-72. He was Detroit’s starting halfback in ’68 and ’69. 

*Willis Crenshaw was drafted by the Cardinals in 1963. After a year on the sidelines, he was their fullback from 1964-69, starting most games in ’65 and ’68. He finished up with the Broncos in 1970, starting 12 games at fullback. 

Bobby Joe Conrad was drafted by the Giants in 1958, but played his first 11 seasons (1958-68) with the Cardinals. A cornerback during his rookie year, he moved to flanker the next season and started all but 9 games there from 1959-68. He was also a kicker during his first 3 seasons. Conrad led the NFL with 73 receptions in 1963 and was named first-team All-Pro. He spent his final season (1969) with the Cowboys. 

*Sonny Randle – An undrafted free agent, Randle played for the Cardinals from 1959-66 and was their starting split end from 1960 to 1966, but missed 7 games in 1964. He made the Pro Bowl 4 times and was named first-team All-Pro in 1960. He also played for the 49ers and Cowboys from 1967-68. 

 

Bob DeMarco was drafted by the Cardinals in 1960. After a year on the taxi squad and another year as a backup guard, he was their starting center from 1962-69, making 3 Pro Bowls in that time and was named first-team All-Pro in 1967. He was also the starting center for the Dolphins (1970-71) and Browns (1972-74), and finished up with the Rams in 1975. 

 

Jim Bakken had a 17-year career (1962-78), all with the Cardinals. During that time, he made 4 Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro in ’75 and ’76. He was also the Cardinals’ punter in ’65 and ’66. This is the only Cardinals' card I had before 2023. I got it sometime in the late-1960s, and it's in bad shape.

 

*Sam Silas – Drafted by the Patriots in 1963, he instead signed as a free agent with the Cardinals and was their starting left defensive tackle from 1964-67, making the Pro Bowl in 1965. He also played for the Giants in 1968 and the 49ers from 1969-70. 

 

*Dale Meinert was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1955, but did not play until 1958. He was the Cards’ starting left guard from 1958-59, and their starting middle linebacker from 1960-67. He made 3 Pro Bowls as a middle linebacker. 

 

Pat Fischer was drafted by the Cardinals in 1961. After a season on the bench, he was their starting left cornerback from 1962-67, making 2 Pro Bowls and getting a first-team All-Pro nod in 1964. He was also the Redskins’ starting left cornerback for 10 seasons (1968-77)  and made a 3rd Pro Bowl appearance in 1969. He started 3 games in 1977, then retired due to a back injury. 

 

Larry Wilson was the Cardinals’ 7th-round pick in 1960, and was their starting free safety for 13 seasons (1960-72) missing only 9 games in that span. An 8-time Pro Bowler and 5-time first-team All-Pro, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978. He was also the team’s head coach in 1979. 

 

Hall of Famers - 1 

*Unknown to me before November 2023 

 

Next: San Francisco 49ers 

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

In the Steelers’ first 39 years (1933-71), they only had 7 winning seasons, and won their division only once (1947). 

 

In 1966 they finished with a 5-8-1 record, which although was an improvement over 1965’s 2-12 record, they quickly regressed, posting records of 4-9-1, 2-11-1, and 1-13 over the next 3 years, before finally turning it around in 1970 (Terry Bradshaw’s first season). From 1972 to 1979, they made the playoffs every season, including 4 Super Bowl wins. 

 

Because of the dark green nameplate, it’s hard to read the names on these cards. There are four running backs included, but no linemen or linebackers. 

 

I’ve had the Clarence Peaks card since the late-1960s, and got all the rest in the past 3 months. 

 

Bill Nelsen was the Steelers’ 10th-round pick in 1963. He played for Pittsburgh from 1963-67, but only started more than 5 games once (12 in 1965). He was the Browns’ starting QB from 1968-71, and a backup in 1972. 

 

Dick Hoak went to high school in the Pittsburgh area, then played at Penn State. He was the Steelers’ 7th pick in 1961, and played for them his entire career (1961-70). He was their starting halfback in ’63, ’65, ’66, '68, and ’69. He started no games in 1970, having been replaced by the newly-acquired Preston Pearson. 

 

*Jim “Cannonball” Butler was drafted by the Steelers in the 14th round in 1965. After 3 seasons on the bench, he played for the Falcons from 1968-71, starting almost every game from 1969-71 and making the Pro Bowl in 1969. He also played for the Cardinals in 1972. 

 

*Mike Lind was drafted by the 49ers in 1963, and played 2 seasons with them, followed by 2 seasons with the Steelers. He started 9 games at fullback in both ‘64 and ‘65. 

 

Clarence Peaks was the Eagles’ 1st-round pick in 1957. He was their starting fullback for most of 1957-63, although he missed 7 games in 1960. He finished his career with the Steelers in ’64 and ’65.

 

Roy Jefferson – Picked in the 2nd round in 1965, Jefferson was one of the few bright spots for this team until Joe Greene and Terry Bradshaw showed up at the end of the decade. A backup in his rookie season, he was the Steelers’ starting flanker from 1966 to 1969, making the Pro Bowl in his last 2 years and leading the NFL with 1074 receiving yards in 1968. 

 

After a 1-year stay in Baltimore (including winning Super Bowl V), he was a starter for the Redskins from 1971-76. 

 

Gary Ballman – The Steelers’ 8th pick in 1962, Ballman was a starting wideout from 1964 to 1966. Just before the 1967 season he was traded to the Eagles. He was their starting split end for 2 seasons, then moved to tight end in 1969 upon the acquisition of Harold Jackson. After 6 seasons in Philly, he played his final season (1972) with the Giants and Vikings.  

 

Mike Clark – After kicking for the Eagles in 1963, Clark spent the next 4 seasons with the Steelers, including a trip to the Pro Bowl in 1966. He also kicked for the Cowboys from 1968 to 1971, and a few games in 1973. 

 

*Clendon Thomas was the Rams’ 2nd-round pick in 1958. After 3 seasons as a backup defensive back, he was their starting free safety in 1961. He also had 17 receptions as a flanker in 1960. Clendon was a starting safety for the Steelers from 1963 to 1968, and made the Pro Bowl in 1963. From 1964-65, he also collected 42 receptions while playing split end.

 

*Jim Bradshaw – Drafted by the Steelers in 1963, Bradshaw was a starting safety from 1964-67. 

 

*Frank Lambert was the Steelers’ punter in 1965 and 1966. He punted 78 times each season, leading the NFL in 1965. 

 

Hall of Famers - 0

 

*Unknown to me before November 2023

 

Next: St. Louis Cardinals

Philadelphia Eagles

So that I don't have to duplicate my past efforts, here is a link to my 1966 Philadelphia Eagles cards that I posted on my Eagles blog in 2019. 

 

Hall of Famers - 2

 

Next: Pittsburgh Steelers