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