Milestone Birthdays

Happy Birthday, Emmitt Thomas!

June 3rd, 2013  |  Published in Milestone Birthdays

Emmitt Thomas 1972 Topps rookie football cardHall of Fame defensive back Emmitt Thomas is celebrating his 70th birthday today. Thomas played from 1966 to 1978, all for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played in both of the team’s two Super Bowls: a loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I, and a win against the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. He had 58 career interceptions, still a Chiefs record, and he is 11th on the list of all-time interception leaders in the NFL.

After retiring as a player, Thomas began a long coaching career. He is currently the defensive backs coach for the Chiefs, a position he has held since 2010. The 2013 season will be his 33rd as an NFL assistant coach.

Thomas is pictured here on his rookie football card, a 1972 Topps. He appeared on many more cards, as well.

Happy birthday, Mr. Thomas!

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Happy Birthday, Gale Sayers!

May 30th, 2013  |  Published in Milestone Birthdays

Gale Sayers 1971 Bazooka football cardHall of Fame running back Gale Sayers is celebrating his 70th birthday today. Sayers played from 1965 to 1971 for the Chicago Bears, and he was named first team All-NFL in five of his seven seasons. He led the league in rushing in 1966 and 1969, in yards from scrimmage in 1966, and in all-purpose yards in 1965, 1966, and 1967. In 1965 he also led the NFL in scoring, with 132 points.

Sayers is pictured here on his 1971 Bazooka football card. He appeared on many more cards, stamps, and stickers, as well.

Happy birthday, Mr. Sayers!

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Happy Birthday, Andy Nelson!

May 27th, 2013  |  Published in Milestone Birthdays

1959 Topps Andy Nelson rookie football cardFormer NFL defensive back Andy Nelson is celebrating his 80th birthday today. Nelson played from 1957 to 1964 for the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants. He led the NFL in interception return yards in 1958, he was named first team All-NFL in 1959, and he helped the Colts win NFL championships in 1958 and 1959.

After football, Nelson started a barbeque restaurant in Maryland that his family still runs. You can see recent photos of him on the restaurant’s web site.

Nelson is pictured here on his rookie card, a 1959 Topps. He also appeared on a 1962 Topps football card.

According to oldestlivingproplayers.com, Nelson is the 496th oldest living professional American football player.

Happy birthday, Mr. Nelson!

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Happy Birthday, Glenn Ressler, Johnny Roland, and John Wilbur!

May 21st, 2013  |  Published in Milestone Birthdays

Glenn Ressler 1974 Topps football cardA trio of players in the Vintage Football Card Gallery are celebrating milestone birthdays today: Glenn Ressler, Johnny Roland, and John Wilbur are all 70.

Glenn Ressler played guard from 1965 to 1974 for the Baltimore Colts. He was a starter in Super Bowl III, which the Colts lost to the New York Jets, and in Super Bowl V, which the Colts won against the Dallas Cowboys. Before his pro career, Ressler starred at center and middle guard at Penn State. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Ressler is pictured here on his 1974 Topps football card.

Johnny Roland 1967 Philadelphia rookie football cardJohnny Roland was a running back from 1966 to 1973 for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Giants. Roland was named the UPI NFL Rookie of the Year in 1966, and he made the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons. He played college football at Missouri, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998. After retiring as a player, Roland went on to a long coaching career. His rookie card, a 1967 Philadelphia, is shown here.

John Wilbur 1973 Topps rookie football cardJohn Wilbur played guard from 1966 to 1974 for the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and Washington Redskins. He started at right guard in Super Bowl VII, which the Redskins lost to the undefeated Miami Dolphins. Wilbur is pictured here on his 1973 Topps football card.

Happy birthday, Messrs. Ressler, Roland, and Wilbur!

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Happy Birthday, Carroll Hardy!

May 18th, 2013  |  Published in Milestone Birthdays

Carroll Hardy 1955 49ers team issue photoCarroll Hardy, who played halfback for one season with the San Francisco 49ers, is celebrating his 80th birthday today. Hardy made the most of his opportunities to handle the football: on 12 pass receptions, he gained 338 yards and scored 4 touchdowns. He is pictured here, in a great pose, on his 1955 49ers team issue photo.

Hardy is better known as a baseball player. After his stint with the 49ers, he played major league baseball for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Houston Colt .45s, and Minnesota Twins. I don’t have his baseball cards, but you can see lots of them on eBay.

According to oldestlivingproplayers.com, Hardy is the 494th oldest living professional American football player.

Happy birthday, Mr. Hardy!

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Happy Birthday, Donny Anderson!

May 16th, 2013  |  Published in Milestone Birthdays

Donny Anderson 1968 Topps rookie football cardFormer NFL running back and punter Donny Anderson is celebrating his 70th birthday today. Anderson played from 1966 to 1974 for the Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Cardinals. He gained over 1000 yards from scrimmage four times, and he made the Pro Bowl with the Packers in 1968. He played on the Packers teams that won the first two Super Bowls.

Before his pro career, Anderson starred at Texas Tech. He is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

Anderson is pictured here on his rookie card, a 1968 Topps. He also appeared on at least a dozen more cards, stamps, and stickers.

Happy birthday, Mr. Anderson!

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Happy Birthday, Rickie Harris!

May 15th, 2013  |  Published in Milestone Birthdays

Rickie Harris 1969 Topps football cardFormer NFL and WFL player Rickie Harris is celebrating his 70th birthday today. Harris was a defensive back and return specialist from 1965 to 1972 for the Washington Redskins and New England Patriots. He had the NFL’s longest punt return in 1969, 86 yards for a touchdown. He finished his career in the World Football League, playing for the Florida Blazers in 1974 and the Memphis Southmen in 1975.

Harris is shown here on his 1969 Topps football card. He appeared on several other cards, as well.

Happy birthday, Mr. Harris!

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Happy Birthday, Fred Dugan!

May 12th, 2013  |  Published in Milestone Birthdays

Fred Dugan 1963 Topps football cardFormer NFL end Fred Dugan is celebrating his 80th birthday today. Dugan played from 1958 to 1963 for the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins. His best season was 1961, when he gained 817 yards on 53 receptions for the Redskins.

Dugan is shown here on his 1963 Topps football card, one of the short prints in the set. He appeared on several other cards, as well.

Dugan is the 493rd oldest living pro American football player, according to oldestlivingprofootball.com.

Happy birthday, Mr. Dugan!

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Happy Birthday, Ron Smith and Jim Butler!

May 4th, 2013  |  Published in Milestone Birthdays

Two players in the Vintage Football Card Gallery have just turned 70: Ron Smith’s 70th birthday was yesterday, and Jim Butler’s is today.

Ron Smith 1972 Topps football cardRon Smith was a defensive back and kick returner in the NFL from 1965 to 1974. He started his career with the Chicago Bears, then went to the Atlanta Falcons, the Los Angeles Rams, the Bears again, the San Diego Chargers, and the Oakland Raiders. In 1966 and 1967, with Atlanta, he led the league in kick return yards. In 1972, with Chicago, he led the league in kick return average. He also made the Pro Bowl in 1972.

Smith is pictured here on his 1972 Topps football card. He appeared on at least seven other cards and stamps, as well.

Jim Butler 1969 Glendale StampJim “Cannonball” Butler was a fullback and kick returner from 1965 to 1972 for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, and St. Louis Cardinals. (Coincidentally, he succeeded Smith as Atlanta’s kick returner in 1968.) Butler’s best season was 1969, when he gained 1357 all-purpose yards: 655 rushing, 297 receiving, and 405 returning kicks. He also made the Pro Bowl in 1969.

Butler is pictured here on his 1969 Glendale stamp. He also appeared on numerous other stamps and cards.

Happy birthday, Messrs. Smith and Butler!

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Happy Birthday, Elbert Drungo and Brian Schweda!

April 30th, 2013  |  Published in Milestone Birthdays

Elbert Drungo 1974 Topps rookie football cardTwo players in the Vintage Football Card Gallery are celebrating milestone birthdays today: Elbert Drungo and Brian Schweda are both 70.

Elbert Drungo was an offensive lineman from 1969 to 1978 for the Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills. He is pictured here on his rookie card, a 1974 Topps. He also appeared on a 1975 Topps card and a 1972 Sunoco stamp.

Brian Schweda 1969 Saints DoubloonBrian Schweda played defensive end from 1966 to 1968 for the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. He was one of the original Saints, obtained from the Bears in the 1967 NFL Expansion draft. As far as I know, Schweda never appeared on a card, but he did appear on a 1969 Saints Doubloon, pictured here.

Happy birthday, Messrs. Drungo and Schweda!

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