Nearmint’s Vintage Football Card Blog

Tom Brookshier, defensive back for the Eagles in 1953 and from 1956 to 1961, died on January 29. Brookshier had 8 interceptions in his rookie season, and a total of 20 in his career. He made the Pro Bowl in 1959 and 1960, and he was a member of the Eagles’ 1960 championship team. The Eagles later retired his number. (The two-year gap in his career was time that he spent in the Air Force.)

After his playing career, Brookshier became a TV broadcaster. In the 1970s, he and Pat Summerall were CBS’s top broadcasting team, and they announced three Super Bowls together. This is how I remember Brookshier and Summerall, from watching lots of football on Sundays. I didn’t know that they had been players until I started collecting vintage cards.

Shown here is Brookshier’s rookie card, from the 1960 Topps set. He also appeared on a 1961 Topps card and on a 1962 Post Cereal card, though he did not play in 1962.

Jack Zilly, who played offensive end and defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, died on December 18. In college, Zilly played on Notre Dame’s national championship teams of 1943 and 1946. In the intervening two years, he served in World War II. Before his rookie season with the Rams, Zilly played in the 1947 College All-Star game, scoring a touchdown in the All-Stars’ win over the Chicago Bears. He played for the Rams from 1947 to 1951, finished his career with the Eagles in 1952, and went on to coach at Montana State and Notre Dame.

Zilly is pictured here on his 1951 Bowman football card. I always liked this action shot, with the grass flying up behind him and the ball entering the picture in the upper right. Zilly also appeared on a 1950 Bowman card, and his obituary in the Los Angeles Times has a nice action photo of him with the Rams.

Al Dorow, who played quarterback for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Titans, Buffalo Bills, and three CFL teams, died on December 7. Dorow was the New York Titans’ starting quarterback when the AFL started play in 1960. (The Titans became the Jets in 1963.) There is a detailed article about Dorow’s career on the profootballresearchers.com web site.

Pictured here is Dorow’s rookie card, a 1955 Bowman. Over his career, he appeared on five NFL and AFL cards. He also appeared on one CFL card, in 1959. I don’t have Dorow’s CFL card, but there are a lot of them on eBay.

Eddie Bell, who played defensive back and linebacker from 1955 to 1960 for the Philadelphia Eagles, Hamilton Tiger Cats, and New York Titans, died on November 16. Bell’s obituary at philly.com provides a nice summary of his career.

Pictured here is Bell’s rookie card, a 1955 Bowman. Two things about the card are notable: first, it was unusual in the 1950’s for defensive players to appear on cards in their rookie seasons (see D is for Defensive Players), and second, 1955 Bowmans are the only vintage football cards I can think of that indicated which players were rookies.

Bell also appeared with the Eagles on 1956 and 1957 Topps cards. You can see all three of Bell’s cards in the Vintage Football Card Gallery.

In 1956, Topps held a logo lookalike contest, and Norm Willey won it with this pose. No, not really, but he does look like he’s doing an eagle imitation, doesn’t he? I have always loved this card for the pose.

I tried to think of other players who resemble the logos on their cards, but I didn’t come up with any. There must be players who look like mean bears or lions. Can anyone think of more?

• Search for Norm Willey cards on: Nearmint’s Cards, eBay