R.C. Owens, 49ers, Colts, and Giants Receiver

June 19th, 2012  |  Published in Player Deaths

R.C. Owens 1959 Topps football cardR.C. Owens, 49ers, a receiver from 1957 to 1964 for the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Colts, and New York Giants, passed away on June 17. Owens was known for his “alley oop” catches, which you can see him demonstrating on the San Francisco Chronicle web site. Owens was the first 49er receiver with 1000 yards receiving in one season; he accomplished that in 1961. He was inducted into the 49ers Hall of Fame in 2011.

Owens appeared on several football cards with the 49ers. His 1959 Topps card is pictured here. His rookie card, a 1958 Topps, pictures Don Owens, unfortunately.

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Trivia Tuesday

May 1st, 2012  |  Published in Trivia Questions

It’s Trivia Tuesday! Just pick the “Answer” links to see the answers.

    1958 Topps R.C. Owens rookie football card

  1. What is the error on R.C. Owens’s 1958 Topps football card, pictured here? Answer
  2. Who were the first two players elected to the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame? Answer
  3. What USC quarterback, who appeared on a 1955 Topps All-American football card, became a film editor and received an Academy Award for his work in Mary Poppins? Answer
  4. What Hall of Fame defensive tackle, who spent his entire 14-year NFL career with the San Franciso 49ers, was born in Lucca, Italy? Answer
  5. What Pro Football Hall of Famer was married for 25 years to actress Jane Russell? Answer
  6. What member of the College Football Hall of Fame, who spent most of his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings, played Officer Joe Coffey in the TV series Hill Street Blues? Answer
  7. One card in the 1935 National Chicle football card set does not picture an NFL player. Which card is it? Answer

Like these? See my trivia questions from past weeks.

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The San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame

February 21st, 2012  |  Published in Halls of Fame

R.C. Owens 1959 Topps football cardYesterday I identified the members of the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame in the Vintage Football Card Gallery. The 49ers Hall of Fame was created recently, in 2009, so most of the inductees thus far have been members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I presume that over the next few years, the 49ers will add team stars that have not been inducted into the Pro Hall.

Pictured here is one of the 2011 inductees, R.C. Owens, on his 1959 Topps card. (Ordinarily I feature players’ rookie cards, but Owens’s rookie card pictures Don Owens, not R.C.) Owens played his first five seasons for the 49ers, then moved on to other teams. After retiring as a player, he returned to work for the 49ers for over 20 years.

The 49ers web site has a list of the all of the team’s hall of famers, along with photos and short summaries of their careers. I especially like the photo of John Henry Johnson, who is wearing a funky clear facemask.

If you’re not a 49ers fan, you can probably find your team’s Hall of Famers via the Gallery’s Advanced Search page. Not all teams have a hall of fame, but I have finished most of the teams that do.

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