Johnny Lee Stallworth: 1978 Topps Football
Player: John Stallworth
Card: 1978 Topps Football Card #320
Team/Position: Pittsburgh Steelers / Wide Reciever
Cost: Purchased In Lot (About 2 Bucks)
Johnny Lee Stallworth didn’t get a card until 1978 after the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the fourth round of 1974. By the time Topps had produced him a card, Stallworth had already been to two Super Bowls.
Steelers’ Coach, Chuck Noll, added Stallworth from Alabama A&M to an already loaded draft. In total, the 1974 draft churned out Stallworth, Swann, Lambert and Webster — That’s FOUR Hall of Famers in one draft class, folks.
Stallworth, like many of the Steelers, produced when it mattered the most. In the 1978 Super Bowl (XIII) against the Dallas Cowboys, Stallworth went off in the first half for two touchdowns before missing most of the second half due to cramping.
Stallworth’s 75-yard gain against Dallas only served to set the stage for Stallworth’s game winning 73-yard follow up in Super Bowl XIV the next year. I’m sure you’ve seen it, but here’s Stallworth’s catch through the eyes of Sports Illustrated:
What Makes Stallworth Special?
The Rings. Just about every Steeler from the Chuck Noll-era seems to have made the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, Johnny Stallworth won four Super Bowls, but the other stats aren’t all that gaudy.
Personally, I tend to think that far too much emphasis is placed on Championships. Both Lynn Swann and John Stallworth were very good receivers, but their statistics alone don’t put them into the Hall of Fame.
Stallworth finished up his career with 8723 receiving yards, 4 Pro Bowl selections, and a Come Back Player of the Year Award from 1984.
After Football…
As you can see, the back of the card says, “John is an Insurance Agent and is taking college courses in that field.”
Stallworth continued taking classes after 1978 and eventually earned a Bachelor of Sciences in Business at Alabama A & M. In 1986, Stallworth founded MRC (Madison Research Corp.) which did engineering and information technology consulting for the government, here’s the wikipedia blurb:
In 1986, he founded Madison Research Corporation (MRC), which specialized in providing engineering and information technology services to government and commercial clients. Under Stallworth’s leadership, MRC grew to more than 650 employees and $69.5 million in revenues(FY03). MRC manages six regional offices: Huntsville, Alabama (headquarters); Warner Robins, Georgia; Orlando, Florida and Shalimar, Florida; Montgomery, Alabama; Houston, Texas; and Dayton, Ohio. In October 2006, the sale of MRC to Wireless Facilities Inc. was completed, and at that time it was announced that Stallworth would pursue other interests.
Those other interests? Giving cash-money to Mr. Ed Rooney and becoming part-owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
John Stallworth’s success absolutely blows my mind, while simultaneously cracking me up. After watching Stallworth on the gridiron where war analogies are often over-used, it’s quite enjoyable to think of him running an actual war-machine — presenting, and providing comprehensive information to the government on guns, and armored trucks, and stuff like that.
Panini got Stallworth to sit down last year and sign a bunch of stickers, but they also got him to sign for National Treasures. I’m not a huge fan of these cards, but meh..
Comments