Leroy Kelly: 1967 Philadelphia Football
Player: Leroy Kelly
Card: 1967 Philadelphia Football Card #43
Team/Position: Cleveland Browns / Runningback
Cost: $13.00
For some reason, this card eluded me for a good chunk of time. When I finally saw one on eBay, I pounced all over it. I probably ended up overpaying for a GAI graded 2, but at least I’m able to check it off the list.
Leroy Kelly was drafted by the Browns in the eighth round of the 1964 NFL Draft; seven rounds after Paul Warfield. Kelly went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Browns, while Warfield went on to do the same with the Dolphins.
After becoming the starting runningback in 1966, Leroy went on to amass three consecutive 1000-yard seasons. 1966 was also the start of Kelly’s streak of six consecutive Pro Bowl and five consecutive All Pro selections. Kelly was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1970, but failed to make the First-Team All American squad that year.
Kelly lead the league in rushing yards in ’67 and ’68 and rushing touchdowns in ’67 through ’69.
Kelly was blessed with a great combination of acceleration, balance and evasiveness, which allowed him to excel in the less than ideal conditions of Cleveland.
Kelly was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994, yet is still often overlooked in the grand scheme of things. Kelly piled up terrific yardage numbers, yet many are beginning to fall to the wayside as the NFL trudges along with it’s evolution.
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