Card: 1964 Topps Football #92

Team/Position: Kansas City Chiefs / Defensive Tackle

Cost: $6.00

There’s so much history wrapped up in this card I’m just not sure where to start.  Rather than digging into the history of Topps, the AFL, or Buck Buchanan right off the bat; I’ll just discuss the overall appearance of the card.  While ’64 can’t compare to the downright gold that is the 1965 Topps set; I love the bold colours and star-spangled border.

When you compare the ’64 Topps to it’s NFL-counterpart, the ’64 Philadelphia, it’s really a matter of taste.  The AFL cards are flashy and filled with bright colours, while the NFL cards are beautiful in more of a historical kinda way.

Topps was limited to only producing AFL cards from ’64 to ’67 and this was their real first effort.  You can see the beginnings of the ’65 set in the bright colours and great poses of the ’64 set.

Now onto Junious “Buck” Buchanan:

Buck Buchanan made history after the Kansas City Chiefs made him the first African-American to be selected first overall in an entry draft*.

Buchanan came from the traditionally African-American school, Grambling University, where he learned under one of the greatest college coaches of all time in Eddie Robinson.

The NFL largely ignored these hotbeds of talent, as shown by the New York Giants selecting Buchanan in the 19th round compared to the first-overall selection.

Buchanan would go on to be selected to six All-AFL teams and win two AFL Championships with the Kansas City Chiefs.  Buchanan was part of a dominant front four that’d go on to win the Superbowl in ’69 after falling short against the Green Bay Packers in the very first Superbowl in ’66.

Buchanan had the speed and strength required to be one of the best defensive players of all time.  Weighing in at 275lbs was no small feet during the ’60s and being able to run 10.2 in the 100 at that size was just unbelievable.

In 1990, Buchanan was finally elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Buchanan was also selected as the 67th best overall football player by the Sporting News.  It’s quite fitting that I’ve done Merlin Olsen and Buck Buchanan back-to-back, as they’re probably both in the top-five defensive tackles of all-time and both played during the same era, but in different leagues.  Bob Lilly, arguably the greatest defensive tackle of all time, also played the majority of his career in the 1960′s — If you were into skilled defensive tackles, the ’60′s was for you.

*Ernie Davis, who inspired the movie “The Express” was selected first overall by the Washington Redskins and traded to the Cleveland Browns two years previous, but never played a single down of football unfortunately.

Card: 1964 Philadelphia Football #91

Team/Position: Los Angeles Rams / Defensive Tackle

Cost: $4.00

Depending on when you discovered the wonderful game of football, you’ll definitely have a different opinion of Merlin Olsen.

Olsen played 15 years of Pro Football all with the same team:  The Los Angeles Rams.  If you were watching the game anywhere from 1962 to 1976, you know Merlin Olsen as a hard-working, smart,  defensive beast that couldn’t help but work his way to the Pro-Bowl in 14 of his 15 seasons.

Arguably more impressive than the 14 Pro Bowls, a record that he shares with Bruce Matthews, is Olsen’s participation in every single game.  Olsen didn’t miss a game in his entire 15-year career, as a defensive end!Along with Olsen, the Rams’ defensive line consisted of Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Roosevelt Grier — The Fearsome Foursome.  Without a doubt, this was one of the greatest defensive lines ever assembled.

After Olsen’s playing career came to an end, he quickly teamed-up with Dick Enberg to form one of the better broadcasting teams of the 1980′s.

Around the same period, Olsen enjoyed moderate success as an actor.  Olsen stared on Little House on the Prairie as Jonathan Garvey for 49 episodes alongside Michael Landon.

Finally, in one of the better lines of Anchor Man, Will Farrell claims to know Merlin Olsen to impress a woman.

Olsen’s Alma-Mater, Utah State, recently re-named the field to honour their greatest player, none other than Merlin Olsen!

I really love these Philadelphia cards, especially the backs.  As you can see Olsen was a great student, and eventually went on to earn a masters degree in Economics during the off-season.

Card: 1948 Leaf Gum Co., Card #16

Team/Position: Philadelphia Eagles / Wide Receiver, Defensive End

Cost: $15.25

I had yet another chance to add a 1948 Bowman to my collection, but once again decided on the Leaf alternative.  It’s not that the ’48 Bowman set is ugly or the ’48 Leaf set is gorgeous, it’s just a preference thing.

The Leaf Gum Co., set offers a little bit of colour and a couple different variations; whereas the Bowman offering is a simple, but gorgeous, black and white photograph.  If you’re interested in checking out the Bowman, here’s the link:

Pete Pihos was the epitome of an early football player:  hard-nosed, intelligent, and more than anything he played the game the right way.  Pihos was a two-way star at Indiana before leaving to dedicate a year of his life to the U.S. Army in 1944.  Upon Pihos’ return in 1945, he helped lead Indiana to it’s first Big-10 title en route to a 9-0-1 season.  The only blemish that year was Pihos and Howard Brown’s first game after returning from WWII (a tie w/ Northwestern in the second game of the season). He led the Hoosiers in scoring in both 45 and 46 and was eventually named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966.

Pihos began his nine-year professional career, a career in which he’d miss only one game, with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Originally, Pihos was considered a two-way player before primarily switching to offense.  However, with Philly in dire need of a defensive end, Pete switched to the defensive side of the ball in 1952 and didn’t miss a beat as he put together an All-Pro season.

On offense, Pihos wasn’t spectacularly quick or fast, but possessed terrific hands and the physicality to repeatedly out-muscle defenders.  Pihos helped the Eagles to their first Championship Game in his rookie season, in large part due to a blocked punt that he returned for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Eagles would go on to win three consecutive division titles and two championships after Pihos’ arrival.

Pete Pihos would make the Pro Bowl from 1950 to 1955 (inclusively) and take home six All-Pro or All-NFL awards.  He also lead the league in receiving in 1953 through 1955.

On his career, Pihos amassed over 5600 yards on 373 receptions and will forever be tied to the early Eagles with Steve Van Buren and Chuck Bednarik.

Card: 1970 Topps Football Card #59

Team/Position: Minnesota Vikings / Defensive Tackle

Cost: $9.00

Alan Page might be the most interesting man to ever play the game of football.  As a member of the Vikings, Page was a key part of the Purple People Eaters that lead the Vikes to 4 Superbowl Appearances.

Page’s rookie card was released shortly after the Minnesota Vikings met the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IV.  Topps put forth a solid effort in 1970, while the card wasn’t anything special, it was catchy and featured very beautiful close up photos.  Along with Alan Page, O.J. Simpson (haven’t bought it yet) and Lem Barney (on it’s way) were featured as rookies in this set.

If you’re hungry for an Alan Page RC, you can probably grab one off of ebay for 3 bucks or there are a couple over at CheckOutMyCards.com for under 6 bucks.

Page, my friends, is a very smart man.  In addition to playing football at Notre Dame, Page also went to class and if you’re observant you’ll realize Topps told us that Page was an outstanding student at Notre Dame.

“I’m Out…Standing!”

While playing for the Vikings, Page attended classes at the University of Minnesota where he eventually went on to get his J.D.

In 1992, Page was elected as an Associate Justice on the Minnesota State Supreme Court.  Page continues to sit, after being re-elected on two occasions (1998 & 2004)

As a member of the Vikings, Page was a dominant interior lineman.  In 1970, Page was named the NFL defensive player of the year, a feat he repeated in 1971 along with garnering the NFL MVP (the first time the award was given to a defensive player).

Other notable accomplishments include six first-team and three second-team All Pros, nine Pro Bowls, and induction into both the Pro and College Football Hall of Fames.

On his career, Page had 148.5 sacks split between the Vikings on the Bears. In 1976, Page notched 18 sacks and has been credited with 5 other seasons of at least 10 sacks.  Page also had 22 fumbles recovered and three safeties.

By the end of Page’s career, his weight had dropped from 260lbs in 1970 to 220lbs in 1979.  Page’s weight loss was attributed to his running routine of over 30 miles per week during the playing season.  Alan Page became the first professional football player to complete a marathon during his playing career.

Page did dabble in the typical career path for a retired player, working for TBS’ College Football broadcast, but for the most part, Alan Page has taken the road less traveled.