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1962 Topps football card of former NFL defensive end Doug Atkins, a massive 6’8″ man who enjoyed a long, successful 17 year career in pro football. He was a 10 time All Pro, made the Pro Bowl 8 times and was selected to the All Decade Team for the 1960s. He played most of his career with the Chicago Bears, helping them win a pair of NFL titles, in 1954 and 1963. He finished his playing days with the expansion New Orleans Saints, and despite playing only 3 seasons there, made the Pro Bowl in ’68 and had his jersey # 81 retired by the franchise. Atkins, who passed away in 2015, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

1961 Fleer football card of the greatest NFL player of all time, Cleveland Browns’ fullback Jim Brown. He played only 9 seasons in the league before retiring to make movies, but those 9 years were amazing. Brown led the league in rushing 8 of his 9 seasons, was Rookie of The Year in 1957, was a three time NFL MVP, named All Pro all 9 years of his career, was named to the All Decade team of the 1960s and led the Browns to an NFL Championship in 1964. He used his fame to help the cause of the Civil Rights movement in the ’60s and still champions causes to help troubled youth today. He also enjoyed a successful acting career, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

1949 Leaf football card of a National Football League legendary quarterback, Sid Luckman of the Chicago Bears. After a stellar college career at Columbia University, Bears’ owner George Halas wanted him for his team, but Luckman initially wasn’t interested in pro football, preferring to go work for his father’s trucking company. Halas convinced him otherwise, and Luckman went on to revolutionize the pro game running a T-formation offense that won 4 NFL titles in the 1940s. Besides being a four-time champ, Luckman was a five-time All Pro, NFL MVP in 1943, was named to the All Decade team for the 1940s and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965. He passed away at the age of 81 in 1998.

1964 Topps football card of former pro football defensive tackle Jim Dunaway, who played 10 seasons in the AFL and NFL, all but one with the Buffalo Bills. He was a four-time AFL All Star and spent his final pro season in 1972 with the undefeated Miami Dolphins. He was a teammate for 3 seasons of O.J. Simpson, and like Simpson, was charged but never found guilty in the murder of his ex-wife in 1998.

The Arizona Cardinals own the top selection in this year’s NFL college draft, and this is a 1959 Topps football card of the last player to be selected first overall by the Cardinal franchise, quarterback King Hill. He was chosen in 1958 with a “lottery bonus” pick, and halfback John David Crow was selected second overall, also by the Cards, who were based in Chicago at the time. Although he never was a star player, Hill played 11 seasons in the NFL with various teams, his longest stint ( 8 years) being with the Philadelphia Eagles. After retiring, he worked as an assistant coach and scout in Houston and New Orleans, was an avid golfer and aided in various charitable causes, including Ronald McDonald House, Big Brothers and Special Olympics. Hill passed away in 2012 at the age of 75.

2014 Bowman Chrome football card of NFL running back Frank Gore, a soon to be 36 year old who recently signed to play his 15th season in the league for the Buffalo Bills. He had most of his success in his first 10 years in San Francisco with the 49ers, but has proven to be a durable back. A five-time Pro Bowler, Gore is fourth on the NFL’s list of all-time rushing leaders, and should be a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he decides to  retire.

1968 Topps football card of former Cleveland Browns’ guard Gene Hickerson, who enjoyed a solid 15 year career in the NFL, all with the Browns. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and lead blocker on the Browns’ line for 3 different 1,000 yard rushers, all of whom are Hall of Famers – Bobby Mitchell, Jim Brown and LeRoy Kelly. Hickerson was voted to the NFL’s All Decade team for the 1960s, played on the Browns’ 1964 championship team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. He passed away in 2008.

1961 Fleer football card of former Green Bay Packer split end Max McGee, who played 11 seasons, over a 13 year period from 1954 to 1967, missing the ’55 and ’56 seasons while serving as a pilot in the Air Force. He was the team’s punter early in his career, but saw more time as a receiver after Vince Lombardi took over as coach in 1959. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and a member of 5 Packer championship teams. McGee suffered from Alzheimer’s disease late in life, and died from injuries he sustained from a fall from the roof of his home, while using a leaf blower to remove leaves, in 2007 at the age of 75.

1972 Topps football card of former pro football placekicker Jim O’Brien, who had a short and mostly uneventful 4 year career in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts and Detroit Lions. Playing in the tail end of an era where kickers also played other positions (the early 1970s), he was also a wide receiver. O’Brien made only 60 of 108 field goal attempts in his career, but in his rookie season of 1970, he booted a 32 yarder with 5 seconds left in Super Bowl V to give the Colts a championship victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

1969 Topps football card of former Buffalo Bills’ offensive tackle Stew Barber, who played 9 seasons for the team in their American Football League days in the 1960s. He was originally signed as a linebacker, and played there in his rookie season, recording 3 interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown. He was moved to tackle in his next season and settled in nicely there, as he helped the team win 2 AFL championships and  was named a league All Star 5 times. He stayed with the franchise after retiring as a player, working as a scout and eventually working his way up to general manager.