1981 Topps football card of former pro football quarterback Lynn Dickey, who played 15 seasons in the NFL for the Houston Oilers and Green Bay Packers. He had limited success in Houston, although he guided the Oilers to their only win in a 1-13 season in 1973. After being traded to Green Bay, he broke a leg in 1977 and missed almost 2 complete seasons. He did attain All Pro honors in 1983, and is a member of the Packers’ Hall of Fame.
1970 Topps football card of former wide receiver Haven Moses, who enjoyed a long 14 year career in pro football with the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos. He is a member of Denver’s Ring of Honor and was a two-time Pro Bowler. Moses was a key player on the Broncos’ 1977 AFC championship team. He still holds a couple of franchise receiving records despite playing in an era that empathized the running game.
1968 Topps football card of former NFL quarterback Frank Ryan, who played 13 seasons in the league, most notably for the Cleveland Browns. His seven years with the Browns included 3 Pro Bowl appearances, with his best year coming in 1964 when he led the club to the NFL championship. After retiring he embarked on a successful academic career. His wife Joan is a retired sportscaster, one of the first female sportscasters in the business.
1955 Bowman football card of Hall of Fame halfback Charley Trippi, whose entire nine year career was spent with the Chicago Cardinals. He helped the Cardinals win the NFL championship in his rookie season in 1947. Trippi was a two-time Pro Bowler and was named to the NFL’s All Decade team for the 1940s. He is the oldest living member of the Hall of Fame.
1960 Fleer football card of a pro football and political legend, quarterback Jack Kemp. He was the QB for the Chargers in their inaugural American Football League season, when they played in the city they are now returning to, Los Angeles. Kemp guided the Chargers to the AFL title game, but they lost to George Blanda and the Houston Oilers. He would go on to lead the Buffalo Bills to a pair of AFL titles, then became a Western New York congressman after retiring. The pinnacle of his political career came in 1996, when he was Bob Dole’s vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket. His son Jeff played in the NFL, mostly as a backup quarterback, for 10 seasons.
1984 Topps football card of former Chicago Bear defensive back Leslie Frazier, who played 5 seasons in the NFL, helping the Bears win the Super Bowl in 1985. Frazier is now a well-regarded coach in the league. He was head coach of the Minnesota Vikings for 4 years, and has been a defensive coordinator for various clubs, currently serving in that role for the Buffalo Bills.
1965 Topps football card of former AFL and NFL defensive back Willie Brown, who is one of only 16 undrafted players who went on to have Hall of Fame careers. Brown originally signed with the Houston Oilers, moved on to Denver, and had his most success in his 12 years spent with the Oakland Raiders, helping them win 3 Super Bowl titles. He was voted to the NFL’s All Decade team for the 1970s and was inducted into Canton in 1984.
1968 Topps football card of former pro football running back Floyd Little, who was a star player for the Denver Broncos during some of their lean years in the old American Football League. He played 9 seasons for the Broncos and was a two-time AFL All Star, then carried that success into the NFL after the leagues merged, being named to the Pro Bowl 3 times. Little was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
1989 Topps football card of former NFL running back Ickey Woods, who had a short but memorable four year career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He burst onto the scene in his rookie year of 1988, when he rushed for over 1,000 yards and was a major factor in the Bengals winning the AFC Championship. Woods made a name for himself with his whimsical “Ickey Shuffle” touchdown dance, which he reprised in recent a Geico commercial while ordering cold cuts at a deli. Woods has served as owner/coach of a women’s full-contact football team, the Cincinnati Sizzle, whose roster included Woods’ ex-wife.
1955 Bowman football card of former Detroit Lion lineman Dick Stanfel, who was a standout guard for the Lions in their last dominant period in the NFL, which was way back in the 1950s. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and helped the Lions win NFL championships in 1952 and ’53. He was also named to the league’s All Decade team for the 1950s. After his playing career ended, Stanfel spent over 35 years as an assistant coach, mostly an offensive line coach, and won a Super Bowl ring as O-line coach for the Chicago Bears in 1985. After being overlooked for decades, he was finally elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, posthumously, by the Veteran’s Committee in 2016.