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1960 Topps football card of former pro defensive back Johnny Sample, who enjoyed an 11 year career in the NFL and AFL for 4 different franchises. A colorful player, he had the distinction of playing on championship teams in the first and final seasons of his career, in 2 of the most famous games in history, with the 1958 Baltimore Colts in the “Greatest Game Ever Played” and the 1968 New York Jets in their shocking Super Bowl III win. He was on 3 championship teams in all. After his playing career ended, Sample wrote a controversial autobiography titled “Confessions Of A Dirty Ballplayer” . He was the No. 1 ranked professional tennis player in the age 45 and over category, and served as a tennis official. Sample also hosted a talk radio show in Philadelphia, the city he lived in when he passed away in 2005.

1968 Topps football card of former pro flanker Al Denson, who had an uneven 8 year playing career, all but 1 of those seasons with the Denver Broncos. He led the AFL in touchdown receptions in 1967, and was named a league All Star that year and in 1969. Denson was mostly a second option in the passing game on those Bronco teams to Lionel Taylor. In 1970, the first year of the AFL-NFL merger when the 2 leagues became 1, he caught the first NFL touchdown pass in club history, from the late Steve Tensi.

1964 Topps football card of former pro receiver Willard Dewveall, who played 6 years in the NFL and AFL. After a year in the Canadian League playing for Winnipeg, where he helped the Blue Bombers win the Grey Cup, he joined the NFL’s Chicago Bears, spending 2 seasons there before becoming the first player to jump leagues in 1961 when he signed with the AFL’s Houston Oilers. As a favorite target of George Blanda, he helped the Oilers win the AFL title in ’61 and was an AFL All Star in 1962. Dewveall passed away in 2006.

1964 Philadelphia football card of former pro back Don Lisbon, who played briefly in the NFL (2 seasons) with the San Francisco 49ers. He scored 3 touchdowns in his 20 game stay in the lesgue, and also showed some versatility by throwing a touchdown pass. 1964 was his final year in the NFL, but he resurrected his football career in the Canadian League in 1966. Lisbon played for both Montreal and Edmonton there, and was a CFL All Star in ’66.

1973 Topps football card of former pro running back Ron Johnson, who played 7 seasons in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. He was a first round draft pick of the Browns in 1969, but after a disappointing rookie campaign was traded to the Giants, along with 2 other players, for end Homer Jones. Johnson thrived in New York, earning a pair of Pro Bowl bids and All Pro honors in 1970. After retiring as a player, Johnson started a food service company and eventually owned 13 KFC franchises, and also served as chairman of the foundation that runs the College Football Hall of Fame, of which he is a member. He suffered from Alzheimer’s disease in later years and passed away in 2018.

1989 Score football card of former pro wide receiver Mark Carrier, who enjoyed a 12 year career in the NFL with 3 different teams. His most successful seasons came in his 6 years with Tampa Bay. Carrier signed with Cleveland as a free agent but was picked by the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 expansion draft. A couple of years after retiring as a player in 1998, he returned to the Panthers and served in various capacities, for 10 years, in the front office. Carrier is currently player engagement director for the Buffalo Bills.

2018 Score football card of former pro wide receiver John Brown, who played 9 seasons in the NFL for 7 different franchises. Nicknamed “Smoke” for his speed, Brown’s most productive years were his first 4 spent with Arizona, but his best season statistically was the 2019 season in Buffalo, where he was a main target of Josh Allen. He is currently considered a free agent and is not officially retired as a player.

1966 Topps football card of former pro receiver Frank Jackson, who played 7 seasons in the American Football League for Dallas/Kansas City and Miami. He helped the Dallas Texans win the AFL title in 1962 and was an All Star in ’65. He was picked by the Dolphins in the expansion draft and played 2 years there before retiring. Jackson became a lawyer after his playing days ended and was both a prosecutor and defense lawyer, and also served as assistant district attorney in Dallas. His older brother Charlie also played pro football.

1966 Philadelphia football card of former pro halfback/defensive back Clarence Childs, who played 5 seasons in the NFL for the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. Nicknamed “Poppa”, he was drafted by the AFL’s Boston Patriots in 1961, but due to a stint in the military didn’t begin his football career until 1964 when he joined the Giants. Childs was a two-way player in college, manning spots on both offense and defense, but made his mark in pro ball as a kick returner.

1952 Bowman football card of former pro back Don Paul, who played 9 years in the NFL for the Chicago Cardinals and Cleveland Browns. A versatile player, he played halfback, cornerback on defense and excelled as a kick return specialist. Paul was a four-time Pro Bowler and played on 2 NFL championship teams, in 1954 and ’55, for the Browns. After his playing days ended, he served as general manager for 4 different professional soccer teams in the North American Soccer League (NASL). Paul passed away in 2001.