1951 Bowman football card of former pro football back Elmer “Bud” Angsman, who played seven seasons in the NFL for the Chicago Cardinals. He was a member of the last Cardinal team to win a championship, way back in 1947, and was selected to the first ever Pro Bowl in 1950. Angsman was a color analyst on both radio and television after his playing days ended, working both college and pro games for CBS Radio, ABC’s telecasts of the AFL and NBC. He died of a heart attack in 2002.
1974 Topps football card of former pro football defensive end L.C. Greenwood, who was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ famous “Steel Curtain” defense in the 1970s. He was a two-time All Pro and a six-time Pro Bowler, despite playing in the shadow of his more famous teammate Joe Greene. He was known for wearing gold football spikes when he played, was named to the NFL’s All Decade team for the 1970s, and helped Pittsburgh win four Super Bowl titles in that decade. Greenwood died of kidney failure in 2013 at the age of 67.
1963 Topps football card of former tight end Ron Kramer, who enjoyed a 10 year career in the NFL, mostly with the Green Bay Packers. He was a Pro Bowler in 1962 and helped the Packers win a pair of championships in the early 1960s. In college at Michigan, Kramer was an All American in football but also starred in basketball, and was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1957. He missed the 1958 season in Green Bay due to serving in the Air Force. Kramer was successful in the steel business after his playing days ended. He passed away in 2010.
1981 Topps football card of former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver John Stallworth, who played 14 seasons in the NFL, all for the Steelers. He was a major part of 4 Super Bowl winning teams and was a three-time Pro Bowler, despite playing in the shadow of Lynn Swann. He was successful in business after his playing career ended, and in 2009 became a minority owner in the Pittsburgh franchise. Stallworth was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
1982 Topps “All Pro” football card of the greatest quarterback in pro football history, Joe Montana. “Joe Cool” had a legendary 16 year career in the NFL, mostly with the San Francisco 49ers before closing out his playing days in Kansas City. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, six-time All Pro, two time league MVP, four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl MVP. Montana also was named to the NFL’s All Decade team for the 1980s and the NFL 75th Anniversary All Time team. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2000.
1968 Topps football card of former wide receiver George Sauer Jr., who played for the New York Jets for six seasons, mostly in the American Football League. His father, George Sr., played for the Green Bay Packers in the 1930s. Sauer was a four-time AFL All Star in the 1960s, teaming with Don Maynard as favorite receiving targets for Joe Namath. He retired at the peak of his career following the 1970 season, as he had become disillusioned with the game. He pursued writing after retiring and wrote a novel. Sauer passed away of congestive heart failure in 2013, while also suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.
1963 Topps football card of former linebacker Jerry Tubbs, who played 10 seasons in the NFL, first as a two-way center/linebacker for the Chicago Cardinals, then as a member of the first Dallas team in 1960 after being plucked by the Cowboys in the expansion draft from the 49ers. He earned the starting middle linebacker job in Dallas and held it until retiring in 1966, and was a Pro Bowler in 1962. After retiring Tubbs served as a Cowboy linebacker coach for 21 years, including 2 Super Bowl-winning seasons.
1960 Fleer football card of a gridiron legend, former quarterback Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, who played 16 seasons in the NFL for the Washington Redskins. He was an eight-time All Pro and NFL Player of The Year twice. He excelled not only as the premier passer of his era but also as a punter and defensive back. Baugh was the head coach of the AFL’s New York Titans, who later became the Jets, for their first 2 seasons in the new league, and also coached the Houston Oilers for a year. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1963.
1981 Topps football card of former safety Jeff Nixon, who played six seasons in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills. He led the team in interceptions in his rookie year with 6. A knee injury ended his career in 1984, and since retiring, he has worked to keep retired NFL players informed of their rights regarding pension and medical benefits. Nixon, an accomplished guitar player, has also worked for 20 years as a youth employment director for the city of Buffalo.
1962 Fleer football card of former pro football center Jim Otto, an undersized lineman who worked hard enough to enjoy a 15 year career in the AFL and NFL, all with the Oakland Raiders. Known for his unusual “00” jersey number, he was an All-AFL player for all of the league’s 10 year existence, and an easy choice for the AFL’s All Time team. Otto was then a 3-time Pro Bowler after the team joined the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, his first year of eligibility.