1989 ProSet football card of former NFL back Ronnie Harmon, who played 12 seasons in the league with four different teams. He began his career with the Buffalo Bills, where he spent four years, then moved to San Diego where he had his most success, making the Pro Bowl in 1992 and reaching the Super Bowl with the Chargers in 1995. Although he was a running back, Harmon was known more for his receiving skills than his rushing style.
1967 Philadelphia football card of former NFL fullback A.D. Whitfield, who played four seasons in the league. He spent his rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys, then was acquired by Washington and finished his NFL career with the Redskins. He played in the Canadian League for a short time, then after retiring from the game, resurfaced four years later to play with the World Football League’s Florida Blazers, finally quitting for good after the 1974 season.
1984 Topps football card of former Buffalo Bills’ defensive end Ben Williams, who played college ball at Mississippi, the first African American to play for the school. Williams was an unsung, hard-working member of the Bills’ defense during his career, although he was rewarded with a Pro Bowl berth in 1982. Nicknamed “Gentle Ben”, he retired in 1985 as the team’s all-time career sack leader with 45.5. Of course, the Bills drafted a guy that same year who would go on to shatter that record – Bruce Smith.
1973 Topps football card of former NFL quarterback Ken “The Snake” Stabler, a veteran of 15 seasons in the league. He gained a reputation for leading late-game comebacks while quarterbacking the Oakland Raiders for 10 of those years. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and was NFL MVP in 1974, and was voted to the NFL’s All Decade team for the 1970s. Stabler finished his playing career with stints in Houston with the Oilers and New Orleans. After retiring, he worked in broadcasting as a color commentator for NFL games on CBS, and also on college radio broadcasts for his alma mater, Alabama.
1966 Topps football card of former Buffalo Bills’ split end Glenn Bass, who played eight seasons in the old American Football League, six of them with the Bills. As one of the primary targets for QB Jack Kemp, Bass helped the Bills win back-to-back AFL titles in 1964 and 1965. He played his last two seasons with Houston, helping the Oilers win an Eastern Division title in 1967. Bass held the Bills’ record for the longest touchdown pass reception, 94 yards from Kemp, for 30 years until Quinn Early caught a 95 yarder in 1996.
1961 Topps football card of former Green Bay Packer receiver Boyd Dowler, who played 12 seasons in the NFL, 11 of them with Green Bay. He was Bart Starr’s go-to guy during the Packers’ dynasty years in the 1960s, helping them with 5 championships in a seven year span. Dowler was NFL Rookie of the Year in 1959, and was named to the All Decade team for the ’60s. In an era where “specialists” weren’t the norm, he was also his team’s punter. Dowler is currently a scout for the Atlanta Falcons.
1962 Fleer football card of former pro quarterback Warren Rabb. It’s an “error” card in that his name is misspelled. Rabb had a brief career starting with the Detroit Lions in 1960. He moved to the American Football League the next season, quarterbacking the Buffalo Bills for 10 games over 2 seasons before turning the starting job over to Jack Kemp. He finished his playing days in the Canadian League with Montreal in 1963. Rabb led his college team, the LSU Tigers, to the national championship in 1958.
1969 Topps football card of former pro quarterback Daryle Lamonica, who played 12 seasons in the AFL and NFL. Known as “The Mad Bomber”, he started his career in Buffalo, where he spent four years backing up Jack Kemp. He was traded to Oakland prior to the 1967 season, in one of the worst trades in Bills’ history, and wound up taking over as the Raiders’ starter. He led them to the Super Bowl in his first year there, and remained the team’s starting signal caller for eight years, winning the AFL MVP Award twice, in ’67 and 1969.
1989 Score Supplemental Series football card of former NFL quarterback Frank Reich. A career backup, he played for four different teams in the NFL, with his longest tenure coming in Buffalo where he backed up Hall of Famer Jim Kelly for 9 seasons. He holds the distinction of having led the greatest comeback victories in both college and pro football, with his shining moment in the NFL coming when he guided the Bills from a 35-3 third quarter deficit to an improbable 41-38 overtime win against the Houston Oilers in the playoffs. Reich is a devout Christian who gives motivational speeches and is involved in Athletes In Action. After retiring as a player, he got into coaching, and currently serves on the staff of the San Diego Chargers as quarterbacks coach.
1966 Philadelphia football card of former NFL defensive lineman Roger Brown, who played 10 seasons in the National Football League, and was named to the Pro Bowl six times. He played his first seven seasons with the Detroit Lions, then was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, where he joined the famed “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line, replacing Rosey Grier on that unit. Brown was the first 300 pound player in the NFL, and his combination of size and speed made him a dynamic force along the defensive line. After retiring, Brown went into the restaurant business.