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1962 Topps baseball card of former major league pitcher Al Downing. He was a promising young pitcher when he broke in with the Yanks in ’62, and was outstanding on a 1963 Yankee team that won 104 games. Injuries hampered him later in his career, but he stuck with it and lasted 16 seasons in the majors. In 1971 he won 20 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers and was named Comeback Player of The Year. In 1974, Downing became a trivia answer in baseball history when he surrendered Hank Aaron’s 715th home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time record.

1974 Opeechee hockey card of the king of the “Broad Street Bullies” Philadelphia Flyer teams of the 1970s – Dave “The Hammer” Schultz. He was a major intimidator in an era when the Flyers won back-to-back Stanley Cups with a physical style of hockey never seen before. Schultz epitomized the term “enforcer” in his career, and holds the league record for most penalty minutes in a season with 472. Despite being mostly remembered as the ultimate NHL “goon”, Schultz scored 20 goals in the Flyers’ ’73-74 Cup-winning season, and also once scored a first round series- clinching goal against the Flames.

With the NFL Draft scheduled for later this week, here is a 1998 Bowman “Chrome” football card of one of the top draft pick decisions of all time, Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning. Leading up to the ’98 draft, there was a debate among NFL scouts and personnel people over who was the better choice – Peyton or Ryan Leaf. Fortunately for the Colts, GM Bill Polian had the foresight to draft Manning, while San Diego followed by picking Leaf #2, and wound up with perhaps the biggest draft bust in history. Manning, on the other hand, is in the prime of what is a certain Hall of Fame career. He is an 11 time Pro Bowler and has been league MVP four times, and led the Colts to a Super Bowl title in 2006. Manning has been one of pro sports’ most marketable players also, appearing in numerous commercials over the years and even hosting Saturday Night Live.

1976 Topps basketball card, courtesy of www.CheckOutMyCards.com , of a player with another great 1970s Afro, former San Antonio Spur James Silas. Silas started his pro career with the Dallas Chaparrals of the old American Basketball Association, and stayed with the franchise when they moved to San Antonio. He played a total of 9 pro seasons, and was one of the game’s most accurate free throw shooters. Nicknamed “The Late Mr. Silas” for his knack of playing his best late in games at crunch time, Silas’s jersey # 13 was the first to be retired by the Spurs’ franchise.

1962 Topps baseball card, from www.CheckOutMyCards.com , of former New York Yankee second baseman Bobby Richardson. Playing on a power-hitting Yankee dynasty in the 1950s and ’60s, he was a superb defensive infielder who won 5 Gold Gloves as a fielder and was an eight time All Star. Richardson hit only 34 career home runs, yet had a knack for coming through with clutch hits for the Yanks. He won the World Series MVP Award in 1960, despite the fact New York lost the Series in seven games to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made perhaps his most famous defensive play in game seven of the 1962 World Series, when he snatched a line drive off the bat of San Francisco’s Willie McCovey, robbing the Giants’ slugger of a game winning hit and clinching the Series for the Yankees. Richardson, a deeply religous born-again Christian, officiated at the funeral of former teammate Mickey Mantle.

Courtesy of www.CheckOutMyCards.com , a 1984 Topps hockey card of former Buffalo Sabre forward/defenseman and current coach Lindy Ruff. Ruff played 15 seasons in the NHL, mostly with the Sabres. He was traded to the New York Rangers in 1989 and finished his career there. He was known for grit and toughness, and served as the Sabres’ captain for 3 seasons. Ruff entered the coaching ranks after retiring as a player, serving as an assistant with the Florida Panthers before taking the Sabres’ head job, not exactly under the best of circumstances as he was replacing the popular Ted Nolan. He immediately had success, however, guiding the Sabres to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1997-98. Ruff is currently the longest tenured head coach in the NHL. 

1981 Topps football card of former NFL wide receiver Wes Chandler. Chandler played 11 seasons in the league, breaking in with the New Orleans Saints but having his greatest success with San Diego’s “Air Coryell” offense under coach Don Coryell. He was a four time Pro Bowler and besides being a prolific receiver, he was a dynamic kick returner, amassing 10,526 total all-purpose yards in his career. Since retiring, Chandler has been a coach for almost 15 years in the NFL as well as in college and NFL Europe, and most recently served as the offensive coordinator for the United Football League’s New York Sentinels in 2009.

From www.CheckOutMyCards.com , a 1976 Topps basketball card of former Boston Celtic guard Jo Jo White. Drafted in 1969, White was a key player in the backcourt for 2 Celtic championship teams in the 1970s. He was an iron man performer in his career, playing in all 82 games for 5 consecutive seasons in the ’70s. Jo Jo was known for his relentless defense and as an unselfish team player, and was an underrated shooter. He was an NBA All Star for 7 straight seasons and was the NBA Finals MVP in 1976.

With the Barry Bonds steroids/lying to Congress trial going on right now, here is a 1969 Topps baseball card featuring Barry’s dad, Bobby Bonds, who had a stellar major league career without any chemical enhancement. He played 14 years in the majors, mostly for the San Francisco Giants, and was a player with a rare combination of power and speed, with 461 stolen bases, 332 home runs and 1,024 RBI for his career. Bonds also was a good fielder, winning 3 Gold Gloves. He is one of only 5 players in baseball history to hit a grand slam home run in his first major league game. As a player, coach, scout and front office employee, Bonds spent a total of 23 seasons in the Giants’ organization. He died in 2003 of complications from lung cancer and a brain tumor.

Courtesy of www.CheckOutMyCards.com , a 1972 Opeechee hockey card of former NHL defenseman Barry Ashbee. Ashbee played 5 seasons in the league with the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers, winning the Stanley Cup with the Flyers in 1973-74. Unfortunately, his playing career ended that year when he suffered a severe eye injury after being hit with a puck. Ashbee served as an assistant coach the following year, when the Flyers won another Cup. His life took another tragic turn in April of 1977 when he found out he had leukemia, then died a month later.