rayonsports.com

Since it’s Super Bowl week this week, the Sports Card of  The Day will feature all football cards, and what better card to kick off the week than this 1982 Topps football card of former Los Angeles Rams’ defensive end Jack Youngblood. Youngblood was a symbol of toughness in his playing days, and played in the Super Bowl against Pittsburgh in 1979 with a broken leg. He played 14 years in the NFL and was a Pro Bowler 7 times. Youngblood was voted to the NFL All Decade Team for the 1970s, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

From www.CheckOutMyCards.com , this is a 1971 Opechee football card of quarterback Joe Theismann, a player with the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts at the time the card was issued. Theismann played in the CFL after a stellar college career, mostly because he was considered “too small” to play in the NFL. Theisman finally made it to the NFL in 1974, joining the Washington Redskins, and became the team’s starting QB by ’78. He eventually led the ‘Skins to a Super Bowl title. Theisman entered a career in broadcasting after his playing days ended, and currently is an analyst on the NFL Network’s Thursday night game broadcasts.

From www.CheckOutMyCards.com , a 1975 Topps basketball card of former NBA great Paul Silas. Manning the “power forward” position, Silas was one of the top defensive players and rebounders of his era, and was a key member of 2 championship teams with the Boston Celtics in the 1970s. He was one of the consummate “role” players, the type of player every team needs to be a winner, and in 1979 won a third NBA title with the Seattle Supersonics. Silas became a coach after his playing career ended, and has coached various teams over the years, and is currently the “interim” coach of the Charlotte Bobcats.

This is a 1958 Topps baseball card of former Cleveland Indians outfielder Larry Doby. In sports circles on the annual Martin Luther King Day celebrations, the legacy of Jackie Robinson,  and his struggles while breaking the color line in major league baseball, are always chronicled. It’s equally important that Doby’s story be remembered. Doby was the second African American to play in the majors, and the first in the American League, joining the Indians in 1948, and having to endure the same racial prejudice that Robinson did, in a completely different set of ballparks and cities. Doby helped the Tribe win the World Series in ’48, and in game 4 of the Series became the first black player in history to hit a home run in the World Series. Doby played 3 seasons in the Negro Leagues and 13 years in the majors, mostly for the Indians. He was a 9 time All Star, and was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1998.

1989 Topps hockey card of former NHL defenseman Ray Bourque, whose career spanned 21 seasons, mostly with the Boston Bruins. Bourque holds the NHL record for most career goals and assists by a defenseman, and anchored the Bruins’ defense corps for many years, winning 5 Norris Trophies signifying the league’s top defenseman. In his final season, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, where he finally completed his long quest to win a Stanley Cup. Bourque was elected to the Hockey Hall of fame in 2004.

1963 Fleer football card, from www.CheckOutMyCards.com , of an American Football League legend, Buffalo Bills’ fullback Cookie Gilchrist, who passed away this week at the age of 75. Gilchrist joined the Bills in 1962 after playing in the Canadian Football League and became the dominant running back in the young AFL, as he was the first back in the league to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, accomplishing the feat in 1962. The following season, he set a pro football record by rushing for 243 yards and scoring 5 touchdowns in a game against the New York Jets. Gilchrist was a major force for the Bills’ AFL championship team in 1964, but fell out of favor with team management after that season and was traded to Denver. Despite playing only 3 seasons with the Bills, Gilchrist still ranks fifth on the team’s all-time career rushing list.

From www.CheckOutMyCards.com , a 1988 Fleer basketball card of former Indiana Pacer forward Reggie Miller. Miller was one of the sweetest shooters in the NBA during his career, and holds the league record for most three-point shots made. He played all 18 seasons of his NBA career with the Pacers, and his # 31 jersey is retired by the team. He helped the U.S. Olympic basketball team win a gold medal in 1996, and was known for his “confrontations” with New York Knick fan Spike Lee. Miller currently works as an analyst on NBA games for the TNT network.

This 1975 Topps baseball card of George Brett, from www.CheckOutMyCards.com , is the Hall of Fame third baseman’s “rookie” card, which makes it a valuable one. Brett played 21 years in the major leagues, all for the Kansas City Royals. In 1985, Brett had an outstanding World Series, and his clutch hitting helped the Royals overcome a 3-1 deficit in games and defeat the St. Louis Cardinals for the only championship in Royals’ history. He ranks 15th all time on the career hits list, and his 3,154 total hits are the most among third basemen. Brett was a 13 time All Star in his career, and his uniform # 5 is retired by the Royals.

1989 Topps hockey card of former National Hockey League player Pat Verbeek, who played 20 years in the league for various teams, mainly the New Jersey Devils and the old Hartford Whalers. Known for his aggressiveness, he is the only player in NHL history to total 500 goals and 2,500 penalty minutes in his career. He retired in 2002, and is currently employed as a pro scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

1955 All American football card of the famous “Four Horsemen” backfield of Notre Dame. Consisting of Elmer Layden, Don Miller, Harry Stuhldreher and Jim Crowley, they played three seasons under legendary coach Knute Rockne. The nickname was coined by the era’s poetic sportswriter, Grantland Rice, in their final season, 1924. Notre Dame lost only 2 games in the 3 years that the famous backfield combination played together. All four players were college football coaches in their later careers, with Layden coaching at Notre Dame.