Houston Oilers

The Houston Oilers were the AFL’s first success story, appearing in the first 3 AFL Championship games, and winning the first two. This can surely be attributed to their veteran QB George Blanda, and also 1960 rookie Billy Cannon (the 1959 Heisman Trophy winner). 

 

After winning 10, 10, and 11 games in their first 3 seasons, they only posted 6, 4, 4, and 3 wins in their next 4 seasons. What happened to the Oilers’ machine in 1963? After 10 weeks they were 6-4, but after a 2-week layoff (bye, JFK cancellation), they lost their final 4 games to the Chargers (twice), Raiders, and Patriots (all good teams). Cannon also missed 8 games in ’63, and was traded after the season.

 

The Oilers bounced back in 1967 to win the East Division with a 9-4-1 record, but lost to the Raiders in the AFL Championship game. They didn’t have another winning season until 1975. 

 

The 1967 card set includes quarterbacks Jacky Lee and Don Trull, but neither was the Oilers’ regular QB in 1967 (their first season without Blanda at the helm). Lee played in the first 4 games (including 3 starts), then during the Oilers’ bye week, he and Ernie Ladd were traded to the Chiefs for Pete Beathard. Pete played in the remaining 10 games, starting 9 of them. 

 

Trull played in 3 of the first 4 games (no starts), then 6 days after the Lee/Beathard trade, he was traded to the Patriots.

Jacky Lee was drafted by the Oilers in 1960**. After backing up George Blanda for 4 seasons, he was traded to the Broncos, where he was the starter in ’64 and a backup in ’65. He returned to the Oilers for all of 1966 and part of 1967, then finished up with the Chiefs from 1967-69. 

 

Don Trull was the Oilers’ 14th-round pick in 1963. He replaced Lee as Blanda’s backup for 1964-66. Traded to the Patriots in mid-October 1967, he started 3 games there (behind Babe Parilli), then returned to the Oilers for 1968-69. 

 

Sid Blanks – The Oilers’ 5th-round pick in 1964, Blanks was the team’s starting halfback as a rookie, leading the AFL with 6 rushing TDs and making the All-Star team. After missing the 1965 season, he was a backup for the Oilers from 1966-68, and the Patriots from 1969-70. 

 

Ode Burrell was the Oilers’ 4th-round pick in 1964. After riding the bench in his rookie season, he was the starting halfback in 1965 (making the All-Star team) and part of 1966, before moving to flanker in ’67. Burrell missed all but 1 game in 1968, and was a backup in 1969. 

 

*Larry Elkins was the Oilers’ 1st-round pick (2nd overall) in 1965. He missed all of the 1965 season, but was the starting flanker for half the games in 1966 and 2 games in 1967. 

 

Bob Talamini was drafted by the Oilers in 1960**, and played in every game from 1960 to 1968 (the last season with the Jets). He started every game (at left guard) except for 6 games in his rookie season and 7 games in his final season. A 6-time All-Star and 3-time first-team All-Pro, his final game was Super Bowl III. 

 

Walt Suggs was drafted by the Oilers in the 3rd round in 1961. He missed the 1961 season, and after playing every game in 1962 as a backup, he started every game at left tackle for the Oilers from 1963-70. In his final season (1971), he was the Oilers’ starting center. 

 

*Gary Cutsinger – The Oilers’ 4th-round pick in 1962, Cutsinger started every game at left defensive end for 2 seasons. In 1964 he played in every game but only started two. He returned to his starting role for 1965-66. After missing the 1967 season, he started 10 games on the right end in 1968. 

 

Ernie Ladd was drafted by the Chargers in the 15th round in 1961. He was the starting right defensive tackle for the next 2 seasons, and was a first-team All-Pro selection as a rookie, as well as the runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting. He made the All-Star team every season from 1962-65 (despite only starting 2 games in 1963), and had 2 more first-team All-Pro selections in ’64 and ’65. 

After playing all of 1966 and part of 1967 with the Oilers, he was traded to the Chiefs in the Pete Beathard deal, and finished his career in 1968. 

 

*Danny Brabham was the Oilers’ 1st-round pick in 1963. He played for them from 1963-67, but was only a regular starter in 1965. He finished his career with the expansion Bengals in 1968. 

 

Bobby Maples – The Oilers’ 4th-round pick in 1965, Maples started half the games at left linebacker as a rookie, then was the team’s starting center from 1966-70. After spending 1971 with the Steelers, he played for the Broncos from 1972-78. Their starting center from 1973-76, he was used mostly as a long-snapper in ’72 and ’77. 

 

Miller Farr was the first overall pick in the 1965 draft by the Broncos. After 7 games as the starting strong safety, he was traded to the Chargers. He played every game as his team’s left cornerback from 1966 to 1972. After playing for the Chargers in 1966, he was traded to the Oilers for Scott Appleton, and made the All-Star team in his 3 seasons with Houston. 

In January 1970 he was traded to the Cardinals for QB Charley Johnson. After 3 seasons in St. Louis, Farr finished his career as a backup with the Lions in 1973. Besides his brother Mel Farr, his family includes cousins Lem Barney, Jerry LeVias, and Marvin Gaye. 

 

*Bobby Jancik – A 19th-round pick in 1962, Jancik played cornerback and safety for the Oilers from 1962-67. He started most of 1963 and parts of 1964-67. 

 

W.K. Hicks signed with the Oilers in 1964, and was their starting right cornerback from 1964-68, before switching to free safety for ’68 and ’69. He also played for the Jets from 1970-72, the first 2 years as their starting free safety. 

 

Jim Norton was drafted by the Dallas Texans in 1960**, but played for the Oilers from 1960-68. He was a staring safety in all but his rookie season, and was a 3-time All-Star selection. He was also the Oilers’ punter from 1961-68. 

 

 

*Unknown to me before November 2023.

** The 1960 AFL draft consisted of the teams drawing random names out of a hat.

San Diego Chargers

Lost in the focus on the late-1960s Super Bowl participants (i.e., Chiefs, Raiders, and Jets) is the fact that the Chargers were a very good team in the early 1960s. They were in 5 of the first 6 AFL Championship games, winning it in 1963. I recently added a “League Champions” chart to all my football card sidebars, so that we can appreciate the Chargers, Oilers, Bills, and Browns (in addition to the usual gang of Packers, Chiefs, Raiders, etc.)

 

After finishing in 1st place in the West for 5 of their first 6 seasons, the Chargers finished in 3rd or 4th place every year from 1966 to 1978. This 1967 club clocked in at 8-5-1, a one-game improvement over 1966’s 7-6-1. 

 

John Hadl – The Chargers’ 1st-round pick in 1962, Hadl took over for the departed Jack Kemp, and was the team’s starting QB from 1962 to 1972 (except for taking a back seat to Tobin Rote in 1963). Hadl led the league in passing yardage in ’65, ’68, and ’71. He also played for the Rams, Packers, and Oilers from 1973-77. 

 

Steve Tensi – A 4th-round pick in 1965, Tensi played sparingly in his 2 seasons with San Diego. He was the Bronco’s starting QB from 1967-69, before losing the job to Pete Liske in 1970. 

 

Paul Lowe – An undrafted free agent, Lowe was the team’s top back from 1960 to 1966 (missing the 1962 season with injuries). He rushed for over 1000 yards in ’63 and ’65, leading the AFL in 1965. He was also 1st-team All-Pro in ‘60 and ’65. Beginning in 1967, he was a backup to 1967 AFL Rookie of the Year Dickie Post. Lowe finished his career with the Chiefs in 1969. 

 

Jim Allison – A 12th-round pick in 1965, Allison played for the Chargers for 4 seasons, but only started 3 games (all in 1966). 

 

Lance Alworth was the Raiders’ 2nd-round pick in 1962, but never played for them. After playing only 4 games for the Chargers in ’62, Alworth’s career exploded in 1963 and was named AFL Player of the Year in ’63. He was also 1st-team All-Pro from 1963-68, leading the AFL in receptions 3 times and receiving yards 3 times. Alworth finished up with the Cowboys in ’71 and ’72. He was the first AFL player inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

 

Jacque MacKinnon – A 33rd (!) round pick in 1961, MacKinnon played tight end for the Chargers every season from 1961-69, except for playing halfback in 1962 in Lowe’s absence. He was the starter only in ’66 and ’68, making the All-Star team in both seasons. In 1970 he wrapped up with the Raiders.

 

Ron Mix was drafted* by the Patriots in 1960, but did not play for them. He was a starter for the Chargers in every AFL season (1960-69), and was 1st-team All-Pro every year but 1969. He was retired in 1970 but returned to play for Oakland in 1971. Mix was the second Chargers’ player inducted into the Hall of Fame (in 1979). 

 

 

Four defensive ends???

 

Tom Day was drafted by the Bills and Cardinals in 1960. After one season with St. Louis, he played for the Bills beginning in 1961. He was a starting guard until switching to defensive end in 1964, starting every game at right end for the next 3 seasons. After playing for the Chargers in 1967, he returned to the Bills for one more season. 

 

Steve DeLong was the Chargers’ 1st pick in 1965, and was a starter on the D-line from 1966-71. He started every game from 1968-71. In his final season (1972) he started every game for the Bears. 

 

Howard Kindig – A 14th-round pick in 1964, Kindig played defensive end for 2 seasons (as the starter in 1966). He split the 1967 season as a defensive tackle for the Chargers and the Bills. Beginning in 1968 he switched to offense, playing center and tackle for Buffalo from 1968-71, tackle for the Dolphins (’72), and center for the Jets (’74). 

 

Scott Appleton – This defensive tackle was the Oilers’ 1st-round pick in 1964. After 3 seasons with Houston, he played for the Chargers from 1967-68. 

 

Bob Petrich was drafted by the Chargers in 1963, and was their starting right defensive end for the next 4 seasons, starting all but 2 games. He finished his career in 1967 with the Bills. 

 

Chuck Allen – The Chargers’ 28th-round pick in 1961, Allen was the team’s starting middle linebacker from 1961-66, and in 1968. He also played for the Steelers (’70-’71) and the Eagles (1972). 

 

Frank Buncom – A 6th-round pick in 1962, Frank was the Chargers’ starting right linebacker from 1964-67, making the All-Star team in 3 of those 4 seasons. He was the expansion Bengals’ starting right linebacker in 1968, but died just hours before their 1969 season-opener.

 

Speedy Duncan was an undrafted free agent and was an excellent kick and punt returner. He led the league in yards per return in ’65, ’66, and ’71, and made the AFL All-Star team from 1965-67. He played for the Chargers from 1964-70, and the Redskins from 1971-74. From 1965-69 he was also San Diego’s starting right cornerback. 

 

 

* In 1960, the AFL draft consisted of the owners picking random names out of a hat.

RIP - 2023

Players from the 1965-1975 era that passed away in 2023:

Also: Baseball deaths in 2023 

  

Boston Patriots

For the past 2 months or so, I have been watching a lot of videos on YouTube, many of them vintage football documentaries, such as “The Complete History of the (fill in team name here)”. Another good one was a 4-hour AFL mini-series titled “Full Color Football". 

 

These shows have inspired me to complete my 1967 AFL set and my 1966 NFL set. In the past month, I have binge-purchased on eBay, and went from having about 50 of the 1967 AFL cards, to having all but the ultra-pricey Joe Namath card. (I also need only 30 player cards in the 1966 NFL set.) 

 

The 1967 AFL set has 14 or 15 cards per team. There are no team cards or other special cards (other than the 2 checklists). I also discovered that there are no cards for kickers (unless the kicker was also a standout elsewhere, such as the Patriots’ Gino Cappelletti). 

 

 

1967 Boston Patriots 

 

The Patriots were successful in the early part of the decade, posting identical 9-4-1 records in 1961 and 1962. In 1963, they were the Eastern Division champs (albeit with a 7-6-1 record), but lost to the San Diego Chargers in the AFL Championship game. 

 

After posting a 10-3-1 record in 1964, they began to regress. Their 8-4-2 record in 1966 was their last winning record until 1976. This group played to a 3-10-1 record in 1967. 

 

Babe Parilli was a backup with the Packers in the 1950s. After spending 1960 with the Raiders, he was the Patriots’ starting QB from 1961-67, then backed up Joe Namath in ’68 and ’69. Parilli led the AFL in passing yards in 1964 (3465), and was selected for the Pro Bowl in ’63, ‘64, and ’66. 

 

John Huarte was the 1964 Heisman Trophy winner while at Notre Dame. He was much less successful in the pros, as a little-used backup for the Jets (1965), Patriots ('66-'67), Eagles ('68), Chiefs ('69-'71), and Bears ('72). He also played in the WFL from 1974-75.

The rest of the offense: 

 

*Larry Garron played for the Patriots from 1960-68, starting most of 1963-66, and parts of ’61, ’62, and ’67. 

 

Gino Cappelletti was the Patriots’ kicker from 1960 to 1970. He was also a backup safety in his rookie season, and a starting wide receiver from 1961-67. He led the AFL in scoring in 1961 and from 1963-66, and was named AFL Player of the Year in 1964. 

 

*Art Graham was the Patriots’ split end from 1963-68, starting most games from 1964-67. 

 

Jim Whalen was the starting tight end for the Patriots (1965-69) and the Broncos (1970). He split his last season (’71) between the Broncos and the Eagles. He was named first-team All-Pro in 1968. 

 

*Jon Morris was the Patriots’ staring center from 1964-72, making the Pro Bowl every season from 1964-70. After missing most of 1973-74, he started for the Lions from 1975-77. 

 

*Don Oakes played for the Eagles from 1961-62, then was the Patriots' starting left tackle from 1963-67. He made the Pro Bowl in 1967, but was a backup in his last season (1968). 

 

The defense: (After I turned off my scanner, I realized these cards were arranged in the opposite order from how I normally have them.) 

 

Tom Addison started at left linebacker every season from 1960-67. He made the Pro Bowl from 1961-64, and was named first-team All-Pro in 1961. 

 

Nick Buoniconti was his team’s starting middle linebacker every season from 1962-74, 7 seasons with Boston, and 6 with Miami. After missing the 1975 season due to injury, he was a backup in 1976. 

 

*Jim Lee Hunt played for the Patriots from 1961 to 1970, and was a starting defensive tackle in ’61 and from ’66-’70. He made 4 Pro Bowls. 

 

Houston Antwine played for the Patriots from 1961-71, and the Eagles in 1972. He was his team’s starting right DT from 1963-70, and ‘72. He made 5 Pro Bowls, and was named first-team All-Pro in 1963. 

 

*Larry Eisenhauer started at right defensive end every season from 1961-69. He made the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro from 1962-64. He collected another Pro Bowl berth in 1966, then missed about half the games in ’67 and ’68. 

 

*Bob Dee played for the Redskins from 1957-58, then started every game at left end for the Patriots from 1960-67. He also made 4 Pro Bowls. 

 

 

* Unknown to me before November 2023

Kansas City Chiefs

Here are the Chiefs, fresh off their Super Bowl I appearance.

All of these players were starters, except for Pete Beathard and Bert Coan. (Mike Garrett was the starting halfback.) 

 

Bell and Holub were the outside linebackers, and Hunt and Robinson were the strong and free safeties, respectively.  (I will have to see how other cornerbacks and safeties are designated on these '67 cards.  I'm sure they all say "defensive back", so I don't know what is up with "defensive halfback".)

Back in 1967, I only bought one pack of AFL cards (but many, many packs of NFL cards). Curtis McClinton was one of the 5 players in that first pack. I got all the rest of these a few years ago, except for Bert Coan, which I just bought last week. 

 

So, I have all the Chiefs, and almost all the Dolphins and Chargers, plus a few cards from the other 6 teams. After more than a year of not buying cards, I recently bought about a dozen 1967 AFL cards, and about fifty 1966 NFL cards. My new goal is to complete those 2 sets, and then the 1969 set. (I have already completed the 1967 NFL set, the 1971 set, all but 2 cards in the 1968 set, and the first 2 series of 1972.) 

 

After that, who knows? I have about half of the 1973 set already, but that is a large set, and I still need about 270 cards to complete it. The 1969 set is smaller, but then I only have about 50 of the cards so far. 

 

1970? No, I only have about a dozen of those cards, so that's not something I want to start chasing.  Maybe the '64 and '65 NFL cards?