RIP - 2017

Players from the 1965-1975 era that passed away in 2017:

Also: Clarence Williams (DE), Len Rohde (T), Y.A. Tittle (QB).

1967 Custom Cards II

A few months ago, I stumbled across a website of the company above that makes (mostly football) Cards That Never Were. It seems that they specialize in Cowboys, Packers, and Bears sets, but there are many more football team sets from the 1950s to 1970s, as well as a few baseball offerings (such as 1970-style Brewers cards that actually say "BREWERS" instead of "PILOTS").

Here is the site's main link.

After much consideration as to whether I should post the cards I purchased (because although I bought them outright, this guy is in business to make these cards, and anyone saving my posted card images from the internet is siphoning off his business), I decided not to post them because of this and this.

I have already purchased:

1967 Cowboys

1971 Cowboys

1967 Packers

1968 Packers

These cards look great, and the backs also match the vintage sets (except for a company advertisement). The only issue I've had so far is that the blue borders on the 1971 set do not match the color of the original set.

Also, they have created a 140-card extension set (the "3rd series") for the 1966 NFL set, which you can either purchase in its entirety, or build your own custom packs (complete with wax-pack wrappers). I have purchased 2 custom packs, 1 of all Eagles, and 1 of all quarterbacks.

Feb 2024 edit: It appears that the 1966 cards are now available per team, not as an entire set. Nor can you "build-a-pack", as in the past.

RIP - 2016

Players from the 1965-1975 era that passed away in 2016:

Also: Andy Maurer (Falcons), Bill Stanfill (Dolphins)

1967 Custom Cards

A few years ago, I asked John Hogan at the "Cards That Never Were" blog if he would make a few custom football cards for me, specifically some starting quarterbacks that were missing from the '67, '68, and '71 sets. He soon responded with some real beauties. I have already featured those 1968 and 1971 custom cards on my blogs for those years. Now it is time for the 1967s.

Jack Concannon was left out of the 1967 set because at press time, he was probably still the Eagles' #3 quarterback. Traded to the Bears in the off-season for TE Mike Ditka, Concannon became the Bears' starting QB for the next 4 seasons, before giving way to Bobby Douglass in 1971.

Veteran Milt Plum was the Browns' #2 pick in 1957, and was their starting QB through the 1961 season (making the Pro Bowl in '60 and '61). He was the Lions' starting QB from 1962-65, and started 6 games each season for the Lions in '66 and '67. Perhaps Karl Sweetan was chosen as the QB in the 1967 set because he started 8 games in 1966, to the injured Plum's 6 games. After 1967, Plum was traded to the Rams for QB Bill Munson. He finished his career in 1969 with the Giants.

Billy Kilmer was the 49ers' 1st pick in the 1961 draft. After 6 years with the Niners (4 on the bench behind John Brodie, and 2 on injured reserve), Kilmer was selected by the Saints in the expansion draft prior to the 1967 season. Gary Wood was chosen as the QB for the '67 set. My theory is that Wood started many games for the Giants in 1966 due to Earl Morrall's injury, while Kilmer and 3rd QB Gary Cuozzo had not been starters in the previous season.

Kilmer spent 4 years in New Orleans, the last 3 1/2 as their starting QB. His penance with the Saints was rewarded in 1971, when he was traded to the Redskins and installed as their #1 QB for the next 7 seasons. In 1972 he led the NFL with 19 TD passes, and took the 'Skins to the Super Bowl.

With the Giants' QB department in shambles after the 1966 season, the team acquired Fran Tarkenton from the Vikings. Tarkenton had been the Vikes' starter since their inaugural season in 1961, and made the Pro Bowl in '64 and '65. During his 5 seasons in New York he made 4 more Pro Bowls. After the 1971 season, Fran was traded back to the Vikings, where he was the starting QB for his remaining 7 seasons. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

With Scramblin' Fran now in New York, what were the Vikings to do? Raid the Canadian League for their star QB Joe Kapp! Kapp played 4 seasons in the NFL, 3 with the Vikings and one with the Boston Patriots. Joe made the Pro Bowl in 1969, while leading the Vikings to the Super Bowl.

John also made some cards of Doug Buffone, after his death a few years ago. Here is the 1967 card.


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I also found this custom card of ex-Packers' great Jim Taylor floating around on the internet. It was made by Bob Lemke, who creates limited edition cards (fronts and backs) for sale to the public.

San Francisco 49ers

Here are the 1967 San Francisco 49ers.  I had all these cards in 1967 except for Dave Parks and Tommy Davis.

The 49ers finished 6-6-2 in 1966, 4th of 7 in the Western Division. In 1967 the NFL realigned into four 4-team divisions, and they finished 3rd in the Coastal Division with a 7-7 record. Oddly enough, backup QB Billy Kilmer (#17) is front-and-center, while the starting QB John Brodie (#12) is 3rd from the right.  (3rd stringer George Mira (#10) is in the top left corner.)

John Brodie - Brodie was the 49ers' #1 pick (3rd overall) in 1957. He played 17 seasons (1957-73), all with the 49ers, and was the starting QB from 1960-1971, except for missing 11 games during the 1963 season. Brodie led the NFL in passing yards in '65, '68, and '70, and made the Pro Bowl in 1965 and 1970. He became a pro golfer after his football career.

Ken Willard - Willard was the 49ers' #1 pick (2nd overall) in 1965. Ken was the team's starting fullback for his 1st 9 seasons, then finished his career with the Cardinals in 1974. He made the Pro Bowl in 4 of his first 5 seasons.

Bernie Casey - Casey was selected by the 49ers in the 1st round of the 1961 draft. He played for San Francisco from 1961-66, and was their starting flanker in all but his rookie season. Casey also played for the Rams from 1967 - 1968. Since 1969, he has been an actor, appearing in over 70 movies and TV shows, including "Brian's Song", "Roots", and the role of Felix Leiter in "Never Say Never Again".

Dave Parks - The 49ers made Parks the #1 overall pick in the 1964 draft. He made the Pro Bowl in his 1st 3 seasons, and led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs in 1965. After 4 seasons as the 49ers' starting split end, he was traded to the Saints in 1968, and was a starter there for 5 seasons (the last 4 at tight end). Parks finished his career in 1973 as a backup with the Oilers.

Bruce Bosley - The 49ers' #2 pick in 1956, Bosley was the team's starting left defensive end as a rookie. After missing part of 1957, he started at left guard for 4 seasons, then moved over to center, where he was the starter from 1962-68 (including trips to the Pro Bowl from '65-'67). He wrapped up his career as the Falcons' #1 center in 1969.

John Thomas - A longshot 23rd-round pick in 1957, Thomas played for the 49ers from 1958 through 1967. He was a starter in all but his final season, playing left tackle for 4 seasons, then middle linebacker in 1962, and finally left guard from 1963-66.

Howard Mudd - Mudd was also selected by the 49ers in the 1964 draft (#9), and started at right guard from 1965-68, making the Pro Bowl in the latter 3 seasons. After splitting 1969 between the 49ers and the Bears, he finished his career in 1970 with the Bears. Mudd went on to a long career as an offensive line coach.

Tommy Davis - Davis was drafted by the 49ers in 1957, but did not play until 1959, when he began an 11-year career as the team's placekicker. Tommy made the Pro Bowl in '62 and '63, and was also the team's punter every season except '67 and '68.

Dave Wilcox - Wilcox was drafted by the 49ers in 1964, and was their starting left linebacker for the next 11 seasons. He made 7 Pro Bowls, and was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Kermit Alexander - Alexander was the team's #1 pick in 1963, and was a starting defensive back for the next 7 seasons, alternating between cornerback and free safety, while also returning kicks and punts. He also started in the Rams' backfield in 1970 and 1971, then finished his career as a backup for the Eagles in '72 and '73.

After 4 seasons in the AAFC, the 49ers (along with the Browns and Colts) joined the NFL in 1950.


Also check out the 1971 and 1972 49ers.

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