Oakland Raiders

This is the year the Raiders finished with a 13-1 record and went to Super Bowl II, led by the newly-acquired Daryle Lamonica. 

 

It was also the first year of an 11 out of 12 run where they finished in 1st place in their division. (Yes, in 1969 the Raiders finished ahead of the Chiefs in the AFL West, but a one-off playoff format that year had the division leaders playing the 2nd-place team in the other division. The Chiefs beat the Jets in the first round, then beat the Raiders in the AFL championship game.) 

 

Daryle Lamonica was the Bills’ 24th-round pick in 1963. After riding the bench for 4 seasons behind Jack Kemp, he was traded to the Raiders before the 1967 season for QB Tom Flores. Lamonica was named AFL Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro in ’67 and ’69. He was the team’s starting QB from 1967-72, then backed up Ken Stabler in his final 2 seasons. 

 

Cotton Davidson was the Colts’ 1st-round pick in 1954. After backing up in his rookie season, he missed the next 2 years for military service. Upon his return, he resumed backup chores in 1957. He played in the CFL in 1958, and was retired in 1959 (coaching at Baylor). 

 

The AFL came calling in 1960, and Davidson was the Dallas Texans' starting QB for their first 2 seasons. With the arrival of Len Dawson in 1962, Davidson was traded to the Raiders, where he started in place of Flores, who missed the entire ’62 season. In 1963, Flores returned to the starting role, and Davidson returned to the Oakland bench, playing 1 game in 1968 before retiring. 

 

Clem Daniels was the Dallas Texans’ starting right cornerback in 1960, then played halfback for the Raiders for the next 7 seasons, starting almost every game from 1963-66, while making the Pro Bowl in those 4 years. He finished up with the 49ers in 1968. 

 

Larry Todd – A first-round pick in 1965, Todd was a little-used halfback for the Raiders from 1965-70. This is one of 5 cards that came in the only pack I bought in 1967, so it’s creased and worn.

 

Fred Biletnikoff was the Raiders’ 2nd-round pick in 1965, and started half the games at flanker in his first 3 seasons. Beginning in 1968 he started almost every game for the next 10 seasons, while making 6 Pro Bowls and garnering 2 first-team All-Pro selections. He started 2 games in 1978, his final season with Oakland. 

 

*Glenn Bass was drafted by the Chargers in 1961, but played split end for the Bills from 1961-66. Although pictured on a Raiders’ card, he was a backup flanker for the Oilers in ’67 and ’68. 

 

Billy Cannon – The 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and first overall pick by the Rams in the 1960 draft, Cannon caused quite a stir by signing with both the Rams AND Oilers. He was Houston’s starting halfback from 1960-62 and led the AFL with 948 rushing yards in 1961. After missing half of the 1962 season, he was traded to the Raiders and was their starting fullback in 1964. The next year he switched to tight end and started most of 1967-69. He finished as a backup with the Chiefs in 1970.

 

Jim Otto was drafted by the Raiders in 1960, and started every game at center from 1960-74. He is one of 3 players to have played in every AFL game. Otto was named first-team All-Pro 10 times, and selected for 12 All-Star games/Pro Bowls. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1980. 

 

Harry Schuh – The Raiders’ 1st pick in the 1965 draft, Schuh was their starting right tackle from 1965-70, making 3 All-Star games in that time. He also played for Rams from 1971-73 (starting every game in the first 2 seasons) and the Packers in 1974. 

 

Bob Svihus was picked in the 3rd round of the 1965 draft and start all but 1 game at left tackle for the Raiders from 1965-69, then was replaced by 2nd-year man Art Shell in 1970. He played for the Jets from 1971-73, starting every game for the first 2 seasons. 

 

Ben Davidson was the Giants’ 4th-round pick in 1961, but was a backup defensive end for the Packers that year. After 2 seasons as a backup with the Redskins, Davidson came to Oakland and was their starting right defensive end from 1964-71, making the Pro Bowl 3 times. 

 

Ike Lassiter was the Rams’ 9th-round pick in 1962, but chose to play for the Denver Broncos, where he started about half the games at defensive end for 3 seasons. From 1965 to 1969 he started every game at left end for the Raiders, making the All-Star game in 1966. He finished up with the Patriots from 1970-71. 

 

Kent McCloughan – An 11th-round pick for the Oilers in 1965, McCloughan was the Raiders’ right cornerback from 1965-68, and 1970. He missed all but 4 games in 1969. 

 

Dave Grayson – An undrafted free agent, Grayson was the Texans/Chiefs starting right cornerback from 1961-64, making 3 All-Star games in that time. He was traded to the Raiders in 1965, and after 2 seasons as the starting right cornerback, he was their starting free safety from 1967-70. He snared 3 first-team All-Pro selections while a Raider, along with 3 Pro Bowls. 

 

 

*Unknown to me before November 2023. 

 

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