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.
=========================================================
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.
#61 Lions Team - This picture looks like it was taken at night, and from a distance. Maybe nobody wanted to be identified? The back of this card states that in 1966 the Lions were tied for last (old news!) in the Western Division at 4-9-1, and that "There's only one place for Detroit to go in '67 ...up". (Insert your own observations here.)
#71 Karl Sweetan - Sweetan was an 18th-round pick for the Lions in 1965. He started 8 games for the injured Milt Plum in 1966, and had another 8 starts in 1967 before fading into oblivion as a backup for the Saints (1968) and the Rams (1969-70).
#68 Amos Marsh - Marsh had a 7-year career with the Cowboys (1961-64) and Lions (1965-67).
#69 Tom Nowatzke - Tom was the Lions' #1 pick in the 1965 draft. After 5 seasons in Detroit, he played for the Colts from 1970-72, including Super Bowl V, where he rushed for 33 yards and scored a touchdown.
#70 Pat Studstill - Pat was a flanker for the Lions from 1961-67. In 1966 his 1266 receiving yards led the NFL. He was traded to the Rams for QB Bill Munson prior to the 1968 season. After 4 seasons in LA he finished his career in 1972 with the Patriots. From 1965-72 he was also a punter.
#63 Gail Cogdill - The Lions 6th-round pick in 1960, Cogdill was the team's starting split end from 1960 until midway through the 1967 season. He also played for the Colts in 1968 and the Falcons in 1969-70.
#65 Ron Kramer - Kramer was the Packers' #1 pick (4th overall) in 1957. He was their starting tight end from 1961-64, then played for the Lions from 1965-67. His 7 TDs in 1962 earned him his lone Pro Bowl appearance.
#64 John Gordy - The Lions' 2nd-round pick in 1957, Gordy spent his entire career with the Lions, playing every game at right guard from 1957-67, except for missing the entire 1958 season.
#62 Roger Brown - Roger was the Lions' 4th-round pick in 1960. He was the starting right defensive tackle from 1960-66, before spending 1967-69 with the Rams, as the replacement for the retired Rosey Grier in LA's "Fearsome Foursome". Brown scored 3 safeties during his time in Detroit.
#67 Mike Lucci - Lucci was drafted by the Browns in 1961 but did not play that season. After 3 seasons (1962-64) in Cleveland, he came to the Lions. Playing on the left side for 2 seasons, Mike switched to middle linebacker in 1967 and started there until his retirement after the 1973 season.
#66 Dick LeBeau - The Lions' 5th-round pick in 1959, Dick played his entire career (1959-72) with Detroit. He was a starting cornerback in all but his last season, when he moved to free safety..jpg)
.jpg)
#72 Lions Logo - So the Lions ownership paid $6 million in 1948, and won't sell "for any price, since it is determined to make it a title-winning team"? Let's see how they're doing: In the 50 years since 1960, the Lions have won their division 3 times ('83, '91, '93) and made it as far as the NFC Championship game once (1991). 
