New Orleans Saints - Custom Extension Set

After the disaster that was the 1967 Philly Gum Saints cards, RetroCards could have done just about anything and it would have been an improvement over the originals. 

 

They responded with an 18-card set, featuring everyone in a new Saints jersey. Included in the set are Bill Kilmer, Jim Taylor, Dan Abramowicz, Doug Atkins, and a multi-player card featuring Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor, among others. 

 

Gary Cuozzo started most of the games in 1967.  Bill Kilmer was the regular QB from 1968-70, then was traded to the Redskins. (In 1971, 2nd-overall pick Archie Manning took over.)

7 receivers! (WRs Hall, Roberts, Abramowicz, Gilliam, Poage, and Simmons, plus TE Kramer.)

Steve Stonebreaker has a Jim Taylor haircut! 

 

In my recent post about the custom Cowboys cards, I showed a card back. While the backs of all the custom Cowboys cards have referee signals, the backs of the Packers and Saints cards have a montage of custom card photos. (Looks like they are working on a Rams set.)

 

 

Next: Kansas City Chiefs

RIP - Jim Taylor

It has been my custom to wait until year-end to note these, but this one won't wait... 

Jim Taylor, Hall of Fame fullback for the Green Bay Packers from 1958-66 passed away on October 13, 2018 at age 83.

Taylor was Green Bay's 2nd round pick in 1958, and was the starting fullback from 1959-66.

He made 5 straight Pro Bowls (1960-64), led the league in rushing yards in 1962 with 1474 yards, (the only year between 1957 and 1965 that Jim Brown didn't win that title), and led the NFL in rushing TDs in '61 and '62. He was also the MVP in 1962.

His final season with the Packers culminated in a Super Bowl I victory. During that season he had salary scuffles with Vince Lombardi, who spitefully traded him to the expansion Saints in the off-season (much like how Lombardi dismissed all-pro center Jim Ringo to the lowly Eagles 3 years earlier).

Taylor retired after the 1967 season and was inducted in to the Hall of Fame in 1976, the first of 12 Lombardi-era Packers in the Hall.

ESPN obituary

New York Times obituary
. 

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.