We're well into October and I haven't made a football post (other than the Gale Sayers tribute.) Although these haven't been my most popular posts, I enjoy them. It fascinates me that there were so many different "Rookies of the Year". There were so many overlapping awards. It's so unlike baseball or hockey where there is one clear award winner. Some turned out to be true Hall of Famers. Others. not so much. But the common thread is that Football cards have historically been behind the curve as far as young stars are concerned. So there are many opportunities for "Cards That Never Were".
In 1972 there were, once again, 5 Rookie of the Year presenters and a total of 10 ROY awards. These 10 awards were divided amongst 4 different players, none of whom had a card in the 1972 Topps set. Chester Marcol and Franco Harris would have rookie cards in 1973. Willie Buchanon and Sherman White would have rookie cards in the 1974 Topps set.
Franco Harris was the unanimous pick of all the presenters, He was the AFC Rookie of the Year for The Sporting News (TSN), United Press International (UPI) and the Newpaper Enterprise Association (NEA). He was the Offensive ROY for Pro Football Weekly (PFW) and the Associated Press (AP).
With the Steelers' 1st round pick in 1972 they chose Penn State RB Harris. With this piece of the puzzle, the Steelers won their first playoff game ever and appeared in their 1st since 1947. Although they lost the conference championship to the Dolphins, this was the beginning of the Steelers dynasty.
Willie Buchanon took home 2 awards the AP Defensive ROY and the NEA's Rookie of the Year in the NFC. A San Diego area native, Buchanon was the Packers' 1st round pick from San Diego State. He would eventually return to San Diego in 1979 and finish his career with the Chargers.
Buchanon's teammate Chester Marcol took home 2 awards as well he was NFC's top rookie according to TSN and UPI. Marcol was the Packers' 2nd round pick out of Hillside College, a Division II college. He made news there kicking a 62 yard field goal and converting 104 consecutive PATs. In his rookie season he led the NFC in points. Unfortunately his career was cut short due to drug abuse.
Sherman White was awarded Defensive ROY by Pro Football Weekly (PFW). With the 2nd overall pick in the 1972 draft the Bengals took White. He was an All American from Cal Berkley. He played 4 seasons in Cincinnati before being traded to Buffalo, where he played 8 more seasons.
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