1973 NFL Rookies of the Year

1973 still had 10 different Rookie of the Year awards. Associated Press and Pro Football Weekly had offensive and defensive awards. The Sporting News, United Press International and the Newspaper Enterprise Association all had awards for both AFC and NFC. These ten awards were distributed to 4 different rookies. As was the norm in that era, none of them had cards in the 1973 Topps set.

Chuck Foreman was the recipient of the 1973 AP award for offensive Rookie of the Year. The Vikings fullback was also a receiving threat. He had 1163 combined yards with 4 rushing TDs and 2 receiving TDs.  He was selected to the Pro Bowl his rookie year. He would make the Pro Bowl 5 times during his career.

Wally Chamber came into the NFL with a Pro Bowl afro.  A sack threat before sacks were an official stat, Chambers was a Pro Bowler his first year. He was given 2 defensive Rookie of the Year Awards from Pro Football Weekly and the Associated Press. An injury during the All Pro game in January of  1977 cut his career short. He missed most of the '77 season and was traded to Tampa Bay in 1978. He retired in 1979.

With three AFC Rookie of the Year Awards (Sporting News, UPI and NEA) the Bengals 12th round pick really paid off.  He was primarily an offensive lineman in college.  Due to injuries, he was put in the backfield and caught the eye of Paul Brown. He rushed for 988 yards and 8 TDs his rookie year.

Leading the pack with 4 different Rookie of the year honors was Charle Young.  Young's first name was often misspelled on his cards as Charles, Charlie or Charley.  In fact, Topps misspelled his name "Charlie" on the front of his 1984 card, and misspelled his name "Charley" on the back of the same card.  Young was the starting Pro Bowl tight end after his rookie season.  He played 13 season for the Eagles, Rams, 49ers and Seahawks.

1972 and 1973 Topps Doug Buffone

For those of you who have not heard, Doug Buffone passed away earlier this week. When I went to look at his cards, I could not believe the holes in his collection. Not only did Topps (or Philadelphia) wait until his 4th season to grant him a card, but Topps skipped right over his 1972 and 1973 years. This was a starting linebacker in his prime. He was also in the midst of a 142 game streak in the starting line up. And he was the defensive team captain. Granted, the Bears were terrible during this era, but their defense was always solid. It was their offense (or lack thereof) that gave the fans fits.

So here are the 1972 and 1973 Topps cards conspicuously missing from the prime of Buffone's career. In my previous 2 post you can see his Cards That Never Were from 1967-1969. My next post will have the Cards That Never Were from his final 3 years.

1973 Ron Santo

In 1973 both Topps football and baseball cards had very simple designs. I happen to like both of these sets. I'm not sure if it is because of the simplicity of design or in spite of it. Both sets also had the occasional horizontal action shot which is also a favorite of mine. Unfortunately the Santo card for 1973 was a plain head and shoulders shot. The same head and shoulders shot that would be used on the 1974 traded card. Topps simply airbrushed the hat red and Voila! He's now on the White Sox.

2011 Fantasy Football Cards

Football season starts today and that means fantasy football. I know this doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the blog, but it's my blog so I get to do what i want. I made a few cards of the players I drafted on my team, "Uncle John's Band". Even put my logo on a few helmets.