Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Los Angeles Rams

Here are the cards for the 1968 Rams. Most team sets in 1968 included 8 or 9 cards. There are 12 Rams cards because 3 of them (Milt Plum, Tommy Watkins, Pat Studstill) were recently traded from the Lions to the Rams. (The Lions only have 6 cards in the set.)

The Rams were coming off an 11-1-2 season in 1967, winning their division but losing to the Packers in the playoffs. I'm not sure why the Rams made the trade for the above players, because Roman Gabriel, Les Josephson, and both starting wide receivers (Jack Snow and Bernie Casey) made the Pro Bowl in 1967. Fullback Dick Bass also rushed for 600+ yards, so it seems they didn't really need the services of Plum, Watkins, or Studstill.

In 1968 the Rams dropped to 10-3. Gabriel made the Pro Bowl again, Bass was one of the team's starting backs (with Willie Ellison replacing Josephson), and Snow and Casey each had 29 catches. Pat Studstill only caught 7 balls and was mainly used as the punter.


Roman Gabriel was the Rams' #1 pick in 1962, and was the team's starting QB from 1963 to 1972, He made the Pro Bowl from 1967-69. Traded to the Eagles after 1972, he played 5 more seasons in Philly (3 as the starter) and 1 more Pro Bowl berth.


Drafted by the Browns in 1957, Milt Plum played 11 seasons with the Browns and Lions (mostly as the #1 QB), then finished his career as a backup with the Rams in '68 and the Giants in '69. He made the Pro Bowl in '61 and '62.


Les Josephson played his entire career with the Rams (1964-74, missing the 1968 season). He was a starter every season but '66 and '74-'76, and made the 1967 Pro Bowl squad.


Dick Bass was the 2nd overall pick in 1959, and played 10 seasons in LA (7 as a starter). He made 3 Pro Bowls.


Tom Watkins played for the Browns in 1961 and the Lions from 1962-67. He was mostly a return man with the Lions, and led the NFL in punt returns and return yardage in 1963. Although part of the Lions/Rams trade after 1967, he did not play for the Rams. He played in 1 game for the Steelers in '68, then retired.


Jack Snow was drafted #1 by the Vikings in 1965, but was the Rams' starting split end from 1965 to 1974, making the Pro Bowl in 1967. He finished his career as a Rams' backup in 1975.


Bernie Casey was picked #1 by the 49ers in 1961, and after one year as a backup, he was their starting flanker for 5 seasons. He finished his career as the Rams' flanker in '67 and '68. After football, Bernie acted in dozens of movies, including the role of Felix Leiter in "Never Say Never Again".


Pat Studstill played for the Lions from 1961-67. He was a flanker and return man for his first few seasons, then exchanged his return duties for punting chores beginning in 1965. He made the Pro Bowl in '65 and '66, and led the NFL in receiving yards in 1966. Traded to the Rams after 1967, he was used mostly as a punter, only catching 7, 3, 18, and 0 balls in his 4 seasons in LA. He was the Patriots' punter in 1972, his final season.


Lamar Lundy was the right defensive end in the Rams' famed "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line. He played his entire career (1957-69) with the Rams, and was a starter from 1959-67.


Roger Brown was the starting right defensive tackle for the Lions in his first 7 seasons (1960-66), with Pro Bowl appearances in the last 5 seasons. Acquired by the Rams in 1967 to replace the retired Rosey Grier, he played 3 more seasons (2 as a starter, plus another Pro Bowl appearance).


Maxie Baughan was the Eagles' 2nd-round pick in 1960, and was a starting outside linebacker for the next 11 seasons (including 9 Pro Bowls). He played 6 seasons with the Eagles, and 5 with the Rams. He retired after the 1970 season, but was activated by the Redskins (where he was coaching) for 2 games in 1974.


Ed Meador was drafted by the Rams in 1959, and played all 12 seasons as a starting DB for them. After 5 years as a cornerback, he moved to free safety for his final 7 seasons.


Also check out the 1967 and 1971 Rams.

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