1968 (and 1969) Custom Cards

Early last year, I asked John over at the "Cards That Never Were" blog to make some custom cards in the style of the 1967, 1968, and 1971 football sets - the only football sets that I have completed (well, except for the '68 Johnny Unitas and Bob Griese cards). I gave him a list of starting quarterbacks that Topps or Philly Gum had omitted from their sets.

He soon replied with a beautiful set of QB cards: 5 for the 1971 set (which I posted to my 1971 blog last July), 6 for the 1967 NFL set (which I will post to my 1967 blog in the near future), and 2 each for 1968 and 1969, which are shown below.

(Another time, I asked him to add additional Green Bay Packers to the 1967 set, but he said that being a Chicago Bears fan, that would not be possible - LOL.)


The Steelers and Bengals were both missing QB cards in the 1968 set. Bill Nelsen had just been traded to the Browns, giving 2 QB cards for Cleveland, and none for Pittsburgh. The Bengals were an expansion team in 1968, and had no QB card - probably because they didn't select any quarterbacks in the expansion draft. Although ex-Dolphin John Stofa was the primary QB in their inaugural season, Sam Wyche also saw some playing time.

Dick Shiner was drafted by the Redskins in 1964, and spent 3 seasons backing up Sonny Jurgensen (i.e. - no playing time), before riding out the 1967 season on the Browns' bench. His only seasons as a starter came in 1968 and 1969 for the Steelers. Pittsburgh drafted Terry Bradshaw in 1970, (and Terry Hanratty in 1969), so Shiner's services were no longer required in the Steel City. He spent 1970-74 bouncing around with the Giants, Falcons, and Patriots.

An undrafted free agent, Sam Wyche began his career with the Bengals in 1968, and made 3 starts each season (1968-70). He was on the Redskins roster from 1971 to 1973, and although playing 8 games during that time, he never threw a pass. He also played for the Lions in 1974 and the Cardinals in 1976. Wyche coached the Bengals from 1984-91, and the Buccaneers from 1992-95.

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Although I don't have a 1969 blog, I have a handful of 1969 cards and asked John to fill in the missing QBs there as well. Jack Kemp missed the entire 1968 season with a knee injury, and was left out of the 1969 set. In fact, there was no Bills' QB in that set. For the 2nd-year Bengals, Topps included John Stofa (in a Dolphins' jersey and helmet), but Stofa had returned to the Dolphins in 1969. Their starting QB in '69 was rookie sensation Greg Cook.

Jack Kemp was drafted by the Lions in 1957, and was cut by the Steelers later that season. (The Steelers also cut Johnny Unitas and Len Dawson in the late 1950s!) When the AFL started in 1960, Kemp was the Chargers' starting QB in 1960 and 1961. Injured for part of 1962, he was traded to the Bills during that season.

Jack was the Bills' regular QB from 1963 to 1969, except for missing all of 1968 with an injury. (With Kemp gone, the Bills went 1-12-1 that season, capturing the #1 draft pick - O.J. Simpson.) After retiring following the 1969 season he went into politics, and was eventually a presidential candidate in 1988.

Greg Cook was the Bengals' #1 pick in 1969 (the 5th overall pick in the "O.J. Simpson draft"). He was a hometown favorite from the University of Cincinnati, and was an immediate success - leading the AFL in completion percentage and was the league's top-rated QB, despite missing 3 early-season games with what was later discovered to be a rotator cuff injury. Because he returned to play with the injury, it did further damage and essentially ended his career after 1 season. Cook passed away in 2012 at age 65.

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Upon the recent death of Doug Buffone, John also made Buffone cards that were missing from the Topps sets. Here are two of them:

Thanks John!
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Cincinnati Bengals

Here are the expansion Cincinnati Bengals - the AFL's 10th and final team. The league started with 8 teams, then the Miami Dolphins were added in 1965. It appears that all these players were selected from the Chiefs, Chargers, or Broncos.

There is no quarterback card for this team, probably because the Bengals didn't select any in the expansion draft. The team used 3 starting QBs in 1968, primarily John Stofa, who played for the Dolphins in 1966-67, and 1969-70.

The Bengals finished 3-11 in their inaugural season, last place in the West Division. They beat the Bills, Broncos, and Dolphins, and scored more points than the Buffalo Bills, who finished 1-12-1, last in the East Division.


#43 Chris Burford - Burford played 8 seasons (1960-67) as the split end for the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, and had 4 receptions in Super Bowl I. He retired after the 1967 season, rather than play for the Bengals.

#148 Andre White - The Redskins' 19th-round pick in 1966, White's playing career consisted of 14 games for the Broncos in 1967, and 8 games in 1968 (3 with the Bengals and 5 with the Chargers). He was a tight end.

#200 Ernie Wright - Ernie was the Chargers' starting left offensive tackle from 1960 to 1967, then was the Bengals' starting left tackle from 1968 to 1971. He finished his career back in San Diego in 1972.


#70 - Dick Van Raaphorst - Dick's career consisted of 1964 with the Cowboys, and 1966-1967 with the Chargers. He was also on San Diego's taxi squad in 1965. He did not play for the Bengals.


#96 Sherrill Headrick - Headrick was the Chiefs' starting middle linebacker from 1960 to 1967. (After losing Headrick in the expansion draft, the Chiefs moved 1967 rookie right linebacker Willie Lanier to the middle, and you know the rest.) Headrick only played one season with the Bengals, since 1969 2nd-round pick Bill Bergey took over the position as a rookie.

#18 Frank Buncom - Drafted by the Chargers in 1962, Frank was a backup for 2 seasons before starting at middle linebacker in 1964. He was then the starting right linebacker for the Chargers from 1965-67, and for the Bengals in 1968, his only season in Cincinnati.


#122 Bobby Hunt - Bobby was drafted by the Chiefs (Dallas Texans) in 1962, and was their starting strong safety for 6 seasons. In 1966, he led the AFL with 10 interceptions, and also played in Super Bowl I. He finished his career as the Bengals' strong safety in 1968 and 1969.


#174 Lonnie Wright - Lonnie played safety for the Broncos in 1966 and 1967, but did not play for the Bengals in 1968.  He had already switched to basketball in January, signing with the ABA.

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The Bengals limped along to a 3-11 record in their inaugural season, with several journeymen (including John Stofa and Sam Wyche) starting at quarterback. In the 1969 draft, the Bengals selected QB Greg Cook with the 5th overall pick. Cook was a local favorite from the University of Cincinnati. As a senior in 1968, he led the nation in total offense with 3,210 yards, and was 2nd in passing. As a rookie with the Bengals in 1969, he was the AFL's leading passer, while only playing 11 of the 14 games.

Sadly, he suffered a torn rotator cuff in game 3 which was mis-diagnosed. After missing 3 games, he returned to finish the season. After the season, it was discovered that continuing to play did permanent damage to his arm, including torn biceps, which brought an abrupt end to a promising career. It would not be until the arrival of Ken Anderson in 1972 that the Bengals' QB situation would settle down.


Also check out the 1972 Bengals.


Next time: Houston Oilers
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