Washington Redskins

Here are the 1968 Redskins. Somehow, I had none of these cards back in 1968 except for Chris Hanburger. (I had no series #2 cards back then, but I also missed 4 of the 5 'Skins in series #1.)

The Redskins finished 3rd (out of 4) in their division in 1967 with a record of 5-6-3. In 1968, they would finish 3rd again, while their record dropped to 5-9.

Sonny Jurgensen broke in with the Eagles in 1957. After riding the bench for the entire 1958-60 seasons (behind the newly-acquired Norm Van Brocklin), Jurgy took over the starting job in 1961, making the Pro Bowl and leading the league in TDs and completions that season. After 2 more years in Philly, he was traded to the Redskins for Norm Snead, and was Washington's starting QB from 1964-70, making the Pro Bowl 4 more times. He finished his career as a backup to Bill Kilmer from 1971-74.

Bobby Mitchell began his career with the Cleveland Browns, and was their starting halfback and kick returner from 1958 to 1961. He moved on to the Redskins in 1962 and became their starting flanker. Bobby led the NL with 72 catches and 1384 receiving yards in 1962. He also led the league with 1436 yards in 1963 and 10 TDs in 1964. After 6 seasons as the starting flanker, he finished his career as a backup in 1968.

Charley Taylor was the Redskins' #1 pick (3rd overall) in the 1964 draft. He had a 13-year career, all as a starter for the Redskins. After playing halfback for his first 2 seasons, he switched to split end (opposite Mitchell) and led the NFL with 72 receptions in 1966 and 70 in 1967. Taylor made the Pro Bowl in his first 4 seasons, and then in 4 consecutive years late in his career. After missing the 1976 season, he finished his career in 1977. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

Jerry Smith was drafted in the 9th round by by the Redskins, and played his entire 13-year career with Washington. [Back in the day, I knew that Mike Ditka and John Mackey were the premier tight ends, but in recent years, I've learned that others like Jerry Smith, Jackie Smith, and Dave Parks were excellent ends as well.] Smith was a starter in all but his rookie season, and his final 2 seasons. In 1968 he played flanker, replacing the veteran Bobby Mitchell. Jerry was a 2-time Pro Bowler.

Pat Richter was the Redskins' 1st-round pick in 1963, and oddly enough was their punter in his first 5 seasons. He was also the starting split end in '63 and '65, but took a seat on the bench, once Taylor switched positions in 1966. Richter was the starting tight end in 1968 (the one season Jerry Smith played flanker). Pat wrapped up his 8-year career (all with the Redskins) in 1968.

Here's offensive tackle Jim Snowden, in a typical receiver's pose. He was drafted in 1964 (as a future?) and was a starting tackle for his entire career (1965-71).

Carl Kammerer was drafted by the 49ers in 1960. After 2 seasons as a linebacker there (1961-62), he joined the Redskins in 1963 as their starting middle linebacker. He was their starting right defensive end in his final 5 seasons (1965-69).

Chris Hanburger played his entire 14-year career (1965-78) with the Redskins. He was their starting right linebacker every season except his rookie year and his next-to-last season. This 9-time Pro Bowler was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

Paul Krause was Washington's 2nd-round pick in 1964 and made an immediate impact, leading the NFL with 12 interceptions. After 4 seasons with the Redskins, Krause was traded to the Vikings, where he continued his stellar play, becoming known as "The Interceptor". He played in 4 Super Bowls, made 8 Pro Bowls, and finished his career with 81 interceptions. Krause was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.


Also check out the 1972 Redskins.

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Detroit Lions

Here are the 1968 Detroit Lions. This is going to be a short post, because although in the Topps 1968 set, the NFL teams received 9 cards (and the AFL teams received 8 cards), the Lions only got 6 cards. Three other players (QB Milt Plum, RB Tommy Watkins, and WR Pat Studstill) appear in Lions' jerseys with cards labelled as Los Angeles Rams. Obviously, they were traded to the Rams just before the set was finalized. As a result, the Rams have 12 cards in this set.

I had 2 of these 6 cards in 1968 (Ron Kramer, Alex Karras), which I helpfully elaborated on their positions with a pen.


The Lions were coming off their 3rd straight losing season in 1967, and would make it a 4th in 1968. They made some progress at QB though, as one of the players received from the Rams in the above-mentioned trade was Bill Munson, who had shared the starting QB job in LA with Roman Gabriel, and would start for the Lions in '68, '69, '70, '73, and '74.

Karl Sweetan was an 18th-round pick in 1965, and started 8 games for the Lions in each of 1966 and 1967. In 1968 he played for the Saints (starting 3 games), and played for the Rams in 1969 and 1970.

Tom Nowatzke was the Lions' #1 pick in 1965, and played for the Lions from 1965-69. He was the team's starting fullback in 1966. Tom also played for the Colts from 1970-72, mostly as a fullback, although he played some linebacker in 1971.

Jim Gibbons played for 11 years (1958-68), all with the Lions. He was Detroit's starting tight end for his first 7 seasons. In 1965, he and the newly-acquired Ron Kramer each started 7 games. Gibbons became the backup TE for his last 3 seasons. He was a 3-time Pro Bowler.

Ron Kramer was the Packers' #1 pick in the 1957 draft. He played 3 seasons as a backup (missing the '58 season), then became the Pack's starting tight end from 1961 through 1964. He also made the Pro Bowl in 1962. Traded to the Lions after 1964, Ron split the starting TE job with Jim Gibbons in 1965, then was the regular TE in his final 2 seasons (1966-67).

Alex Karras was the Lions' #1 pick in 1958, and was the team's starting left defensive tackle for his entire career (1958-70), except for the 1963 season, when he and Packers' halfback Paul Hornung were suspended for gambling. Karras never missed a game, except for his 1963 suspension, and 1 game in his final season. He was a Pro Bowl selection from 1960-62 and in 1965.

After his playing career, he appeared in movies and TV, including "Blazing Saddles" and the sitcom "Webster". Karras passed away in October 2012 at age 77.

Wayne Walker was drafted by the Lions in 1958, and played his entire 15-year career (1958-72) with the Lions. He was the team's starting right linebacker in all but his first 2 seasons, and was also the kicker from 1962-68. Walker made the Pro Bowl from 1963-65.


Also check out the 1967 Lions.

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Dallas Cowboys

Here are the 1968 Dallas Cowboys. They finished at 9-5 in 1967, and lost their 2nd straight NFL Championship game to the Green Bay Packers (thereby missing both Super Bowls I and II by one game). In 1968, they improved their record to 12-2, but lost to the Browns in the first playoff round.

Don Meredith played his entire career (1960-68) with the Cowboys, and was the starting QB from 1963-68, as well as half of the 1962 season. Don made the Pro Bowl in his final 3 seasons. He started 13 of 14 games in his final season.

Craig Morton was the Cowboys' 1st-round pick (5th overall) in the 1965 draft. He was the #3 quarterback behind Meredith and Jerry Rhome for 2 seasons, moved ahead of Rhome in 1967, and inherited the starting job in 1969 after Meredith's retirement. In 1970, he piloted the team to Super Bowl V against the Colts, but lost on a last-second field goal. The Cowboys won the Supe in '71, but Roger Staubach was the starting QB that season. Morton was again the starter in 1972, but after that, it was Staubach's team.

Morton was traded to the Giants during the 1974 season, and started there through 1976. He moved on to Denver in 1977, and faced Staubach's Cowboys in the Super Bowl after his first season with the Broncos. Morton was the team's starting QB from '77 to '81, and finished as a backup in 1982.

Dan Reeves played 8 seasons in the NFL (1965-72), all with the Cowboys. He was the team's starting halfback from 1966-67, before giving way to Calvin Hill. After his playing career, he was an assistant coach with the Cowboys, then a head coach every year from 1981-2003, with the Broncos, Giants, and Falcons.

Don Perkins was one of the Cowboys' stars in the early 1960s. He was the starting fullback for his entire career (1961-68), and made the Pro Bowl 6 times (including his first 3 seasons).

Bob Hayes joined the Cowboys in 1965, after winning 2 gold medals in the 1964 Olympics. He was the starting split end from 1965 - 1973 (except for part of 1972), and was a top punt returner during his first 6 seasons. Bob led the NFL in touchdowns during his first 2 seasons, and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first 4 seasons. He was a backup during his final 2 seasons with Dallas (1974) and San Francisco (1975). Hayes was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, 7 years after his death at age 59.

Bob Lilly was the Cowboys' #1 pick in 1961, and started every game in his 14-year career with Dallas (1961-74). After playing defensive end for his first 3 seasons, he moved to tackle for the remainder of his career. The 11-time Pro Bowler was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

Lee Roy Jordan was the Cowboys' #1 pick in 1963, and started immediately at right linebacker. He moved to middle linebacker in 1966, and remained the starter there until his retirement after the 1976 season. Jordan was a 5-time Pro Bowl selection.

Here we see Cornell Green in his early-1960s Cowboys jersey (the same as Meredith, Perkins, and Lilly). Green joined the Cowboys in 1962, and was their starting left cornerback from 1963-69. When Herb Adderley joined the team in 1970, Green moved to strong safety, becoming the regular there for his final 5 seasons. Cornell was a Cowboy for all of his 13 seasons, and was a 5-time Pro Bowler. His brother Pumpsie Green played major-league baseball.

Mel Renfro was a 2nd-round pick in 1964, and was immediately thrust into the starting lineup. He was the free safety from 1964-69, then the starting right cornerback from 1970-76. He finished his career in 1977 as a backup DB. Renfro made the pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons, and returned punts and kicks for his first 3 seasons. As a rookie, he led the NFL in returns and return yardage for both kicks and punts. Mel was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.


Also check out the 1967, 1971, and 1972 Cowboys.

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Pittsburgh Steelers

Here are the 1968 Pittsburgh Steelers. Most teams had 8 or 9 cards in the '68 set, but the Steelers only have 7 cards. Quarterback Bill Nelsen was traded to the Browns in May 1968, so Topps updated Nelsen's card, giving the Browns 10 cards, while leaving the Steelers without a QB card.

Four of the players appear in the so-called "Batman" jerseys worn during the '66 and '67 seasons.

Of the players below, only Andy Russell was still with the team when they reached the Super Bowl in the early 1970s. 

Like many of the NFL players in this set, Gros is pictured in an older photo, wearing his Packers' jersey from his 1962-63 stint in Green Bay. (Topps didn't issue NFL cards from 1964-67, so recent pics weren't available.) Gros was the Eagles' starting fullback from 1964-66, and was traded to Pittsburgh before the '67 season. He was their starting FB in '68 and '69, then ended his career with the 1970 Saints.

J. R. Wilburn played his entire career (1966-70) with the Steelers. He was the team's starting flanker from 1967-69, but lost his starting job to rookie Ron Shanklin in 1970.

Roy Jefferson may have been the best player in this group. He led the NFL with 1074 receiving yards in 1968, and had 1079 yards in 1969. After 5 seasons in Pittsburgh, he played for the Colts in 1970, and the last 6 seasons of his career with the Redskins. He also returned punts in '65, '66, and '68.

Bill Saul was the Colts' 2nd-round pick (out of Linebacker U.) in 1962. After 2 seasons as a reserve, he moved to Pittsburgh in 1964. He played behind Myron Pottios for a year, then missed the entire 1965 season. He returned as the team's starting MLB in '66 and '67. He lost the starting job in 1968 to future Baltimore Colt Ray May. Saul finished up as a backup in New Orleans (1969) and Detroit (1970).

Andy Russell was the Steelers' SIXTEENTH-round pick in 1963. He was their starting right linebacker for his entire career (1963-76), except for missing all of 1964-65 while in the US Army. Russell was a 7-time Pro Bowler, including every season from 1970-75.

Marv Woodson played 5 1/2 seasons with the Steelers (1964-69), before finishing the 1969 season (and his career) with the Saints. He was Pittsburgh's starting left cornerback from 1965-68.

Paul Martha was the Steelers' #1 pick in the 1964 draft. He was a split end for his first 2 seasons, then moved to defense, becoming the starting free safety from 1966 to 1969. He finished his career in 1970 as the Bronco's starting free safety. After football he became an attorney, and was an executive with the 49ers and Pittsburgh Penguins.


Also check out the 1967 and 1972 Steelers.

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Cleveland Browns

In 1967, the Browns compiled a 9-5 record and finished first in the Century Division (Browns, Giants, Steelers, Cardinals). They lost to the Cowboys in the first playoff round.

In 1968, they improved to 10-4, finished first again, and beat Dallas in the 1st playoff round. They would then lose to the NFL champion Colts.

Bill Nelsen - After 5 seasons with the Steelers, Nelson moved to Cleveland for 1968 and was the Browns' starting QB for 4 seasons, before finishing his career in 1972 as a backup.

Frank Ryan - Frank was drafted by the Rams in 1958. After 4 seasons as the backup QB, he was traded to the Browns and was their starting QB from 1962-67, making the Pro Bowl 3 times. He backed up Nelsen in 1968, then was the Redskins' #2 QB for 2 seasons.

Leroy Kelly - The retirement of Jim Brown after 1965 opened the gate for Kelly, who led the Browns in rushing every season from 1966-72. He led the NFL in '67 and '68 with over 1200 rushing yards each season. Kelly wound up his career in 1973 in a reduced role. He entered the Hall of Fame in 1994.

Ernie Green - Green spent his entire career (1962-68) with the Browns. He moved to fullback for his last 2 seasons (replacing the retired Jim Brown).

Gary Collins - Gary was the Browns' #1 pick (4th pverall) in 1962. He played his entire career (1962-71) with the Browns. He was primarily the punter in his rookie season, but became a fulltime flanker in his 2nd season (leading the NFL with 13 receiving TDs) while continuing to punt. He rarely punted in his last 4 seasons.

Paul Warfield - Long before he was winning Super Bowls with the Dolphins, Warfield was a top split end for the Browns. Cleveland's #1 pick in 1964 played 6 seasons with the Browns (although missing most of 1965) and led the NFL with 12 TDs in 1968. Paul achieved greater success in 5 seasons with Miami (1970-74). After a season in the WFL, he returned to Cleveland for the '76 and '77 seasons. Warfield was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

Gene Hickerson - Here's a rare shot of a helmeted player - at least Topps didn't have to airbrush out an unlicensed logo! Hickerson played his entire career (1958-73) with the Browns. He was their starting right guard from 1959-71 before moving to left guard for his last 2 seasons. He entered the Hall of Fame in 2007.

Bill Glass - Topps inexplicably forgot to use orange on this card's nameplate (as with all other Browns' cards). They had a similar brain cramp on some of their 1967 baseball cards. Glass played from 1958 to 1968, and was the starting right defensive end every season but his rookie year. After 4 seasons with the Lions, he played his last 7 seasons with the Browns.

Jim Kanicki - Jim was drafted by the Browns in 1963 and played 7 seasons with the team - all but the first and last as the starting right defensive tackle. He was a starting DT for the Giants in 1970 and 1971.

Erich Barnes - Barnes was drafted by the Bears in 1958, and after 3 seasons as a starter there, he moved on to the Giants, where he was the starting left cornerback from 1961-64. He played his final 5 seasons (1965-71) with the Browns, where he started at left cornerback every season except '65 and '71.


Also see the 1967 and 1972 Browns.


Next time: Pittsburgh Steelers