Bart Starr’s 1968 Topps card.
As Thanksgiving is celebrated today among the best known traditions is football.
Among the many things I’ve always been thankful for is the neighbor who gave me a box full of baseball, football and basketball cards from the late 1960s.
At the time, the cards were not over 10 years old. Although I don’t remember the neighbor’s name, his generous gift turned out to be awesome.
Rummaging through the box was fun. Many of the players were unknown to me at the time, but my excitement grew as the names became more recognizable.
Two of my prized card possessions were in that box and Bart Starr‘s 1968 and 1969 Topps cards were among the items found. If you try to compare the career numbers of Starr to the players of today, to be honest, they don’t stack up.
From 1956 to 1971 with the Green Bay Packers, Starr threw for 24,718 yards and 152 touchdowns. His yardage total is currently 70th all-time and the touchdown mark is tied for 80th with Billy Kilmer. Hardly figures that would be considered worthy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
However, when the word “only” is used to describe a player people take notice. Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Tom Brady are the quarterbacks who have won four Super Bowls. Starr won the first two with the Packers and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player for both contests.
But the word “only” comes into play prior with Starr’s career to the Super Bowl era. Starr is the “only” starting signal caller to lead his team to five National Football League titles.
Green Bay won the league championships in 1961, 1962 and 1965 before claiming the Packers initial Super Bowl wins.
Starr was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977 and he is was joined by Johnny Unitas and Sonny Jurgensen on the NFL’s 1960s All-Decade Team.
The 1956 NFL Draft
Today, Starr may not have been drafted. He was picked by the Packers in the 17th round and the 200th player selected. Today, there are seven rounds and because the numner of teams has grown 256 players are chosen.
Starr played at Alabama from 1952 to 1955. Freshman were eligible to play in the Southeastern Conference at that time. His best season was in 1953 when he led the Crimson Tide to the Cotton Bowl, which they lost. He was injured in 1954 and didn’t play much as a senior.
Bart Starr’s 1969 Topps card.
No. 15
Once Starr joined the Packers and was united with Vince Lombardi in 1959, his career became legendary. As a result, Starr is one of six players to have his number retired by the Packers.
Here is the list of Green Bay’s retired jerseys:
No. 14 Don Hutson (1951)
No. 3 Tony Canadeo (1952)
No. 15 Bart Starr (1973)
No. 66 Ray Nitschke (1983)
No. 92 Reggie White (2005)
No. 4 Brett Favre (2015)