A Long Time Between Cards
January 20th, 2010 | Published in Football Card Trivia | 5 Comments
I was putting some 1955 Bowman cards on eBay yesterday, and I realized that the Lee Riley in that set was the same Lee Riley who appears on a 1963 Fleer card. Riley had only these two cards, eight years apart, and I had not made the connection.
I looked up Riley on pro-football-reference.com, and I discovered that the timespan between his two cards was actually greater than the length of his career. How’s that, you ask? Well, Riley was a rookie in 1955, making his Bowman card a true rookie card. But he didn’t actually play in 1963; his last year was 1962. His entry in the All-Time Jets Roster confirms that.
January 20th, 2010 at 1:49 PM (#)
Lee looks like a middle aged accountant in the 63′ Fleer. Interesting they moved him from halfback to safety.
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:42 AM (#)
Hi I am enjoying your web site I have a quiz for you. There is a player who appeared on two different cards in one year for two different teams and two different leagues both cards were major card companies. Hint you have just one of the cards in your gallery. Thank you for your web site. Pastor Scott
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:17 PM (#)
Gosh, Scott, I’m drawing a blank on that one. Was the player on a 1948 Leaf or 1950 Topps Felt Back card? Those are two major sets I can think of that I don’t have listed yet, and there were other major sets those years.
Jesse, Riley was a defensive halfback in 1955. Back then the cards didn’t distinguish between offensive and defensive backs. 1959 Topps might be the first year they put “Def.” on cards for defensive back, ends, and tackles. I can’t think of any before that.
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:08 AM (#)
Hi it s 1960 AFL and Cfl your card is 1960 Fleer 2 Corky Tharp New York Titans halfback the other card is 1960 Topps CFL 78 Corky Tharp. I don t know of any other.
January 23rd, 2010 at 9:18 AM (#)
Ah, I hadn’t thought of the CFL. That’s a great bit of trivia!