Tag Archives: Topps 1969

NFL

Alexander, Kermit

Action Packed 1991 Whizzer White Award, #5
Topps 1969, #161

CARDS: Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991, Topps 1969
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 9/26 RECEIVED: 11/23 (58 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kermit Alexander played runningback for UCLA from 1960-62.
  • Posted 708 yards on 128 carries (6 TDs), and caught 32 passes for 508 yards and 2 TDs over college career.
  • Opting to play for SF over Denver in 1963, the 49ers would utilize Kermit as a return man and DB.
  • Over 7 seasons in SF, Kermit had 5+ interceptions 5 times, lead the NFL in fumble recoveries twice (5 in ’64 and 8 in ’65) playing all DB positions.
  • In 1965, he led the NFL in returns (35) and return yardage (741).
  • At the turn of 1970, Alexander was traded to the LA Rams.
  • He’d only play two seasons for the franchise, but not before he added 7 more interceptions to his resume, including an 82 yard TD.
  • Retired after the 1973 season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1968
  • Byron Whizzer White Award 1972

NOTES:

I had coveted Kermit on this Action Packed card of his for sometime. After writing him back in 2019 I was surprised to get these cards back unsigned as he had a very good signing track record. I suppose that he may have taken offense to something I wrote in my letter, as I was unaware of his family tragedy.

Later a friend of mine got him through the mail and told me that in his response a family member stated that Kermit was struggling with his memory, so I figured now was as good as any time as any.

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NFL

Meador, Ed (1937-2023)

Cards: Topps 1969, Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 1/17 Received: 1/28 (11 days)

Ed Meador is not a household name outside of the banner guard of the pre-St. Louis Los Angeles Rams, however he has an impressive resume, that has somehow slipped past Pro Football HoF induction.

Ed played for Arkansas Tech from 1955-1958. Back then players went both ways, and Meador distinguished himself as both a dangerous defensive back, but also as a top flight runner and return man. An all-conference selection 3 times, and Little American his Senior year, Ed was co-captain of the squad know as ‘The Wonder Boys’, and scored 272 career points over his time at Tech. He’d be selected in the 7th round of the 1969 NFL Draft.

The rest is history. He’d spend time returning kicks, holding kicks, and playing defensive back. After seeing time early in his career at corner, the Rams switched him to Free Safety where he excelled. Nicknamed ‘The Rams Little Assassin’, Ed owns multiple Rams career records to this day including interceptions (46), fumble recoveries (18), and blocked kicks (10). A 6 time Pro Bowler (1960, 1964-1968), 6 time First or Second Team All-Pro, and a member of the NFL 1960s All-Decade team, it is surprising that Meador’s name has not received a Canton induction.

In addition to his numerous on the field accomplishments, Ed won the NFLPA Byron Whizzer White Award in 1969. Retiring after 1970, Meador was inducted into the Arkansas Sports HoF in 1978, and worked in real estate for a few years before edging his way into jewelry.

Ed signed these two cards of his pretty quickly. Oddly enough both of these cards represent sets that I only had one other card from those sets signed, and they were both acquired many, many years ago. I wasn’t really a fan of Topps 1969. It strictly is more about the player than the design, and with limited technology to do so back then, this card just comes off very plain. The Action Packed 1991 Whizzer White card is really nice though. The only tweaks they did from the base 91 set is changing the marquee to a silver color and adding the helmeted year of the winner on it. It’s a great card of Ed and I am glad that he could sign it for me- even if it was in a ball point pen.

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EPITAPH:

09/06/23- Ed Meador passed away today at the grand old age of 86. No cause of death was given. He recently made it into the semifinalists of the 2024 NFL HoF Seniors class, but was not inducted.

The drive to get him into the HoF hasn’t stopped with his passing though. You can visit his website at http://www.edmeador21.com/ for more information.