CARD: Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2023

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

• Gene Upshaw played OL for Texas A&I from 1963-’66.
• He was selected by Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 1967 draft.
• Considered one of the finest OL to ever play, was a fixture at OG for the Raiders for 16 seasons.
• Has numerous distinctions on resume, including being the first player to appear in a Super Bowl in 3 different decades, and most consecutive starts to begin NFL career (231).
• Offensive team captain for 9 seasons (1973-’81).
• Was a firsthand witness to many of the NFL’s most memorable games such as the Ghost to the Post, The Sea of Hands, and the Holly Roller.
• During NFL career became extremely active in union activity with the NFLPA, eventually ascending to Executive Director.

ACCOLADES:

• Pro Football Hall of Fame
• All Pro 1970, ’74, ’77
• Second Team All Pro 1971-’73, ’75
• Pro Bowl 1972-’77
• All AFL All Star 1968
• NFL All Decade Team 1970s
• Byron Whizzer White Award 1980
• NFL 75th Anniversary Team
• NFL 100th Anniversary Team
• Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
• 1982 A. Phillip Randolph Award

NOTES:

Gene had long passed by the time I got around to this set, so I thought it’d be a challenge to get any of the deceased players. Much to my amazement his autograph showed up a few years ago on EBay on this exact card- but I forgot to place a bid and missed out on it. I was kicking myself for quite a while on it until this one popped up at the same time Willie Davis appeared. I pulled the trigger on both and was able to add both of them to my collection.

It should be noted that Gene’s autograph… is upside down.

EPITAPH:

9/20/2008- Gene passed away suddenly from pancreatic cancer, surrounded by friends and family at the Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA. He was 63.

After his passing his family established a foundation in his name, and an annual golf tournament to help cover patient and family costs, at the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center.