Tommy McDonald played collegially at Oklahoma from 1954 to ’56 as a halfback.
Over his time there he ran for 1683 yards on 249 carries scoring 27 times, as well as catching 20 passes for 414 yards and 6 TDs.
3rd round pick of the 1957 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Played 7 seasons for the Eagles, leading the NFL in TDs in both ’58 (9) and ’61 (13).
In 1958 he caught 29 passes for 603 yards and a 91 yard long.
From 1958-1962 caught double digit TDs in every season, with 13 in both 1960 and ’61.
Broke the 1,000 yard barrier 3 times in his career: 1961 (1144), 1962 (1146) and later after he joined the Rams in 1965 (1036).
After being traded for three players, played the ’64 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
Traded to the Rams in exchange for a kicker in 1965, playing there through ’66.
Then in ’67 was traded to the Falcons and then signed with the Browns in ’68 before closing out his career.
Played WR, FL, and RHB over 12 seasons.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1958-’62, ’65
Pro Football Hall of Fame 1998
National High School Hall of Fame
Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
Philadelphia Hall of Fame
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
New Mexico Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
1956 Maxwell Award
Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team
NOTES:
At the time of his retirement in ’69 McDonald was the last player to play without a facemask. He became an ambassador to the sport and of the Philadelphia Eagles- which makes this card seem all the more odd since he only played two seasons with the Rams. After his passing he was diagnosed with CTE.
EPITAPH:
9/24/2018- Tommy McDonald passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 84.
Milton College’s most impressive player (because the college is now defunct), Andy Robustelli played both ways at DE and T.
He’d be selected in the 19th round of the 1951 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
Robustelli made the team and played for the Rams through 1955.
Traded to the New York, he’d play for the Giants from ’56-’64.
During that time with the Giants, Robustelli developed quite a reputation as a fearsome pass rusher and fantastic read/ react lineman.
Andy only missed one game over his entire playing career.
Worked one year with NBC as a color man in 1965.
Diversified his holdings into leisure travel lifestyles and founded a sports marketing company.
In 1973, Robustelli was approached by Giants’ owner Wellington Mara to take over the front office of the team.
He headed day to day operations for the franchise through the 1978 season.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Italian Sports Hall of Fame
Walter Camp Man of the Year
New York Giants Ring of Honor
Bert Bell Award
Pro Bowl 1953, ’55-57, ’59-’61
All Pro 1953, ’55-’56, 1958-’60
Second Team AP 1952, ’54, ’57, ’62
NFL Player of the Year 1962
NOTES:
Robustelli has an impressive lineage of family who have played football including grandsons who played in the Arena Football League and CFL as well as former World League defensive lineman and great nephew Dan Sileo.
EPITAPH:
5/31/2011- Andy passed away due to complications from surgery for a kidney stone.
I had a Score 1990 of Andre sitting around forever and a day that I had gotten from a friend way, way back in 2012. I finally got another one, though it’s messy to add to the collection now that Fleer is one of my set chases.
Since I posted about Andre way back in 2011, he has gotten the accolades that he deserves and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
