CARD: Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991 ACQUIRED: 2023, EBay
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Played both ways at Grambling University- at OT and DE.
Selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 1956 NFL Draft.
Due to military commitments, did not see the field until 1958.
Traded to Green Bay in 1960 and played exclusively at DE.
A significant contributor to the Packers defensive dominance during the 60s.
Never missed a game during his ten seasons with the Packers.
Captained Green Bay to 5 NFL Championships and 2 Super Bowl wins.
Sacks and tackles were not officially tracked statistics, but unofficially Willie has been credited with in excess of 125 sacks, including 25 in one season.
Retired after the 1969 season.
Dabbled in color commentary and was president of a series of radio stations.
Served as a director on the ’84 US Olympic Committee.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Football Hall of Fame 1981
Byron Whizzer White Award 1969
NAACCP Man of the Year Award 1978
Willie Davis Day 12/21/1969
All Pro 1962-’67
Pro Bowl 1963-’67
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
NFL All 1960’s Team
NOTES:
Willie Davis is frequently confused with the WR by the same name and vice versa. Since Davis passed away, I didn’t hold out much hope getting him on anything. The Packer legend remains in demand even after passing and I had a quick and protracted fight with another EBay buyer to get this one off their hands.
EPITAPH:
4/15/20- Willie passed away peacefully at Santa Monica Hospital due to kidney failure at the age of 85.
CARD: Wild Card World League 1992 ACQUIRED: EBay, 2023 FAILURE: TTM 2010, 2011, 2020, C/o The Chiefs
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Willie Davis caught 63 passes for 1292 yards over his college career for Central Arkansas.
He holds the school all-time record for longest reception with a 99 yard TD.
He’d go undrafted in 1990, but be signed to the Chiefs practice squad.
Willie was allocated to the Orlando Thunder of the World League in 1992 by the team to give the young receiver more seasoning.
With future NFL veteran Scott Mitchell at QB, Davis caught 20 passes and a 51 yard TD in his first professional action.
The Chiefs, impressed by what they saw opted to give Willie some playtime in their offense.
Willie became one of the World League’s success stories, catching 36 passes for 756 yards later that year.
His best season perhaps came the following year when he caught 52 passes for 909 yards and 7 TDs.
He played for the Chiefs through 1995.
With Houston Oilers WR Haywood Jeffires demanding more money to stay with the team, the franchise opted to go in another direction and signed Willie Davis to essentially replace him.
Willie played with the Oilers from 1996-98, transitioning with the franchise to Tennessee in 1997.
Willie returned to the Chiefs after a few years away from the sport and joined the team’s front office, where he serves as the team’s front office scout of the southwest.
ACCOLADES:
Central Arkansas Hall of Fame (2001)
NOTES:
I finally gave up on trying to get Willie through the mail after 3 attempts through the Chiefs over the last 12 years. He signed sporadically for others and just didn’t respond to me. Whether or not it was an intentional snub or not or just the fact he may not want to sign his true rookie card, I am not sure. -So I just decided to haggle with an EBay seller who had some World League autographs that looked legitimate enough to me to close the deal.
WL
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
20
242
12.1
1
51t
NFL
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
286
4503
15/7
33
74
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
