Chicago Bears cards

Robin Earl, says his 1982 card “has been an exceptional blocker throughout his career. Was fullback when Walter Payton rushed for 275 yards in game, 11-20-77.”

After being selected with the fourth overall choice out of Tennessee State in the 1974 draft, Waymond Bryant earned some notice as the NFC's defensive rookie of the year, his 1977 card says. He started seven games in 1974, shifting from middle to outside linebacker after five games.

It was after Bob Avellini's 8-3 senior season at Maryland in 1974--during the Senior Bowl--that he impressed Bears' coaches, says his 1976 card.

The leading scorer in NCAA history, with 466 points, during his career at Jackson State, Walter Payton led the NFL with a 31.7 kickoff-return average during his rookie season, 1975, says his 1977 card.

Roland "Bull" Harper became a starter for Chicago in his 1975 rookie season, after being made the club's 17th-round draft choice, says his 1976 card.

Bo Rather won the Miami Dolphins' Tommy Fitzgerald Memorial Award as the outstanding rookie in the 1974 training camp, says his 1977 card.

Brian Baschnagel played in four Rose Bowls while at Ohio State, says his 1977 card.

James Scott scored one "action point" during his 1974 season with the Chicago Fire of the World Football League, says his 1977 card. Through eight weeks, he was the WFL's leading receiver--but a knee injury ended Scott's season.

Greg Latta "played with Florida Blazers of WFL in 1974 and was loop's best tight end," says Latta's 1977 card.

Dan Neal was Kentucky's offensive captain in 1971 and '72, according to his 1977 card. He was the Colts' 11th-round draft choice in 1973, snapping on punts for Baltimore. He signed with Chicago as a free agent on Nov. 11, 1975, and got his first start, against the Lions, on Dec. 7 that season.

Vince Evans is "a mobile righthander with a strong arm," says his 1981 card. "Vince became Bears' starting quarterback in 1980. At USC he was MVP of the 1977 Rose Bowl as club defeated Michigan, 14-6."

The NFL passed on Steve Schubert, MVP in his senior season at Massachusetts, in the 1973 draft. He ended up playing for the New England Colonels of the ACFL that year but found his way onto the New England Patriots' roster for 1974 and starred on special teams. His one catch that season, says his 1977 card, wasa 21-yard touchdown reception in a 17-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

"Rickey (Watts) made the longest touchdown reception at Soldier Field since the Bears moved there in 1971 with an 89-yard catch from Vince Evans vs. Vikings, 9-21-80," says Watts's 1982 card.

Alan Page, a cook, was the first and only defensive player to win NFL MVP, says his 1981 card. He blocked four kicks for the Chicago Bears in 1980, giving him "22 blocked kicks in his last 118 games in the NFL."

Bob Thomas's 55-yard field goal against the Rams on Nov. 23, 1975, bettered the Bears' record by three yards, says his 1976 card. "The fomrer mark of 52 yards had been set by Leo Artoe vs. Giants, 10-27-40." He was the captain of his high-school soccer team, according to his 1981 card.

Revie Sorey's 1978 card reports that he "often frequents the New York disco scene" and is "a key man in the Bears' favorite play 'Ride 38' as a pulling guard." His 1981 card says Sorey's hobbies include chess; "he received the game ball in Bears' 1977 Thanksgiving Day victory at Detroit."

In the fourth round of the 1972 draft, the Bears drafted Penn State's Bob Parsons as a quarterback, his 1976 card says. He caught a six-yard TD pass as a tight end in his first NFL game. In his third season, he became Chicago's regular punter.

Mike Hartenstine's 1977 card says he was one of three Bears rookies in 1975 to start all 14 games. And the game ball for the Bears’ Dec. 10, 1978, victory over the Packers goes to …? Mike Hartenstine! This feat and Topps’s assessment of Hartenstine as “one of the NFL’s strongest defensive linemen” highlight his 1981 card.

After playing at the University of Tampa in 1971, Noah Jackson "gave up two years of eligibility to sign with Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League," says his 1977 card. "Played from 1972 through 1974 with Toronto seeing action in 44 games. Was drafted by Colts in 1974, then traded to Bears for a draft choice, January 28, 1975. ... He started all 14 games at left guard for Bears in 1975 proving to be an alert and enthusiastic performer."

Gary Fencik's 1981 card says he's studying to play the piano.

Jim Osborne's 1982 card: "One of the highlights of Jim's career came in 1979. He was the hero of Bears' 7-0 win at Buffalo, October 7th, by causing the fumble which set up game's only score."