Marcus Allen has the distinction of being the only player in the history of football to have won a Heisman Trophy, an NCAA National Championship, a Super Bowl, and be named NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP. Quite a resume !! Allen was drafted with the 10th overall selection of the 1982 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Raiders. Though his rookie season was shortened by a league strike, Allen rushed for 697 yards and led the Raiders to the best record in the AFC at 8-1. He was voted the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. His rookie card was issued in the 1983 Topps set but client wanted a 1982 Topps custom.
Mike Munchak was an offensive lineman for Penn State from 1978–1981. During his senior year, he was named a second team All-American and was subsequently drafted 8th overall by the Houston Oilers. In his rookie season, he quickly earned a starting position at the left guard position. He remained in that position for 12 seasons. During that time he garnered nine Pro Bowl nominations, four All-Pro, nine Second Team All-Pro, seven All-AFC, and four second team All-Pro selections. His rookie card was issued in the 1985 Topps set, client wanted a 1982 Topps custom.
Richard Dent was drafted in the eighth round by the Chicago Bears in the 1983 NFL Draft. At 6'5" and 265 lbs. Dent was a great pass rusher who beat offensive tackles with his speed. He was part of the core of great players who made the Bears' defenses of the 1980s legendary. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XX when the Bears defeated the New England Patriots in a 46-10 landslide. His rookie card was issued in the 1985 Topps set, client wanted a 1983 version.
John Elway played college football at Stanford and his entire 16-year professional career with the Denver Broncos. He was the first selection in the 1983 NFL Draft where he was taken by the Baltimore Colts before being traded to the Broncos. The rest is history as he became one of the elite passers of all time. His rookie card was issued in the 1984 Topps set, again client wanted a 1983 version.
Dan Marino was the last quarterback to be taken in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft, by the Miami Dolphins, and also was the first draft pick in the history of the United States Football League, selected by the Los Angeles Express. Signed with the Dolphins setting a number of records in his rookie season as well as being selected to the Pro. Over a 17 year career he set too many records to list. Despite never being on a Super Bowl winning team, he is recognized as one of the greatest quarterbacks in American football history. His rookie card was also issued in the 1984 Topps set, here is his 1983 version.
Goaltender Ed Dyck caught the attention of the Vancouver Canucks when he led the Western Canadian Junior Hockey League in games played during the 1969-70 season. He rewarded their faith by posting a league leading 2.53 goals-against average the following season. Turned pro in 1971-72, spending time with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, the Seattle Totems of the WHL, as well as making his 12 game NHL debut with the Canucks. Would play another 37 NHL games with them over the next 2 seasons before jumping to the WHA Indianapolis Racers for a season. Following that Dyck traveled overseas and spent his final season of pro hockey playing in Sweden, retiring after the 1975-76 year. He would never get a hockey card issued, we created a '72-73 rookie and a '73-74 custom.
Jacques Plante had a longer career than these Canuck goaltenders and doesn't need much of an intro. Client wanted an upgraded 1964-65 Tallboys card created with a picture I had previously posted on another custom.
John Ross Roach was one of the smallest and most exciting goaltenders ever to backstop in the NHL. In 1921-22, he turned pro with the Toronto St. Pats and during his rookie season he led his club past the Vancouver Millionaires to claim the Stanley Cup. His rookie season marked the beginning of a 14-year run in the NHL, his first 7 in Toronto. In 1928-29, he was traded to the New York Rangers where he led the league in games played for each of his four years on Broadway. All went well until the playoffs of 1932. While facing the Leafs in the finals, the little netminder gave up six goals in each of his three appearances. Toronto took the Cup while Roach was ushered out of town in a cash deal that sent him to Detroit. In the Motor City, he played solidly and missed winning the Vezina Trophy by only a fraction of a percentage point, however, he was selected to the All-Star team. By 1933-34, signs of age and wear began to show in his game. His ice time gradually decreased to the point that he was demoted to the minors with the Detroit Olympics of the IAHL in 1934-35. It was there that Roach hung up his pads for good. He had cards issued as a St. Pat and a Red Wing, here is a Rangers custom.
I'll finish up with a couple of postings of upgraded custom cards, both in the 1980-81 Topps style, of Washington Capital's Greg Theberge and the Maple Leafs' Greg Hotham. Both had rather poor images these are improvements.
You can purchase these cards, or any of my Missing Link creations, for $10 each postpaid, or $7.95 each for 3 or more. Email me at: [email protected], volume discounts available on larger orders.