Jose "Coco" Laboy was drafted by the Montreal Expos in in the 1969 expansion draft and finally got a chance in the big league.
Laboy, who was always sound defensively, was voted the 1969 NL rookie of the year in a players' poll because of his offense. He led the Expos in their first season with 29 doubles and 83 RBIs, and his 18 homers were third-best on the team. He had a card issued in the 1969 Topps set as a dual rookie card, client wanted a single version.
Dave Kingman made his major league debut with the San Francisco Giants on July 30, 1971, pinch running for Willie McCovey, and finishing the game at first base. He hit a home run in his next game, and hit two more a day later. The 6' 6" Kingman was a powerful hitter who became known for his long home runs, with one measured at over 530 feet. His rookie card was part of the 1972 Topps set, client wanted a 1971 Topps version.
Gerald "Booth" Lusteg's entry to the NFL came when the Buffalo Bills lost kicker Pete Gogolak in 1966. Lusteg, who at the time was an unsuccessful actor, was also playing football for the New Bedford Sweepers of the ACFL, a long ways from the NFL !!! One of nearly 100 people who applied to replace Gogolak, he earned the nod despite never having even played college football. In his rookie season he would tie for the AFL scoring lead by kickers. He later appeared with the Dolphins, Steelers and Packers but never had a football card produced. Here is his 1967 Buffalo Bills custom rookie card.
Jerry Smith played for the Washington Redskins from 1965 to 1977 and had a card produced every year except 1972. In his career Smith caught 421 passes, including 60 touchdowns, a record for tight ends at the time. He played in the 1973 Super Bowl and in two Pro Bowls. Here are his 1972 Topps Redskins custom creations, client wanted an "In Action" card but I also did a more traditional Topps style posed card .
Scot Kleinendorst was a hulking blue liner who spent 4 years with Providence College. The New York Rangers drafted him in the 1980 Entry Draft and in 1982-83 he played his first NHL season appearing in 30 games. In February of 1984 the Rangers dealt him to the Hartford Whalers where he saw action in another 210 NHL games before being traded to Washington in 1989. He played three games for the Capitals to close out that year and another 17 games the following year. After suiting up for three games in the playoffs for Washington, he finally gave his battered body a break and retired from the game. He would never get a card issued, client wanted a Whalers custom creation.
Rudy Poeschek had only limited hockey skills at best, but he was a fearless fighter who could absorb setbacks like Chuvalo took punches. He was drafted 238th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1985 Entry Draft and got in one game with the Rangers during his first pro campaign in 1987-88. He would also spend time with Winnipeg and Tampa Bay between 1990 and 1997. In 1997, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues where he continued as an enforcer for three more seasons before heading to the minors with the Worcester Ice Cats of the AHL and the Houston Aeros of the IHL. He retired after the 2000-01 IHL season, his 1993-94 Upper Deck rookie card was issued as a Tampa Bay Lightning player, here is his 1988-89 Rangers custom rookie creation.
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.