Mack Lee Hill was born in Quincy, Florida and used his athletic and football ability to take him to Southern University. He was a strong, powerful runner with surprising speed, incredible balance, a huge will to succeed and a big heart. His ability however was apparently not enough to attract the big league scouts as he would be undrafted. Undaunted he made the Kansas City Chiefs' roster in 1964 as a rookie free agent, signing for only $300, with an agreement he would only be paid if he made the lineup. Not only did he make the lineup, he wound up as the team's second-leading rusher that season with 567 yards and four touchdowns on 105 carries, and played in the AFL All-Star Game after his rookie campaign. Hill had six carries for 20 yards in the game played at Houston’s Jeppesen Stadium. Mack Lee overcame the dreaded “sophomore slump,” by gaining 627 yards in the first 12 games of the 1965 season, second-most on the team for the year, even though he did not complete the season.
He was forced to end his season one game early after he ruptured a ligament in his right knee in a game against the Buffalo Bills. Hill underwent knee surgery a few days after his injury, but after going into convulsions post-surgery died on the operating table, he was just 25 years old. Inspired by their young runner, the Kansas City Chiefs created the Mack Lee Hill Award, which is given each season to the team’s most outstanding rookie.
I had first created a 1965 Topps tallboy style card but my customer responded with a note saying he disliked the style so much he had cut the original cards down to regular size. The customer is always right so that meant a 1966 Topps card was also created. Here are my tributes to Mack Lee Hill's American dream.
You can purchase these cards, or any of my Missing Link creations, for $10 each postpaid, or $7.95 for 3 or more. Email me at: [email protected], volume discounts available on larger orders.