Nate Ramsey - DB

Nate Ramsey played for the Eagles for 10 seasons (1963-72) and was a regular defensive back in all but his rookie season (also starting 6 games as a rookie.)

Initially a cornerback, he was the Eagles' starting strong safety from 1965-70, then returned to cornerback for '71 and '72.

In mid-December 1970, Ramsey was shot in the chest on the streets of Philadelphia. He missed 3 games that season, but recovered in time to start all 14 games the next year.

He finished his career with the Saints in 1973.

Where's Waldo Nate?

Pete Retzlaff - WR/TE

Pete Retzlaff just barely makes the cutoff for this blog, having retired after the 1966 season.

He played 11 seasons with the Eagles, all as a starter.  Drafted by the Lions in 1953, he never played for Detroit, and after 2 years in the Army he made his NFL debut with the Eagles in 1956.

Retzlaff was the starting flanker for 3 seasons, then moved to split end (is there a difference?) for 4 years before finishing up with 4 seasons as the starting tight end.

He was selected for 5 Pro Bowls, and in 1958 led the NFL with 56 catches. The Eagles have retired his #44 jersey.

I have 3 of Pete's cards - 1964, 1965, and 1967. (He must have retired after the '67 set went to press.)

After his playing career, he broadcast the Eagles' games on local radio for a season or two, then became the team's general manager in 1969 when Leonard Tose bought the team. He was the GM for the 4 seasons of the Jerry Williams/Ed Khayat coaching era, and was replaced by Jim Murray when the Eagles hired Mike McCormick as the head coach.

Notable players drafted on Retzlaff's watch were Bill Bradley, Wade Key, Harold Carmichael, John Bunting, and Tom Sullivan.

Where's Waldo Pete?

Nope! Although Retzlaff was with the Eagles in 1969, it was as their GM, not as a player. While this photo was being taken, Pete may have been in the owner's office, trying to explain why they had selected Leroy Keyes with the 3rd overall pick, instead of DT Joe Greene, who the Steelers took with the very next pick!

Joe Scarpati - S

Today's player review features Eagles' free safety Joe Scarpati.

Scarpati was drafted in the 13th round of the 1964 draft by the AFL's Boston Patriots, but chose to play for the Eagles, who signed him as an undrafted free agent.

He was a 6-year starter for the Eagles - at strong safety during his rookie season, then moving to free safety for his last 5 with the Eagles. In 1966 he had 8 interceptions - good for a league-leading 182 yards.

Joe also served as the holder for extra points and field goals (although I don't know how far back that task went - at least as early as 1969).  When he was traded to the Saints for the 1970 season, he was the holder for Tom Dempsey's record 63-yard field goal that season.

Scarpati only played one season for the Saints. He returned to the Eagles before the 1971 season but was injured in training camp, which ended his career.

These are Joe's only football cards. Prior to the 1973 set, there were less than a dozen player cards per team, so (other than the starting quarterbacks, who were pretty much guaranteed a card every year) many veterans were left out of the sets.

His 1970 card shows him as a Saint, but still wearing his Eagles' jersey. His 1971 card shows him in Saints' attire, but he was back with the Eagles that year, although missing the season due to a training camp injury.

When I unearth my 1971 Eagles yearbook, I will check for Joe Scarpati's page (which I'm sure I have seen.) I previously had a reason to scan this cover and the Adrian Young and Rick Duncan pages.

Where's Waldo Joe?

Wade Key - T/G

#3 in my series of individual player reviews is offensive lineman Wade Key.

Key was drafted by the Eagles in the 13th round in 1969, but spent that season on the team's taxi squad, and playing for the minor-league Pottstown Firebirds.

Wade joined the Eagles on a full-time basis in 1970, becoming the team's starting left offensive tackle (replacing the retired Lane Howell).

With the team drafting tackle Jerry Sisemore in 1973, Key shifted to left guard and was a fixture there for the rest of his career, except for missing all but 2 games of the 1975 season.

Key played for some REALLY bad Eagles' teams during his career from 1970-79. Unfortunately for him, he was among the last training camp cuts in 1980, the year the team FINALLY went to the Super Bowl.

Where's Waldo Wade?

Here's Wade Key in the 1969 team photo. It was his rookie season, which he spent on the taxi squad. He is wearing #55, not the #72 he wore from 1970-79. I wonder if he was drafted as a center? Typical "tackle numbers" 73, 74, and 75 were available.