Mark Nordquist - G

Mark Nordquist played guard for the Eagles for 7 seasons - 5 as a starter. What can I say about him? If he were a baseball pitcher, the phrase "he eats innings" would be apropos.

Nordquist was drafted by the Eagles in the 5th round of the 1968 draft, after their earlier picks of Tim Rossovich, Cyril Pinder, Adrian Young, and Mike Dirks. (Mark was taken 6 picks ahead of guard Blaine Nye, drafted by the Cowboys.)

With incumbent right guard Jim Skaggs missing all of 1968 with injuries, Nordquist started all 14 games for the Birds as a rookie.

After spending '69 and '70 on the bench (behind Skaggs), Nordquist took over the starting right guard spot for all of 1971-74, starting 14, 13, 14, and 10 games in that 4-year span.

In April 1975 he was traded to the Bears for 2 draft picks, one of which became fullback Mike Hogan. Nordquist started 1 season for the Bears, then played only 1 game in 1976 before retiring.

These are Nordquist's three Eagles cards ('72, '73, '74). He was the Eagles' starting right guard from 1971-74, but Topps has incorrectly listed him as a center on his first 2 cards. (Although he was also the team's backup center in 1971 and for parts of '69 and '72.)

Where's Waldo Mark?

King Hill - QB/P

King Hill was the Eagles' backup quarterback for 8 seasons (1961-68) but only started more than 4 games once (6 in 1963), He was also their punter from 1961-63, and shared the punting with Sam Baker after that.

When we Philadelphia-area kids were playing backyard football in the late 1960s, someone always wanted to be King Hill. Why? I guess because no one liked Eagles' starting QB Norm Snead, and "King Hill" was a cool name, so... yeah...


Hill was the #1 overall draft pick in 1958 (by the Chicago Cardinals). How did he become a career backup (for the 1960s' Eagles, no less)?

After riding the bench in 1958 behind veteran Lamar McHan and fellow rookie QB M.C. Reynolds in '58, Hill started 10 games for the Cards in 1959, but returned to the bench for all but 1 game in 1960.

After the retirement of starting QB Norm Van Brocklin, the Eagles traded a first-round pick to acquire Hill before the 1961 season.  Sonny Jurgensen would be the starting QB for the next 3 seasons, relegating Hill to punting chores only (and a rare 6 starts at QB in 1963).

Jurgensen was swapped for Norm Snead after 1963, but Hill would remain the team's #2 quarterback for the rest of his Eagles' career.

Midway through the 1968 season, he was traded to the Vikings for a 3rd-round pick that would become safety Bill Bradley. Hill didn't see any QB action with the Vikings, but took over the punting chores from tight end Billy Martin.

King returned to the Cardinals for the 1969 season (as a punter only, since they had Charley Johnson and Jim Hart in the house) then retired after the season.

He was later a coach for the Oilers and Saints, and a scout for the Eagles.

Hill passed away in 2012 at age 75.

Here are King Hill's 1962 and 1964 cards, and also 3 custom cards that I purchased from RetroCards ('63, '65, '66).


Where's Waldo King?

Timmy Brown - HB

Timmy Brown played for the Eagles for 8 seasons (1960-67) and was their starting halfback for 5 seasons. He also was a kick returner from 1960-67, and punt returner from 1960-64.

He was signed as a free agent before the 1960 season, after being cut by the Packers after his rookie season.

Brown was quite prolific as a kick returner, leading the NFL twice in returns, return yards, and return touchdowns. In 1961 one of his TDs was a 105-yard return, longest in the NFL.

In 1963 he also attempted 3 passes, completing 1 for an 11-yard touchdown.

Timmy made the Pro Bowl in '62, '63, and '65.

In his final season with the Birds (1967), Brown only started 4 of his 7 games, and missed 7 games due to injury. After the season he was traded to the Colts for cornerback Alvin Haymond.

I have all 4 of Brown's Philly Gum cards (1964-67).

After football, Brown became an actor, and appeared in the M*A*S*H movie and a few of the early TV episodes. On the TV show, he played "Spearchucker Jones", the role played by Fred "The Hammer" Williamson in the movie.


Where's Waldo Tim?

Ben Hawkins - WR

Ben Hawkins was the Eagles' 3rd-round pick in 1966, and played 8 seasons with the Birds. He was a starting wideout in all but his last season, and played every game during those first 7 seasons.

In 1967, Ben led the NFL with 1265 receiving yards. In 1968 he set a team record with a 92-yard touchdown reception.

In his final season with Philly (1973) he started the first 4 games, then missed the remainder of the season with a broken leg.

Hawkins wrapped up his NFL career with the Browns in 1974, and played with the WFL's Philadelphia Bell in 1975.

He passed away last year at age 73.

Here are all of Ben's cards ('70, '73, '74)


When I was a teen, I had a poster of Hawkins in my room. (I don't remember if it was this one, but here is what I found on the web). He was famous for always playing with his chinstrap unbuckled.

Ben Hawkins story


Where's Waldo Ben?