Mike Evans - C

Mike Evans had a 6-year career in the NFL from 1968 to 1973, and was the Eagles' starting center for the middle 4 seasons.

Evans was the team's 9th-round pick in the 1968 draft. Veteran center Jim Ringo retired after the 1967 season, so the Eagles drafted Evans and signed Gene Ceppetelli from the CFL. Ceppetelli started most of the games in '68, but Evans played in 6 games (and started 4) in his rookie season.

He then anchored the O-line for the next 4 seasons, starting 13, 14, 14 and 12 games in that span. (I have a vague recollection that he missed most of one season (either '71 or '72) while the Eagles' tried to make-do with journeyman center Jerry Sturm and backup guard Mark Nordquist snapping the ball, but the record shows Evans played 12 games (all starts) in 1972, so my memory is slipping.)

In his final NFL season (1973), Evans played in all 14 games but only started 5, with rookie Guy Morriss starting 9 games.

Evans was traded to Detroit in January 1974 for safety Willie Germany, but did not make the Lions' team. He played for two WFL teams that season before retiring.

(Evans had no football cards)


Where's Waldo Mike?

Floyd Peters - DT

Floyd Peters played 6 seasons for the Eagles (1964-69), and was their starting left defensive tackle for 5 1/2 seasons (missing much of 1968 due to injury).

Peters was drafted by the Colts in 1958, but spent that season on their taxi squad. He began his career with the Browns, playing in Cleveland from 1959-62 and starting at right defensive tackle for the last 3 seasons.

He then played 1 year as the Lions' left DT, before coming to the Eagles in April 1964 (with running back Ollie Matson) for tackle J.D. Smith.

Floyd started 14, 9, 14, and 12 games over the next 4 seasons before missing all but 5 games in 1968. He returned to start all 14 games in 1969, his last as an Eagle. He made 3 Pro Bowls while with the Eagles ('64, '66, '67).

Peters was waived in the Spring of 1970, but hooked on with the Redskins as a player/coach for 1970. He played in 10 games (9 starts) in his final season.

Peters was a defensive coordinator for 6 teams from 1974-1994.

He passed away in 2008 at age 82.

Here are Peters' 1967 and 1968 cards. He also had a card in the 1965 set.


Where's Waldo Floyd?

Peters looks older than the head coach sitting next to him!

Gary Ballman - WR/TE

Gary Ballman was a receiver who played for the Eagles for 6 seasons, the first 5 as a starter.  He was the team's split end for 2 seasons, then moved to tight end when the Eagles acquired Harold Jackson in 1969.

Ballman was the Steelers' 8th-round pick in 1962, and was their starting flanker (and kick returner) from 1963-66.   (Photos showing Ballman wearing #48 are from his rookie season in 1962. He switched to #85 in 1963).

He made the Pro Bowl twice while with the Steelers ('64, '65).

The Eagles acquired him in March 1967 (too late for a football card update) for fullback Earl Gros and rookie guard Bruce Van Dyke. Van Dyke would be the Steelers' starting right guard from 1967-73, while Gros was only the starter in '68 and '69. (The Steelers filled Ballman's spot with 2nd-year man J.R. Wilburn.)

Gary started 12 to 14 games per season for his first 4 years with the Eagles. On a team with Harold Jackson and Ben Hawkins as wideouts, Gary was usually the #3 receiver, but he lead the receiving corps with 47 catches in 1970. (Fullback Lee Bouggess had 50 catches.)

In 1971 he started the first 6 games, then missed the rest of the season with a knee injury that required surgery. Rookie Harold Carmichael moved to tight end for the rest of the season.

Ballman returned in 1972, but only played in 8 games (starting 4). Kent Kramer had joined the Birds, and started 8 games at TE, with Carmichael picking up the rest.

Gary split the 1973 season between the Giants and Vikings, before retiring.

Here are all of Ballman's cards during his time with the Eagles ('67, '68, '69, '70).


Where's Waldo Gary?

Chuck Hughes - WR

Chuck Hughes was a backup wide receiver for the Eagles and Lions. Sadly, he is mostly known as the only NFL player to have died on the field during a game.

Hughes was the Eagles' 4th-round pick in the 1967 draft, and spent 3 seasons as their #3 wide receiver, behind Ben Hawkins, Gary Ballman ('67-'68), and Harold Jackson ('69).

He never played in more than 9 games per season with the Birds, nor had more than 3 receptions per season.

He was traded to the Lions during training camp in 1970, and started 9 games for Detroit that season (although his 8 receptions were well behind the Lions' top 2 wideouts).

In 1971, during the week 6 game vs. the Bears (10/24) Hughes collapsed on the field while returning to the huddle. He had a heart attack, and was later found to have arteriosclerosis. The game continued to its conclusion (apparently without any crowd reaction, according to reports).


Where's Waldo Chuck?

Sam Baker - K/P

Sam Baker played for the Eagles for 6 seasons (1964-69). He was acquired from the Cowboys (with others) for Tommy McDonald after the 1963 season.

Sam was the Rams' 11th-round pick in the 1952 draft, but did not play until 1953, when he was with the Redskins. He played for Washington in 1953 and from 1956-59 (missing 1954-55 while in the military). He then played 2 years each with the Browns and Cowboys before coming to the Eagles.

Baker was a fullback for his first 2 seasons, along with his kicking duties. He was also a punter in every season but his last (1969), and was a kicker every season except 1953 and 1961.

Sam made the Pro Bowl 4 times ('56, '63, '64, '68), and led the NFL in XP in 1960 and 1962 (yet did not kick in 1961 because Lou Groza resumed his kicking duties with the Browns), and also in FG percentage in 1966.

He shared the Eagles' punting with King Hill from 1964-68 (60% Baker / 40% Hill), and ceded all the punting to rookie Bill Bradley in 1969.

Sam was waived at the end of training camp in 1970, replaced by rookie Mark Moseley. Baker retired as the #2 scorer in NFL history with 977 points..

He passed away in 2007 at age 76.

Here are Baker's 6 cards with the Eagles (1964-1969). Like quarterbacks, it seems like every kicker was featured on a card every year. (In the 1964 set, there are 2 kickers for the Eagles - Baker, and Mike Clark, the Eagles kicker before Baker.)


Where's Waldo Sam?