Name: Alan Ameche
Position: Back
College: Wisconsin Badgers
Class: Senior
Winning Year: 1954 – 20th Award
Official Heisman Profile: Click Here
Interesting Notes: Ameche was nicknamed “The Iron Horse” due to his ability to play 55 or more minutes each game…led the Badgers to 26 victories in his four collegiate seasons…still holds all rushing records at Wisconsin…scored more points and touchdowns than any other player in Wisconsin school history…played for the Baltimore Colts for six seasons…was involved in many philanthropic activities after his football career ended…was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1975.
Featured Card: 1955 Bowman #8. Alan Ameche was an obvious inclusion in the 1955 Bowman set, his first year as a professional. Despite being the greatest rusher in Wisconsin history and having a solid, albeit short, professional career, Ameche’s Bowman rookie card is a relative bargain. Current eBay prices are in the $15 – $75 range with a vast majority of those falling below $30. Perhaps the set is just not popular with vintage collectors, but it looks like you can’t go wrong with a Heisman rookie card for those prices.
NOTE: You can find all of my Heisman Highlight Features by clicking the post banner above.
I learned recently, when writing an article for my own blog, that the image on Ameche’s rookie card is from his days at Wisconsin. So he was actually wearing a red jersey when the black-and-white photo was taken, and Bowman colored the jersey Colts blue for this card. Here’s the blog article for those interested: http://www.nearmintcards.com/blog/2010/05/01/happy-derby-day-from-the-horse/. It includes a link to the original image.
I almost forgot about that post on your blog. Good stuff.
Everyone interested in vintage football cards: Go visit Nearmint’s blog. It is way better at covering vintage than mine could ever be. He often pulls up sweet facts like this. Go. Do it. Now…