Name: Andy Robustelli
Position: Defensive End
Pro Career: 1951 – 1964
Team Affiliation(s): Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants
College: Arnold College
Induction Class: 1971
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Brief Bio: Perhaps the epitome of draft sleepers, Andy Robustelli went from being a 19th-Round pick to a Hall of Famer. When the Rams didn’t have room for him as an offensive end, he went all out on the defensive side of the ball and became one of the greatest D-Ends to ever play the game. A superb pass rusher, Robustelli was named to seven Pro Bowls and seven All-NFL teams. In 1962 as a member of the Giants, he was awarded the NFL’s top player by the Maxwell Club, an honor typically bestowed upon offensive studs. Despite playing for the losing team in six championship games, Robustelli did taste success with his two league championship victories, including 1951 as a highly involved rookie. Robustelli recently passed away at the age of 85.

Career Stats: 175 games played; 22 fumble recoveries; 2 fumble recovery TDs; 1 receiving TD; 2 INTs; 2 INT TDs.

Featured Card: 1952 Bowman #85. As a member of the 1951 Champion L.A. Rams, Andy Robustelli didn’t have to wait long to get his official rookie card. The 1952 Bowman set was released with two variations, a large and small set. Based on current market prices, the large set seems to be the more popular amongst collectors. The prices for this particular card tend to run in the $50 – 150 range. As always, there is a token much-higher-than-anything-else listing with a sticker price $1,750 for a PSA 8. This card comes from one of the more desirable and recognizable vintage football card sets and would be a great addition to a HOF focused collection.

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Name: Vince Lombardi
Position: Coach
Pro Career: 1959 – 1967, 1969
Team Affiliation(s): Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins
College: Fordham
Induction Class: 1971, posthumously
HOF Profile: Click Here
 
 

Brief Bio: If there is one HOF inductee that needs no introduction, it is Vince Lombardi. The coaching mastermind that started his career too late and had it ended too early, Lombardi became and remains a symbol of competitive excellence with a surprisingly short tenure. When he took over as head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers, the franchise was down on its luck and was practically forgotten. When he retired as head coach just 9 year later, the Packers had won six divisional and five NFL championships and had taken Super Bowls I and II en route to being one of the premiere teams in the league. Two years later, Lombardi nearly did the impossible again when he transformed the Washington Redskins from a hapless squad into a winning team in just one season. Lombardi never got the chance to fully realize his success with his second venture however as cancer proved a tougher opponent than any NFL team and he succumbed to the illness at just 57 years old. In all, Lombardi never had a losing season and to this day remains the namesake of the Super Bowl championship trophy.

Career Stats: 105-35-6 coaching record (.728); 9-1 postseason coaching record (.900).

Featured Card: 2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces #86. Despite a legendary career and obvious name recognition even over 40 years after his death, Vince Lombardi does not have an actual rookie card. He has been featured in numerous legends sets and even on vintage team cards as head coach. This card was chosen as an example of a modern set that does not have a cut signature or jersey/jacket swatch. Lombardi is obviously a cornerstone of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and should be a cornerstone of any HOF inductee collection, regardless of the collection’s sub-focus (autos, jerseys, RCs, etc.).