Sports Then and Now

Artis Gilmore

We recognize as the February Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month a long-time basketball player who was a star in college, in the ABA and then in the NBA.

A 7-foot-2 inch center, Artis Gilmore emerged on the national scene in 1970 when he led the Jacksonville University Dolphins to the NCAA Championship Game against UCLA. Read the rest of this entry →

Roger Staubach

The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month for January was known during his NFL career for leading his team to late-game comebacks and improbable victories.

During his nine seasons as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, Roger Staubach seemed to always have the uncanny knack of making the big play needed to lift his team to victory. He led the Cowboys to 23 fourth quarter game-winning drives during his career, including 15 times with his team trailing. Read the rest of this entry →

Earl Campbell

The December Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is considered one of the greatest running backs in both college and professional history.

Born in Tyler, Texas and known as the Tyler Rose, Earl Campbell spent more than a decade as the most dominating football player in the state of Texas. Read the rest of this entry →

Ottis Anderson

The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month for November is the only eligible member of the NFL’s prestigious 10,000-yard rushing club who is not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Though Ottis Anderson put up Hall of Fame caliber numbers during his 14-year career and was MVP of Super Bowl XXV, he is often overlooked in discussions about the best running backs in NFL history. Read the rest of this entry →

Gene Tenace

The October Sports Then and Now Athlete of the Month came out of nowhere to become the hero of the 1972 World Series for the Oakland A’s.

After hitting only five home runs in the 1972 regular season, Gene Tenace became an overnight superstar by becoming the first player in World Series history to hit home runs in his first two World Series at bats. He went on to drive in all three runs in a 3-2 game one win over the Cincinnati Reds.

With slugger Reggie Jackson out of the series with an injury, Tenace filled the void and helped lead the A’s to victory. During the seven game series, Tenace hit four home runs and drove in nine runs. In the decisive seventh game, he drove in two runs in a 3-2 victory that lifted the A’s to the first of their three straight world championships. Read the rest of this entry →

Pat Summerall

Our Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the month for September had very long associations with two of the sports that make headlines each September. Pat Summerall played in the NFL for 10 years before becoming one of the most recognized announcers in the sport. He also served as the voice of the U.S. Open tennis championships for CBS for more than two decades.

After playing college football at Arkansas, Summerall was drafted by the Detroit Lions, but a broken arm ended his first season in the league. He was traded to the Chicago Cardinals and spent five seasons with them primarily as a placekicker. Read the rest of this entry →