It is an unavoidable truth that we are all getting older, and our favorite AFL players are no different. We lost many great athletes and men in 2012. My thanks to Mike Thomas of Near Mint Cards and Ange Coniglio of Remember the AFL for their assistance in spreading the word of these passings throughout the year.
#198 – Mike Current
January 17 – Mike Current – Offensive Tackle – Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins
January 22 – John Guzik – Linebacker – Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Rams
January 26 – Greg Cook – Quarterback – Cincinnati Bengals
February 26 – Don Joyce – Defensive End/Tackle – Chicago Cardinals, Baltimore Colts, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos
March 11 – Wayne Frazier – Center/Guard – San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs
April 23 – Lonnie Wright -Defensive Back – Denver Broncos
#07 – Bill Neighbors
April 30 – Billy Neighbors – Guard – Boston Patriots, Miami Dolphins
May 16 – Jesse Thomas – Defensive Back – Baltimore Colts, Los Angeles Chargers
June 12 – Monte Crockett – Tight End – Buffalo Bills
July 2 – Ben Davidson – Defensive End – New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders
July 4 – J.D. Garrett - Halfback – Boston Patriots
July 12 – Booth Lusteg - Kicker – Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers
#034 – Tom Keating
August 30 – Tom Keating – Defensive Tackle – Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs
September 28 – Sam Gruneisen – Center/Guard – San Diego Chargers
October 27 – Terry Owens - Offensive Tackle – San Diego Chargers
November 17 – Dick Felt – Defensive Back – New York Titans, Boston Patriots
November 24 – Ernie Warlick – Tight End – Buffalo Bills
November 27 – Joe Kulbacki – Halfback – Buffalo Bills
December 1 – Charles “Chuck” Gavin – Lineman – Denver Broncos
December 18 – Jim Whalen - End – Boston Patriots
About Todd Tobias
Thanks, ‘Bias.
Several I wasn’t aware of. Lonnie Wright, an Joe State, out of Bakersfield, I think. We’re playing Broncos in ’87 or ’88, maybe ’89. About to upset Elway. Bob Thomas’ winning FG attempt is blocked, but Broncos encroached, or did something wrong. Thomas’ next kick also is blocked (Winslow made just a pass at the rushing DE) and Wright picked up ball and took it to house. By the way Kellen has moved from Central State in Ohio and now is athletic director at Lakeland in Wisconsin, alma-,mater of former Chargers TE and bus. mgr. Pat Curran.
Rick when I saw the name I immediately thought of the same former Broncos player you did, Bakersfield’s Louis Wright. Louis did play at San Jose State after a stint at Arizona State. There may have been a better cover corner in the NFL when Louie played, I just don’t recall any. Lonnie Wright was from Orange NJ. RIP.
Seeing this post reminded me of an article I read in our paper a few days ago:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/afl-great-gonsoulin-mend-after-heart-attack
I had no idea Big Ben Davidson had passed. God, I loved him! He played in the era when defensive players were allowed to hit. Rest in peace, Benjamin. You will be missed.
Don Joyce was another multi sport star who made extra cash in the off season as a professional wrestler. Joyce long considered one of the strongest and toughest men in football took that reputation to the mat and with much fanfare was a fan favorite. Joyce wrestled mostly in the Midwest and on the East coast, but one night in 1961wrestling promoter Roy Warner brought all the stars together to San Francisco’s Cow Palace and staged a no holds barred “Battle Royale that featured Leo The Lion Nomellini and Eugene Big Daddy Lipscomb with Freddie Blassie, The Great Lou Thez, Edward Carpantier and Don Joyce.
As a Newbie