Today’s vintage football card of the day is a 1952 Parkhurst Canadian card of Tom O’Malley. O’Malley was a quarterback who played in one NFL game, the Green Bay Packers’ opener against the Detroit Lions in 1950. It didn’t go well: In the second quarter of the game, O’Malley relieved an injured Tobin Rote, and he proceeded to throw 15 passes for 4 completions and 6 interceptions. After the game, he and the Packers parted ways, and he finished the season with the Erie Vets, a minor league team in the American Association.
In 1951, O’Malley moved to Canada and fared much better. He played from 1951 to 1953 for the Ottawa Rough Riders, and he led the team to a win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 1951 Grey Cup.
O’Malley’s card is one of 100 cards in the 1952 Parkhurst set: 81 players and 19 “How to Play Football” cards. One of the cards, “Football Equipment,” is the only football card I’m aware of that features a jockstrap.
For cards of other players who played in exactly one NFL, AAFC, or AFL game, see the Gallery’s Cups of Coffee page.
