Happy 75th birthday to Wes Chesson! Chesson, a wide receiver, had a four-year NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles. Prior to his pro career, Chesson starred at Duke University. In 1970, he set new Atlantic Coast Conference records with 74 receptions and 1080 receiving yards. Chesson was inducted into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
Today’s card of the day is Chesson’s rookie card, a 1973 Topps. Chesson started the 1973 season with the Falcons, but the Falcons traded him to the Eagles five games into the season. He wrapped up his NFL career with the Eagles in 1974.
After his pro career, Chesson returned to Durham and served 36 years as a radio broadcaster for Duke football games.
By my count, Chesson’s is one of 200 rookie cards in the 1973 Topps set. There are 528 cards in the set, a huge increase from 351 cards in 1972 and 263 in 1971, so there was room for Topps to include a lot of players who had never been on a card before.
This is Chesson’s only appearance on a regular issue card, but did also appear on a 1972 Sunoco Stamp.
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