Bob Avellini, who played quarterback for the Chicago Bears for ten seasons, passed away on May 4. He was 70 years old. Avellini was Chicago’s starting quarterback from 1976 to 1978, and he led the Bears to the playoffs in 1977. He finished that season with 2004 yards passing and 11 touchdown passes, both career highs.
Today’s card of the day is Avellini’s 1976 Coke Bears Disc. There are 22 discs in the set: one, it appears, for each of the Bears’ offensive and defensive starters. The discs are similar to 1976 Crane Discs and 1976 Buckmans Discs, except that they have tabs attached. The tabs have holes in them, so that the discs could be hung on Coke bottles.
Avellini appeared on a number of regular issue football cards, as well. You can see them in the Gallery.