Obscure Rookie Cards ie Bill Willis HOF
 

I was looking for what would be considered Bill Willis's rookie card (1946-1953, Cleveland Browns).
In my memory I was convinced that through casual ebay scrolling I had seen his card in an early 1950s bowman set. But after a bunch of double and triple checking I appear to be miss-remembering.

Is his 1977 Touchdown Club card considered his earliest?
A) https://www.comc.com/Players/Footbal...Football,so,ot
B) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bill-Willis...p2047675.l2557

Thanks for any insight, its strange that I can't find him but those bowman sets are filled with Cleveland Browns players.

It’s got the qualities of a photograph more so than a card, but the earliest item that I can find is the 1949 Sohio Cleveland Browns issue. Google it & you should get some hits. Good luck finding one though, they’re quite rare.

Bill Willis has no cards in the Bowman sets, unfortunately.

His 1949 Sohio premium is one of two items that could be considered his true rookie card.

The other is his 1948 Browns Team RPPC which is my personal favorite.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wl...w=w588-h903-no

There is also a 1943 Ohio State Ink Blotter with Willis in it (and a young Paul Brown) that's pretty cool too.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ua...=w1920-h695-no

jeff

Terrific

Scott and Jeff, thanks for the replies and insight. I will keep an eye or 2 open for that Willis.