Byline: Mike Burke
Here's a small collection of current and former DuPage County residents who made it to the pros, and on to a sports card. And as you'll see, you don't have to spend a fortune to get some of these cards.
Red Grange, 1989 Swell, Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corp., No. 5, $1
Harold 'Red' Grange, the 'Wheaton Iceman,' was so popular in the 1920s he had three nicknames. He also was known as the 'Galloping Ghost.' He was the Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth of his time - the most famous athlete in the country. Grange played for the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears after leaving Wheaton. This card is from the Hall of Fame sets and packs sold by Swell in the late 1980s. Pro Set also made an inexpensive card of Grange in 1991, which sells for 75 cents. For the 'investor,' a 1955 Topps All-American Grange card, No. 27, is valued at $375.
Frank Thomas, 1990 Score, No. 663, $5
'The Big Hurt' is one of today's best and most well-known players. The Chicago White Sox first baseman also lives in Oak Brook, where he recently built a $7 million home. This is one of his 'Rookie' cards. Rookie cards cost a little more because they are the first card of a particular player produced by one of the major card companies.
Randy Pfund, 1992 NBA Hoops, No. 251, 5 cents
There are no professional basketball players from DuPage. But the county did produce an NBA coach. Randy Pfund went to Wheaton North High School and played at Wheaton College, where his father, Lee, was the head basketball coach for many years. He later coached in California and became an assistant under Pat Riley with the Los Angeles Lakers. He succeeded Riley and was head coach of the Lakers in 1992 and 1993. Pfund is now back with Riley as an administrator for the Miami Heat.
Billy Williams, 1972 Topps, No. 439, $4
Williams is one of only two Chicago Cubs players whose numbers are raised every day on flags that fly above Wrigley Field. The former outfielder is now a coach for the Cubs. Williams makes his home in Glen Ellyn. The 1972 baseball cards feature the psychedelic colors reminiscent of the bell-bottomed pants and wide-collared shirts of that time.
Chuck Long, 1987 Topps, No. 318, 5 cents
Long quarterbacked the 1979 Wheaton North football team to the state championship. After graduating in 1980, he moved on to the University of Iowa and the Detroit Lions. A first-round draft pick, he later played with the Los Angeles Rams before returning to Detroit to finish his career. Long is now an assistant coach at Iowa, his alma mater.
Jim Juriga, 1990 Topps, No. 40, 5 cents
Juriga was an offensive lineman and Long's teammate on the 1979 Wheaton North championship team. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1986 and was on the team for six years. Juriga started at guard for the Broncos in the 1990 Super Bowl. He played college football at the University of Illinois.
Jerry Hairston, 1987 Topps, No. 685, 5 cents
Hairston was an outfielder and designated hitter for the Chicago White Sox. He spent 14 seasons in the major leagues in the 1970s and '80s. Naperville, where he now lives, is listed as his hometown on the back of this card. Hairston's son, Jerry Jr., is a graduate of Naperville North High School. The younger Jerry is following in his father's footsteps and now plays for Illinois State University.
Don Bollweg, 1954 Bowman, No. 115, $10
Bollweg grew up in Wheaton and was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1940. After serving in World War II, the first baseman was traded to the New York Yankees. In 1953, Bollweg won a World Series ring with teammates Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. He finished his career with the Philadelphia and Kansas City Athletics. When his career ended, Bollweg returned to Wheaton and worked for years in the real estate and insurance businesses. He died last year at the DuPage County Convalescent Center.
Chris Chelios, 1989 o-Pee-Chee, No. 174, 30 cents
Chelios, the Chicago Blackhawks star, is Frank Thomas' neighbor in Oak Brook. This card is from Chelios' earlier days in the National Hockey League, when he played for the Montreal Canadians. O-Pee-Chee is Topps' Canadian line of cards. It seems appropriate to include a hockey card from north of the border.
Kent Graham, 1993 Upper Deck, No. 507, 5 cents
The latest in a growing line of football heroes from Wheaton, Graham, currently the quarterback of the Phoenix Cardinals, began his career with the New York Giants in 1992. In 1986, he equaled Long's earlier achievement by leading Wheaton North to the state championship. He played at the University of Notre Dame for two years before transferring to Ohio State University. Graham continues to make his home in Wheaton.
