Sam Ball
Sam Ball (born June 1, 1944) is a retired National Football League offensive lineman who played from 1966 through 1970. During that span he appeared in Super Bowl III and Super Bowl V for the Baltimore Colts. He played college football at the University of Kentucky.
| No. 73 | |
| Born: | June 7, 1944 Henderson, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Tackle |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Weight | 250 lb (110 kg) |
| College | Kentucky |
| High school | Henderson County High School |
| AFL draft | 1966 / Round: 2 / Pick: 14 |
| NFL draft | 1966 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1966–1970 | Baltimore Colts |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Records | Consensus All Big-8 (1961) |
| Career stats | |
| Games played | 61 |
| Games started | 2 |
He was also drafted in 1966 by the Jets in the 2nd round, 15th overall. 1966 was the last year of separate drafts by the NFL and AFL.
On January 12, 1969, Ball was the starting offensive right tackle for the Colts against the Jets in Super Bowl III. He missed out on a Super Bowl ring as the Jets won 16–7, but won one two years later in Super Bowl V.
The Jets drafted Sam Walton at right tackle in 1968, who struggled as a rookie before being replaced in the playoffs by Dave Herman who moved across from right guard. Ball's choice of signing with the Colts over the Jets influenced the drafting of Walton as Ball would have been used to replace Sherman Plunkett.