Category Archives: AFL

Hall, Galen

1991 Pro Set World League Insert, #7

CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Insert
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 5/31 RECEIVED: 6/10 (10 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played college football at Penn State from 1959-1961 where he was starting QB for the Nittany Lions.
  • Completed 48.2% of his passes for 1619 yards, 15 TDs, and 11 interceptions, while rushing for 318 yards and 3 TDs on 104 carries.
  • Played briefly in the NFL for the Redskins in 1962, and the Jets in ’63.
  • Jumped into coaching working in the college ranks as a positional coach for West Virginia (TE 64-65) and Oklahoma (WR/OC 66-83).
  • Started out as OC at Florida in ’84, but quickly took the reins as HC, coaching there through ’89.
  • Posted a 40-18-1 record over career with Gators.
  • After a year off, returned to coaching as OC of the WLAF Orlando Thunder in ’91.
  • Recommended and quickly reunited with his former college QB Kerwin Bell.
  • Orlando became well known for its explosive Spread offensive formations.
  • Became head coach of the Thunder in ’92, leading the franchise to World Bowl II, claiming an 8-2 record.
  • After a year’s stint with the AFL Charlotte Rage in ’94, returned to the rebooted World League in 1995, coaching with the Rhein Fire.
  • Coached through 2000, compiling a 34-26 record, winning two World Bowl Championships (1998, 2000).
  • Came back stateside in 2001, as head coach of the XFL Orlando Rage posting an 8-2 record.
  • Coached RBs with the Dallas Cowboys in 2002.
  • Returned home to Penn State in 2004 as OC and RB coach, working with the Nittany Lions through 2011.

ACCOLADES:

  • SEC Coach of the Year (1984)
  • NFL Europe Coach of the Year (1998, 00,
  • XFL Coach of the Year (2001)
  • Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame

NOTES:

Galen didn’t have any cards of himself made. I considered making one, but at the time I was artistically uninspired, so after arming up with a few World League helmet cards, I decided to fire one off to him. Now, my big thing recently is getting coaches to draw me up a play. I also peppered him with questions about the spread offense and his time in the World League. Although he didn’t give me any insight into his time in the WLAF/ NFLE, he did author two plays for me. They are run plays, but I’m very happy nonetheless he took the time to put these together.

Hadl, John (1940-2022)

CARDS: Topps 1970, Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: TTM 2019, C/o Home
SENT: 2/9 RECEIVED: 2/25 (16 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • John Hadl was a local hero to Lawrenceville, Kansas, and he stayed close to home playing offense and defense for the Kansas Jayhawks from 1959-61.
  • He played multiple positions for the Jayhawks: HB, QB, P, and DB.
  • He set multiple records at the school and was elected as an NCAA All-American at both HB (’60) and QB (’61).
  • Hadl was selected by both the Lions of the NFL and the Chargers of the rival AFL in 1962.
  • John opted to play for the Chargers, and although he contributed to the franchise’s AFL Championship run, he was relegated primarily to splitting time or backing up Tobin Rote.
  • Took over the reins of the starting QB job in 1965 and led the AFL in passing yards (2798) and yards per attempt (8.0) while posting a 9-2 record.
  • In 1968, he led the league in a host of categories: Attempts (44), completions (208), yards (3473), TDs (27) and unfortunately interceptions- 32.
  • 1971 saw another solid output for Hadl as he led the league in attempts (431), completions (233), yards (3075), and TDs (21).
  • After his swan song in 1972 when John led the NFL in interceptions (26) a second time, he’d be traded to the Rams in 1973.
  • Hadl had an outstanding season with the Rams leading the team to a 12-2 record as a starter, leading the team to the playoffs.
  • He threw 22 TDs on just 135 attempts, and his receivers went for 14.9 yards after the completion.
  • After 5 contests in 1974, Hadl was traded again- this time to the Packers.
  • The trade itself is considered one of the worst in NFL history, as the Pack gave up 5 picks to get him, including first and second round picks for the next two seasons.
  • Hadl struggled with the Packers mightily posting a 7-12 record over the next season and a half, throwing 15 TDs to 35 interceptions, while be sacked mercilessly 44 times.
  • In 1976 John joined the Houston Oilers, where he saw mop up duty behind starting QB Dan Pastorini.
  • Retiring after the 1977 season, John wanted to stay close to the sport.
  • He worked at his Alma Mater, Kansas from 1978-81 as a QB coach and as offensive coordinator, but was run out of town basically by the NCAA as they felt he was giving ‘improper benefits’ to potential recruits.
  • John then moved to the Rams in ’82 as an offensive assistant, before tutoring future NFL HOF QB John Elway in 1983 with the Broncos.
  • At his final stop he coached for the Express from 1984-85, posting a 13-23 record.

ACCOLADES:

  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • Pro Bowl 1972-73
  • All-Pro 1973
  • AFL All-Star 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969
  • Chargers Hall of Fame

NOTES:

I don’t know why it took me so long to get around to writing John’s bio, but it could’ve been for two reasons. First, John has a laundry list of accomplishments and accolades. One could even argue that he’s HOF worthy based on his AFL contributions. Second, it was rumored that in his final years, John was really struggling, and that perhaps his autograph was ghost signed. I did kick in 20 bucks to grease the wheels, so the hope is he actually signed these, but they look really.. fluid and not like a struggling octogenarian signed it.

John quickly became a set need based on a variety of factors that did come into play, but most importantly I loved his Topps and Upper Deck entries.

EPITAPH:

On November 30, 2022, John Hadl passed away at the age of 82. No cause of death was given.

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Donovan, Art ‘The Bulldog’ (1924-2013)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #AL-30

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2020

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played one year at Notre Dame before enlisting for World War II, joining the US Marines and saw intense and fierce combat on the Pacific front.
  • Returned and finished out his college time at Boston College.
  • Selected in the 1947 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, but didn’t play pro football until 1950 with the original Baltimore Colts.
  • After the Colts went out of business in 1950, experienced the blues of the sport with both the Yanks (1951) and the Texans (1952), also closing up shop after one season each.
  • It’d be in 1953 that Art joined the second iteration of the Baltimore Colts.
  • He’d go on to become one of the greatest defensive linemen of that era playing in 138 games, through 1961.
  • With a personality larger than life, Donovan made frequent appearances on late night television with Johnny Carson and David Letterman spinning tales of old.
  • He also did radio and owned a country club.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Football Hall of Fame (1968)
  • Pro Bowl (1953-57)
  • First Team All-Pro (1954-57)
  • Second Team All-Pro (1958, 1960)
  • Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor
  • Indianapolis Colts #70 Retired
  • NFL 1950s All-Decade Team

NOTES:

I remember vividly seeing Art on David Letterman during the 80s when I was a kid. I wasn’t interested in football and I had no idea why or how I was up that late, but I recall that he was very, very funny and I enjoyed his self deprecating humor and stories.

EPITAPH:

Art Donovan passed away in 2013 at the age of 89 due to respiratory disease.