Category Archives: Pro Football HoF

Dawson, Len (2) (1935-2022)

CARDS: Topps 1970, Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, C/o Home
SENT: 4/24 RECEIVED: 5/2 (8 DAYS)
FAILURE: TTM 2010, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

See Also: Len Dawson

NOTES:

After I got Len’s autograph back in 2016, a lot of rumors started up that perhaps he was being ghost signed. I did pay a small fee for his autograph and got these back quite quickly. The biggest hang up that the TTM community had over his autograph was the fluidity of it, and how the ‘L’ and the ‘D’ were just too… loopy, almost feminine, and that they changed styles.

I could see their concerns, but regardless felt confident enough to get Len on these two set needs. My reasoning is that as people do get older their autographs do change, and that I’d seen a lot of these ‘loopy’ autographs be passed off as certified and also as authentic. I, myself was very happy to not only get these two back in a very short period of time, but also that he inscribed them with his HOF year.

EPITAPH:

8/24/22- Len Dawson was moved to hospice in the last few days, where he passed away at the age of 87.

Guy, Ray (1949-2022)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #AL-111

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2021

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Ray Guy was an incredible athlete that played 3 positions (K, P, SS) for Southern Mississippi from 1970-72.
  • Over his time at the school he set multiple single game and career records.
  • Became the first punter to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft (1973).
  • Right out of the gate, averaged 45.3 yards per punt his rookie season.
  • From there he led the NFL in punting average in 1974 (42.2) and ’75 (43.8).
  • Punted a career high 96 times for 4,195 yards in 1981.
  • Over his career he had a streak of 619 punts without being blocked.

ACCOLADES:

  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame
  • Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
  • Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
  • NFL All 1970s Team
  • Golden Toe Award
  • NFL 75th Anniversary Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary Team
  • Pro Bowl 1973-78, ’80
  • All-Pro 1973-78
  • Second Team AP 1979-80

NOTES:

Ray was greatly disrespected by not being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame sooner. This was due to the fact that there is a longstanding stigma against special teams players. He was finally elected in 2014… and promptly stopped signing TTM.

I waited to acquire Ray’s autograph until the prices started dropping. Thankfully before the prices spiked again after his passing, I was able to pick his certified up on his Legends card.

EPITAPH:

Ray passed away on November 3rd, 2022 at the age of 72 due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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Jackson, Tom

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #119

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 8/21 RECEIVED: 8/23 (21 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • An undersized LB with a great motor, Tom Jackson played college football at Louisville from 1970-72.
  • He’d be a 4th round pick of the Denver Broncos in 1973 and form a key element of the team’s famed Orange Crush Defense.
  • Extremely durable, Tom played from 1973-1986 for the Broncos, appearing in two Super Bowls for the team, and 191 games.
  • In 1976, he had an incredible 7 interceptions, 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles from his OLB spot.
  • After his playing days ended, Jackson seamlessly transitioned to the studio where he worked alongside Chris Berman for ESPN- a role he held for 29 years.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1977-79
  • Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor
  • Second Team All-Pro 1978-79
  • All Pro 1977
  • Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame 2016

NOTES:

Tom Jackson was not really known as a prolific signer so when he popped I made my move instead of paying inflated prices in the secondary EBay market. Tom Jackson was such a great LB, I thought he was a S. I loved watching him on ESPN Primetime and Countdown. He didn’t really give any love to the Oilers outside of Ernest Givins– “From Louiville!” – Tom’s signature line in the studio.

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