Category Archives: Pro Football HoF

AFL, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Joiner, Charlie

ud97lgd cjoiner
Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent: 1/2     Received:  2/2    (31 days)

Charlie Joiner played an exhaustive 18 seasons in the AFL/NFL. Originally a 4th round pick of the Houston Oilers in 1969, as a defensive back, he made the switch to wide receiver and then started 8 games in 1970. He’d record 28 receptions for 416 yards and 3 TDs, including a 87 yarder.  He’d play with the Oilers through 6 games of the 1972 season but was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Joiner spent the next 3 seasons there where he started coming into his own during the 1975 season. He’d pull down 37 receptions for 726 yards and 5 TDs.  The Bengals then traded him to the Chargers, where Charlie became the perfect fit for Air Coryell’s West Coast Offense catching passes from young Dan Fouts. In the midst of the ‘Dead Ball Era’, Charlie had 50 receptions for 1056 yards and 7 TDs -earning his first Pro Bowl nomination. He’d return to form in 1979 with a career high 72 receptions and 1008 yards with his second Pro Bowl berth.  The following year in 1980, Charlie earned his final Pro Bowl trip, and his first and only All-Pro Honor with 70 receptions for 1132 yards and 7 TDs. While he’d log a career high 1,188 yards in 1981, he did not earn any additional honors for the remainder of his career.  Joiner personified longevity in a league meant to break people.  He continued to play for the Chargers until his retirement after the 1986 season.  His 239 games played as a wide receiver, receptions, and yards, were NFL records at the time of his retirement.

G/GS  239/211      REC 750       YDS 12146     AVG 16.2    TD 65   LG 87

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Berry, Raymond

tnt14ss berryCards: TNT Signature Select 2013, Upper Deck Legends 1997, ProSet 1989, Photo Memorabilia, Testimonial Card.
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o home
Sent: 1/2/2014   Received: 2/3/2015  (390 days)

Raymond Berry was the first person I sent out for in 2014. I had hoped he would be the first success, because of his impecable return rate. Well, 390 days and 67 returns later, I finally got the Hall of Famer on these cards- and I must say it was completely worth the wait. I’m sure that I was on the bottom of the mail bag that he was going through, as others were cashing in those successes earlier than I was. It was extremely touching because not only did he throw in a testimonial card and a signed photo, he also wrote me an incredibly kind one page letter, thanking me for the additional custom card I gave him, and telling me how much he appreciates fans like myself. His response is probably one of my favorite ever from an NFLer, little less a Hall of Famer!

hof berryRaymond Berry was a long shot to make the Colts.  Back in 1954 when Ray was drafted, the NFL draft itself went 30 rounds deep. When he was taken in the 20th round out of SMU, teams probably recognized his heart for the game more than his uncanny route running skills and soft hands.  His rookie season was typical of many of that era with 13 receptions for 205 yards in 1955, as he began to build a rapport with future HoF Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas.  Berry quickly established himself as a starter that next year, and in 1957 led the league with 800 yards receiving.  He’d lead the NFL the next 3 seasons in catches with 56, 66, and 74 receptions- respectively.  In 1959, Berry had a career high 14 TD receptions, and followed that up with career marks in receiving yards 1,298  in 1960, averaging an astounding 108.2 yards per game.  In 1961, Ray had a career high 75 receptions en route to his 4th of 6th career Pro Bowl honors.

udldg97 berryAlthough Ray never quite saw the same titanic numbers that he enjoyed the remainder of his career,  he continued to post healthy numbers up through his final year in 1967. Over a span of 13 years in the league, Berry averaged below 50 yards a game in only 3 seasons.  Whether it was the skill of the quarterback or a combination of Ray’s precise route running and soft hands- Berry only dropped 2 passes, and fumbled once, in 631 targets over his career.  At the time of Ray’s retirement, he was the NFL’s greatest receiver as his receptions and yardage ranked first in NFL history. He also holds the record for the most receptions in an NFL championship game with 12 in 1958.

pset89 berryRay stayed in football and went into coaching, eventually joining the New England Patriots staff as a positional coach during the late ’70s.  He’d leave after the firing of then head coach Chuck Fairbanks, but return in 1984 replacing Ron Meyer as head coach, immediately reversing the fortunes of the team. It was said that just Berry’s presence changed the attitude of the team, and they responded with an improbable Super Bowl run in 1985, marking only the second team to make it to the Super Bowl from a Wild Card slot.  The only problem was that the Patriots ran into the historic Chicago Bears defense. The Patriots got buzzsawed 46-10.  They’d get to the playoffs again in 1986, but not return to the post season after that. An in-house squabble over personnel matters resulted in Berry resigning after the 1989 season.

Berry didn’t return to coaching after that. He retired to Tennesee where he still lives today and for a while was a spokesman for a national insurance corporation.  What Berry is not known for is being a visionary. Berry recognized a need to teach a generation about how to play wide receiver. He was able to get the archives of many of his game films at the time when he retired, and cobbled them together into an instructional video -An incredible rarity from that era.  A few lucky fans over the years have been able to get a copy of it that has now gone as far as DVD from what I’ve been told.

Raymond earned many accolades post retirement. He is the 40th Greatest Player in NFL history and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1973.  A member of both the 50th and 75th Anniversiary NFL teams, Berry had his number retired at the time, by the then Baltimore Colts.

G  154       Rec 631    Yds  9,275      Avg  14.7    Td  68        Lg  70
W  48    L  39     Pct  .552

mem berry

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF, Super Bowl MVP

Montana, Joe ‘Joe Cool’

aprks92 montanaCard: Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o The San Fransisco 49ers
Sent:  4/21        Received:  8/11         (114 days)

After striking out on Jerry Rice for the second time I decided to take a shot at Joe Montana. I had heard rumors that Montana signed TTM on occasion, so I studied his signing habits. It did not bother me that much that people said some of them were ghost signed, as there was no definitive proof of that. Once it came to my attention that the 49ers organization was having a sendoff to their former stadium, Candlestick Park, involving many former players in a flag football contest, I decided to make my move. Needless to say when I got the autograph in the mail I was very excited to have my crown jewel of 2014.

Joe Montana’s career is defined by his late game winning mechanics, 3 MVP trophies, and four Super Bowl victories. A perennial thorn in my side as a LA Rams fan, Joe always had more than enough to beat them with his last second heroics. Still I couldn’t help admire his ability. It wasn’t always like that for Montana. A perennial student of the game, Montana had a penchant for late game heroics spanning back to his time at Notre Dame, but a separated shoulder during his Sophomore season buried him on the depth chart. He’d regain form in time for his Senior season, but wasn’t highly regarded by scouts who felt that his arm strength was underwhelming. He’d be the 4th quarterback off the board at the end of the 3rd round, (behind Jack Thompson, Phil Simms, and Steve Fuller), to the San Fransisco 49ers and head coach Bill Walsh. Walsh was running his West Coast Offense that he brought over from San Diego. Montana backed up legendary journeyman quarterback Steve DeBerg as he honed his craft in 1979. It wouldn’t be until midway through the 1980 season that Montana assumed the reins of the franchise.

In 1981, a more seasoned Montana led the 49ers to consecutive victories over the Cowboys (“The Catch”) and their first SuperBowl appearance (XVI) and victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. Joe earned his first of 3 Super Bowl trophies for his efforts and MVP honors.  He’d win his second Super Bowl in 1984 (XIX) beating the high octane Miami Dolphins offense led by Dan Marino, when Joe threw for a record 331 yards culminating in his second MVP trophy and Championship.  In 1986, Montana suffered a near career ending back injury, but returned later in the year earning co-Comeback Player of the Year Honors with Vikings QB Tommy Kramer.  Walsh was always looking to groom his heir to Joe Montana, and by 1988 with the Super Bowl memories starting to fade, a full blown controversy developed between Montana and newcomer Steve Young. The 49ers returned to the big game in 1989, and Montana led the team to a comeback last minute victory over the Bengals that year shattering the passing record again with 357 yards.  In 1990, the indominable 49er dynasty looked unstoppable. Montana and the gang cruised to a 14-2 record, but Montana sustained a nasty elbow injury against the New York Giants during a loss in the NFC Championship Game.  Still, he earned the NFL MVP that season. Joe would sit out 1991 and 1992 rehabbing his injury. In the meantime, Steve Young fully matured into the 49ers starting quarterback role. Montana was eventually traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993, playing for the team through the 1994 season before retiring.

Joe’s had his number retired by San Fransisco and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He’s also earned a bunch of retrospective All-decade honors and is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Also of note is during the early 90’s Joe had his own self-titled NFL football game published by Sega that is rumored to be returning sometime soon.

G/Gs  192/164        Att  5391   Comp  3409      Yds 40,551    Pct  63.2%    Td 273      Int  179     Rat 92.3   |
Rush 457          Yds  1,676        Avg 3.7         Td 20        Lg 21