Category Archives: NFL

NFL, WLAF

Sign, Bobby

psetwlaf91 bsignCard: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2015,  C/o Work
Sent: 8/3    Received: 8/19
(16 days)

Bobby was considered one of the best centers in the country, playing 3 years for Pitt and a final year at Baylor. It made sense to Sign to play in the SWC since he was from Texas. Unfortunately in that final year at Baylor (1988), knee injuries sidelined him for a good portion of the season.

Undeterred, Bobby signed with the Oilers as an undrafted free agent in 1989, but was cut before the beginning of the season. Sign was definitely a WLAF candidate, and the Saints signed him in 1991 and sent him to the WLAF for experience.  The Barcelona Dragons signed him via the enhancement allocation draft.  He’d anchor down an impressive offensive line along with Barry Voorhess and Scott Adams. For the season the line only allowed 22 sacks- good for second best in the league. This allowed the team to advance all the way to World Bowl I against the London Monarchs.  Bobby returned to the WLAF for 1992, and helped the Dragons win the division. Barcelona lost in the playoffs again to the eventual champions- this time to the Sacramento Surge 17-15.

Bobby returned to the Dallas area. After a bit of detective work I found that he is working for a high end clothier and tailor of quality suits.  I sent this card to him via the store where he has built himself quite a reputation for customer service. He sent me back a nice note along with the signed card, where he told me that he was blessed to play in the WLAF and sad when the league decided to go on hiatus after the 1992 season.

NFL

Gentry, Dennis

pset89 gentrysco89 gentry

Cards: Proset 1989, Score 1989, Fleer 1990, Gameday 1992
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:  4/6   Received: 7/3   (88 days)

gday92 gentryA versatile player who started his career at runningback, Dennis Gentry with his 5-8, 180 frame is perhaps more well known as being a dependable receiver and explosive return man for the Chicago Bears. Gentry played with the Bears from 1982-1992, where he initially served as Walter Peyton’s understudy. Gentry in the meantime spent his time contributing on special teams as a return man and also moonlighting as a receiver. With the arrival of Neal Anderson, Gentry became a scat back for the Bears, coming in on 3rd down, and providing an additional option out of the backfield.

Between 1986 and 1989, Gentry ranked among the top 5 in kick returns in the NFC. In 1986 Gentry led the NFL with a 28.8 kick off return average, and was named AP in 1987. When Dennis retired in 1992, he was the franchise’s all-time leading return man, breaking the yardage and return mark previously held by Bears great Gale Sayers.

Gentry played his college years at Baylor and was distinguished as a return man, blocker, and runner. He rushed for 883 yards and caught eight passes for another 77 en route to all-Southwest Conference honors. Gentry amassed 2,213 yards- good enough to be Baylor’s  second-leading rusher in history.

flr90 gentryA Tecmo Bowl legend, Gentry appeared in both Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl. In both he is featured as a dominant return man and adept receiver.  In media, he is also remembered for being a part of the Bears Super Bowl Shuffle video.

Gentry over the years had some really good classic cards. The Fleer 1990 was among his best in action featuring a full body shot and him breaking a tackle. Not to be outdone, the Score, ProSet, and GameDay entries all were very solid. In fact, I had to drop a ProSet 1990 from the group to send because there were so many quality shots of Gentry. A reliable TTM signer, Gentry has a nice, loopy signature.  Since retirement, he’s spent time in coaching and lives in Texas.

G/Gs 159/30     Rush 137   Yds 764  Avg 5.6   Td 5   Lg 58
Rec 171   Yds 2076    Avg 12.1   Td 7   Lg 80t
KR 192   Yds 4353    Avg 22.7   Td 3   Lg 94t
PR  17    Yds 136   Avg  8.0    Td 0   Lg 47

NFL

Fredrick, Travis

leaf13 fredrickCard: Leaf Draft 2013
Acquired: BB, Leaf Draft 2013

One of the better offensive linemen of the 2013 draft, Travis Frederick was a skilled mauler both at center and at guard for Wisconsin. Opting to declare early for the NFL draft, Travis was rated as the #1 center in the 2013 Draft.  With a run on offensive linemen early in the draft, Frederick’s card moved up into the first round where the Dallas Cowboys carefully decided to select him with the second to the last pick of round 1. Roundly criticized initially for the pick, with more glaring needs on the board, the Cowboys actually made the safest and strongest pick they could by reinforcing the offensive line that was protecting quarterback Tony Romo.

Frederick has anchored the center position since his rookie year, unseating veteran Phil Costa. (It was a milestone as he was the first Cowboys rookie center to do so.) In 2014 Frederick was named to the ProBowl after leading an exceptional line that paved the way for runningback DeMarco Murray to challenge the single season NFL rushing record. Although the Cowboys fortunes sunk early on after a promising start in 2015, Fredrick garnered his  second consecutive 2nd Team All-Pro nomination.