Category Archives: wfl

NFL, wfl

Davidson, Ben (1940-2012) ‘The Mad Stork’

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2023

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Ben Davidson stood out from the crowd (6’8″, 270) and was scouted in JC to come play football at Washington in 1959.
  • Amazingly, Ben didn’t really display an appetite before then for the sport, mainly enjoying basketball and track.
  • He played DT and TE for the Huskies in 59 and 60.
  • Was a 4th round pick of the New York Giants in 61, but was traded to the Packers before the season began.
  • In 1962, Davidson was traded again- this time to the Washington Redskins for a 5th rounder.
  • After a two year stint there, he’d be cut and joined the Oakland Raiders.
  • The rest would become history as Davidson etched himself in the annuls of NFL history as one of the league’s most feared and dominant defensive players at right defensive end.
  • 1970 was arguably his best year, when he posted 11.5 sacks.
  • After the 1972 season, Ben briefly retired and began to dabble in acting.
  • Returned to football in 1974 for a final season with the Portland Storm of the WFL.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1966-’68
  • All-Pro 1967

NOTES:

You…

– Ben Davidson (as Rexar)
Conan the Barbarian

Ben Davidson didn’t have very many impactful or quotable lines in movies, but this by far, was one of the best of the entire film, Conan the Barbarian. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as the titular Conan- a barbarian bent on learning the Riddle of Steel, while consumed by lifelong revenge for the murder of his people.

During this scene Conan wrecks havoc on an orgy of evil people and just as he reaches the top of the amphitheater and begins his assault Rexar, played by Ben comes in and sees Conan. Instead of screaming, “YOU!”, He softly states…, “You..” Which just had so much impact when combined with Arnold’s powerful flex with the sword right afterwards. It’s an extremely effective scene.

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N/a64.5200-.-0-.-
* Note that all stats were not tracked by the NFL during Hendrick’s playing era.

EPITAPH: Ben passed away of prostate cancer in 2012 at the age of 72.

NFL, wfl

Bergey, Bill (2)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #78 Topps 1978, #190

CARDS: Upper Deck Legends 1997, Topps 1978
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 4/26 RECEIVED: 5/8 (12 Days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:
I had been circling to come back to Bill after I got his autograph on a few cards via a trade a few years ago. The primary reason was to get him on his Upper Deck Legends card from a beautiful action shot of when he played for the Eagles.

The Topps 1978 played a different role however. I selected this card primarily because Bill and my father (who passed away in 2019) looked so much alike, even down to the bushy red brown 70s beard.

I miss you dad.

AFL, CFL, College Football HoF, wfl

Trull, Don

Card: Topps 1964
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 3/18 Received: 3/24 (6 days)

Don Trull played football for the Baylor Bears from 1961 to 1963 where he was one of the top quarterbacks in the SWC, if not the nation. He set SWC records for completed passes (174) and yards (2,157) in one year. He capped his 1963 season with 2,157 yards and 22 TDs (which led the nation) and a 14-7 win over LSU in the Bluebonnet Bowl. A smart and alert quarterback, Trull excelled at calling plays and audibles at the line of scrimmage.

Don was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1964 NFL Draft. He’d be groomed to be the heir apparent of the Oilers behind ageless George Blanda for the next 3 years. In 1966, Don saw action in 5 starts, posting 1200 yards and 10 TDs to just 5 picks, however he finished 0-5. He also rushed for 7 TDs on 38 carries. After 3 more games in 1967, he’d be traded to the Boston Patriots for the remainder of the season.

Trull returned to the Oilers in 1968, where he really had the best season of his career as a starter- posting a 3-1 record, with 864 yards passing, and 10 TDs and 3 interceptions.

After a down year in 1969, Don played in the Canadian Football League the next two years for the Edmonton Eskimos. Allowed to take the starting reins for the Esks, he threw for 2455 yards and 12 TDs on 364 attempts to 185 completions. After one last season in the CFL, Don was off the football grid coaching at Arkansas until he was lured back by the WFL in 1974, where he saw limited action for the Houston Texans/ Shreveport Steamer.

Don lives in Houston now where he is an ambassador for the NFL Houston Texans organization. In 2013, he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame, and he was involved with the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show for many years. I got Don’s card after I found out he was an ambassador for the Texans. I hoped to catch him at one of the team functions where they sign for fans, but since nothing every popped up, I just went ahead and sent this out right at the beginning of the COVID crisis.

NFL G/GSATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
77/18637276398043.3302861.6
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1234283.51423
CFL G/GSATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
N/a465237293251.01227N/a
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44651.5130
WFL G/GSATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
N/a311611751.602N/a
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
221.002