NFL

Stams, Frank

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Cards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:   12/9         Received:  12/18           (9 days)

A high motor outside linebacker and defensive end out of Notre Dame,  Frank Stams originally started as a fullback for the Fighting Irish. They’d convert him over to LB where he’d be named MVP of the Fiesta Bowl in 1989. In his Senior year, Frank was named first-team All-American as he led the team with 7 sacks and finished 5th on the team with 51 tackles.

The Los Angeles Rams tabbed Frank in the second round of the 1989 draft. He’d be thrust into the starting lineup as injuries decimated the Rams linebacking corps. Stams beat out Fred Strickland at ILB in 1990 and finished second in tackles with 78 in 13 games.  Stams battled injuries most of 91, and then signed with the Browns in 1992. He’d play with the franchise through 4 games into the 1995 season and a final game with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Stams lives in the Cleveland area and is an ambassador for the team.

G/Gs  82/31    TAC 178       SAC  2.0      FUM  1
INT  1      YDS 20      AVG 20.0      TD   0     LG  20

NFL

Gonzalez, Anthony

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Cards: Score 2009, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Longevity
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:  12/21    Received:  1/15  (25 days)

Anthony was a 1st round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2007 draft.  With a run on receivers early on, Anthony would be the 6th receiver taken off the board with the 32nd selection.  Gonzalez was thrown right into the starting lineup while injuries were taking their toll on future Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison.  Anthony saw 51 targets in 9 starts, catching 37 passes for 576 yards and 3 touchdowns in a solid debut.  In 2008 Gonzalez saw action in all 16 games, starting 2 and notching career highs in virtually every category with 57 receptions for 664 yards, 4 TDs, and a 58 yard long.  As the Colts were counting on Anthony for the 2009 season, he went down in the season opener against Jacksonville.  The worst part about it was a non contact play. He’d be lost for the entirety of the season with a  PCL injury in the right knee.

In 2010, Anthony suffered a high right ankle sprain in regular season opener vs. Houston and missed the next 5 games. He returned to action in Week 8 vs. the Texans, snagging four catches for 55 yards before suffering a torn PCL in his left knee on a hit by Texans safety Bernard Pollard, ending Anthony’s season.

As the Colts crumbled into chaos with a possible career ending injury to starting quarterback Peyton Manning in 2011, the team struggled mightily in his absence.  Anthony suffered from a myriad of injuries, suited up for 8 games, but made no catches. He’d sign as a free agent after the season with the New England Patriots, but didn’t make the team.

Gonzalez soon thereafter enrolled in the Stanford Graduate School of Business and officially moved on from the NFL.

G/GS 40/12     REC 99     YDS 1307       AVG 13.2     TD 7    LG 58

NFL, University of Texas

Feller, Happy

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Cards: UT UD 2011, UT UD 2011 NC
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Work
Sent:  10/19  Received: 10/23    (4 days)

With a name like Happy Feller, you might as well be predispositioned to be positive about things.  He joined the Longhorns Hall of Honor in 2014, after being a part of two national championship teams for the University of Texas. While there he set Southwest Conference records for both touchbacks and point after attempts. His 55 yard field goal against UCLA  in his senior year was a school record at the time as well.

utud11 feller 6970Feller went on to play in the NFL for 3 seasons.  A 4th round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, he’d beat out Mark Moseley in training camp to secure the kicking job.

The Eagles were perennial losers at the time. Head coach Jerry Williams was fired and replaced by interim coach Ed Khayat. Khayat brought New Orleans placekicker Tom Dempsey in and put him on the taxi squad. With an accomplished kicker like Dempsey breathing down his neck, Feller began to question his ability. His game ultimately suffered.  Happy played in 1972 and 1973 for the New Orleans Saints, but a quadriceps injury slowed him down.

After football,  Happy founded TeleDynamics, which specializes in wholesale electronics. He signed these 2 cards for me in a very short 4 days. On the letter he wrote next to my salutation, “My pleasure!” It’s always great when you can tell that a player really is just as happy and excited to sign for you as you are.

G  21       XPA 28        XPM 27        FGA  16        FGM   50       PCT  37.2%

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.