Cards: Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991, Topps Stadium Club 1992, Fleer 1990 Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home Sent: 3/8 Received: 4/2 (25 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Mike Kenn was a highly regarded lineman who played at Michigan from 1975-1977.
He was the Atlanta Falcons #1 pick in 1978, and was almost immediately slotted in at tackle.
He improved his overall strength and technique over the next few seasons.
By 1979, he went without penalty for the entire season, and earned numerous accolades.
Amazingly, Kenn went 26 in a row eventually without penalty.
Started 94 games in a row (including playoffs) before tearing up his knee in 1985.
Kenn retired after the 1994 season.
Over his career Mike was a part of an offensive line that set and broke team records for rushing yards and least sacks allowed in a season multiple times.
He played his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons: 17 seasons, 251 games started.
ACCOLADES:
All Rookie team 1978
First team AP 1980, ’83, ’91
Second team AP 1981, ’82
Pro Bowl 1980-’84
Polish Sports Hall of Fame
Byron Whizzer White Man of the Year 1990
Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor
Topps Stadium Club 1992, #157Fleer 1990, #380
NOTES:
Despite Mike’s utterly dominating resume, he’s rarely ever come up for consideration into the Pro Football Hall of Fame- An absolute injustice. It’s perhaps a side effect of playing for some absolutely terrible Falcons teams during long stretches of the 80’s that kept him under the radar, but in actual professional football circles, he’s considered one of the finest to play tackle in league history.
Great cards here. I wanted to get him on his Whizzer White Action Packed and Fleer cards, but the Stadium Club entry here is really well constructed. A simple design, but really good photography with just the right color.
Action Packed 1991 Whizzer White Award, #5Topps 1969, #161
CARDS: Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991, Topps 1969 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 9/26 RECEIVED: 11/23 (58 days) FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o Home
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Kermit Alexander played runningback for UCLA from 1960-62.
Posted 708 yards on 128 carries (6 TDs), and caught 32 passes for 508 yards and 2 TDs over college career.
Opting to play for SF over Denver in 1963, the 49ers would utilize Kermit as a return man and DB.
Over 7 seasons in SF, Kermit had 5+ interceptions 5 times, lead the NFL in fumble recoveries twice (5 in ’64 and 8 in ’65) playing all DB positions.
In 1965, he led the NFL in returns (35) and return yardage (741).
At the turn of 1970, Alexander was traded to the LA Rams.
He’d only play two seasons for the franchise, but not before he added 7 more interceptions to his resume, including an 82 yard TD.
Retired after the 1973 season with the Philadelphia Eagles.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1968
Byron Whizzer White Award 1972
NOTES:
I had coveted Kermit on this Action Packed card of his for sometime. After writing him back in 2019 I was surprised to get these cards back unsigned as he had a very good signing track record. I suppose that he may have taken offense to something I wrote in my letter, as I was unaware of his family tragedy.
Later a friend of mine got him through the mail and told me that in his response a family member stated that Kermit was struggling with his memory, so I figured now was as good as any time as any.
This guy. I swear. Archie can be quite frustrating through the mail, but he seems to begrudgingly sign after a few attempts. I got him once previously, on one card 5 years previously which is a lot less than others, especially those that keep hitting that well every few months. Anyway, he sent a buckslip telling me that anything I sent to his home address would not be returned, along with this autograph, on the only other card of his I wanted to get signed.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
