Tag Archives: all world 1991

CFL

Pitts, Allen

Card: All World 1991
Acquired: CFL Blitz 1992

An incredible wide receiver talent, Allen Pitts played collegiately at Cal State Fullerton.  Drafted by the Stamps in 1990, Pitts would dominate the record books for the next 11 seasons for Calgary. Pitts was a fan favorite who was considered an enigma by everyone. While other players put down roots during the off-season in Calgary, Pitts would return to the LA basin. Players considered him the team jokester, with an extremely private side and because of this nature,  he was quickly a target of the media.

His rookie season would start off quite nicely with 1100+ yards receiving and an 18 ypc average. He’d go on through the next 10 seasons logging 8 more 1,000+ yard seasons receiving, including a club record high 2036 yards in 1994 to go along with 126 receptions and 21 touchdowns. Considered extremely competitive, Pitts retired while his career was still in its prime, -and after another 1000 yard season in 2000. At the time of his retirement, he was a 6 time All-Star, the CFL’s All-time leader in yards receiving, touchdowns, and receptions, (since surpassed), most 100 yard games (64), and was the first player in league history to record two consecutive seasons of 100+ receptions.

Inducted into the Stampeders Wall of Fame in 2005, his jersey retired by the team, the CFL Hall of Fame in 2006, and named #10 on the greatest players in CFL history, Pitts’ current whereabouts are sketchy, but it is believed that he still lives in the Los Angeles area and older data suggests that he was working in a construction business. A great TTM prospect acquisition at that time in 1992.

G  176     Rec 966        Yds  14891       Avg  15.4      Td  117     Lg  76

CFL

Buono, Wally

Card: All World 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, CFL Blitz

Wally Buono, is a major force and offensive mastermind in CFL history lore. After playing ball at Idaho State and not being drafted Buono would head back to Canada to play for the Montreal Alouettes from 1973-1981 at linebacker and pulled in some spot duty at punter. He’d play with them his whole career and earn two Grey Cups in 1974 and 1977.  He’d retire but be retained by the Montreal Concordes as an assistant coach in 1983. By 1987 Wally would be working for the Stampeders- the team he’s most notably remembered for.  Buono would assume head coaching duties in 1989 and guide the team to three Grey Cup Championship victories  (in 1992, 1998, and 2001) and three losses ( in 1991, 1995,  and 1999). In 2003, Wally would move to British Columbia where he turned the fortunes of the Lions around helping the team win 2 CFL championships where he has remained through the 2011 season.  Buono is the all time leader in CFL history in wins and has been named coach of the year 3 times over his career.

W 243     L 132      T  3     Pct .646

CFL

Finlay, Matt

Card: All World 1991
Acquired: TTM 1991, CFL Blitz

A life long fan of the CFL, Matt Finlay, linebacker from Eastern Michigan would be nabbed by Montreal in 1986 where he’d play one season before being sent to to the Argos before 1987 after the folding of the Alouettes. Matt would play one game for the Argonauts before Toronto traded Matt to the Stampeders. Finlay would go on to play in 3 Grey Cup games for the Stampeders, winning one.  Matt would be also be selected to the CFL All- Star team in 1992 because of his hard hitting play.

He has since been inducted into the Mississauga, Canada Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. As with most CFL players, the league has done a poor job of keeping player records and his career statistics are not readily available.