Tag Archives: baltimore colts

NFL

Biasucci, Dean

Card: Topps 1990
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent: 12/14/16      Received: 1/9/17     (23 days)

Dean Biasucci is a Tecmo Bowl legend. As the strongest kicker in the game, he could kick a field goal from his own 45. This came in handy especially when you were piloting the Colts anemic offensive playbook.

A barefoot kicker out of Western Carolina University, Biasucci was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons in 1984.  Cut in camp, Dean was picked up in week 2 by the Baltimore Colts, who needed an injury replacement to Raul Allegre. After bouncing off  in 1985 and back onto the roster in 1986,  Dean would go on to eclipse many Baltimore/ Indianapolis Colts records. He kicked an NFL record 6 50+ yard field goals in 1988, and a career long 56 yarder in 1991. Late in his career with the Colts, he’d take over as the franchise’s top kicker in history in field goal percentage and points.  Dean was signed by Pittsburgh in 1995, but was cut when the team brought in fellow veteran Norm Johnson.  He wouldn’t be out of work for long as he played the final 8 games of the year with the St. Louis Rams.

After retiring from football, Biasucci spent 9 years or so pursuing an acting career, garnering small roles in movies and TV.  He’s also been involved in building apartment complexes and communities.

Well Dean threw me for a loop. I sent him a slew of really nice cards to sign, thinking that a kicker would love to sign his cards, but instead he sent me back one card, and it was his worst one at that. At least he was nice enough to sign one…

G 163       XPA 275        XPM 268       PCT 97.5%
FGA 262        FMG 185       PCT 70.6%       LG  56

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Moore, Lenny

Cards: Upper Deck Legends 1997, Crown Royale Majestic 2010 (291/299)
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 1/30    Received: 2/9    (10 days)*
* Donation Enclosed

Halfback Lenny Moore was selected in the first round of the 1956 draft by the Baltimore Colts out of Penn State.  After earning Rookie of the Year honors, he’d go on to play 12 seasons in the NFL from 1956 to 1967.  Moore was simply one of the best players during his era, but because of the 12-14 game schedule, his numbers weren’t completely eye popping. What was eye popping was his insane yards per carry. Over his career Lenny averaged 7.0 yards or more (minimum 82 carries) 3 times (1956, 1958, and 1961). Not only was Moore a hard to tackle runner, he caught 40 passes or more in 5 of his seasons, averaging a healthy 16.6 yards over his career.  As one of Johnny Unitas’ pass catchers, Moore displayed his terrific hands and ability to work in traffic, posting over 725 yards receiving 5 times (1957-1961) over his career including a then NFL positional record 938 yards in 1958, and 936 yards in 1960.

Lenny endured the growing pains of NFL offenses switching positions from right halfback to flanker and back to primary halfback over his long and storied career.  From 1963 to 1965, Moore scored a TD in a record 18 consecutive games.

Arguably the best game of his career was during his rookie season when Lenny rushed 13 times for 185 yards and 2 TDs in a win over the Green Bay Packers.  To top his career off Moore earned All-Pro Honors from 1958-1961, and again in 1964, when he won comeback player of the year honors after scoring 19 TDs.

Lenny was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975. Moore graciously signs for fans for a nominal signing fee of 10.00 per card.  The Upper Deck 1997 Legends set is a timeless set, but I thought the Majestic had a nice composition to it. Lots of space available to frame an autograph, and the patch element was a nice piece of memorabilia to boot.

G 143       RUSH 1069      YDS 5174      AVG 4.8      TD 63      LG 79
REC 363     YDS 6039      AVG 16.6      TD 48      LG 82
KR  49          YDS 1180      AVG 24.1      TD 1         LG  92T
PR  14          YDS 56            AVG 4.0          TD 0        LG 15

NFL

Kunz, George

Card: Notre Dame Collegiate Collection 1990, Topps 1977
Acquired: Canton Acquisition, 2012

One of the best offensive linemen to be produced during this period, George Kunz was an All American at Notre Dame before being drafted with the second overall pick of the 1969 draft. Co-captain of the 1968 Irish team, Kunz struggled through injuries his first two years for the Golden Domers, before finally finding him niche on the offensive line at Tackle. He quickly established himself in the upper echelon of linemen in the NFL, playing for the Falcons from 1969-1974. After the 1974 season, George was traded with a draft choice to the Baltimore Colts for 2 picks in the 1975 draft. He amassed 5 AP selections and appeared in 6 Pro Bowls for the Falcons. He continued earning Pro Bowl and All Pro nominations with the Colts, from 1975-1977. A back injury limited his playing time to only 1 game in 1978 and 1979, but he returned for one final season in 1980 before he finally retired. Over 11 seasons in the NFL George Kunz appeared in 129 games.

Based in part because Kunz played for some very, very bad Falcons teams, along with guys like Tommy Nobis, he’s been largely ignored by the NFL HoF selection committee. It also doesn’t help that he played at the unglamorous position of offensive tackle. George has lived in Nevada for quite a few years since retirement from the limelight, dabbling briefly in coaching and color commentary for NBC. He is an avid TTM signer and boasts a remarkable response rate for the amount of cards he signs.

G/Gs  129/126