Tag Archives: birmingham steeldogs

Humphrey, Bobby

Cards: ProSet 1989, Score 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent:  10/15   Received:  11/12    (27 days)

Okay now Bobby I had been after for a while and the Harvey Meiselman list hit the spot on this one for me. Bobby has some fabulous cards, -most notably the ProSet 1989 and Score Ground Force 1990 were exceptional. (He also had a great ProSet 1990 as well as a Topps 1000 yard club card among others but I didn’t want to overdo it.) Anyway Bobby was the recipient of one of the most vivid hits I ever remember in sports history from linebacker Gary Reasons of the New York Giants on a cold and snowy day in Denver way back in 1990 or 1991. The hit even made a card or two and was featured as Gary Reasons’ Action Packed card for 1990.

Bobby Humphrey was an immense talent coming out of Alabama where he’d set many rushing records for the Crimson Tide during his tenure there. The Broncos would make him their #1 supplemental draft choice in 1989, – a wise choice considering Bobby fit right into the Broncos offensive game plan as he was a  great ‘slasher’ runningback which is ideal in a zone blocking system. He’d rush for 1151 yards, and if not for Barry Sanders outstanding rookie year, probably would have won the award himself. Humphrey was a machine and followed up his 1989 debut with a 1200 yard performace in 1990, but seeking more money in 1991 he’d hold out. The Broncos, unwilling to play games with Bobby refused to bargain and went with another option (Gaston Green) until Humphery showed up in week 14. The Broncos would trade Bobby to Miami in the offseason straight up for troubled Sammie Smith, in 1992. He’d respond with almost 1,000 yards from scrimmage (471 rushing, 507 receiving) but being that Miami at that time was still the place were ‘runningbacks went to die’, his 1993 season would be spent on injured reserve and he’d retire.

After football Humphrey has dabbled in coaching at one point being head coach of the Birmingham SteelDogs of the AFL for 5 seasons.  Bobby Humphrey, the runningback, should not be confused with former New York Jet and San Antonio Rider  Bobby Humphery who played in relatively the same era.

G/Gs  51/27     Rush 695     Yds 2857     Avg 4.1     Td 15   lg 40     |     Rec 100    Yds 815    Avg 8.2   Td 2  Lg 26

Del Greco, Al

Cards: Topps Traded 1989, Upper Deck 1992
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1992, CGA Youth Golf Tournament 1993.

The Oilers were searching for the replacement to Tony Zendejas whom they lost in Plan B to the Los Angeles Rams. Passing by established names such as Mike Lansford and Raul Allegre, the Oilers brought Teddy Garcia into camp. Unimpressed, the Oilers sent out an APB for a replacement, and found the feel good story of the year in Ian Howfield who won the job with an impressive preseason, but after 9 games it was obvious that he was not the answer, missing 4 extra points and quite a few field goals.  The Oilers called up Al Del Greco, who had lost the kicking job in Phoenix earlier that year. He had a decent enough resume and was the starting kicker for Green Bay (after Jan Stenerud) from 1984-1987 and Phoenix from 1987-1990. (He was also ironically replaced by another Zendejas in Green Bay.)

Del Greco would win the job outright in Houston, (and at that time I wasn’t really impressed,)  providing the Oilers with the consistency and clutch kicking that the team direly needed. He played for the Oilers the next 6 seasons, two for the Tennessee Oilers and then his final two seasons with the Titans- retiring after 2000 and 17 seasons. Del Greco currently stands at number 14 on the all time scoring list with 1592 points (as of 2010).

Al has since been inducted into the Alabama sports Hall of Fame. He briefly got into coaching and was a kicking coach in the AFL for the Birmingham Steeldogs as well, and does some radio and motivational speaking on the side. Del Greco is quite the golfer I hear, and was the winner of the CGA tournament that I went to way back in 1993.

G 248    XPA  543       XPM  551       FGA 449      FGM 347    PCT 77.3%