Tag Archives: most fumble recoveries in one game

College Football HoF, NFL

Childress, Ray (2)

Gameday 1992, #441
Action Packed 1990, #91
All World 1992, #105

CARDS: Action Packed 1990, GameDay 1992, All World Stars & Stripes 1993
ACQUIRED: 2013, Canton Acquisition. 2022 C/o Home
SENT: 8/3 RECEIVED: 12/5 (124 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

I mean, it’d been some 12 years since I TTMed Ray, and in that period he’s been off and on the TTM bandwagon, signing now albeit slowly for fans. I had developed set needs during that time- namely the Action Packed and Gameday sets, but I had also liked his Fleer as well. Seeing that I’d be lucky to get two, I decided to pack these two away and see what would happen. Among players I’d like to still meet from those yesteryears, Ray is still pretty high up there, due to him being probably my favorite Oiler on the DL.

The Stars & Stripes cards are among my least favorite sets, but my friend was taking a break from the hobby and was having a hard time. He couldn’t find a buyer so I offered to take a bunch off his hands. I didn’t really care what he sent me because I knew he was hard up and needed help. Getting a Childress was a bonus.

NFL

Childress, Ray

Cards:  Action Packed 1991, Fleer 1995, Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp, 1992, 1995. TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent:   3/26    Received:     4/3           (8 days)

Ray Childress is one of the most multidimensional and consistent defensive linemen who came out during the mid 80s. He played from 1985 to 1996. He received All America honors twice while in college at Texas A&M and still is ranked on the school’s leaders in both sacks and tackles 25 years after he graduated. Drafted in the first round by the Houston Oilers as a DE, Ray would play all positions along the line at some point during his career with the majority of that being at DT notching 4 Pro Bowl appearances at this position and 1 at DE playing in 154 games.  He was a 3 time first team All-Pro, and 3 time second team All- Pro. Childress holds the NFL record for most fumble recoveries in a season with 7 and most recovered in a game with 3.  He retired from injuries after a shoulder separation in 1996. Childress since football has become in a variety of ventures including his ongoing commitment to the Childress Foundation, and at one point owned a line of car dealerships. Childress was inducted into the College Football HOF in 2010.

My brother and I went to training camp in 1992. It was really funny to get Ray’s autograph, especially since he dwarfed my brother who was 6″3′. Ray then asked my brother if he was on the team which we both got some laughs out of. In 1995 Childress also signed my Fleer 1995 for me when I was at camp as he was walking on to the field. He was the first one of the day and that certainly put me in a good mood. In 2010 I started sending cards out in the mail again, and specifically targeted former Houston Oilers. I sent 4 cards out to Ray and he signed 3 and returned the 4th, which didn’t bother me at all as he was doing it as a courtesy for me anyway. Ray has been caught in the backlog of great players retiring during the mid 90s, and has not been inducted into the HOF, although I believe he should. With Elvin Bethea being inducted recently, it certainly does give hope that at some point he will sneak onto the ballot.

Games 163         Tac   861              Sac 76.5               Fum 19