Tag Archives: Orlando Thunder

Frank, Malcolm

Wild Card World League 1992, #138

CARD: Wild Card World League 1992
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2023
FAILURE: TTM 2019, 2022, C/o Work

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Malcolm Frank played for the Baylor Bears back in the day when the team was in the SWC, and was renowned for having a nasty defense.
  • A three year starter with the Bears at DB, Frank had 5 picks for 131 yards.
  • Going undrafted, he’d sign with the Seahawks, but not see any action in 1991.
  • Malcolm was drafted by the Orlando Thunder of the World League in ’92.
  • He’d anchor down his CB spot, posting 3 picks and 12 PBUs, enroute to an appearance in World Bowl II.
  • After the season concluded, he was resigned by the Seahawks and saw limited action posting 4 tackles and a forced fumble.
  • Malcolm joined the CFLUSA initiative, as a member first of the Sacramento Goldminers in 1993.
  • He immediately became entrenched as starter, and had 18 PBU and 3 picks in 18 games that season.
  • His 18 PBUs set a franchise mark.
  • When the franchise moved to SA, so did Frank, where he had 3 interceptions for 113 yards and 2 TDs, including a 67 yarder in 1995.
  • After a season off and the end of the CFLUSA plan, Malcolm returned to the CFL as a member of the Edmonton Eskimos in 1997.
  • He’d play there through 1998, retiring after the season.
  • After a three year hiatus he returned to the Esks with a vengeance in 2002.
  • His 2002 seasons remains one for the record books when Malcolm notched 7 picks for 263 yards and FIVE TDs.
  • His 5 return TDs is a franchise, if not a football record for a single season.
  • After the 2006 season, Malcolm retired and began coaching football in the Houston area.

ACCOLADES:

  • 2004 All CFL

NOTES:

After two attempts to get Malcolm, I haggled with an EBay seller over this card to knock this autograph out. Malcolm here has quite an interesting story winding his way through Spring football history to the CFL, and then there, taking a 3 year hiatus and still coming back- in form no less, and dominating the competition. His single season 5 TD mark is an incredible feat at any level of competition, and his career 8 TDs is nothing to sneeze at either.

NFL

TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
40.0100-.-0-.-

WL

TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
530.0033511.7124t

CFL

TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
5710.0102157827.5869

Hall, Galen

1991 Pro Set World League Insert, #7

CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Insert
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 5/31 RECEIVED: 6/10 (10 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played college football at Penn State from 1959-1961 where he was starting QB for the Nittany Lions.
  • Completed 48.2% of his passes for 1619 yards, 15 TDs, and 11 interceptions, while rushing for 318 yards and 3 TDs on 104 carries.
  • Played briefly in the NFL for the Redskins in 1962, and the Jets in ’63.
  • Jumped into coaching working in the college ranks as a positional coach for West Virginia (TE 64-65) and Oklahoma (WR/OC 66-83).
  • Started out as OC at Florida in ’84, but quickly took the reins as HC, coaching there through ’89.
  • Posted a 40-18-1 record over career with Gators.
  • After a year off, returned to coaching as OC of the WLAF Orlando Thunder in ’91.
  • Recommended and quickly reunited with his former college QB Kerwin Bell.
  • Orlando became well known for its explosive Spread offensive formations.
  • Became head coach of the Thunder in ’92, leading the franchise to World Bowl II, claiming an 8-2 record.
  • After a year’s stint with the AFL Charlotte Rage in ’94, returned to the rebooted World League in 1995, coaching with the Rhein Fire.
  • Coached through 2000, compiling a 34-26 record, winning two World Bowl Championships (1998, 2000).
  • Came back stateside in 2001, as head coach of the XFL Orlando Rage posting an 8-2 record.
  • Coached RBs with the Dallas Cowboys in 2002.
  • Returned home to Penn State in 2004 as OC and RB coach, working with the Nittany Lions through 2011.

ACCOLADES:

  • SEC Coach of the Year (1984)
  • NFL Europe Coach of the Year (1998, 00,
  • XFL Coach of the Year (2001)
  • Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame

NOTES:

Galen didn’t have any cards of himself made. I considered making one, but at the time I was artistically uninspired, so after arming up with a few World League helmet cards, I decided to fire one off to him. Now, my big thing recently is getting coaches to draw me up a play. I also peppered him with questions about the spread offense and his time in the World League. Although he didn’t give me any insight into his time in the WLAF/ NFLE, he did author two plays for me. They are run plays, but I’m very happy nonetheless he took the time to put these together.

Vick, Roger (2)

CARDS: Wild Card World League 1992, Pro Set 1991 WLAF Inserts
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 6/6 RECEIVED: 6/22 (16 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2011, 2020, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

One of my latest retry replies came through after I saw a few successes pop up in some of the Facebook groups I frequent. I shot these cards out immediately and he graciously signed after a nail biting 16 days where I saw a couple of others get theirs back first! I’m also not really sure what he inscribed outside of Thunder and #49, but I’m happy to cross Roger off the list.