Tag Archives: philadelphia eagles

Brookshier, Tom “Brookie” (1931-2010)

Acquired: Austin City Wide Garage Sale 1996

I think a bar was liquidating all its possessions and I just happened to stumble upon a lot of these autographed photos. While I rarely purchase these pieces of memorabilia, I can’t pass up a good deal. It took me a long time to track down Tom Brookshier and the internet made it possible even though I owned NFL statistical books.

Brookshier would be drafted in the 10th round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1953. His rookie season was nothing short of dominating.  He’d make 8 interceptions that season and a fumble recovery through only 11 games. Due to commitments to the military and the Air Force Academy, Tom would not regularly for another 2 seasons, but  would make 4 picks in 1957 and 3 in 1959. Tom would also double as the team’s defensive coordinator upon his return. He’d make the ProBowl in 1959 and 1960, and first team AP in the latter as well where the Eagles would win an NFL Championship that year. His career would end after 7 games in 1961 due to a compound fractured leg against the Bears.

Tom would pick up and go straight into broadcasting, paired with great Pat Summerall whom he broadcasted with on Superbowls X, XII and XIV. Of note, Brookshier was Summerall’s original broadcasting partner before John Madden. It’s in broadcasting he’d gain his greater notoriety where he once said the Louisville Cardinals basketball team, “Had a combined IQ of 40,” on air.

He’d later get involved in radio where and also was a real estate consultant and his number was retired by the Eagles. Sadly, on January 29th, 2010 he passed away at the age of 78 from cancer.

G 76    Tac N/a   Sac N/a  Fum 8    Int  20   Yds 193   Avg 9.6   Lg 40   Td 0

Teeter, Mike

Cards: ProSet 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent:  8/27/10  Received: 1/10/11  (130 days)

At 6’2″, 266 defensive end seemed more fitting for the former Michigan alum who was incredibly speedy (4.6) and strong (bench 600 lbs) for his size, but in the end Mike Teeter would play nose tackle in the 3-4 alignment for the Frankfurt Galaxy’s top rated defense in 1991. He’d be named second team All-World after making 3 sacks that season. After his WLAF stint Teeter would return stateside landing on the Houston Oilers roster in 1993. He’d make a sack that season but would not see any real significant playing time through 1994. He’d sign with Carolina in 1995, and then the Cardinals in 1996 before retiring. He also had short stints on the Eagles and Colts. Teeter afterwards would spend time coaching defensive line at Indiana, and was named to the Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. I love getting WLAF autographs, especially the teams based in Europe so I was happy to get this one in the mail over 100 days after I sent it out. Below are Mike’s WLAF stats.

G/Gs  10/10   Tac  N/a   Sac 3.0  Fum N/a

Heller, Ron

Card: ProSet 1990
Acquired: In Person 1992, Philadelphia Eagles Traning Camp

The Co-Captain of Penn State’s 1982 championship run, Ron Heller was an offensive tackle at drafted in the bottom of the 4th round of the NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 1984 was a good draft and Heller was a fine specimen at 6’6″, 290. A highly intelligent lineman with a good motor, Heller was both a competent pass and run blocker. Starting immediately out of the gate, Ron would be named to numerous All-Rookie teams at the end of 1984. Playing in obscurity for 4 seasons for the Bucs, Heller would be traded (in 1988) to the Seahawks who in turn traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he’d block for Pro Bowl quarterback Randall Cunningham. Ron would become the first Eagles offensive lineman named offensive MVP of the team in 1989. I’d get his autograph at training camp in 1992, before he signed with the Dolphins to block for Dan Marino in 1993. He never missed a beat, starting immediately, and fit right in with the team for 3 seasons.  A brutal knee injury would end his career after the 1995 season, but Ron would move on to coaching.  He’d finish his playing career playing in 172 games, starting 166 of them.

In 2004, Heller served as an assistant in NFLE on the Amsterdam Admirals. He’d expand on these jobs as an offensive line coach in 2006 and 2007 would allow him to be an offensive coordinator, before the league’s untimely folding.  Ron then joined the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in 2009 for one season, and then returned to the NFL as an offensive staff assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2010.