Tag Archives: topps 1988

NFL

James, Lionel “Little Train” (1962-2022)

Cards: ProSet 1989, Topps 1989
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 4/5   Received: 4/16  (11 days)

 

Lionel James was one of the smallest players to don football pads in the NFL, measuring up at a tiny 5’6″, 172. The running mate to Bo Jackson in Auburn’s wishbone, James was a virtuoso, who had soft hands, speed, and great vision, playing runningback and returning kicks for the Tigers.

Lionel was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the 5th round of the 1984 draft, where he fit right into the offense run by Dan Fouts and coached by guru Don Coryell. A devastating returner, Little Train had 1488 yards from scrimmage his rookie year, with a league leading 959 yards coming on 43 kick returns. He also had 30 PR and a 58 yard touchdown. In his second season, (1985) the team officially committed him to running back, where he was part of a 3 headed monster with Tim Spencer and Gary Anderson.

James had a monstrous 1985, setting the then NFL record for yards from scrimmage with 2535 yards, while also setting the then NFL record for most yards receiving for a runningback with 1027. Little Train’s 516 yards rushing also led the team and in a game against the Raiders, he fell only 28 yards short of Billy Cannon‘s 373 all purpose yards in a single game, (set in 1962).  

As injuries finally caught up to Lionel in 1986, his all purpose yards slid to 806 in 1986, but he rebounded in 1987 with another 1136, in only 12 games. James played one final season in 1988, tallying 606 yards from scrimmage, but the wear and tear had caught up to him, and by the time the 1989 season rolled around, his career was over after really only 5 seasons.

G/Gs 67/22   Rush 231    Yds  1062    Avg 4.6   Td 4    Lg 56
Rec  209    Yds  2278    Avg 10.9    Td 10    Lg 67
PR 124   Yds 1193    Avg 9.6    Td 2    Lg 81t
KR 99    Yds 2094    Avg 21.2  Td 0   Lg 55

UPDATE 2/25/22- Lionel James passed away after a battle with a lengthy illness. He was 59.

NFL

Matthews, Bruce

Cards: Action Packed 1990, Topps 1988, SkyBox 1993
Acquired: In Person 1991, 1994. TTM, 2009. Houston Oilers Training Camp, Texans Blitz

One of the greatest linemen to play the game, Bruce Matthews is one of the most decorated linemen in NFL history. At 6’6″, 289 he is the perfect blend of speed and power to play the guard position. In fact over his career Matthews would play every position along the line, being named to the Pro Bowl at both center (5 times) and guard  (9 times), playing in more games than any other player (outside of kicker and punter) with 296 games in three different decades.  Named All Pro 9 times and selected to the NFL All Decade team of the 1990s, Matthews was originally a 1st round choice out of USC by the Houston Oilers. He, along with Mike Munchak would form the best guard combo perhaps in league history allowing the team to soar to new offensive heights, blocking primarily for the Oilers during the Warren Moon and Steve McNair eras.  Matthews resented the move of the team from Houston to Tennessee due to the roots he had planted in the city, but played there through 2001 before retiring.  He was named to the Hall of Fame in 2007 during his first year of eligiblity.

Bruce has remained fairly close to the sport since retiring. Ironically he had not suffered any notable injuries through out his long career- but has had knee problems since colliding with children while standing on the sidelines of one of his children’s pee wee games. He worked for the Houston Texans through the 2010 season but was hired to coach the offensive line for Mike Munchak in Tennessee beginning in 2011.

Action Packed made some nice cards, and with their second run in 1990, had great photos and a simple gold frame and an embossed card. It stands in contrast to the Topps submission, with an inglorious sideline shot of Matthews. This SkyBox 1993 Impact was a nice idea, but the Impact logo is just too big on the card. It also takes away from Bruce’s moving figure and his name in that pastel Oiler Hawaiian blue. The moving figure effect was probably created by a motion blur in the background, and is primitive yet effective.

The first time I met Bruce Matthews was back in 1988 or 1989. Josh and I didn’t have cards at the time and were outside waiting for the players. As Josh walked up to the door an player ran him over. Josh stumbled to his feet and it was none other than Bruce Matthews who clobbered him by accident. He apologized and gave us a hearty laugh and went back inside. Good times.

NFL

Duncan, Curtis ‘CD’


Cards: Pacific 1991,Pinnacle 1992,Topps 1992,Topps 1988, Score 1991, Proset 1990
Acquired: In Person, 1991,1993. TTM 2010 c/o home.
Sent: 2/15   Received: 2/26  (11 days)
See Also: Curtis Duncan (2), Curtis Duncan (3)

A 10th round selection out of Northwestern, nobody really gave Curtis a chance to make the Houston Oilers’ roster in 1987 but he ended up contributing for a 7 solid seven seasons. Considered the quietest member of the Run and Shoot wide receivers, Curtis was the ‘hands man’ of the group of Ernest Givins, Haywood Jeffrires, and Drew Hill/ Webster Slaughter. Never actually going over the 1,000 yard plateau, his best season came in 1992 when he had 954 yards on 82 receptions.  He’d play out the 1993 season with the Oilers, and then play through the preseason the next year with the Packers. (Among his more notorious accomplishments is holding the NFL record for receivers of most catches without a touchdown, at 106- probably since broken.) Duncan is now a member of the Houston Texans Ambassador club- (spokesmen for the organization that appear at a variety of local events to increase public interest in the Texans) and also plays golf and writes poetry in his spare time.

When Duncan first started, he was a touchdown threat every time he touched the ball his rookie season. After his rookie season, he settled into his role as the possession receiver. By the end of his career he was more comparable to Kelvin Martin only occasionally running the deep route. CD was also pretty good on Tecmo Super Bowl. The game always had him set up to go deep and you could just bomb to him all day long.

Curtis signed four cards for me in near record time. The inscription from Matt 6:33. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Games 102     Rec 322    Yds 3935    Avg 12.2   Td 20   Lg 72