Card: Action Packed 1990 Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o The Denver Broncos Sent: 10/21 Received: 11/4 (14 days) See Also: Steve Atwater
Steve over the last few years has become an insider and ambassador with the Denver Broncos organization. He has continued to be a good signer TTM, although since I originally got him back in 2011, he’s stopped signing as quickly and now only signs one item per person. For a few people he even short signed his initials. Atwater like many players has probably gotten frustrated with collectors and resellers abusing his generosity and going back to the well too soon and too often. I felt that since it had been… almost 10 years, it was fair of me to shoot out this classic Action Packed card of his.
Atwater was elected as part of the mega NFL 100th Anniversary class to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in early 2020.
Frank Ginda played linebacker for the San Diego State Spartans from 2015- 2017. He started as a true freshman, and his numbers improved every year into his Junior campaign. In 2017, he led the NCAA in tackles with 173, and had 13 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 3 pass deflections. Frank finished his college career with 351 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 4 pass deflections, and an interception for 16 yards.
Frank was not selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, and after a quick stop in Arizona, joined the Miami Dolphins. He had an outstanding preseason finale against the Falcons, but was one of their final cuts.
Frank returned home where he joined the Alliance of American Football signing with the San Diego Fleet. Behind the Fleet’s nasty 3-4 front, Frank led the team with 41 tackles- posting 4 for loss, 2 pass deflections, and a forced fumble against SLC that led to a TD recovery- despite only starting 2 of 8 contests. He also set the league record for tackles in a game, recording 15 against the Memphis Express, in their March 2nd contest.
” We all just bought into the system and we all dialed in and knew how much we wanted to play in the NFL. There were guys that played multiple years. There were guys that played preseason like I did and there were guys that didn’t play at all. Everybody bought into the system and bought into the playbook.”
-Frank Ginda
After the AAF folded, Frank didn’t stay unemployed for long. He’d be selected by the New York Guardians of the XFL 2020, where Ginda finished with 11 tackles and a sack in 5 contests.
Frank signed this awesome card of his and dropped a nice note on the back of it thanking me for my support.
Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997 Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home Sent: 5/4 Received: 5/19 (15 days)* Failure: 2010, 2017, 2018, C/o Home * Donation included
Well 4th time is the charm right? I had tried 3 times previously going back as long as- heck 11 years ago near when I first started again back in 2010. I was beginning to get quite frustrated so I spent a lot of time studying Mike’s signing habits. It always seemed that I missed him by just a few weeks on my 2017 and 2018 TTM attempts, but I think what cinched it for me is Mike and his wife are snowbirds- so I hit him up at his southern address instead of his northern address during the month of May.
Every time previously I had sent to him, I never heard anything back. I had tried all sorts of strategies, and probably flushed 8-10 cards already. The last time I sent to him, I ran out of cards that I really wanted to get signed, so I made sure to have this Legends card ready at the get go, because it was the one I really wanted to get.
This Upper Deck Legends 1997 card is an absolute treasure. I love these old press photos of players and this one of Mike is exceptional. Great action shot and expression of intensity on Mike’s face. I’m not sure if it is colorized, but regardless the colors are spot on. If you look closely enough you can see the photographers signature in the righthand corner.
Mike is brass tacks through and through. He’s the take no prisoners, make no apologies, Man’s man of football. Ditka played ball for Pitt from 1958 to 1960. He caught 45 passes for 730 yards and 7 TDs while playing wide receiver for the Panthers. A fine athlete who excelled at basketball and baseball as well- Ditka was added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
He was drafted during the NFL-AFL war in 1961, and opted to sign with the Bears (over the Oilers). The Bears wisely transitioned Mike to tight end in the pros, and thanks to his unique size, speed, hands, toughness, and athletic talent, Mike redefined the position for future generations. He caught 56 passes for 1,076 yards and 12 TDs- numbers unheard of at the time, earning him rookie of the year honors. He earned Pro Bowl honors from 1961 to 1965, and All-Pro nominations in 1963 and 1964.
In 1966 the Eagles traded QB Jack Concannon and an unspecified 1968 draft pick to the Bears for Mike. During his time with the Eagles however, Mike never started a full 14 season for the team, however he still managed to catch 39 passes for 385 yards. The Cowboys then stepped forward and traded defensive end David McDaniels for Mike in 1969. Mike spent the next 4 years there, as a key backup, although he started the entire final game of his career in 1972, and caught a TD during Super Bowl VI in 1971.
Mike jumped into coaching with the Cowboys in 1973. He earned loads of experience over the next 9 seasons under head coach Tom Landry. Mike proved you could indeed return home, as he became head coach of the Chicago Bears in 1982. Ditka built a winner out of the Bears, culminating in Da’ Bears 46-10 win in Super Bowl XX, where they are considered the second best team in the history of the league. The Bears continued to be the Monsters of the Midway again, trademarked by a stingy defense, and a strong running game, earning 3 more trips to the NFC Championship.
Mike even suffered a heart attack in 88, but managed to coach the team for the majority of the season. The Bears continued to represent well, but by 1992 the game was up for Mike in Chicago. He was hired by the Saints in 1997, however he did not see the same measure of success that he enjoyed in Chicago. Mike is notable for trading his entire 1999 draft class to Washington to draft Ricky Williams.
Mike was the first tight end enshrined into the the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988, and in 1989, his number was retired by the Bears in 1989. He’s done color commentating and analyst work on both radio and TV for CBS, NBC, and ESPN, and across the country.
He owns restaurants, plays golf, chomps cigars, and owns classic cars, but is passionate about raising money for former NFL players in need of medical help. Mike also was involved with video games, coming out with his own brand of football games, released during the early 90s, and was an owner of the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League at one point.
G/GS
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
158/118
427
5812
13.6
43
76
W
L
T
PCT
121
95
0
.560
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
