Tag Archives: ttm football autograph

Meador, Ed (1937-2023)

Cards: Topps 1969, Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 1/17 Received: 1/28 (11 days)

Ed Meador is not a household name outside of the banner guard of the pre-St. Louis Los Angeles Rams, however he has an impressive resume, that has somehow slipped past Pro Football HoF induction.

Ed played for Arkansas Tech from 1955-1958. Back then players went both ways, and Meador distinguished himself as both a dangerous defensive back, but also as a top flight runner and return man. An all-conference selection 3 times, and Little American his Senior year, Ed was co-captain of the squad know as ‘The Wonder Boys’, and scored 272 career points over his time at Tech. He’d be selected in the 7th round of the 1969 NFL Draft.

The rest is history. He’d spend time returning kicks, holding kicks, and playing defensive back. After seeing time early in his career at corner, the Rams switched him to Free Safety where he excelled. Nicknamed ‘The Rams Little Assassin’, Ed owns multiple Rams career records to this day including interceptions (46), fumble recoveries (18), and blocked kicks (10). A 6 time Pro Bowler (1960, 1964-1968), 6 time First or Second Team All-Pro, and a member of the NFL 1960s All-Decade team, it is surprising that Meador’s name has not received a Canton induction.

In addition to his numerous on the field accomplishments, Ed won the NFLPA Byron Whizzer White Award in 1969. Retiring after 1970, Meador was inducted into the Arkansas Sports HoF in 1978, and worked in real estate for a few years before edging his way into jewelry.

Ed signed these two cards of his pretty quickly. Oddly enough both of these cards represent sets that I only had one other card from those sets signed, and they were both acquired many, many years ago. I wasn’t really a fan of Topps 1969. It strictly is more about the player than the design, and with limited technology to do so back then, this card just comes off very plain. The Action Packed 1991 Whizzer White card is really nice though. The only tweaks they did from the base 91 set is changing the marquee to a silver color and adding the helmeted year of the winner on it. It’s a great card of Ed and I am glad that he could sign it for me- even if it was in a ball point pen.

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EPITAPH:

09/06/23- Ed Meador passed away today at the grand old age of 86. No cause of death was given. He recently made it into the semifinalists of the 2024 NFL HoF Seniors class, but was not inducted.

The drive to get him into the HoF hasn’t stopped with his passing though. You can visit his website at http://www.edmeador21.com/ for more information.

Ferguson, Joe

Cards: Topps 1982, ProSet Legends 1991
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 2/2 Received: 2/9 (7 days)

Joe Ferguson was the QB for the Bills who owned nearly all the franchise record books before Jim Kelly shattered them over the next 10 years.

A Southwest Conference Alum with the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1970 to 1972, Joe competed 327 of 611 passes for 4431 yards to 24 TDs and 32 interceptions- shattering many of the passing records at the school, and earned the Liberty Bowl MVP award in 1971. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. The team pressed him into service immediately, where he posted 3 winning seasons in a row. Ferguson played ball during the dead ball era. Regardless he led the league in a variety of categories including TDs (25, 1975), attempts (1977, 457), yards (1977, 2803), and interceptions (1977, 24. 1982, 16). In 1976 he started 7 games and threw 9 touchdowns to just 1 interception for a 90 QB rating.

With the arrival of Jim Kelly in 1985, Joe began the journeyman phase of his career. He’d play 2 seasons for the Lions as a backup, starting 5 games and posting a 2-3 record. Afterwards he’d play 3 more non-descript seasons for the Bucs (1988-1989) and the Indianapolis Colts (1990).

Joe went into coaching after his playing career wrapped up and saw stints at Louisiana Tech and Arkansas.

Perhaps most intriguing was when he joined the CFL and was the QB coach for the San Antonio Goldminers in 1995. After an injury befell starting QB David Archer, head coach Kay Stephenson needed somebody who was familiar with his offensive system. Enter backup Joe Ferguson for one final season. An ironman of football, Joe started at one point 103 consecutive games, and played 16 seasons.

Joe has also been inducted into numerous Arkansas Sports Hall of Fames, All-Century Teams, and All-Decade Teams. He also has a spot in the Bills Ring of Honor.

I loved these Legends cards made by Pro Set in 1991. I had never gotten this one when I pulled packs as a kid so I was doubly surprised when I originally saw this Corning masterpiece. Joe is a great signer, so I had been kicking the can down the road the past few years before I decided to pull the trigger on this one, and he responded in no time flat.

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Hobbs, Darryl ‘Mantis’

Card: Topps XFL 2001
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 7/24 Received: 8/16 (23 days)

Daryl Hobbs played college ball for Pacific in 1990 and 1991. Amazingly he posted almost identical numbers in both years catching 62 passes for 848 yards and 14 TDs in 1990, and 62 for 842 and 12 TDs in 1991.

He signed with the Raiders in 1993, but saw only spotty action until 1995 when he started 3 games as a key reserve. Hobbs put up 38 receptions for 612 yards and 3 TDs- then in 1996 had 44 receptions for 423 yards and another 3 TDs. Daryl then split a season in 1997 with the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks. After a brief stay with the Chiefs, Daryl spent 1999 and 2000 with the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL. He caught 23 passes for 277 yards and 2 TDs in 2000. In 2001, Daryl Hobbs played in the XFL for the Memphis Maniax. He finished second on the team with 30 receptions for 419 yards and 5 TDs.

Daryl is currently enjoys coaching in the high school ranks.

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