Tag Archives: ultimate wlaf 1992

NFL, Pro Football HoF, usfl, WLAF

Kelly, Jim (2)

Ultimate World League 1992 Official Spokesperson

CARD: Ultimate World League 1992 Promo
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2022

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

I mean huge get for me here. The Ultimate World League 1992 Official Spokesperson Jim Kelly autographed card is one of the 2 Holy Grails in this set. (The other being the Lawrence Taylor autographed card.) These autographed cards were one of the prizes given away for spelling W-O-R-L-D via the in pack game scratch off, and only 500 exist. I had seen this card from time to time on Ebay and kicked myself for not buying one a few years ago because it was priced at a premium to my budget. Since the COVID pandemic, a lot of things changed, and also since I haven’t been buying card boxes for a while, these sorts of splurges are a bit more affordable. Furthermore with Jim Kelly’s TTM signing fee being a stiff $50.00, I bought this one immediately when I saw it comparatively at a strong discount.

The front of the card is beautiful. It’s a very simple design that has grown on me over the years. The back of the card is much like the other Ultimate World League insert promos with the WIN $1,000,000 blurb and the contest information. The only major difference on the card being an NFL shield next to Ultimate Trading Card company’s address. -Again still no clue if anybody actually ever won the million bucks.

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Morris, Lee

Utimate World League 1992 Promo

CARDS: Ultimate World League 1992, Ultimate World League 1992 Defense, Ultimate World League 1992 Promo
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 12/14/21 RECEIVED: 1/3/22 (20 days)
FAILURE: TTM C/o Home, 2014, 2016, 2019

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Walked on to the Oklahoma Sooners football team in 1985.
  • Fairytale story continued as he contributed to the Sooners National Football championship that year, catching 5 passes for 96 yards and 2 TDs.
  • Went undrafted in 1987, but thanks to the NFL Players Strike, saw significant playing time starting 3 games for the Green Bay Packers.
  • Contributed career best 6 catches for 132 yards and a TD in win over Eagles during Week 3.
  • Among final tough cuts during 1988 training camp.
  • Joined CFL Toronto Argos late in season.
  • Had 5 catches for 86 yards and TD against Winnipeg a few weeks later.
  • Played following season for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
  • Selected by the San Antonio Riders in the 8th round of the WLAF 1991 positional draft.
  • Emerged as San Antonio’s most reliable receiver in 1991, contributing 23 catches for 409 yards and 2 TDs- including a franchise long 73 yard TD grab.
  • Returned for 1992 season but suffered season ending injury after catching 9 passes for 174 yards.
Ultimate 1992, Defensive Overview #191

NOTES:

I had been hunting for Lee Morris for quite some time- striking out at 3 different addresses over the years. From time to time I like to look at EBay. It’s a backdoor way to see who is signing TTM sometimes, and this one paid off. I found a listing on the site for Lee’s autograph on his Ultimate base card. Then I cross referenced the information I had on him and realized he signed from a previous address I had tried him at a few years ago. It made me quite ecstatic when I got these back. These cards are technically the first responses of 2022.

These are some great action shots of Lee. I remember leaving a game or two, and seeing kids chase Lee for his autograph on his Ultimate promo card that were inserted into the Gametime magazines. (I was quite jealous as I couldn’t find one.) He seemed quite happy that he had a card.

Later the base card appeared in all its glory. I love this shot of him jumping up in the air to make a grab, however it showcases the Riders and the league’s lackluster attendance woes.

I tossed in the Defensive Overview card as well, and since it had a receiver in the picture, it made sense to have Lee sign it. Oddly the back image has Surge helmets on it, but I’d assume it’s not an error card as the set itself is meant to introduce fans to football.

Ultimate WLAF 1992, #156

NFL

RECYDSAVGTDLG
1625916.1146t

CFL

RECYDSAVGTDLG
2434814.5155

WLAF

RECYDSAVGTDLG
3258318.2373t
NFL, WLAF

Hochuli, Ed

Ultimate World League 1992, #190

Cards: Ultimate W
Acquired: TTM 2022, C/o Work
Sent: 2/7 Received: 3/5 (26 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

I asked Ed about his World League experience, and if had any great memories of the league.

I really enjoyed the World League, because the NFL decided to try me out as head Referee in the World League in 1991.  I had never Refereed (the crew chief / white hat) in high school or college, so it was a surprise when they put me at that position, and I guess they were really desperate, because that next year in the NFL, they moved me to Referee in the NFL.  And I definitely worked several games in San Antonio, so no doubt you and your Dad were booing me a lot? 

What a small world. I am sure after the game I walked right by Ed and didn’t look up- and yes, we probably booed him on quite a few occasions.

In RE: to the hardest calls/ penalties to throw…

Your other question was about the toughest thing to call . . . regardless of the type of foul, some are very obvious and some are very close.  It was the close ones – just enough to make it illegal – that were the toughest.  I’d say Roughing the passer was the toughest of those.  Some were easy, but some of them were very close, and it happens so fast, you’ve got to be ready! 

The World League was experimenting with ‘In the Grasp’ and other QB roughing penalties at this time, so I can totally understand his problem with this.

Ed is well respected among referees, and even developed sort of a cult following because of his shredded arms, with Phil Simms comically referring to him as ‘Hochules’.