Category Archives: College Football HoF

College Football HoF, NFL

Spiller, CJ

Panini Rookies & Stars 2013, #12

CARDS: Panini Prestige 2015, Score 2010, Panini Rookies & Stars 2013
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, C/o Work
SENT: 10/17 RECEIVED: 10/26 (9 days)

Panini Prestige 2015, #145
Score 2010, #315

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • CJ Spiller played RB for Clemson from 2006-09.
  • Ran for 1,212 yards and 12 TDs his Senior season, accumulating 3,547 total yards on the ground over his 4 years with the Tigers.
  • Also displayed explosive skills as a kick returner and punt returner accumulating 8 TDs.
  • Was selected 9th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
  • Spiller quickly ascended the depth chart, surpassing both Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch in the lineup.
  • Rookie season was considered a disappointment, but still managed to produce his share of highlights with a 95 yard KR TD.
  • It’d be in 2012, CJ really came into his own, running for a career high 1244 yards and 6 TDs on 207 carries.
  • He’d also catch 43 passes for 459 yards and 2 TDs including a 66 yarder.
  • CJ followed up 2012 with a solid ’13 outing, posting 933 yards on 202 carries.
  • Unfortunately injuries derailed the remainder of his career, as over the next 4 years, he’d be limited to just 7 starts in 29 contests.
  • After his time in Buffalo concluded, CJ hopped over to New Orleans.
  • He’d catch an 80 yard TD that season- Marking QB Drew Brees 400th passing TD.
  • Released in 2016, Spiller saw some playing time with the Seahawks and Jets that season.
  • In his final season with the Chiefs, Spiller was an emergency back for the team, and was literally on and off the roster multiple times throughout 2017.
  • After a few years off, Spiller went into coaching.
  • As of 2022 he’s a RB coach at his Alma Mater, Clemson.

ACCOLADES:

  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • Pro Bowl 2012
  • Jersey Retired #28 (Clemson)

NOTES:

While CJ’s career in the pros was limited, he had moments of absolute breathtaking electricity. The pass he caught from Drew Brees (for Brees 400th TD), sparked some laughs, embarrassment, and controversy. It came in OT against the Dallas Cowboys and was the first play from scrimmage, as OT rules end games if a team scores on the first possession.

Two late card set additions that I like here from Panini in both the 2015 Prestige set and the Rookies & Stars set (2013). I really like how the Prestige set is very minimal, although I’m not a huge fan of the transitioned edges. The focus is on the player and the name. That’s it. Pretty classy.

The Rookies & Stars set from 2013 was something I got into late. I loved the 2009 and 2010 set, but I absolutely hated the 2011 and ’12 sets. That caused me to take my time checking out this set. One of my big complaints about cards is that it doesn’t feel as though they are proud of their designs. They just don’t showcase them on the sides of the box. Spiller’s card is top notch in this set and I like the design and look as it’s pretty unique.

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College Football HoF, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL

Jackson, Bo

Action Packed 1990, #128

CARD: Action Packed 1990
ACQUIRED: 2022, In Person Signing

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Bo Jackson was a tremendously talented athlete, being selected first round by the New York Yankees (1982) before he even hit college.
  • Opting to go to Auburn, Bo went hog wild as a RB running for 4,303 yards over his college career.
  • He was also an accomplished track and field star.
  • After winning the Heisman Trophy, he’d be selected in the first round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
  • Bo refused to sign with the team, citing that they attempted to sabotage his budding baseball career.
  • He’d sign instead with the Kansas City Royals- who selected Bo in 1986.
  • While playing with the Royals, the Bucs gave up on Jackson, relinquishing his rights.
  • Bo was then drafted again- this time by the Los Angeles Raiders, in the 7th round of the ’87 NFL Draft.
  • After a bit of arm twisting and fan service, Bo signed with the Raiders, with the understanding that the team would not interfere with his baseball career.
  • Bo for the next 4 seasons would miss training camp and 6-9 weeks while he was wrapping up his baseball commitments with the Royals.
  • In his rookie year, he quieted doubters with a sensational MNF performance where he ran over the Seattle Seahawks and Brian Bosworth for a then Raider record 221 yards rushing.
  • He had 81 carries for 554 yards and a whopping 6.8 yards per carry and a 91 yard TD in 1987.
  • In 1989, Bo ran for a career high 973 yards and a 92 yard TD.
  • By this point Bo was becoming a multi sport star and one of the major darlings of sports marketing.
  • In 1990, he returned again to the Raiders, and helped galvanize the team to the playoffs, bursting for an 88 yard TD and 698 yards on 125 carries.
  • That year he became the first athlete to be named to both the Pro Bowl and the All-Star Game.
  • During the playoffs against the Bengals, Bo was tackled from behind where he suffered a hip injury that was later determined to be a career ending injury to his football career.
  • Bo was cut by the Royals soon thereafter, signing with the Chicago White Sox.
  • He’d be exclusively a baseball player and a DH, before spending his entire 1992 season rehabbing from the hip injury.
  • Bo played a final season for the California Angels in 1994- retiring after the season was ended due to a strike, to spend more time with his family.

ACCOLADES:

  • Heisman Award 1985
  • Pro Bowl 1990
  • Auburn #34 retired
  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • AL All-Star 1989
  • All-Star Game MVP 1989
  • 1990 Pro Bowl (reserve)

NOTES:

Bo, is of course, fondly remembered by fans of Tecmo Bowl for being an unstoppable force in the game. When my friends and I played, and one of us was the Raiders, about the only way to stop him was to actually select Bo’s run play on every play of the game, lest you take a chance that he runs for a TD on you on the one play you forgot to.

Outside of what media he already appeared in before he retired, Bo’s done a lot of stuff since retirement otherwise, dabbling in TV and commercials. He loves to do archery, and donates and raises a lot of money for charity.

I spent the most money ever on getting an in person autograph of Bo Jackson. I’m not sure what I was expecting. To him it was a transaction but to me I wanted it to be an experience. I guess I was ultimately disappointed.

My friend Jeff and I bought tickets to the event at Barton Creek Mall. We thought it’d be in a retail outlet, but instead it was in an open area where tables and memorabilia had been set up in the mall.

Once Bo sat down, he didn’t really have much to say, rushing us through, even telling Jeff he should have his items ready to be signed when he walked up. Later when I went through the line and got his autograph, he took the card of the guy in front of me and slightly bent it intentionally while he was talking to him before he signed it. Thankfully since I had a stiff Action Packed card, he didn’t have a chance to do the same thing for me.

Unfortunately Bo remains a strong set need for me, as I need him in multiple sets.

NFL

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MLB

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College Football HoF, NFL

Childress, Ray (2)

Gameday 1992, #441
Action Packed 1990, #91
All World 1992, #105

CARDS: Action Packed 1990, GameDay 1992, All World Stars & Stripes 1993
ACQUIRED: 2013, Canton Acquisition. 2022 C/o Home
SENT: 8/3 RECEIVED: 12/5 (124 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

I mean, it’d been some 12 years since I TTMed Ray, and in that period he’s been off and on the TTM bandwagon, signing now albeit slowly for fans. I had developed set needs during that time- namely the Action Packed and Gameday sets, but I had also liked his Fleer as well. Seeing that I’d be lucky to get two, I decided to pack these two away and see what would happen. Among players I’d like to still meet from those yesteryears, Ray is still pretty high up there, due to him being probably my favorite Oiler on the DL.

The Stars & Stripes cards are among my least favorite sets, but my friend was taking a break from the hobby and was having a hard time. He couldn’t find a buyer so I offered to take a bunch off his hands. I didn’t really care what he sent me because I knew he was hard up and needed help. Getting a Childress was a bonus.