Randy did some signings around Dallas in the early 20-teens but I missed out on them because they were on such short notice. I got really close a few times to going, but couldn’t bring myself up to calling in sick to go. His cards were grossly overpriced at the beginning of the pandemic even before the prices started shooting up. I knew all I had to do was wait, and I got this one at a bargain for under 10 bucks when the smoke cleared.
Randy was one of the last of the old guard from Tom Landry‘s days. He retired due to injury shortly after Tom was ingloriously fired by new owner Jerry Jones, and Jimmy Johnson was hired.
Randy makes an appearance on the ‘Dallas Wings’ franchise (Tecmo Bowl) on the NES.
Kellen Winslow played TE for the Missouri Tigers from 1975-78.
Concluded college career with 71 catches, 1,089 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
First round pick of the San Diego Chargers in 1979.
He’d become a catalyst for the Air Coryell offense and lead the NFL in catches in both 1980 (89) and ’81 (88).
His 89 reception in 1980, shattered the record previously held by HoFer Mike Ditka.
Caught 5 TDs in a single game, tying the NFL record in ’81.
Put together perhaps one of the finest post season single game performances, catching 13 passes for 166 yards (TD), and blocking a FG to send it to OT in ‘The Epic’ at Miami.
Had a career high 1,183 yards and 88 catches in 1983.
Played for the Chargers through 1987, retiring after the season.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1980-’83, ’87
All-Pro 1980-’82
Pro Football Hall of Fame
#73 Greatest Football Players of All-Time (Sporting News)
NFL 1980s All-Time Team
NFL 75th Anniversary Team
NFL 100th Anniversary Team
College Football Hall of Fame
San Diego Chargers #80- Retired
San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame
NOTES:
It can not be understated how much Winslow had an effect on the pro game. Tight ends during the 70s had become almost an afterthought during the Dead Ball Era. Winslow revolutionized the position, breaking Ditkas catch record, and had 2 back to back 1,000 yard seasons, and later a 3rd- something forgotten about since the 60s.
Winslow was always on my short list of players I might not ever get, so when he popped up, I wrote this letter and pretty much had this card in the mail to him the next day. I added a donation to grease the wheels, and he gladly signed it, adding the HOF inscription.
After I got Len’s autograph back in 2016, a lot of rumors started up that perhaps he was being ghost signed. I did pay a small fee for his autograph and got these back quite quickly. The biggest hang up that the TTM community had over his autograph was the fluidity of it, and how the ‘L’ and the ‘D’ were just too… loopy, almost feminine, and that they changed styles.
I could see their concerns, but regardless felt confident enough to get Len on these two set needs. My reasoning is that as people do get older their autographs do change, and that I’d seen a lot of these ‘loopy’ autographs be passed off as certified and also as authentic. I, myself was very happy to not only get these two back in a very short period of time, but also that he inscribed them with his HOF year.
EPITAPH:
8/24/22- Len Dawson was moved to hospice in the last few days, where he passed away at the age of 87.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
