CARD: Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991 ACQUIRED: EBay, 2023
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Gene Upshaw played OL for Texas A&I from 1963-’66.
He was selected by Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 1967 draft.
Considered one of the finest OL to ever play, was a fixture at OG for the Raiders for 16 seasons.
Has numerous distinctions on resume, including being the first player to appear in a Super Bowl in 3 different decades, and most consecutive starts to begin NFL career (231).
Offensive team captain for 9 seasons (1973-’81).
Was a firsthand witness to many of the NFL’s most memorable games such as the Ghost to the Post, The Sea of Hands, and the Holly Roller.
During NFL career became extremely active in union activity with the NFLPA, eventually ascending to Executive Director.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Football Hall of Fame
All Pro 1970, ’74, ’77
Second Team All Pro 1971-’73, ’75
Pro Bowl 1972-’77
All AFL All Star 1968
NFL All Decade Team 1970s
Byron Whizzer White Award 1980
NFL 75th Anniversary Team
NFL 100th Anniversary Team
Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
1982 A. Phillip Randolph Award
NOTES:
Gene had long passed by the time I got around to this set, so I thought it’d be a challenge to get any of the deceased players. Much to my amazement his autograph showed up a few years ago on EBay on this exact card- but I forgot to place a bid and missed out on it. I was kicking myself for quite a while on it until this one popped up at the same time Willie Davis appeared. I pulled the trigger on both and was able to add both of them to my collection.
It should be noted that Gene’s autograph… is upside down.
EPITAPH:
9/20/2008- Gene passed away suddenly from pancreatic cancer, surrounded by friends and family at the Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA. He was 63.
After his passing his family established a foundation in his name, and an annual golf tournament to help cover patient and family costs, at the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center.
Ozzie just keeps signing after all these years, and after getting him back in 2019, I thought I was done. Then I got hooked on all the set needs and realized all the cards I hadn’t gotten The Wiz on. I figured I might as well get the rest out there I could, biting my nails on the Whizzer White cards which while rare are still fairly common on the secondary market- just jacked up in price by opportunists. Although it took a bit longer than usual, the autographs were as advertised, knocking out these very final photographic cards.
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.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
1104
111.0
10
1
0
0.0
0
0
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
