Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Otto, Jim ‘Mr. Raider’ (1938-2024)

CARDS: Topps 1970, Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, C/o Home*
SENT: 10/19/20 RECEIVED: 10/27/20 (8 days)
* Fee Enclosed

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jim Otto played center and linebacker at the University of Miami, FL.
  • He was selected by the proposed AFL Minnesota team in 1960.
  • When the Minnesota team joined the NFL instead, his rights fell to the Oakland Raiders.
  • Jim went on to play the entire 10 years of the AFL as the Raiders starting center.
  • He’d then play an additional FIVE more for the Raiders after the AFL and NFL merged.
  • Considered one of the finest- if not the finest center to play the game, Jim was showered with accolades throughout his career.
  • He was the last original Oakland Raider to retire- after the 1974 season.
  • Started 210 contests over his career.
  • Jim is equally well known as the most famous player to wear the number ’00’.

ACCOLADES:

  • First Team All- AFL 1960-’65, ’67-’69
  • Second Team All- AFL 1966
  • AFL All-Star 1961-’69
  • Pro Bowl 1970-’72
  • All Pro 1970
  • Second Team All Pro 1972
  • All Time AFL Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame and Museum 1972
  • Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame 1998
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame 1980

NOTES:

I wrote Jim back in 2020, and like many of the autographs during the COVID blitz- they got lost in the shuffle. Then as I got around to this post I kept kicking it further down, thinking I’d get him again on another card or two at that point. His fee also was just a modest $10 per card.

Both of these are sets that I really like. This classy 1970 Topps card with him popping a block with a smile is pretty iconic. The Upper Deck Legends turned into a set need around this time, and the silver sharpie touch was really nice of him.

Jim notably also suffered from more than SEVENTY operations due to his time playing football, and eventually had his right leg amputated in 2007, and almost died twice from post-surgery infections. Jim is a cautionary tale of ‘playing through pain’. He is said to have lived in constant pain over the last few years of his life- but remained a steadfast defendant of the sport.

EPITAPH:

5/19/2024- Jim Otto passed away at the grand old age of 86 in Aurora, Ca. No cause of death was given.

NFL

Smith, Ben

CARDS: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Gameday 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 6/28/23 RECEIVED: 12/27/23 (182 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Ben Smith played CB at NE Oklahoma back in ’86 where he turned heads, recording 5 picks and 39 total tackles at S.
  • He transferred to Georgia in ’87.
  • During Spring practice switched from CB to FS in ’89.
  • Finished Senior season with 95 total tackles, 4 forced fumbles, and 10 interceptions.
  • An All SEC Selection, he’d be tabbed in the first round by the Philadelphia Eagles during the 1990 NFL Draft.
  • Had 91 tackles and 3 interceptions in rookie year playing at LCB.
  • In Sophomore campaign, tabbed on 2 more picks and 34 tackles.
  • Spent the 1993 season on IR.
  • Played for the Broncos in 1994 and had 72 tackles and a pick.
  • Then briefly saw action with the Arizona Cardinals in 1995 and ’96.

NOTES:

Ben Smith is a very hard to get player TTM, so with a wing and a prayer I sent these out, so when I got these two back I was very surprised. I was just as surprised to see them inked in red, but no matter- a win is a win! He also asked for a cash app donation of 50 bucks…

TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
2411.00671.106
NFL, University of Texas

Johnson, Derrick ‘DJ’ (4)

CARDS: Panini UT 2016 Honors, Score 2018, UT Upper Deck 2011 HACK, Upper Deck 2008, Panini Select 2014, Donruss 2018, SP 2008,
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2024

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Well I had run into DJ at the food court when I was getting Bo Jackson at Barton Creek a few years ago, and got pants down without any cards. I hadn’t done a hard target search of cards for him that I liked up to that point, and then the idea came to me to just expand and turn the Upper Deck UT 2011 set into a ‘living set’. Afterwards I found a few cards that I liked, and waited for the next in person signing. Eventually the wait paid off, and my friend Mark G came through with a stack of extras when the event came up.

A local Cadillac dealer held an in person event in late August. It was a very nice little event. Both Mark and Jeff and his family came out. The regulars were in force, but it wasn’t too awkward or overwhelming. DJ came in early and just started signing. He also answered a lot of questions.

On being a Raider? He smiled and said it was a cash grab, and that they were seeing if there was still anything left in the tank. He also talked about LaDanian Tomlinson being the most difficult player for him to tackle, and that he just had this clever combination of size, speed and power- and he loved to talk smack to DJ since they were both from Waco. I shared my connection to DJ and he was surprised that he knew the street that my Grandparents lived on and I visited. All in all it was a very good event. Everyone left with everything they wanted signed.

I got 14 cards. So why aren’t there 14 cards pictured here? Simple: I gave half of them away. Why? Because I like sharing in the joy I have for this hobby. I run a very small, tight knit, autograph group. It’s unique and different than the other groups on Facebook and to those who participate and make it unique- I want to pay it forward.