Category Archives: NFL

AFL, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Upshaw, Gene ‘Uptown Gene’ (1945-2008)

Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991, #8

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.

College Football HoF, NFL

Pruitt, Greg (2)

CARDS: Upper Deck 2011 College Football Legends, Upper Deck 2011 College Football Legends Decade’s Best, Upper Deck 2011 College Football Legends Bowl Game Heroes, Upper Deck 2011 College Football Legends NCAA All-Americans
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 6/12 RECEIVED: 6/26 (14 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Greg had some fantastic Upper Deck College Football Legends cards I wanted to get signed. The Decade’s Best and Bowl Game Heroes are some great inserts. Too bad he signed on the back of the Bowl Game Hero card…

NFL

Johnson, Norm ‘Mr. Automatic’

Fleer 1990, #268

CARD: Fleer 1990
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2023

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Norm Johnson was a placekicker for UCLA from 1980-’81.
  • Over those two years he locked in 64 of 65 extra points, and 24 of 33 field goals.
  • He was signed as an UDFA by the Seattle Seahawks in 1982.
  • Played the next 9 seasons for the team, and in 4 of those seasons accounted for 20 or more field goals.
  • Signed with Atlanta in 1991, played with the Falcons through 1994.
  • In 1993, he went 26 of 27 on fieldgoals, including a 54 yard long.
  • Joined the Steelers in 1995, and immediately paid dividends hitting 34 of 41 field goals that year at Three Rivers to lead the NFL in both those categories.
  • Played final season for the Eagles in 1999.
  • Finished career with a whopping 1,736 points in 273 games played.

ACCOLADES:

  • All Pro 1984
  • Second Team All Pro 1993
  • Pro Bowl 1984, ’93
  • Seattle Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team

NOTES:

Norm played for the ‘Seattle Knights’ on Tecmo Bowl- and he was absolutely terrible. The season that his player stats were based off of, 1985, was an outlier, and his worst season as a pro, when he hit 14 of 25 field goals. In general, Norm was a very reliable kicker throughout his playing career, but he could never shake that bad moniker for me.

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