Category Archives: NFL

CFL, NFL, University of Texas

Williams, Ricky (7) ‘Little Earl’

CARDS: Adrenalyn 2009 Extra, Adrenalyn 2010, Bowman’s Best 2000, Bowman’s Best 2001, Collectors Edge 2000, Donruss Classic 2004, Donruss Classic 2006, Donruss Elite 2004, Donruss Elite 2009 Chain Reaction Black, Fleer Showcase 2003, Leaf 2000, Panini Phoenix 2018 Adrenalin, Panini Classics 2016 Monday Night Moves, Playoff Contenders 2003, Donruss Gridiron Gear 2009, Panini Threads 2009, Panini Ultra 2016, Panini Vanguard 2000, Playoff Prestige 2004, Playoff Signatures 2002, Playoff 2006, Score 2001, Skybox Dominion 2000, SP 2001, SPx 2004 Winning Materials, SPx 2003, Topps Heritage 2003, Upper Deck 2000 Piece of History, Upper Deck 2001 Vintage, SPx 1999 Authentic, Upper Deck 2000 Ionix, Upper Deck 2002 MVP
ACQUIRED: IP, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Well after a long wait, Ricky appeared again in… 2023- but I missed him. I didn’t realize he showed up early- and pretty much was leaving as I came in, again putting my cards on hold. I kicked myself over it, but really, is that what it’s about?

Fast forward to 2025. I finally got a last second notification of an event he was appearing at, and I was not going to miss it. He was promoting a mocktail and they were giving away samples at an HEB, so I packed my stuff, sent out the notifications to all the friends who would be interested and went.

Mark G contacted me and had me stop by his house. I picked up his cards along the way and met him there. I was the first person in line and Ricky was pretty happy to see me. We talked for a bit and caught up. When the gatekeeper came over and asked me to move along after 10 or so autographs, Ricky said, “It’s no big deal. I’m not going anywhere.” I got back into line and went through multiple times- and we just kept chatting. I ended up giving him one of my trading cards with my contact information, and told him if he just wanted to hang out to HMU.

In total Ricky signed 65 cards for me. The lines were not long and by the time I got to him for the 4th or 5th time, there was almost nobody in line. Now… You’re looking at this and saying, “Wait a minute… There’s not 60 cards here!” -That’s true. I cleared out ALL the favors and SHiLs I had over the years, and gave away almost half of them to members of my Facebook group.

I’ve always said to share the wealth, but the best gift you can get- is one that you do not expect. Thanks again Ricky! I’m reloading already!

College Football HoF, NFL

Nielsen, Gifford ‘Giff’

CARDS: Topps 1982, Topps 1983
ACQUIRED: TTM 2025, C/o Home
SENT: 5/27 RECEIVED: 7/5 (39 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2022, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Gifford Nielsen played QB at BYU from 1975-’77.
  • In 1976 he finished 6th in Heisman Trophy voting, leading the WAC in nearly every statistical category.
  • He completed 207 of 372 passes for 3192 yards with 29 TDs to 19 picks that year- which were considered titanic numbers for that era of football.
  • 3rd round pick in 1978 of the Houston Oilers.
  • Was backup quarterback nearly his entire career, first to Dan Pastorini, then to Ken Stabler, and then later shared QB duties with Oliver Luck and Archie Manning.
  • After retirement, he worked as a color broadcaster for the Oilers radio network, and as the Sports Director of KHOU in Houston.

ACCOLADES:

  • College Football Hall of Fame 1984

NOTES:

I had been oddly after Giff for a while. Back when I was a kid, I’d go to Oilers training camp here and there when the team practiced at San Marcos and later in San Antonio. Giff was a sports reporter for one of the Houston stations. He was very engaging with fans, but I didn’t make the connection the first time I went to camp he was a former player or that he had a card. (Remember this is the dark times- before the internet.) After being told he was a former Oiler, I tracked down a card, but never saw him again at camp close enough that I could flag him down for an autograph.

I held onto that Topps ’83 and tried him TTM back in 2022 but didn’t hear back. I reloaded and added the Topps 1982, waiting for another shot that finally came. He’s got a great autograph and signed these two cards from Utah in a bit over a month.

NFL, WLAF

James, Tim

CARDS: Wild Card 1991, Wild Card World League 1992, Ultimate World League 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2025, C/o Home
SENT: 7/16 RECEIVED: 7/29 (13 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Tim James played both SS and FS for the Colorado Buffalos from 1988-’90.
  • He was a starter on the 1990 National Championship team.
  • Over his college career he displayed a knack for the ball, intercepting 13 passes, including 6 in his Senior season.
  • Selected by the New York Jets in the 8th round of the 1991 NFL Draft.
  • Hamstring injury ended his NFL career before it began.
  • A late signee of the World League in December of ’91, James played for the Ohio Glory in 1992.
  • During that season he posted 1 pick for 15 yards.

NOTES:

I had seen recently a few successes on eBay for James- so I knew there was a valid address on him out in the wild he’d sign from. I had reloaded since my failure in 2019, but forgot that he had a Star Pics card. I guess I got so excited because Mark had given me a box of cards and I had no clue he had a Wild Card issue. Anyway, Brent from Instagram, came to the rescue again on this one and he kindly posted the address so I could knock out another member of the Ohio Glory.