Category Archives: NFL

NFL, WLAF

Valerio, Joe

Cards: StarPics 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o www.joe73.com
Sent: 8/27/10    Received: 8/18/11  (356 days)

Originally selected by the Chiefs in the 2nd round of the 1991 draft along with Harvey Williams (1st) and Tim Barnett (3rd) Joe Valerio was a small school product out of Pennsylvania that made waves at the combine with his 6-5, 292 frame. A two time NCAA I-AA All-American he’d be allocated by the Chiefs to the WLAF for the 1992 season.

The Chiefs -pleased with the progress of linebacker Tracy Simien, felt that Joe would be a good fit in the World League. He’d get valuable starting time with the Birmingham Fire, under head coach Chan Gailey, blocking for quarterback Mike Norseth and runningback Elroy Harris that season as the team made the playoffs with a 7-2-1 record. After the league was reorganized in 1992 he’d return to the Chiefs and start 3 games that season.  Valerio would remain on the line of the Chiefs as a valuable back up through 1995, before signing with the St. Louis Rams in 1996, and retiring after that season. Throughout his career he’d play every position on the offensive line, including tight end.  He’d also make 4 receptions for 7 yards and 4 touchdowns on tackle eligible plays for the Chiefs, (-all from Joe Montana which is the most that Montana threw to any lineman).

Since then Joe has gone into motivational speaking through Gridiron Concepts. He’s also a manager for Wells Fargo, coaches, and works avidly on his foundation. A popular member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Valerio also did radio and tv for a stint. I sent off for his autograph through his website at joe73.com last year, and gave up after about 6 months, so I was really pleased to open up an envelope and find these two cards autographed for me, in just a shade under a year.

NFL

Miller, Chris (2)

Cards: Action Packed 1990, Score 1990, ProSet 1989, Fleer 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o The Arizona Cardinals
Sent: 7/5  Received: 8/2   (26 days)
See also: Chris Miller

I got Chris’ autograph way back in 1993 at the CGA Youth Golf Tournament when he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons. I noticed that he was now on the staff of the Arizona Cardinals as their quarterbacks coach, and wanted to add him to my collection on a few more cards.   After I had recent success with former Falcons runningback John Settle, I decided to give Miller another shot after all these years, where he graciously signed all 4 of these cards for me in 26 days.

Really pleased with these 4 cards. They actually represent a good sampling of my favorite cards to collect during that time period, with Fleer, ProSet, Action Packed, and Score. I loved this classic 80s look of the Falcons, and miss this rich red color that they used back then. All of these cards had excellent action shots of Chris, with the Action Packed and Score cards really standing out with their dynamic poses. Design wise as you can see, near the end of the 80s nearly all the brands were framing all of their players in around all sides with a border. Fleer would become one of the first brands to ‘break the border’ as you can see with Chris’ helmet on his Fleer 1990 card.

NFL

Quik Print Cowboys Basketball Autographs


Autograph Memorabilia
Acquired: In Person, Berger Center 1992

I don’t recall but I may have gotten some of these on cards as well at the time. Many of these guys I had already acquired on cards or met before, including Drew Pearson, Preston Pearson, and Ed Jones.  I’d also get Tony Hill, Duane Mitchell, and Doug Dooley that evening after the Cowboys finished playing a charity basketball game against some scrubs that they beat. It was like the Dallas Cowboys version of the The Harlem Globetrotters.

Tony Hill played 10 years for the Cowboys finishing with 479 receptions for 7988 yards and 51 touchdowns from 1977-1986 and is considered one of Dallas’ top 50 players of all time.

Doug Dooley played for the Cowboys from 1981-1984 after being drafted in the second round by the team. He finished with 55 receptions for 898 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Aaron Mitchell played for the Cowboys from 1979-1980 and was a second round pick. He’d play an additional season for the Buccaneers in 1981. Over his career he made 4 picks and a fumble recovery.