Category Archives: NFL

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Sayers, Gale (1943-2020) ‘Kansas Comet’

Cards: Upper Deck Legends 1997, Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991.
Acquired: TTM 2010 c/o Sayers Corp.*
Sent: 4/28  Received: 5/26 (29 days)
* Required Donation

I had been watching this miniseries on NFL Network called “Full Color Football” and it briefly mentioned Gale and a few other players from the NFL before the AFL merger. After doing a search on the former great, I found his website and found the fee ‘reasonable’ in order to add him to my collection. I used to shrug at the idea of paying players for autographs, but as years have passed and also I realize the time it takes, the inconvenience it may cause, and how it may provide some players an income they need.

Gale Sayers is a former running back of the Chicago Bears from 1965-1971 who had a legendary career. The NFL rookie of the year had a record 22 touchdowns in his rookie year, 2,272 yards from scrimage, and tied the record for most TD’s in a game with 6. He would also set the record of 30.56 on kick returns on 91 returns, 6 of them going for touchdowns.  

The comeback player of the year in 1969, injuries ended Sayers career prematurely in 1971, and elected to the HOF in 1977, as the youngest player inducted into the Pro Football HoF at 34.  A 5 time All-Pro and 4 time Pro Bowl Selection, Sayers was named the MVP of the Pro Bowl 3 times, to the NFL 75th Anniversary Team at two position, and is a member of the 1960s All Decade Team.  

Sayers had an extremely successful career after football, was Chairman of Sayers40 Inc, and an active fundraiser for the city of Chicago and the University of Kansas.  It is noted that Sayers had two signatures. If you received a signature with a ‘$’ for the ‘S’, that was his way of him indicating that he thought you were going to resell his autograph. In his last few years he began winding down public events and signings due to the onset of dementia.

G/GsRushYdsAvgTDLg
68/659914,9565.03970
RecYdsAvgTDLg
1121,30711.7980
KRYdsAvgTDLG
912,78130.66103t
PRYdsAvgTDLG
2739114.5285t

UPDATE 9/23/20- Gale Sayers passed away this morning at the age of 77.

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Newsome, Ozzie

Cards: Score 1990, Proset 1990
Acquired: TTM 2010, c/o The Baltimore Ravens
Sent: 1/13/2010    Received 2/11/2010  (29 days)

Ozzie Newsome and the Browns during the late 80’s began to have a more and more contentious relationship with Houston. While the Browns would claim that the Steelers were their true rivals, the Oilers snuck up on them starting in ’88, and under Glanville the two teams (and in fact the whole division for that matter) ignited a hated rivalry.  The Oilers and Browns would face up in the finale of 1988 and lose at Cleveland 28-23, then somehow hold on to win in Cleveland the next week in wildcard weekend 28-23.

Newsome would always manage to keep his streak alive and ended up notching 150 straight games with a catch and retired at the end of 1990 after 13 seasons with the Browns. He was inducted into the HOF in 1999. Newsome moved with the Modell franchise to Baltimore where he has become an extremely successful general manager and the first black GM in the NFL for the Ravens.

Games 198              Rec 668               Yds 7980              Avg 12.1          TD 47

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Largent, Steve

Cards: Score 1989, Action Packed 1990.
Acquired: In Person 1993, CAC conference, Austin, Tx.
See Also: Steve Largent (2)

Josh and I got wind of a Christian Athletes for Christ conference at a hotel in Austin where Largent was the keynote speaker. We went into the hotel and cased the joint like professional paparazzi and then found a spot out of the way but near the event banquet that we could stake out. It was probably the most boring hour and a half we spent in our lives sitting out there, but once the doors kicked open to the hall and people started leaving, Josh and I bum rushed the entrance towards the podium. You could almost put a camera above us as we went into that room full of circular tables with us dodging around them and the people up to the front. I would swear that Largent looked at us both dumbfounded, but to our glee he autographed both of my cards and Josh’s as well. I realized that at this time after that happened, I had passed up Josh in my obsession with the hobby, as I was ecstatic to add such a player of prestige to my collection and he was just… okay.

Steve Largent was originally a 4th round choice of the Houston Oilers in 1976 who found himself traded to the expansion Seattle Seahawks for an 8th round draft choice.  Largent was neither the fastest or biggest receiver in the league but he made up for it with great hands and precision route running.  After retiring in 1989 Largent held many of the league records including career receptions, yards, touchdowns and consecutive games with a catch. A 7 time Pro-bowler, and member of the 1980’s decade team, Steve was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1995.  He then began his career in politics serving the State of Oklahoma and then moving onto Congress representing the 1st district.

Games  200        Rec  819          Yds  13,039         Avg  16.0              TD  100