CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Action Packed 1990, Score 1991, Fleer 1990 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 1/27/22 RECEIVED: 9/12/22 (228 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Mark Murphy played college football at little known West Liberty State.
DB signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 1980.
An iron clad tackler at SS, who was very effective as a zone defender, quickly established himself as a starter in the secondary in ’81.
Had career high 114 total tackles in 1984.
Started for the team through ’86- when he spent the entire season on IR after breaking his leg.
Returned back to form in 1987, led the team in tackles the next 4 seasons.
Notched a career high 5 interceptions and 4 fumble recoveries the following season.
Dabbled in coaching at the high school and small college level since retirement in 1992.
ACCOLADES:
West Liberty State Hall of Fame
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
Stark County High School Hall of Fame
NOTES:
Mark Murphy was always an underrated gem who got the appreciation of his peers and fans in Green Bay- but very little outside of it. He however did cash in on most of the major brands before he retired, and all my set needs are represented here. Mark has alopecia and doesn’t have any hair on his body. My friends used to call him ‘Mr. Clean’. Mark Murphy is not to be confused with the football executive by the same name.
He immediately stepped in as starter and led the conference in a variety of passing statistics throughout his college career.
In every year he led the Pac-8 in Completions, Yards, and TDs.
Over his college career he threw for 7,544 yards on 530 of 962 passes, with 52 TDs to 47 picks.
First overall pick of the New England Patriots in 1971.
After a pretty decent rookie season, where he threw for 19 TDs and 16 picks, he steadily guided the ship during the dead ball era over the next 4 seasons.
An injury plagued 1975, led Jim to be traded to the 49ers.
He’d play there from 1976-’77, completing 254 of 491 passes for 3285 yards, 22 TDs to 30 interceptions.
Plunkett stepped into the starting lineup after Pastorini got injured in 1980, and experienced a Renaissance.
He went 9-2 as a starter, completing 165 of 320 passes for 2299 yards and 18 TDs.
Led the team to a 27-10 win in Super Bowl XV.
After surviving a 2-5 season in 1981 and being benched, Plunkett again woke up leading the Raiders to a 10-3 record in 1983.
The Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII.
Injury plagued and faced with constant QB battles, played with Raiders through the ’86 season before retiring.
Spent 20 years after that working radio and TV as a commentator and post game analyst.
ACCOLADES:
Heisman Trophy Winner 1970
Offensive Rookie of the Year 1971
Superbowl XV MVP
1980 Comeback Player of the Year
Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
California Sports Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
Rose Bowl Hall of Fame
Maxwell Award 1970
Walter Camp Award 1970
Raiders Ring of Honor
NOTES:
Definitely a Raiders legend, Jim Plunkett went from near bust to Super Bowl MVP, and then to prove doubters wrong led the team to another title a few years later. He’s probably not going to get into the HoF. His numbers just aren’t strong enough and he never was All Pro or Pro Bowl bound.
Jim’s braille card was considered a rumor, a grail among collectors for a bit when it came out. After a while it showed up in about one per box. When an autographed copy appeared on eBay, I picked it up, even though its signed on the back.
Kirk Merritt RB/WR was very busy in college spending time at Oregon (2015), Texas A&M (’16), East Mississippi CC (’17), and Arkansas State (2018-’19).
For the Red Wolves in 2018, he compiled 83 receptions for 1,005 yards and 7 TDs.
Then in 2019, he had 70 receptions for 806 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Signed in 2020 with the Dolphins where he spent the season on and off the regular season roster and the practice squad through 2021.
In 2022, signed with the New Orleans Saints and was on the team’s practice squad through 2023.
Signed with the UFL Houston Roughnecks in 2024, and finished with 14 carries for 187 yards and 9 carries for 28 yards and a TD.
Then in 2025, posted 33 carries for 91 yards and a TD, and 13 catches for 124 yards.
NOTES:
While I believe in the slow evolution of sets from year to year like an elegant Corvette, this set seems to have taken a path in the wrong direction. It really doesn’t feel risky enough. What position does Kirk play? His position is either too small or disappears into the canvas. I also find the serif on his name stodgy and unnecessary. I opted out of spending the hundreds of dollars needed to purchase this set and the certified autos. I’ll just nickle and dime my way through and probably won’t buy the ’26 set since the Brahmas are no longer in the UFL.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
