Jim Otto played center and linebacker at the University of Miami, FL.
He was selected by the proposed AFL Minnesota team in 1960.
When the Minnesota team joined the NFL instead, his rights fell to the Oakland Raiders.
Jim went on to play the entire 10 years of the AFL as the Raiders starting center.
He’d then play an additional FIVE more for the Raiders after the AFL and NFL merged.
Considered one of the finest- if not the finest center to play the game, Jim was showered with accolades throughout his career.
He was the last original Oakland Raider to retire- after the 1974 season.
Started 210 contests over his career.
Jim is equally well known as the most famous player to wear the number ’00’.
ACCOLADES:
First Team All- AFL 1960-’65, ’67-’69
Second Team All- AFL 1966
AFL All-Star 1961-’69
Pro Bowl 1970-’72
All Pro 1970
Second Team All Pro 1972
All Time AFL Team
NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame and Museum 1972
Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame 1998
Pro Football Hall of Fame 1980
NOTES:
I wrote Jim back in 2020, and like many of the autographs during the COVID blitz- they got lost in the shuffle. Then as I got around to this post I kept kicking it further down, thinking I’d get him again on another card or two at that point. His fee also was just a modest $10 per card.
Both of these are sets that I really like. This classy 1970 Topps card with him popping a block with a smile is pretty iconic. The Upper Deck Legends turned into a set need around this time, and the silver sharpie touch was really nice of him.
Jim notably also suffered from more than SEVENTY operations due to his time playing football, and eventually had his right leg amputated in 2007, and almost died twice from post-surgery infections. Jim is a cautionary tale of ‘playing through pain’. He is said to have lived in constant pain over the last few years of his life- but remained a steadfast defendant of the sport.
EPITAPH:
5/19/2024- Jim Otto passed away at the grand old age of 86 in Aurora, Ca. No cause of death was given.
Ben Smith played CB at NE Oklahoma back in ’86 where he turned heads, recording 5 picks and 39 total tackles at S.
He transferred to Georgia in ’87.
During Spring practice switched from CB to FS in ’89.
Finished Senior season with 95 total tackles, 4 forced fumbles, and 10 interceptions.
An All SEC Selection, he’d be tabbed in the first round by the Philadelphia Eagles during the 1990 NFL Draft.
Had 91 tackles and 3 interceptions in rookie year playing at LCB.
In Sophomore campaign, tabbed on 2 more picks and 34 tackles.
Spent the 1993 season on IR.
Played for the Broncos in 1994 and had 72 tackles and a pick.
Then briefly saw action with the Arizona Cardinals in 1995 and ’96.
NOTES:
Ben Smith is a very hard to get player TTM, so with a wing and a prayer I sent these out, so when I got these two back I was very surprised. I was just as surprised to see them inked in red, but no matter- a win is a win! He also asked for a cash app donation of 50 bucks…
After being released by the Rams, Nelson signed with the Bears in October of 2017.
Then after two small stints with the Chiefs and Chargers, Nelson signed with the San Diego Fleet of the AAF at the tail end of 2018.
In Week 7 against the Arizona Hotshots in 2019, he had 12 catches for 146 yards.
He finished 5th with 426 yards and second in catches with 38.
After the collapse of the AAF- he was a 3rd round pick of the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL in 2020.
Caught 20 passes for 256 yards and 2 scores in 3 starts.
Unfortunately the COVID pandemic derailed the XFL season after the midway point of the season.
Spent about 6 months on the off-season roster of the Montreal Alouettes in 2021.
As of 2024- is a VP of brand/ product development with FIBR.
NOTES:
OK. So I sat intentionally on Nelson’s post for a while. Almost right after I got his autographs back from 2019, I popped open a box of XFL 2020 and, “Pfbbbttt,” There’s Nelson’s XFL base card- so I had to get that signed too. Then it hit me… Nelson, despite his stat line and prominence in the AAF, doesn’t appear in the set. I needed to do all that before throwing up another post about him.
I really upped my quality on the custom cards across the board, down to the print quality and design. I was very happy with how the AAF card turned out, and I sent an extra for him to keep as well.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
