Category Archives: WLAF

Aguiar, Louis ‘Louie’

Pro Set 1991 WLAF Helmet Collectible, #1

CARDS: Pro Set 1991 WL Insert, Pro Set 1992, Topps Stadium Club 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 2/26 RECEIVED: 3/21 (23 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Louie Aguiar played college ball at Utah State and went undrafted in 1989.
  • Aguiar tried out for the Bills in subsequent seasons, but eventually was cut.
  • He’d make a positive impression on the Bills coaching staff, so they recommended Louie to Jack Bicknell, head coach of the Barcelona Dragons in the World League.
  • Louie played the ’91 season in Barcelona, making an impression on the New York Jets.
  • He signed with NY shortly after World Bowl I concluded.
  • Played for the Jets from 1991-’93, averaging 39.6 yards on 210 punts in 49 contests.
  • Louie joined the Chiefs in 1994- where he’d play through the ’98 season.
  • He’d conclude his career after one year stints for the Packers (’99) and Bears (’00).

ACCOLADES:

  • All Pro 1995

NOTES:

Louie was well known for a booming leg and was frequently used on kickoffs.

A sneaky success story of the World League, Aguiar went on to play in the NFL for 10 seasons. I was surprised he didn’t have a card in the league, but that’s why this helmet card was perfect for him to sign.

PYDSAVGLGBLK
49202941.4801
WLAF
PYDSAVGLGBLK
7583122141.2711
NFL

Wells, Kent

CARD: Wild Card WL 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2019, C/o Home
SENT: 10/5/19 RECEIVED: 9/19/23 (1445 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kent Wells played DL at Nebraska from 1987-’89.
  • Posted 37 solo tackles, 40 assists and 10 sacks over his time in Lincoln.
  • 6th round pick of the Washington Redskins in the 1990 NFL Draft.
  • Claimed off of waivers by the New York Giants that year, playing in 6 contests.
  • Spent the 1991 off-season with the 49ers.
  • Saw extensive action playing for the Ohio Glory of the World League in 1992.
  • Briefly was on the off-season roster of the Browns that year.
  • Joined the Arena Football League in 1993, playing for the Thunderbolts through ’94, when the team folded.
  • Played for the Tampa Bay Storm from 95-98′.
  • Traded to the Iowa Barnstormers in ’98.
  • Played one final season in the Arena leagues for the Orlando Predators in 1999.

ACCOLADES:

  • 1996 Arena Defensive Lineman of the Year
  • Arena Football League All-Star 1993
  • All-Arena 1995-’96

NOTES:

After I saw Kent’s autograph pop up on EBay, I started researching his address and was pretty confident I found a circumstantial fit near Omaha. I shot this request out shortly after and waited, and albeit a bit later than I figured, I got a hit. For only having one card, Kent Wells’ Wild Card World League card is an absolute winner.

TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
N/a3.0000-.-0-.-
WL
TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
6613.0100-.-0-.-
ARENA

Mandley, Pete (2)

Ultimate World League 1992, Montreal Machine Team Stats, #76

CARDS: Fleer 1990, Ultimate World League 1992, Ultimate World League 1992 W-O-R-L-D, Ultimate World League 1992 Team Stats, Wild Card World League 1992
ACQUIRED: Paid Signing, 2023
FAILURE: TTM 2010, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

At long last! Pete Mandley was one of the largest whales left that I still needed for my World League sets. I had spied out a private signing of his, and after being one of the many victims of his 0% signing rate TTM and hours of fruitless research online, I jumped at the chance to be in this signing, especially at such an affordable rate.

The promoter was more than accommodating with me, after I realized I sent my cards to them too late. So the promoter gave me their address to where they were going so that I could 2 day express more cards to them. I sweated it out a little bit, but it all worked out in the end. I got Pete’s autograph on all my remaining set needs.

The Ultimate World League set had 3 set needs. The base set card and the promo card are side by side above. The front of the cards vary very little as the promo uses a full helmet logo in the vertical marquee. On the back the promo spells out W-O-R-L-D. These cards were passed out during games as promotionals for the league, and although they had low volume, they also held very little demand in the secondary market, making them essentially worthless.