Tag Archives: action packed 1990

NFL

Jordan, Steve

Cards: Score 1990, Action Packed 1991, Action Packed 1992
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent:  11/23/16   Received: 4/14/17    (142 days)

Steve Jordan went to college at little known football school Brown from 1978-1981.  As a Junior he finished 5th in the league in receiving, but but gained real recognition as a Senior when he posted 38 receptions for 693 yards and earning numerous awards. Jordan made enough of an impression that the Minnesota Vikings drafted Steve in the 7th round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He’d initially bide his time on special teams and work his way up from 3rd string.

After 3 seasons, Steve finally was named starter at tight end. He’d go on to start every game over the next 10 years. During that period he also established himself as a dependable go to man, pulling down 3 or more passes a game during the 150 game stretch. Steve was definitely ahead of his time in an era when tight ends were more relied on for blocking than their receiving skills.  Over that period Jordan appeared in 6 Pro Bowls, which is more than HOF greats: Jackie Smith, Ozzie Newsome, Kellen Winslow, Dave Casper, John Mackey, and Mike Ditka.  Oddly Steve has not received any HoF considerations.  As of 2017, he is the Vikings All-Time receiving leader at tight end.

Steve played for the Vikings through 1994, but as age and injury took their toll, he opted to retire from the sport.

Steve moved to Arizona where he has been involved in engineering and construction. He’s also involved in numerous sports initiatives bringing education, and healthy lifestyle building to Native Americans.  Steve’s son Cameron, also plays in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints.

Steve had a plethora of really nice cards to choose from and it was hard to just choose three, when there was probably 6 to 7 that really merited consideration.  His Score 1990 issue is among my favorite of all time. It was genius by the designer at Score to take this shot of Jordan and flip the naturally composed photo to a portrait. As a landscape image, it probably wouldn’t have worked at all. In general there are few shots from any set like this with the turf set up parallel to the player.  I am a huge fan of Action Packed, and both his 1990 and 1991 issues.  The 1991 in particular is clean and I love how they were able to get the team logo on the front. The photo of Jordan making that fingertip grab really showcases the hands that made him one of the most reliable tight ends of the 80s and early 90s.  A mainstay of the Tecmo series, Steve was a solid receiver on the Minnesota offense.

G/GS 176/149     REC 498     YDS 6307     AVG 12.7      TD 28       LG 68

CFL, NFL

Skansi, Paul


Cards: Score 1991, Action Packed 1990, Topps 1990
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent:  3/20    Received: 3/30   (10 days)

Paul Skansi is an interesting figure in the history of Seahawks football. I always viewed him as an important participant and observer in the growth of the sport that always seemed to fly under the radar. Skansi is a member of Seahawks- or as I knew them- the pink clad Seattle Knights of Tecmo Bowl. He then returned to play in Tecmo Super Bowl as well. In the midst of this, as the great card rush occurred during the late 80s and 90s, Skansi had numerous football cards of him produced. Now as a key role player for the team, it was surprising that Topps, Score, and even Action Packed produced cards of the tenacious receiver- but ProSet (the biggest card set of the market) did not.  I remember him in that first pack of Action Packed I ever opened, because his name is so unique.

Paul, with his impressive hands and fearless and precise route running, was quite the find for the Seahawks. A local product from the University of Washington, he was a Steve Pelluer favorite. He helped the Huskies win an improbable and exciting Apple Cup with his circus TD catch in 1981. He’d conclude his career at the college with 161 receptions – which still ranks 5th all time on the school’s record books.

Originally a 5th round pick of the Steelers in 1983, he found himself on his hometown Seahawks by 1984. There he became a valued and fearless slot man that was counted on for numerous first downs to keep the chains moving. While he was always overshadowed by the likes of Brian Blades and Steve Largent, Skansi worked best in 3rd down situations.  Initially he also saw time on punt return duties as well. He’d play the next 7 seasons in Seattle, and then briefly try his hand in the CFL with the Ottawa Rough Riders  in 1992.  Skansi’s shining moment came in a thrilling matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1990. As Derrick Thomas played havoc with the Seahawks offensive line all day, Seattle’s offense hung around. In the closing moments trailing 16-10, quarterback Dave Kreig threw a bullet over the middle for 25 yards to Paul for the winning TD.

Paul since his playing days has done a lot of coaching and scouting. After coaching his way through the college ranks, Skansi has joined the Chargers where he’s been a scout for the last 17 years.  He lives outside of Seattle, and always loves to talk Huskies football.

He was kind enough to write testaments on all his cards.

Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

He also enclosed a nice note thanking me for writing him.  As always, players like Paul are the ones I love to get the autographs from, as they always add to the memory I already have of them.

G/GS 115/2     REC 166    YDS 1950     AVG 11.7    TD 10     LG  32
PR 96       YDS  863       AVG 9.0    TD  0     LG 57

NFL

McDowell, Bubba (3)

scosup89 mcdowellpset92 mcdowellsky92-bmcdowellap90-bmcdowellpac91-bmcdowellgday93 mcdowellCards: ProSet 1992, Score Supplemental 1989, GameDay 1993. Pacific 1991, Skybox 1992, Action Packed 1990.
Acquired: In Person 9/13/2015, Houston Texans v. Kansas City Chiefs. 10/30/2016, Houston Texans v. Detroit Lions.
See Also: Leonard ‘Bubba’ McDowell, Bubba McDowell (2),

Bubba was at the Churrascos Pregame brunch with Curtis Duncan. It’d mark the first time that I’d meet him in person suprisingly- after all the School of the Legends (now defunct) discussions we had. I had quite a stack of cards and had hoped to get him at the Oilers 25th Anniversary Party but he had a last second commitment that prevented him from attending.  He’s even more engaging than I remember from the videos, and he was nice enough to take the time to sign a few cards for me from the stack.

Again it was a shame that ProSet made this switch mid-set to this design in 1992. Either look was okay with me for the time, but not in the same set. It’s a great full body photo of the hard hitting defensive back. His Score 1989 notwithstanding was one that I’ve tried getting autographed on numerous occasions but it got eaten by the mail gods. I never found this one until a few weeks ago and added it to the stack. It’s an oldie, with a purple frame and white marquee that leaves much to be desired. Still it’s his earliest rookie card. This GameDay 1993 card is a sizzling shot of Bubba. I mistakenly thought it was from the Bears game earlier that season when he took the ball to the house at the end of the half on Monday Night, but in reality it was one of the more grim days in Oilers history- a game referred to as ‘The Comeback’. Bubba intercepted this pass and returned it 58 yards for a score to make the game 35-7, before the Bills furious rally.

The next year, I went with my wife to the Texans v. Detroit Lions game. Bubba was among the selected players to appear in the fan zone, right inside the stadium gates, but outside of the stadium to give autographs. It was a long hike to the front of the stadium from our seats. The next problem I faced was that if you already have entered the stadium, you can not exit the stadium- even to go to the fan zone. It seemed asinine, but in this day and age of security I understood. After a brief conversation with the head of ticketing, they let me go through. Bubba was seated with former Oiler, Charlie ‘The Razor’ Frazier.

Unwilling to press my luck for more than three autographed cards, I selected the Pacific, Skybox, and Action Packed cards from my lot and let it rip. Bubba told me that he had a lot of great memories- fun memories- especially of former head coach Jerry Glanville.