Tag Archives: Arizona Cardinals

WLAF

Baker, Tony


Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, ProSet WLAF LL 1991, Ultimate WLAF LL 1991, Ultimate 1991, Wildcard WLAF 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent: 7/30   Received:   8/7   (8 days)

After debuting with the Atlanta Falcons out of the 1986 draft Tony Baker would hop over to the Browns that year where he’d sit out two seasons rehabbing, and then played with the Cardinals in 1989. The Frankfurt Galaxy of the WLAF drafted him in the first round of the league’s positional draft. He’d provide the third best team in the league in 1991 a shot in the arm as their workhorse utility back, leading the WLAF in rushing attempts, yards from scrimmage and two point conversions. (Baker would be the only player in the league that year to have over 1,000 yards in 1991 with 648 on the ground, 423 through receptions and 296 in kick return yards.)  He would also be named WLAF player of the week (7) for his preposterous performance against the Orlando Thunder where he notched 192 total yards.  In the 1992 season, the Frankfurt offensive line would be decimated by injuries and this would hamper Baker’s average per carry and receiving average drastically.  He’d finish 11th in rushing yards that year and had only 857 yards from scrimmage. (The Galaxy would also slump to a 3-7 record.)  Baker would finish his WLAF career far and away the leader in yards from scrimmage with 2,224 yards while the league reorganized after the 1992 season.

Games 20   Att 322  Yds 995  Avg 3.1  Lg 26  Td 7
Rec 78   Yds 745  Avg 9.6  Lg 35  Td  1
Ret  14   Yds 478  Avg  19.9   Lg 49   Td 0

NFL

Beuerlein, Steve

Cards: Action Packed 1992, Fleer 1990, ProSet 1990, ProSet 1992, ProSet Power 1992, Score 1989, Score 1990, Topps 1992, Upper Deck 1992.
Acquired: In Person, 1991-1992 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp. In Person, CGA Youth Golf Tournament 1993.

Steve defines accessibility and patience. When I went to Cowboys training camp, I found myself struggling to find new cards to purchase of Steve because he was a tireless signer who would autograph hundreds of cards after practice. Beuerlein was one of the better backups that the Cowboys had, and probably is the one of the better journeyman quarterbacks in NFL history.  A streaky passer,  Steve had his ups and downs, typically suiting up as second fiddle for around half his career.  He would go on to play or start for 6 teams over a 17 seasons including the Raiders, Cowboys, Cardinals, Jaguars, Panthers, and Broncos. Of small note, Steve was the first quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Steve would go to his only Pro Bowl in 1999 playing then for the Panthers, throwing for 36 touchdowns that year where he appeared out of nowhere, and stood a good chance of being MVP that year- if not for a certain somebody named Kurt Warner. He then disappeared under the radar again in 2000 but put up respectable numbers. Beuerlein signed with the Broncos and played back up behind Jake Plummer through 2003, but elected to resign with the Panthers on a one day contract so that he could retire with them. Since retirement Steve has taken up NFL broadcasting and is an avid golfer.

G 147      Att  1894       Comp 3328         Yds  24046
Td 147        Int 112          Rat 80.3

NFL, ufl

Moats, Ryan

Card: Playoff Prestige 2005
Acquired: Texans Blitz 2009
See Also: Ryan Moats (2)

I bleed Houston football colors, whether it is the Oilers or Texans, so when I go to an art school it’s desperate times to find other fellow football fans, little less Texans. Teacher assisting Digital Design at school during the fall of last year, it came as quite a surprise to not only find 2 fans in the class, but one of them was related to a player on the Texans. When he asked me if I knew who his brother was, I immediately rambled off nearly his whole draft card. Over the next few months I pulled the student through the class and in appreciation for what I did, he had his brother send me an autographed ball and some equipment. My friendship with the student would grow, and he and I would watch all the Texans games on TV. His brother in appreciation for being such a big fan got about 60 cards for me signed. He told me it was no big deal, (because all the players harassed each other when I didn’t have their card), and he’d do it again but I’d have to provide him with every player’s card. Later we’d even sit down and watch the playoffs where the player painstakingly answered all my NFL questions.

Ryan Moats was originally drafted by Philadelphia Eagles in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft.  In his 5 years since, Moats has been a reliable RB presence, but has always found himself in a numbers game, playing for the Eagles, Cardinals, Texans and Vikings. In his best pro game to date, (2009) Moats came off the bench against Buffalo and had 126 yards on 26 carries and 3 touchdowns. Moats was signed by the Vikings in 2010 where he was reunited with former coach Brad Childress from Philadelphia in Minnesota. Unfortunately caught in a numbers game he’d be released by the Vikings during final cuts.