Tag Archives: boston patriots

AFL, Arena, CFL, NFL, usfl

Parilli, Babe (1930-2017)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #AL-152

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2020

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Had a marvelous journey as a quarterback playing through 18 seasons for 3 leagues and 8 teams from 1952-69.
  • Played for Kentucky from 1949-51.
  • In an era not renown for passing, threw for 1627 yards (114/203) and 23 TDs to 12 INT in 1950.
  • 4th pick of the 1952 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
  • Joined CFL Ottawa Rough Riders in 1954, playing there through 55, and also again in 59.
  • Returned to NFL for a one year stint with the Browns in 56.
  • Again, played for Packers in 57 and 58.
  • After one year stint with the CFL again in 59, played for the Oakland Raiders in 1960.
  • After middling success with Oakland, was traded as part of a blockbuster deal to the Boston Patriots.
  • Played for the Patriots from 1961-67.
  • At time of departure from Boston, owned all the franchise’s passing records and many AFL ones as well.
  • Retired after winning Super Bowl III as Joe Namath‘s backup in Super Bowl III.
  • Had extensive coaching career.
  • Passed away in 2017 at the age of 87 after a battle with cancer.

NOTES:

In an age of more sexy names, I really hadn’t considered the legacy of Babe, compared to guys like Tom Brady (of course), or even Drew Bledsoe or Steve Grogan for that matter. -That being said Babe paved the way for those guys.

AFL/NFL

ATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
333015522268146.617822059.6
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
38315224.02333

CFL

*Stats not available pre-1959

ATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
522337344.244N/a
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
4205.0015
PYDSAVGLG
65249738.458
AFL, CFL, College Football HoF, wfl

Trull, Don

Card: Topps 1964
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 3/18 Received: 3/24 (6 days)

Don Trull played football for the Baylor Bears from 1961 to 1963 where he was one of the top quarterbacks in the SWC, if not the nation. He set SWC records for completed passes (174) and yards (2,157) in one year. He capped his 1963 season with 2,157 yards and 22 TDs (which led the nation) and a 14-7 win over LSU in the Bluebonnet Bowl. A smart and alert quarterback, Trull excelled at calling plays and audibles at the line of scrimmage.

Don was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1964 NFL Draft. He’d be groomed to be the heir apparent of the Oilers behind ageless George Blanda for the next 3 years. In 1966, Don saw action in 5 starts, posting 1200 yards and 10 TDs to just 5 picks, however he finished 0-5. He also rushed for 7 TDs on 38 carries. After 3 more games in 1967, he’d be traded to the Boston Patriots for the remainder of the season.

Trull returned to the Oilers in 1968, where he really had the best season of his career as a starter- posting a 3-1 record, with 864 yards passing, and 10 TDs and 3 interceptions.

After a down year in 1969, Don played in the Canadian Football League the next two years for the Edmonton Eskimos. Allowed to take the starting reins for the Esks, he threw for 2455 yards and 12 TDs on 364 attempts to 185 completions. After one last season in the CFL, Don was off the football grid coaching at Arkansas until he was lured back by the WFL in 1974, where he saw limited action for the Houston Texans/ Shreveport Steamer.

Don lives in Houston now where he is an ambassador for the NFL Houston Texans organization. In 2013, he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame, and he was involved with the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show for many years. I got Don’s card after I found out he was an ambassador for the Texans. I hoped to catch him at one of the team functions where they sign for fans, but since nothing every popped up, I just went ahead and sent this out right at the beginning of the COVID crisis.

NFL G/GSATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
77/18637276398043.3302861.6
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
1234283.51423
CFL G/GSATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
N/a465237293251.01227N/a
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
44651.5130
WFL G/GSATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
N/a311611751.602N/a
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
221.002
AFL, NFL

Frazier, Charlie ‘Razor’

Autographed Texan Ambassador Memorabilia
Acquired: 2016, Detroit Lions @ Houston Texans

So before the Texans game I spied a few autographs I wanted to get. As usual there was a last second booking change and Charlie was put on the schedule. I was willing to pay the price to get a card of Charlie ‘The Razor’ Frazier expedited, but apparently nobody ever made one. Frazier had some good seasons in there, including a 1,000 yard plus effort there, that earned him AFL All Star honors- so I was really surprised.

Going undrafted out of Texas Southern in 1960, Frazier caught on with the local Houston Oilers in 1962.  He scored his first touchdown that year in the 3rd game of the season against the Bills on a 73 yard bomb.  The Razor’s best season came in 1966 when he logged 57 receptions for 1,129 yards, a robust 19.1 yards per reception, and 12 touchdowns. These all stood as career highs for Charlie.  Frazier joined the Boston Patriots in 1969 and was a dangerous endzone target. Of his 19 catches, 7 of them went for touchdowns.  After the 1970 season, Frazier retired.  A dangerous long bomb threat, Frazier had 6 seasons with a long catch of 50 yards or greater.

Currently Charlie lives in the Houston area. He’s a big Texans fan and a member of the Houston Texans Ambassador program.

When I got to the game, I could not get to Charlie. I had already found my seats and the stadium had a policy that if you wanted to do events outside you could not re-enter the stadium. The head scratching thing is, the autograph table was located on the concourse inside the stadium and stadium gates, but outside the ticket gates. With a little finagling the ticket manager gave me an exception and let me through. It was a very hot day and long walk to get to Frazier who was seated with Bubba McDowell. We talked about the Oilers and he too was miffed as to why nobody made a card of him.

Note: Charlie signed his name ‘CHARLIE’ but his given name is listed as Charley.

G/GS  110      REC 207     YDS  3452     AVG 16.7      TD 29      LG 80T