The current head of the CFL Players Association, Stu Laird was a stalwart defensive tackle for the Calgary Stampeders from 1984-1996. A free agent signee originally Laird would be on both the Roughriders and Alouettes before he landed on the roster of the Stamps. Stu’s career really took off in 1986 where he notched 9 sacks. In 1988 Laird had a career high 11 sacks for the team before an injury riddled 1989. Cut in 1990, he’d recover to form, be resigned, and by 1994 would have another 9 sack season. A strong pass rushing force inside, Stu earned West-All Star honors for his performance in 1994. He’d continue playing through 1996 before retiring. His number has also since been retired as well. Stu has spent time as a fire fighter in the off season. In 2001 he was named president of the Canadian Football League Players Association and has served in that capacity through 2010 where just recently he was able to negotiate a new 4 year CBA.
When I sent out to the CFL, I sent out a bunch of All World cards. Unable to completely process my request, the league offices sent me a lot of the cards back with signatures and then tossed in a few Jogo 92 cards from the Calgary Stampeders.
Pee Wee was signed by the Calgary Stamps as a free agent in 1990 where initially he was utilized as a kick and punt returner. (He’d have 1 kick return and 4 punt returns for touchdowns over his career including 2 in 1991.) Smith over the next 5 seasons would be utilized more and more as a receiver culminating in 1994 where he had a career high 840 yards including a 106 yarder for a touchdown. Perhaps Smith’s most important moment was the catch he made in 1991 from Danny Barrett that took the Stampeders to the Grey Cup for the first time in 20 years – and 1992 Pee Wee would help bring the cup home to Calgary. He’d be with the team through 1997, but an injury would sideline him for the entire season 1996 effectively ending his career.
G 90 Rec 207 Yds 3136 Avg 15.1 Td 11 Lg 106t |
KR 105 Yds 2458 Avg 23.4 Td 1 Lg 89t |
PR 231 Yds 2451 Avg 10.6 Td 4 Lg 87t
When I sent cards to the CFL as part of a blitz package, the league was kind enough to send me more cards with autographs on them from the Jogo 1992 set. Most NFL fans probably don’t have a clue who Alondra Johnson is but that’s okay because he blazed his own trail North of the Border terrorizing offenses for 16 seasons in the CFL. A 2009 CFL HoF inductee, Johnson (from West Texas A&M) played in 6 Grey Cup Championships winning three (1992,1998, and 2001) with the Stampeders. Originally signed as a free agent by the British Columbia Lions in 1989, Johnson would play for them for three seasons before he signed with Calgary in 1991 playing for head coach Wally Buono. 1998 would be punctuated by Alondra getting the CFL’s most valuable defensive player award and in his career he’d be named a 6 time Western All Star and 3 time CFL All Star. He’d suit up for the Stamps an additional 12 seasons and a final one in 2004 with Saskatchewan. In 2007, Johnson signed a one day contract to retire as a Stampeder. At the time of his retirement, Alondra’s 1095 career tackles ranked second all time in CFL history. In 2005 he was inducted into the West Texas A&M Hall of Champions, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Stampeders Wall of Honor. Johnson once described his playing methodology as, “Speed-times-force-times-mass equals serious punishment.” At last glance Alondra is living in Los Angeles, planning his next move.
G 248 Tac 1095 Sac 45 Fum 16 Int 17 Yds n/a Avg -.- Td 1 Lg N/a
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
