chicago bears | The Football Autograph Encyclopedia

Card: Topps 1972
Acquired: TTM 2010, c/o home
Sent: 3/26 Received: 4/13 (18 days)

This card was the oldest card in my collection (for a time) ironically because my friend Josh brought over his card collection and accidentally spilled them all over the floor. He let me have this card, because he thought it was in such bad condition that it was trash. Being the big Oiler fan I am, I knew about George’s history with the team, but it never seemed to cross my mind to locate him for an autograph and for many years the card languished in my collection. I started a TTM drive to get autographs of many of the classic Oilers after watching the NFL Network presentation of “Full Color Football”. (While the broadcast gives the AFL some credit, it still failed to give the Oilers teams credit of the early 60s, Charlie Hennigan any exposure, and does not acknowledge the contributions of many of our now injured and fallen gladiators in dire need of medical attention and pension assistance.) George was at the top of the list.

George Blanda is an amazing story of longevity in sports history. In a sport like football, with players average playing time of less than 5 years, Blanda would play in 4 different decades, spanning 26 seasons, longer than any other player in football history. He began playing for the NFL in 1949 for the Bears, where he’d play for 10 seasons. Forced with an ultimatum to become a kicker full time and not a quarterback, he opted to retire; However fate would smile upon “The Grand Old Man” who was granted a reprieve when the upstart AFL started in 1960. Signed by the Houston Oilers, he led them to the first 3 championships, winning the first and second with an impressive aerial attack. After seven seasons, he’d move on to play with the Raiders, where he served as backup quarterback and kicker for the team for an additional nine seasons. Blanda at the time of his retirement held the record for most games played and most points scored. He was inducted into the Pro Football HOF in 1981.

G 340 Att 4007 Comp 1911 Avg 47.6 Yds 26920
Td 236 Int 277
FG 335 Att 641 XPA 943 XPM 959 Pts 2002

UPDATE -George Blanda passed away quietly at the age of 84 on September 27th, 2010. He is survived by his wife and 11 children.

Cards: Upper Deck Legends 1997, Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991.
Acquired: TTM 2010 c/o Sayers Corp.*
Sent: 4/28 Received: 5/26 (29 days)
* Required Donation

I had been watching this miniseries on NFL Network called “Full Color Football” and it briefly mentioned Gale and a few other players from the NFL before the AFL merger. After doing a search on the former great, I found his website and found the fee ‘reasonable’ in order to add him to my collection. I used to shrug at the idea of paying players for autographs, but as years have passed and also I realize the time it takes, the inconvenience it may cause, and how it may provide some players an income they need.

Gale Sayers is a former running back of the Chicago Bears from 1965-1971 who had a legendary career. The NFL rookie of the year had a record 22 touchdowns in his rookie year, 2,272 yards from scrimage, and tied the record for most TD’s in a game with 6. He would also set the record of 30.56 on kick returns on 91 returns, 6 of them going for touchdowns.

The comeback player of the year in 1969, injuries ended Sayers career prematurely in 1971, and elected to the HOF in 1977, as the youngest player inducted into the Pro Football HoF at 34. A 5 time All-Pro and 4 time Pro Bowl Selection, Sayers was named the MVP of the Pro Bowl 3 times, to the NFL 75th Anniversary Team at two position, and is a member of the 1960s All Decade Team.

Sayers had an extremely successful career after football, was Chairman of Sayers40 Inc, and an active fundraiser for the city of Chicago and the University of Kansas. It is noted that Sayers had two signatures. If you received a signature with a ‘$’ for the ‘S’, that was his way of him indicating that he thought you were going to resell his autograph. In his last few years he began winding down public events and signings due to the onset of dementia.

G/Gs	Rush	Yds	Avg	TD	Lg
68/65	991	4,956	5.0	39	70

Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Lg
112	1,307	11.7	9	80

KR	Yds	Avg	TD	LG
91	2,781	30.6	6	103t

PR	Yds	Avg	TD	LG
27	391	14.5	2	85t

UPDATE 9/23/20- Gale Sayers passed away this morning at the age of 77.

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.

The Football Autograph Encyclopedia

Tag Archives: chicago bears

Blanda, George (1927-2010)

Sayers, Gale (1943-2020) ‘Kansas Comet’

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.